Headache

Anna.

“Fine, we shall stay.”

The words came out when I least expected them. I turned and looked at Robert, wondering if I had imagined them.

“Did you say?”

“Yes. For now. We’ll leave as soon as Emmy fully recovers.”

This was the best thing I’d heard in a while. I rushed over and hugged him tight, feeling the familiar warmth of having someone who cares. Sometimes I thought Robert was a hard man who didn’t care about anyone, but other times he showed me he was the opposite.

“Thank you very much, Rob.”

“I don’t like it,” he admitted. “But uprooting her right now isn’t fair. Nothing matters to me more than her well-being.”

I pulled away and nodded, grateful that he was being very understanding. A few minutes later, I received call from Jacey, a woman who had previously employed me.

“Anna?” she said in an urgent manner. “This is Jacey from Ardent Events. We have an opening tonight, a fundraiser. It’s just a one-night gig. Are you available?”

She proceeded to tell me how much it would pay and the amount was astounding.

“Yes,” I said immediately without thinking much of it. Then I remembered Roberts’s words the evening I worked at the club. “I—yes, I am. Wait. Let me call you back in a minute.”

When I told Robert, his answer was expected.

“No.”

“Robert, please,” I said, feeling helpless. “It’s only for a few hours. And the pay is so good.”

The money would be a great addition to my savings for Emmy’s open heart surgery.

“I don’t care about the pay,” he snapped. “Those events are full of men who think money gives them permission to do whatever they want.”

“You know I can protect myself. I never let those men touch me. I’d rather lose the job.”

“That’s not the point.”

“We need this money. For Emmy’s hospital bills, rent, and so many other things. You know that.”

He was silent for a long time, lines appeared on his forehead as if he was thinking deeply.

“Only this one time. If anything stupid happens, we’ll leave the city immediately. I’m warning you, Anna. Do not speak to any man.”

“Thank you so much.”

I didn’t like doing these sorts of jobs but I needed the money. Although Emmy’s condition was stable now, it could worsen anytime.

I had served at many of these events so I knew what to expect. Men in tailored suits and women in gowns that looked out of this world. Honestly it was mostly the same people, from the same top families but every time they looked even better than before.

It was like the women’s only jobs were to hunt for the best dresses for each function. Their lives were so different from ours. Was I like them when I was married to Reid, my only problem being what to wear? It didn’t seem like a possibility.

They say speak of the devil and he appears. In my case, I thought of him right before spotting him.

He was standing near the bar with a drink in hand. He wore a black tailored suit that looked it was made just for his tall and muscular frame. This man was so handsome I couldn’t believe he could have married someone like me. How was that even possible?

When his eyes caught mine, my hands shook. I gripped the tray and stared in horror at the shaking glasses. I turned away before I could make a mess and walked as fast as possible. When I finally stopped to take a breath, a voice snapped me out of my thoughts.

“Anna,” he said. I jumped, the drinks nearly flying out of the tray. If his goal was to get me fired, he was close to achieving that. Jacey didn’t tolerate carelessness.

“I’m working,” I said, remembering Robert’s warning. Clearly Reid was determined to cause me as much trouble as possible.

“I know. Can we talk?”

“You already said enough at the hospital. That topic isn’t up for discussion right now.”

“That wasn’t what I wanted to talk about.”

“Why are we divorced?” I asked. Ever since I met him, I had not stopped wondering what had separated us. The rude words he had called me that evening meant it was probably my fault but I couldn’t figure out what I could have done to make him hate me so much.

His expression changed as soon as he heard the question. The warmth disappeared from his face and he looked angry. He gave me a death glare, not saying a word.

“Why did you reject our child?” I asked, remembering what Robert had told me about my past. Everything was confusing and didn’t make much sense.

Up close, I noticed how much he looked like Emmy. The eyes, the nose and even the fingers clutching the glass. His fingers and nails were identical to Emmy’s and now I was more than convinced he was really the father. How could two people have the exact same hands?

“Now I’m the bad guy?” He asked. “You’re incredible, Anna Mackay.”

“I’m sorry but I don’t remember anything from the past. All I know is what Robert told me. He said you rejected my pregnancy.”

He didn’t say anything, just stared at me. Looking at him, I wondered what it must have been like to be his wife. What kind of house did we live in? Had he loved me, dotted on me or just tolerated me?

The questions in my head were many and it triggered a terrible headache. It felt like my head was splitting into two. Within minutes, the pain has become so unbearable. Locating the nearest table, I staggered forward and placed the tray on it.

Everything in the room seemed to blur. I could barely hear the voices and music. Someone rushed towards me but I could barely tell who it was. I felt myself being led away from the table.

I wanted to scream from the pain, frustrated that it wouldn’t stop or even reduce. I couldn’t see or hear anything. I felt someone’s hands around me, and then I was being lifted. And then there was a commotion. Voices arguing and so many things I couldn’t understand.

And then the world faded into darkness.