Chapter 4

Claire

The security guards took hold of me by either arm as Gerald stood in front of me. “Let go of me!” I exclaimed, trying to shake them off, “I can walk by myself!”

They barely loosened their grip.

“Make sure you escort her to the exit of the building,” Gerald said. He had already dialed an ambulance and I had heard them take Christina away. I had been standing there, shaking and crying, begging for Gerald to listen to me.

The only emotion on his face was that of pure, unadulterated loathing.

The journey from the top floor to the ground floor exit was one of the longest in my entire life.

I wiped the tears off my face before stepping down from the first flight of stairs.

It seemed that every single employee in Gerald’s company had abandoned work to come examine me. I was overwhelmed by the dense din of murmuring as people stared shiftily at me everywhere.

Their faces bore twisted expressions -- a mixture of curiosity, disgust, and surprise.

And not one person knew who I was. They were only gathered here upon hearing the commotion of Christina’s fall and the ambulance sirens that followed thereafter.

I was glad that Christina had gotten medical attention in due time and hoped that she would recover quickly. But I couldn’t believe that Christina would pin such an accusation on me. How could anyone, let my husband of three years, have believed such a blatant lie?

I sighed. I couldn’t prove my innocence to everyone.

The guards shoved me out of the main entrance of the building. Outside, the sky was clear and the world was sunny and bright. The contrast to Gerald’s grey and black office space was so stark that I almost felt relieved for a second.

I took a few deep breaths. I knew not where to go from here. 

I could not go back home to face further humiliation from Agatha about my supposed crime of pushing Christina down the stairs. Nor could I go and stay at a hotel. I had neither a job nor any money. 

The idea came to me suddenly but I did not know whether it would still be an option. 

Jennifer had been my friend since high school but we had been out of touch for the past several years. I did not know whether she would still be in the state, let alone whether she would let me stay at her house.

I clicked my tongue and weighed the options. If she were out of the state or otherwise declined my plea for help, I would simply have to think of another place to go. I could not – did not – want to ask my family for help.

It’s worth the risk to at least call her, I thought. So I pulled open her contact card and dialed. I held the phone up to my ear. My mouth ran dry.

It was ringing.

“Claire!” Jennifer’s voice said my name immediately after she answered, “How are you, my love? It’s so good to hear from you!”

I heaved a sigh of relief.

“I’m good, Jenny,” I said, “Listen, I’ll get to the details later but I really need your help right now.”

Concern crept into her voice as she dropped her volume a notch and said, “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” I replied, “Listen, I have a favor to ask. Could I please stay at your house for a few days? I’m in a really tricky situation. I’ll explain the details later.”

“Where are you right now?” Jennifer asked.

I turned around and looked up at the tall building behind me. It was one of the most majestic structures in Massachusetts.

When she didn’t hear a response from me, Jennifer continued, “I’ll send you a car, okay?” she said, “Drop me your live location.”

I nodded and then realized that she couldn’t see me. A weak laugh escaped my lips. 

I dropped her a pin to my live location and then hung up the phone. I spun around and walked towards the main entrance. A security guard blocked my path.

“You’re not allowed inside, ma’am,” he said sharply.

“Could I just sit there while I wait for my ride?” I pleaded hopefully.

He shook his head and pointed to a bench some distance away.

“You can wait there,” he said.

I trudged up to the bench. My legs had grown weak and my mouth had grown as dry as sandpaper.

And suddenly, everything fell dark. I heard someone shouting, “Ma’am!” in the distance. I fell onto the pavement.

Someone was trying to shake me awake. I caught a brief glimpse of his face – brown hair, chiseled jawline, and frantic blue eyes – before my eyelids drooped heavily and I passed out. I could tell that he had hoisted me up in his arms.

Was he…the same man…who I saw…by…the reception desk?

***

I strained myself to open my eyes. The room was white and smelled of rubbing alcohol.

“Where am I?” I mumbled, trying to sit up. A sharp pain stabbed across my shoulder.

“Sir, she’s awake,” a woman’s voice said.

I turned and blinked. A nurse stood before me.

A doctor walked up behind her. His eyes were gentle and his tone was soft but the words that he said shook me,

“Ma’am, please try to get some rest. You’re already one month pregnant.”