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

to the side of the carriage, her oversized sunglasses masking her face. “Yes.”

Flo reached into the office and grabbed the door handle. She glanced at the stroller, shook her head, and gently closed the door.

Dawn and the doctor stared at one another in silence. The clanking and hiss of the radiator beneath the window soon broke the awkwardness of the situation.

“Can I ask why you brought Eve?” Dr. Cole asked.

“She comforts me.”

Dr. Cole nodded and pointed at the chair across from his desk. He asked, “Our usual seating?”

After a brief glance into the carriage, Dawn said, “Yes.”

Dawn removed her full-length brown mink coat and tossed it over the back of the chair. She wheeled the stroller next to the chair and sat down opposite the doctor. Dawn presented a nervous smile, tapping her finger against her knee, matching the beat of the ticking wall clock.

“Has something happened that you feel you need her here during our session?”

“It’s Jacob,” Dawn said. “I found out he’s nothing but a liar. I’ve been distraught all week.”

“Before we continue, I’m going to record our session, okay?”

“Sure.” Dawn nodded and glanced at Eve in the stroller beside her. “I guess.”

“Do you mind removing your sunglasses?”

“Sorry.” Dawn removed her Pradas and slid them into her purse.

Dr. Cole hit the record button on the tape deck sitting at the edge of his desk. He then said, “This is session number thirteen with Dawn Easton. Today’s date is Friday, December thirteenth, twenty nineteen.” Dr. Cole looked at his notes to refresh his memory about their last session. His mind was too consumed with Flo’s revelation for him to keep his focus. He looked up and stared at Dawn. She appeared far more tense than usual. He knew he needed to ask her about her mother, but he’d need to be delicate and try to guide her to the topic. “So, Jacob’s got you rattled?”

Dawn nodded without responding.

“Would you like to bring him in?”

“Not anymore.” Dawn stared at the doctor for several seconds, her crystal blue eyes never blinking. “But I bet you would.”

“Excuse me?”

Dawn reached into the stroller and removed her coffee and pastry bag. She popped the lid from her lipstick-stained cup and took a sip. She glanced past the rim and said, “I can’t trust him.”

“Do you want to tell me why?”

“I’m . . . not sure.”

Dr. Cole pushed his notes aside and opened the folder Flo had given him. He said, “When you first came here, we talked about how important trust was in pursuit of your therapy.” He pointed at the plaque that read Trust is a two way street. “Do you remember?”

Dawn opened her pastry bag and retrieved a half-eaten miguelito. Under her breath, she muttered, “Do you?” She took a bite, looked up at the doctor, and asked, “What do you know about my Jacob?”

“Just what you’ve told me.” Dr. Cole began to flip through his notes. “I know you two have wrestled over his role as a father. And that he struggled with your pregnancy.” He sighed and tried to recall the rest from memory. “You said he didn’t like the doll. And you were convinced he didn’t want kids but would come around. I challenged you as to why you were pursuing someone not interested in kids. Did you two have a fight? What’s happened?”

Dawn looked into the stroller at Eve, flat on her back with her eyes closed. Dawn shook her head, turned to the doctor, and asked, “Have you ever met him?”

“Jacob? No.” Dr. Cole rubbed his temples, confused by Dawn’s questions. “Why?”

“He’s not the man I thought he was. He’s a liar.” Dawn bit into her pastry and slowly licked the sugary residue from her lips. “I’m starting to realize most men are.”

“And you’re sure you don’t want to bring him in? It was once important to you.”

“Not anymore.”

Dr. Cole sighed and scratched his beard. He knew he needed to confront her with what he’d learned. Dawn’s constant half-truths had to end. He said, “Let’s get back to trust.”

“Right.”

“Where’s your mother?”

“My mother?” Dawn glanced at the stroller and frowned. “I’ve already told you. Why do you keep asking me?”

“You go to great lengths to avoid talking about her, Dawn. And yet you . . . you want to name your baby after her. You once called her your hero. Your protector.” Dr. Cole waited as Dawn nervously fidgeted across from him. He said, “Tell me again. Please. Where is your mother?”

“She’s . . . away.” Dawn took a sip of her coffee but refused to look at the doctor. “She left after my dad’s death.”

“You told me she left the city to be with friends, and you’ve never spoken to her since then. But where did she go, Dawn? Where is she? Right now. Today.”

Dawn lowered her head and took another bite of pastry. She looked at Eve and said, “I don’t know.”

“You don’t?” Dr. Cole sighed and leaned forward. “How did your father die?”

“He fell. From the terrace. Again, we already–”

“Dawn.” Dr. Cole clasped his hands together. He felt Dawn’s tension rising in concert with his. “Trust comes from telling the truth. I can’t help you if you aren’t being honest with me. I’ll ask you again. How did your father die, and where is your mother today?”

Dr. Cole waited and watched as Dawn sat silently across from him, nervously drumming her fingers against her cup. She took a sip of her coffee and glanced at the stroller but did not respond.

“I know the truth, Dawn,” Dr. Cole said, trying to temper his anger and disappointment at her refusal to answer him.

Dawn looked up and started to say something. She glanced at Eve inside the stroller and groaned. Dawn placed her coffee cup on the floor and began wringing her hands together.

“Tell me,” Dr. Cole said. “It’s important I hear the truth from you.”

“My parents are gone. That’s all.”

“Dawn,” Dr. Cole said. “Your mother killed your father.”

“Who told you that?” Dawn smacked her fist into her