8 × Baby Talk and Family Drama

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"I hope you guys enjoyed your dinner and have a nice night."

Jessi stirred awake from her nap when she heard the soft beep signaling the last part of another announcement from the pilot. Were they approaching the airport in Los Angeles?She blinked at the blurry beige shapes before her and glimpsed the time on her phone.

8:10PM. Nope. Few more hours to go.

They'd been up in the air before six. Meaning: she had been napping for two hours straight. Good enough to recharge her.

Refreshed and a little hungry, she sat up and muffled a yawn. It got rid of her airplane ears. Her left ear popped, relieving some pain. Her grogginess almost made her forget about her headache, but at least her skull no longer felt like it was going to split in half.

She needed lots of rest tonight. Then she would have to buy some food for herself for the next couple of days. There was a small fridge in her new apartment but not much cooking utensils. She needed pots and pans, too.

Mental note: do some shopping tomorrow after research. Yup. She still had to do some research on the TV show she would be working for soon.

All she knew was that it had supernatural, horror, and some comedic and romance themes. There were lots of online photos and videos of the cast on set and in certain episodes, but that wasn't enough reference for her. She had to talk to Zach or Daniella on the phone tomorrow for a proper briefing of her daily duties and responsibilities at her new job as part of the makeup and styling team of "Road to Valhalla".

It excited her, of course, but her new line of work was also intimidating. Even anxiety-triggering. She needed to prepare herself mentally and physically since she knew it would involve long hours on set and lots of people to work with and impress.

She didn't even know the names of most of the cast and production team. Nor did she have a clue about the list of personalities she would have to deal with on a daily basis, starting Wednesday. Maybe Zach could fill her in tomorrow, help her prep for her new role.

Jessi blinked at the dimmed cabin lights and recalled the pilot's hushed announcement. A plate filled with lasagna and some garlic bread sat on the vacant seat beside her. Jessi sat back in her seat and rubbed the stupor out of her tired eyes.

The makeup and set lights from today's long shoot made her eyes sting. Maybe she needed to wear her eyeglasses more often now if she was going to be working at long shoots every single day. She glanced down at her thick coat.

The private jet was spacious and cold, but her layers of clothes were keeping her from icing over. Her gaze roamed around. The bodyguards sat behind them. One was sitting close to the plane's cockpit.

Were they carrying loaded guns? Did they carry automatic weapons every day? Did Enzo pay for all of their salaries?

Perhaps. She wanted to ask Kel, but since Enzo was a busy, full-fledged businessman most likely traveling all over the world on a regular basis, Jessi imagined having security personnel around him 24/7 was the norm. Did they even take commercial flights? Probably not.

"No. Can't tell them yet."

It was Kel's voice. Jessi stared at the back of Kel's seat. It was only a few feet away from hers. Kel sounded like she was sniveling. Crying again? Why?

There was about two inches of space between Kel and Enzo's seats. He stroked her forearm while Kel mumbled something about her training schedule, and then her last phone conversation with her mom.

Jessi recalled her saying her family resided in New York. Schenectady, to be specific. Jessi suddenly missed her mom. She should text her parents an update. They could be awake, still.

She unlocked her phone and texted her mom. The message would be automatically sent once they neared the landing strip in the LA airport, once cell reception returned. "Mom, got big news. Look up Road to Valhalla. Gonna be working for the makeup team. Promo shoot with the cast this Wed!!! x"

She couldn't help but smile, recalling her boss' texts earlier. Zach seemed to trust her enough and probably saw her fitting for the job, despite her being a rookie in the TV and makeup industry. Then her companions' ongoing conversation distracted her again.

"Fine. Not now." Enzo sighed twice after a brief, awkward silence.

"We can't just..." Kel broke off, her voice sounding pinched. "I barely got past the passing grades last week and they all...keep expecting we'll just do better this quarter." Her voice wavered. "I can't just back out now."

"Yeah. Okay," Enzo murmured in reply. The two seemed to be arguing or talking about serious issues, but Enzo sounded much calmer, as if he was trying to calm his girlfriend down. "I know, it's stressing you out. That's why I want you there. Just us. Unwind a little."

"I didn't tell Mom." Kel sniffled. "Jill said they might pop by this week, with David and Meesha."

Before Jessi could look away and pretend she wasn't eavesdropping, Enzo shifted in his seat and leaned closer to Kel. "I'll talk to her." He kissed the side of her head and hugged her loosely.

"Please." Kel tried to hold back her sobs. "Thanks."

"Hey. It's alright. It's gonna be fine, love. Promise."

"I'm just so tired." Kel sniveled again and blew her nose on some wipes he handed her. "I really miss Daddy."

"Wanna visit him this week?" Enzo stroked her arm. His voice sounded like a deep baritone, but he was using such a gentle tone on her. Real soothing to the ears.

Jessi closed her eyes. She'd binge-watched a lot of TV shows when she was hopelessly jobless months ago.

The guy kinda sounded like Ian Somerhalder, too, but with a British accent. Although he looked important, with the private plane and suited bodyguards and all, Enzo seemed like a nice, decent guy overall. A caring, thoughtful boyfriend, too, from the looks of it.

"Yeah." Kel sniveled and wiped her tears off. Most likely the pregnancy hormones. "Just for a bit."

"Sure. What about, the other one?" Enzo was almost whispering now.

"What?" Kel faced him. A frown furrowed her dark brows and made her lips pout. "You joking?"

"No." Enzo stared back at her. "Just heard that, the transplant didn't work." Some hesitation made him pause. "Maxim said Ilya's body rejected the second donor's liver. Niccolo was there at the hospital with him."

"Ugh." Kel hastily tied her hair into a messy bun, seeming irritated.

"He didn't tell you?"

"Why would I talk to him?" Kel wasn't looking at Enzo anymore. Her tone was curt.

"Nothing. I just..." Enzo sighed shortly. "At least he didn't emotionally blackmail you, or something." He kept stroking Kel's shoulder in a comforting manner. "Just another selfish asshole, but, he's still your flesh and blood. Yada yada..."

"You mean after 25 years pretending I don't exist and after he almost got you and Cloe killed?" Kel scoffed loudly.

Killed? Someone tried to murder him? Her flesh and blood? Holy cow. Who were they talking about?

As the shock lessened, Jessi tried not to gawk. What in the world were they talking about?

The young couple continued mumbling, almost whispering sometimes, but she could still hear enough.

To not seem rude and intrusive, Jessi shut her eyes and pretended to be napping still. Their conversation was getting too personal; she shouldn't be hearing any of it. Definitely piqued her interest, though.

While Kel dried her tears off with the tissues, Enzo kissed her forehead long and hard, then let her rest her head on his shoulder. "Did you take the test, love?"

"No."

"Alright," he muttered. "I'll get us a doctor's appointment after the meeting."

"Let me sleep in first." Kel moaned, sounding disappointed by his plan.

"Okay." Enzo chuckled. A comfortable silence passed. "I got one you might like."

"What?"

"Just one name."

"Name? For what?"

"Mackenzie."

"What?" Kel giggled.

"Mykaela plus Lorenzio." Enzo put his hand on his girlfriend's shoulder. "Unisex, and cute. No?"

Did he mean he already thought of a name for the baby? He already knew Kel's pregnant?

Jessi smiled. At least the two had made up, and now starting a new chapter in their lives. Jessi closed her eyes. While she felt happy for them, their current topic of conversation also made her realize she wasn't at all ready to start dating again. Not yet.

Much less get married. Or raise a family of her own. She wanted nothing but to focus on furthering her career. Earn a lot to pay for her finances and make her life better. A lot better. Then she'd be able to help her parents out, take care of them when they grew older and save up for her own future. Buy her own house. A new car. Reach her goals before she hit 30.

Actually she would rather become a workaholic, career-obsessed old maid than end up as someone's housewife. She had nothing against women who loved to take care of their family while running a house full of kids. She thought those types of moms were great. Incredibly selfless.

It just wasn't her dream.

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