Unwelcomed Homecoming

I look at her, still confused. She tightens the shirt around my throat, ignoring the fact that it can’t fit right. I slap her hands away and unbutton the top few buttons.

She giggles excitedly, her eyes locked in mine. She’s drinking in whatever reaction I am giving her.

She says, “A little while ago, my doctor said I can’t have kids. Luckily, you’re pregnant now. That’s why I asked them to cancel your abortion. Tom was angry until he understood.”

“That’s not what happened,” I remember that operating room clearly. There wasn't.... Suddenly, it's hard to remember exactly how Tom looked when he barged in.

“Yes it is,” her voice is sickeningly certain, “are you remembering it right? He barged in after Dr. Kyle started again because I changed my mind. I want your baby.” Her smile widens, cutting across her face wickedly. The giddy excitement in her eyes makes my stomach churn. “I mean… I already have your husband. Why not make it a set?"

I push her back and raise my hand to slap her, but she stops me, a giddy smile still on her face.

She lowers her voice - because she has to - and leans in, “Is this the time or place, Chloe? Will Tom let you leave if he knows you’re still so… violent towards me?”

“You’re insane.” I growl at her, “Tom wouldn’t give you my child.”

“We’ll see, I guess,” She shrugs and then pouts as she looks down at me, “oh no, Chloe… you’ve gotten so fat. Do you think you’ll be able to fit the pants I brought you? I can get a trash bag if you need. It might be the only thing that fits.”

With this she starts laughing, and I put a hand on my stomach, trying to control my desire to attack her. It wouldn’t help my baby. No one could stop me. I could get rid of her once and for all, but my baby. How would this affect my baby?

I need to escape. If I’m outside the hospital, at least I have a chance.

I suck in a deep breath and take the pants. It’s unlikely these would’ve fit me before, but luckily, despite my pregnancy, I’ve lost too much weight so I manage to pull them on. April seems unimpressed by this but says nothing.

April starts towards the door, “hurry up and follow me. Or I’ll tell Tom you want to stay behind.” She opens the door and swings along the door frame to look back at me. She wears a cheeky smirk, “and then you’ll never get out.”

I can’t finish the buttons on the pants. I decide it doesn’t matter anyways. No one here expects me to look sane. My goal is to get out, not look good. Years of trying to look good for Tom, this is where it got me. 

We stand outside waiting for Tom to return. He does with one of the nicer nurses.

“Do you like my car?” April asks me while I watch Tom, the Nurse, Dr. Hogan, and Dr. Golfe talk. I glance at April and follow her eyes to the red Corvette parked behind Tom’s car. “It was a gift. From Tommy.”

I take a breath and send my mind somewhere else.

Whatever Tom’s been doing, he’s been doing for a while. I shouldn’t let myself hurt over it. I think that, but my body reacts despite that. I want to curl over. I want to be sick. To wimper. To cry. To scream. I want to throw things and run away forever. I can go - at least - in my imagination.

“Chloe,” I turn to Tom’s voice, “let’s go.”

I follow without much thought. My mind is still in a protective fantasy. He leads me into the car and gets in after me.

I don’t know the driver but he gives me an uneasy, uncertain look through the mirror before driving forward. He glances back at me periodically as if I'm an unwelcome intruder.

“We’re going to see how you do at home without a nurse.” Tom says, looking through his tablet, “if it’s not working out, we’ll bring one over.”

I look out the window, hanging onto my imagination for as long as possible to avoid whatever my reality is.

“Chlo…” Tom says, “Chloe Hayden. Answer me.”

“It’s Samson.” I turn my head towards him, “Chloe Samson.”

His jaw tenses and he bites his lips together. He looks away and shakes his head once.

He looks back at me and says, “whatever your name is, you’re my wife. You will live in my house. And our child will have my name.”

“It’s my child,” I put my hand on my stomach, “you’re not the father.”

He scoffs at this but then hesitates, watching me. Waiting for my expression to change or for me to take back my words.

When I don’t, he snaps, “the only child you can have is mine.”

“I hate you.”

“Do you want to go back?!” He shouts. His fists clench over the tablet. I feel the driver slow down, preparing to turn around.

I hesitate. I don’t want to go back, but I don’t want to be near him. I decide there might be a good middle ground. I curl over and hug my stomach, moaning, “ow…. Ohh it hurts… my stomach… the baby…”

“Psh, nice try.” He brushes me off with a dismissive wave and returns to his tablet.

“I need a hospital… please…. Tommy….” Calling him that seems to perk his attention. I double down, curling forward and moaning louder, “Tommy… our baby…. What if we lose our baby – I need a hospital.”

“You just said it’s not even mine. Heal at home.”

I sit up then and glare at him. I see a small smirk pull on his lip as I do this but he quickly hides it.

“You’re a scum bag.” I mutter as I cross my arms over my chest and stare out the window.

It took nearly an hour to get home despite relatively light traffic. The apartment is the same. Mostly the same, anyway.

It has a new jade scent. I assume this is its natural smell because I was the one obsessed with controlling the scent of the house. But then I see the slightly altered decorations. The new pictures on the walls. The extra shoes by the door. The small pink jacket tossed on the back of the living room sofa just around the entrance wall. 

Then my heart stops as I hear the light puttering of two feet hustling towards us from the kitchen.

"Tommy!" I hear April's voice before she rounds the corner, "I was about to make you-"

She rounds the corner and pauses when she sees me. The look on her face seems surprised, as if this might not be where I'd go after being released. I can't tell if I fell sick, angry, or devastated. But I'm frozen in the spot.

“Why is she here?” I breathe as Tom closes the door behind us.

“Chloe!” She cheers, running forward to greet me with a hug, “Welcome home!”