All at once

Ben’s laughter echoed softly in the room. He brushed Fiona’s hair to the ear, before pressing a kiss on her lips.

Fiona stretched lazily against his chest, a picture of peace.

Meanwhile, miles away, Benita’s legs ached from pacing the hospital corridors. 

Her hands trembled as she gripped her phone tighter, redialing Ben—voicemail. Again. Again. The doctor’s words haunted her: “If the surgery isn’t signed off within the hour, we’ll lose him.”

“Waterside Hotels” Ben’s assistant whispered into the phone. “Please don’t say I told you.”

Benita didn’t even grab her coat. She just ran.

By the time she reached the hotel, she was breathless. Her fingers trembled as she rode the elevator up. Room 503. 

She pounded on the door.

She didn’t plan what she’d say. She just needed Ben.

It opened too slowly.

“Benita! Jesus, you look horrible…”. 

Benita flinched. “I haven’t slept in days, Ben. Our son has been sick.”

“At least you could take a bath and brush your hair…”  

Benita looked at him. He stood shirtless. Handsome. For a man of thirty-six years, he surprisingly looked younger than that.

Benita concluded it was maybe it was because he was taking a vacation when their son was dying. Or because he was doing all the lying and draining.

Her gaze flicked to the view behind him. Seeing Fiona in her husband’s bed still felt so unreal but there she was. Barely covering her chest. 

Benita’s heart thundered like it will crack open. Many emotions coursed through her at once. Anger. Jealousy. Pain. Fear.

Fiona stood from the bed, “Honey, who is it?” She wrapped the hotel bathrobe over her body and peered outside, he lips life in a smirk when she locks gaze with Benita. “Wow. You actually came.” She teased. 

Benita clenched her fist so tight her nails dug into her palm. “Ben,” she groaned, literally. “Please, come with me. Gaby needs you. The doctors—”

Fiona’s laughter broke her midway. A dry, haughty tone that made Benita’s ears burn. “Oh my God. You still want him back. Even after this?”

“Fiona—” Ben warned, but it was too late.

“Ben,” she snapped, “You were right. She is obsessed with you. You told me she’d beg and look at her— she’s groveling while you’re in my bed.”

Fiona looked at Benita, her expression full of scorn. “Baby, we don’t have to hide it anymore, she knows now, she just can’t face it.” 

“Fiona, you were my best friend.” Benita murmured, fighting back tears, “We relied on each other for so much, how could you do this to me?”

“God, you’re so pathetic.” Fiona scoffed, “It’s making me sick!” 

“Benita, what do you want here? Want to join us? Missed me?” Ben finally spoke.

“You said you were on a business trip,” Benita muttered, “I called you when Gaby was dying but you didn’t come… because of her?”

“Poor little Benita…” Fiona tutted her lips, “Her feelings are so hurt, she’s going to burst into tears.” Fiona cackled. “You really thought Ben loved, didn’t you? My man? What would make any man want you? You were so desperate for love, that you trapped him with a child.”

Fiona was right, Benita was so hurt, that she physically bled. Her nose suddenly started bleeding,  maybe it wasn’t the heartbreak, maybe the past three weeks were finally taking a toll on her. 

“Ben, Gaby’s dying.” She managed to mutter.

“Let him die.” Ben scoffed, so casually. 

Benita staggered back, blinking. “What?” Her voice cracked. “He’s our son.”

“He said,” Fiona echoed, “Let him die. I’m pregnant with the child he actually wants to father. Gaby’s death would be doing us both a favor.”

Benita gripped her chest like she had been stabbed. She stumbled. 

“You don’t mean that,” her voice barely audible. “Take it back.”

Fiona came to the door, her face inches from Benita. “You think you’re special because you gave him a son? Badging in here and trying to take him away under the pretense of your child. How pathetic.” She sneered. “You’re nothing but a fool funding our whole damn romance.”

Benita turned to Ben, eyes full of tears. “Please,” she begged. “You loved Gaby once. You held him in the hospital, remember? Please, follow me to the hospital.”

Fiona shrugged, unbothered. “Ben, now that she knows baby, divorce her as we planned.” 

Benita couldn’t breathe. She looked at Ben, “Tell me it’s not true.”

Something flickered in his face. Guilt? His resolve began to waver.

Fiona let out a scream, suddenly. She clutched her belly, gasping. “Oh—Ben! The baby! Something’s wrong!”

Ben rushed to her side, catching Fiona before she collapsed.

“Fio…” he moaned, holding her ever so tenderly.

Standing there in the doorway, she watched the man who once swore he’d die for their son now hovering anxiously over another woman’s unborn child.

She was still standing there, lost in thought, drowning in jealousy. Her phone rang.

“Hello?”

Doctor Brian’s voice filtered through, soft and still. “Ma’am… you need to come now”

“What’s wrong? Is Gaby getting worse?” Benita panicked.

“Ma’am,” the nurse called calmly, “I’m afraid, Mrs Dawson, I did all that I could.”

Benita’s blood ran cold. Her chest sank. “What?”

“Mrs. Dawson, Gaby didn’t make it.”

The world went silent.

“I’m sorry.”