Plan B… Jill had to smile at the small irony of the name because it was his name for what had happened that weekend. Plan B. And now here she was, rushing to the other side of town, looking for her own Plan B
She couldn’t deny the steadily growing attraction between them. They had strolled the museum exhibit hand in hand before some bored kid with that school tour pulled the fire alarm. So as they stood out on the street, she had turned to him and asked coyly, "What now?" And he had said, "We go to Plan B."
Plan B turned out to be a romantic stroll in the park, which turned into a hide and seek game like children until he captured her giggling in the bushes and had gathered her up his arms. Then the unwrapping and opening of a summer dress and a cotton shirt… Amazing to make love with the smell of jasmine and basil and thick woods, under a dome of blue sky with the tickle of grass blades under her thighs. She had wrapped her arms tight around his neck, and as he kissed her breast he had murmured playfully, "So how do you like Plan B so far?"
"If this is Plan B, it makes me wonder what plans you got for the rest of the alphabet!" she laughed. Ecstasy… until he pulled out of her and looked down with concern. "Oh, no." His condom had broken.
To his credit, he was comforting and in control, both of them trying to reassure each other that it would all be fine, and it wasn’t until after they had parted and she’d gone back to her own apartment that her anxiety grew.
This was the worst time for her to get pregnant. Next to no family support in her life, with her sister half a continent away, and she had just been promoted and they made it clear that sacrifices would be expected from her to succeed. "Long hours, Jill." Never mind about fair. Career never seemed to be fair.
Yes, she wanted kids some day – but not now.
It had been a daydream indulgence to think about what it could be like to have kids with him. Things had been going well, and yes, he was great – owned his own business, a medical supply dealership (selling people something that was actually needed, he said) but it was early in their relationship, ages away from discussing that issue, and now to have this potential crisis…
By some miracle (thank you!) she managed to book an appointment with her doctor, who also happened to be a good friend, Amy. So a day later she was hurrying down to the clinic. Amy listened patiently and then began to talk about the morning after pill, Plan B. Yes, it was safe – it was, after all, an emergency contraceptive approved by the FDA.
Jill Gets the Facts About Plan B
"When do I take it?" asked Jill.
"You’re going to swallow the first tablet right now in front of me," said Amy, handing her a plastic cup of water. "You’re supposed to take Plan B within 72 hours of having unprotected sex. You take the second Plan B tablet 12 hours later.
"You know," she added, "you were smart to come to me right away – it means there’s 85% chance of effectiveness if you take Plan B within 3 to 4 days. But it actually works much better in the first 72 hours. How do you feel?"
Jill offered a small smile. "Safer."
"Okay, you call me right away if you have problems with nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, any spotting," said Amy. "Plan B is very effective, but it’s always good to keep an eye on any signs of side effects for any prescription drug. I know you’re a smart woman, Jill, but I’ve got to remind you that Plan B won’t be effective against any STDs."
Jill said, "I don’t think he’s that kind of guy."
"Good, glad to hear it," said Amy with a comforting hand on her shoulder. "I take it you like him?"
Jill thought about how he had handled the situation so far. He had left her a couple of messages, asking her how she was, including one that invited her to dinner as if all was fine. And maybe that was the best way he could be for her: a source of reassuring support. "Yeah," she said gently. "Yeah, I do like him."
"Well, as your friend rather than your doctor, I order you to come to lunch with me on Thursday and tell me all about him," said Amy. "Especially since things are getting serious between you two. And I better meet him soon, too!"
She reminded Jill again about when to take the second tablet of Plan B, and then Jill was out the door, standing at the top of the small steps, feeling as if the day was just really beginning. She knew she would be all right. Everything would be all right in a couple of days – after she had taken the second Plan B.
She didn’t think about her scare or any other worries as she finished up her work day. And he was waiting for her as she left the office. Flowers. He smiled and said shyly he didn’t know if they were at the stage where he should leave them for her at the reception desk, or if she had concerns about office gossip.
"Forget gossip," she said, "I want to take these home!" Then he said the perfect thing, which was to ask if everything was okay.
She told him about Plan B, and he smiled and arched his eyebrows over the name. Then he said maybe over dinner they ought to talk about what they each wanted, and as she looked at him guardedly, he added, "I do want kids – some day." She linked her arm through his, glad for the Plan B in her purse, thinking about how there was hope for other plans in their future.
