The next morning sunlight poured into Anita's apartment through the thin curtains, lighting up the small living room.
Grace was still asleep on the couch, curled under a blanket, her face puffy from crying the night before.
Anita stood by the kitchen counter with her phone pressed to her ear.
"Morning, beautiful," Jackson's voice came through the speaker.
"Morning," Anita replied softly.
Jackson immediately noticed the difference.
"You sound tired. Everything okay?"
Anita hesitated.
She hadn't planned to tell him yet, but the stress from the night before was still sitting heavily in her chest.
"My sister showed up yesterday," she finally said.
"Oh really? That's nice."
Anita sighed.
"Not exactly."
She explained everything.
Grace being pregnant.
Her boyfriend disappearing.
Her parents throwing her out.
By the time Anita finished speaking, the line had gone quiet.
Jackson didn't say anything for a few seconds.
Anita quickly added,
"Don't worry. I'm not bringing her to stay with us."
Jackson cleared his throat.
"That's good."
Anita felt a slight sting in her chest but ignored it.
"I'll find somewhere else for her to stay," she said quickly.
Jackson's voice softened.
"Look, I understand you want to help your sister. But remember what we talked about. I really want us to spend time living together… just us."
"I know," Anita replied quietly.
After a moment Jackson added,
"Maybe when I travel next year she can stay at the house with you. That wouldn't be a problem."
Anita forced a small smile even though he couldn't see it.
"Yeah… maybe."
She quickly changed the subject.
They talked for a few more minutes before ending the call.
But Anita still felt the same heavy pressure sitting in her chest.
She had promised Grace she would figure something out.
But how?
Later That EveningBy evening Anita had already called four friends.
Each conversation went almost exactly the same way.
"Just six months," she would say.
"My sister needs somewhere to stay."
"She's pregnant but very quiet."
Every time the answer came back the same.
"I'm sorry Anita… I can't."
Now she was sitting inside a small lounge bar with one of her closest friends, slowly sipping a drink.
"I'm running out of options," Anita muttered.
Her friend shook her head feeling sorry for Anita.
"I wish I could help but you know my landlord. He barely tolerates me already."
Anita sighed.
"I know."
After a few more drinks Anita tried once more.
"Maybe she could stay with you just temporarily?"
Her friend shook her head again.
"Anita… I really can't."
The music inside the bar grew louder as more people entered.
Anita leaned back in her chair, exhausted.
Then suddenly her friend tapped her arm.
"Hey… look over there."
Anita followed her gaze.
A man had just walked into the bar.
Tall.
Calm.
Familiar.
Her friend squinted.
"Isn't that Johnny?"
Anita blinked.
"Johnny?"
The name felt strange on her tongue.
The last time she had seen him was six months ago at a mutual friend's birthday party.
Slowly, he turned his head.
Their eyes met.
For a brief moment both of them froze.
Then Johnny smiled slightly.
Anita stood up.
"Let me go say hi."
She walked toward him.
"Johnny."
He turned fully toward her.
"Anita."
They both laughed lightly.
"How have you been?" he asked.
"Good… you?"
"Still alive," he joked.
After a few minutes of casual conversation Anita returned to her table.
But the smile on her face quickly faded.
The same worried expression returned.
Her friend noticed immediately.
"You should ask him."
Anita looked up.
"Ask him what?"
"About your sister."
Anita stared at her like she had just said something insane.
"No."
Her friend leaned forward.
"Why not?"
"Because that's embarrassing," Anita replied quickly.
"I'm not asking my ex to house my pregnant sister."
Her friend shrugged.
"You said everyone else already said no."
Anita remained silent.
Her friend continued,
"And if I remember correctly, he used to talk to your family all the time when you two were dating."
Anita sighed heavily.
"He knows my mom and sisters."
"Exactly," her friend said. "So maybe he'll help."
Anita swallowed slowly.
Her pride screamed no.
But the voice in her head whispered try.
She looked across the room.
Johnny was sitting alone at a table checking his phone.
Anita exhaled.
Then stood up.
The ConversationJohnny looked up as she approached.
"Everything okay?" he asked.
Anita hesitated.
"Can I talk to you for a minute?"
"Of course."
She sat down across from him.
"This is a little embarrassing," she admitted.
Johnny smiled.
"Relax. We might be exes but we're not enemies."
They both laughed.
Anita nodded.
"You remember my kid sister Grace?"
"The funny one?" Johnny said.
"Yes… that one."
"What about her?"
Anita took a deep breath.
"She's in town visiting."
Johnny raised an eyebrow.
"And?"
"She's staying at my place right now… but I can't keep her there for long."
Johnny frowned.
"Why?"
"Well… I'm moving in with my boyfriend."
Johnny nodded slowly.
"And he doesn't want her there?"
"It's not like that," Anita said quickly.
"It's just complicated."
She paused before continuing.
"I just need somewhere for Grace to stay for six months."
Johnny leaned back slightly.
"Six months?"
Anita nodded.
"After that my boyfriend will travel overseas for eighteen months. Then she can come stay with me."
Johnny studied her face.
Then asked calmly,
"So if I'm guessing correctly… you want me to house your pregnant sister for six months?"
A strange smile appeared on his face.
Anita nodded slowly.
"I know it's a big ask."
She looked down briefly.
"But everyone else I asked said no."
Johnny rubbed the back of his neck.
"I know Grace… but not well enough to live with her."
"She's only six weeks pregnant," Anita said quickly.
"She can still help with chores and things."
Johnny chuckled softly.
"That's not really the problem."
Before he could say more someone across the bar shouted his name.
"Johnny!"
He turned around.
His friends were waving at him.
Johnny stood up.
"I need to go meet them."
He looked back at Anita.
"I'll think about it and call you later."
Anita nodded quickly.
"Okay… thank you."
She walked back to her table.
Her friend leaned forward immediately.
"That was a long conversation."
Anita sighed.
"Yes… and I just embarrassed myself."
"So what did he say?"
"He said he'll call me."
Her friend smiled slightly.
"Well… fingers crossed."
Anita looked across the room one more time at Johnny.
Then finished her drink.
Tonight, everything depended on one phone call.