Page 42 of Don’t Open Your Eyes

“I had a feeling there was a ‘but.’ ”

“Let’s say for a minute that he only wants to look like the good guy. He might figure that your initial reaction would be to tell him no. I say, let’s call his bluff. Make him pay. That’s a lot of money that could make a big difference for you and your mother. She’s young. You don’t know how long she’s going to need that facility. I know that $450,000 sounds like a lot of money, and it is, but not when you factor in that you’re paying over eight thousand a month for your mom’s place. I’d rather see you get close to a million.”

She nodded. “I see your point. Fine; call his bluff. But get the money first. Tell him you’ll hold it in escrow until we meet. Does that work?”

“Yes, and you’re making the right decision. You don’t have to be nice to him. Hell, you don’t even have to talk. You just have to show up. I’ll put a time limit on it. One hour.”

“Deal,” she said, standing and extending her hand. “Thanks again. You don’t know how much this means.”

“I have two daughters. I do know. And I’m very sorry for what you’ve gone through. You deserved better.”

Annabelle felt herself tearing up. It was probably due to the pregnancy hormones, but that didn’t make what she was feeling any less real. She took a deep breath and nodded. “I appreciate that.”

He walked her to the door. “I’ll be in touch.”

As she headed to the elevator, she was filled with a sense of anxiety. Was she making the right decision? What if meeting with her father opened up a Pandora’s box?

Annabelle

I’m in a movie theater but no one else is here. It’s dark, and I look around, wondering why I’m in this big space, all alone. The screen comes alive and a strange voice echoes throughout the room. WELCOME TO YOUR LIFE. Fun house laughter gets louder and louder, and my heart starts to race. I need to get out of here. I stand, but my feet are stuck to the floor. No matter how hard I try, I can’t lift my legs. Then a wind blows, and I’m knocked back in my seat. I gasp as I look up at the screen again and it’s James’s medical office. The camera zooms in on the house turned office from the outside, the white building with red shutters even though they are blue in real life. Then it zeros in on a clock. Seven a.m. I watch as the cleaning crew finishes vacuuming. A woman turns around and yells to another. “Do you smell that? Like rotten eggs.” The other woman simply shakes her head. They finish and leave. The camera zooms in on the clock. It’s noon now.

One of the nurses goes to the kitchen and pulls out a cake from the refrigerator. I watch as she puts candles on it, pulls out paper plates and napkins, all the while humming a tune I don’t recognize. She goes into the hallway and calls everyone. “Cake Time.” She stops by the receptionist’s desk but Daisy, the woman who has been there for years, isn’t there. A young woman I’ve never seen before sits at her desk.

“We always celebrate birthdays here. Daisy has a lighter in her top drawer. Can you hand it to me?”

The woman does and remains seated.

The nurse laughs. “You can come too. Just because you’re a temp doesn’t mean you have to miss out.” A few minutes later, the entire staff is assembled in the kitchen. James is the last to arrive. The nurse hands a hat to James’s partner. “You’re the birthday boy. You know the rules.”

He rolls his eyes and puts the cardboard hat on. Everyone laughs. She pulls the lighter from her pocket and flicks it. A loud boom! Fire engulfs the room. Black smoke everywhere. Windows shatter, debris flies, everyone is screaming.

I can’t catch my breath. It’s so horrible. And then the screen goes blank. Next. A news story. A gas leak in a local medical office caused by a crack in the gas line. No survivors.

I scream, tears running down my face. Nooooooooo.

Annabelle was startled awake by her own screams. Her hand went to her wet cheek and she wiped the tears.

“What’s wrong?” The massage therapist jumped back, panic in her voice. Annabelle must have fallen asleep during her massage. She had taken the day off from work because she’d been so drained lately. “I’m so sorry! I guess I fell asleep and had a nightmare. I need to go!”

“You still have twenty min—”

Annabelle sat up. “I know. I forgot something.”

“Okay. I’ll let you get dressed.” She withdrew from the room.

Annabelle jumped from the table, threw the robe on, then ran to the locker room. She had to warn James. She looked up at the clock. Shit. It was eleven-thirty. She called his cellphone but it went right to voicemail. Dressed, she bolted outside, calling behind her, “Add a twenty percent tip on my card.”

James’s office was a good fifteen minutes away with no traffic. She had to get there before noon. She called the main number.

“Neurology Associates.”

“Daisy?”

“No, I’m temping for her today. Can I help you?”

“Yes, this is Doctor Reynolds’s wife. I need to speak with him urgently.”

“Um, he’s with a patient. Can I have him—”