Dawn of Eve, MJ Howson [lightweight ebook reader TXT] 📗

Dr. Cole hit the rewind button on the cassette deck. He then opened his desk drawer and grabbed his red-cased phone. As he raised the cellphone, a series of notifications appeared across its shattered screen. He slid the phone into his pocket and walked to the door, placing his ear against it. Dr. Cole could make out Dawn and Flo setting up her next appointment. He waited until he heard Dawn leave. Dr. Cole opened the door and stuck his head out.

“Hungry?” Flo asked.

“Very.”

“How’d your session go? She’s looking good. Well, other than her hair.”

“It was . . . troubling. She continues to tell me things she should have revealed long ago. I’m becoming very concerned that . . . .” Dr. Cole paused to consider Flo’s comment. “What do you mean she looked good?”

“Her makeup. That’s the first time I’ve seen her wear any all year.”

“Really? I didn’t notice.”

Luna paced across the top of his wife’s desk. Flo tried to brush the cat aside so she could see her computer screen. The tabby resisted, forcing Flo to place the cat on the floor. She looked at the display screen and said, “Your calendar’s clear for the next two hours. I was thinking we could take a walk somewhere for lunch.”

“Okay.”

“It’s a bit chilly today. Winter will be here before you know it.” Flo sighed and stared out the window. Her eyes glossed over as a smile spread across her face. “I still can’t believe this will be our last winter in New York.”

“We’ll be in Florida before you know it. I’ll be writing my book, and you’ll be . . . what?”

“Having cocktails by the pool.” Flo chuckled, and her husband soon joined in the laugher. She stopped abruptly and said, “We still have to pick a place, Winston. Are we settling near the beach? And if so, are we doing the Gulf side or the Atlantic? Or do we hit one of those retirement communities like The Villages?”

“We can debate the pros and cons on our way to lunch. Just give me a few minutes to file things away.”

Dr. Cole closed the door, quietly turning the lock. He went back to his desk and removed the phone from his pocket. He then flopped in his chair and stared at the notifications.

Am I ready? Dr. Cole asked himself.

Twenty Four

Tina

Dawn stared at the prescription bottles resting on the vanity in her bathroom. Just the sight of them spiked her anxiety level. She looked away and instead focused on her reflection in the mirror. Dawn rather liked the shocking contrast her natural hair color imparted and still wondered if she should dye it all black. She opened her prescription bottles and emptied the pills into the palm of her hand. Dawn flicked off the light, carrying her pills and glass of water into her bedroom.

Eve sat propped up on the bed, resting against one of the king-sized pillows, her eyes staring ahead. Dawn walked to the other side of the bed and placed her glass on the nightstand.

“You should be glad you don’t have to take these things,” Dawn said, staring at the pills in her hand. “I’ve been on this new combo of meds for over a month. When I read the side effects, it just makes me more anxious. I didn’t need these before the miscarriage.”

“Don’t take them,” Eve said.

“You want me to stop?” Dawn flopped onto the edge of her mattress, her shoulders hung low. “I’m doing so much better. But I often wonder if it’s because of you, not the doctor. I . . . I don’t know. He says I’m improving. He says it’s the meds. I’m just not sure.”

“Don’t trust him.”

Dawn turned and looked at Eve and asked, “Do you think he’s like Caretaker? The one in your diary?” Dawn stared at the pills in her palm. “The doctor wants what’s best for me. But so did Caretaker. You . . . you didn’t trust her, did you?”

Eve sat in silence, not responding.

“Did Caretaker betray you?” Dawn waited, but Eve just sat there. “Tell me, Eve. I told you to trust me.” Dawn waited patiently for several seconds. She bit her lip and asked, “Will the doctor betray me?”

Dawn glanced at Eve and then at her pills. She grabbed the glass of water beside her bed and washed the medicine down. As the pills slid down her throat she couldn’t help but feel as if she’d disappointed Eve. Dawn slid from the mattress and dropped to her knees. She felt beneath the bed for the old cedar-lined jewelry box, opened it, and retrieved her fertility pills. She took a pill and returned the bottle to the box, tossing it on the corner of the mattress. Dawn downed the medication with her water.

“Read my diary,” Eve said.

“What, you don’t want to read about the latest art exhibits?” Dawn stared at the worn leather diary resting on the nightstand. She picked up the book and flipped it open. Dawn ran her fingers through the sections with gaps, her fingertips brushing against the jagged edges of the binding. “I wonder where the rest of your story went.” She glanced at Eve. “Do you know?”

“Read my diary.”

“All right, already.” Dawn tossed her sheets back and dove beneath them. “You’re getting very demanding young lady.” Dawn sighed as she flipped through the tattered pages, searching for where she last left off. “Last time was all about Billy. Who’s next?”

∞∞∞

October 2, 2012

Eve looked at Tina, flopped in her lumpy bed next to Eve’s. Tina stared wide-eyed at Suzie, who was busy admiring herself in her handheld mirror. Poor Suzie struggled to see her reflection due to the dim light coming from the overhead chandelier. Still, she did her best to adjust her twisted-up bun. Hugo, oblivious to the three girls in their beds, licked olive green frosting from his fingers. As with each birthday party, Hugo had managed to take an extra