Someone Hiding in the Shadows...

81 - The Pact (Part Two)

 "I love your flat. I can see you like mauve," she said taking in the distinctive sofa that dominated the room.

"Well, it was a bargain, and it's so comfortable!"

I made my way over to the sofa and slipped off my shoes and put my feet up, urging her to do the same. The large sofa easily accommodated both of us.

"So," said Emily after we had made ourselves comfortable, "You go first!"

I took a deep breath, onwards and forward, I suppose.

"I really, didn't want a child now Emily. Honestly, I was so careful to make sure I didn't get pregnant. I never forgot my pill, kept a spare with me, I've never been ill or had to take meds since we have been together. So, when I became pregnant I was really suspicious. Plus he said how much he wanted children, which intensified when we became engaged."

I felt so emotional, so charged with the enormity of the situation that I got up from the sofa and paced backwards and forwards in the room, as if to calm myself.

"It was a real shock when I found out I was pregnant and I found it hard to believe. So when Alice the pharmacist noticed how many pregnancy tests I was picking up she called me into her office to talk to her. Strangely we had a very open chat; I needed to talk to someone and I felt I could with her. I opened up about my concerns and she was really kind and understanding. I just need to get a glass of water. Do you want one?"

Emily shook her head, as I went to the kitchen and poured a large glass of water and took a long sip. I felt so dehydrated.

I walked back over to the sofa, placing my glass on the bookcase behind and sat back down as I continued.

"Alice then told me how she completely understood and in the circumstances would it help if she got my tablets tested."

Emily looked very serious, as she urged me "Don't stop now. Keep going."

"She told me about how her ex-husband had tricked her into becoming pregnant by switching her tablets to placebos, so Alice thought she was taking the pill when really she was just taking fake sugar tablets. One night after she had her baby, her husband was blind drunk and thought he was telling one of his friends, otherwise she would have never found out."

I wiped a tear from my eye as I continued "She said that once she knew how he had schemed to do that, it changed everything and how she felt about him."

I felt myself just collapse back onto the sofa in such a resigned and sad way.

"Alice said it made things very difficult rather than then waiting to have a child when they were living in more suitable accommodation. With her realising he had gone behind her back, ignoring her concerns rather than waiting, the marriage just deteriorated as she lost her trust in him."

It came out in a long rush as if I found it hard to slow down, as the words tumbled out and then I paused.

"Don't stop now, Athina, carry on, please," said Emily.

I nodded at Emily, "Alice rang me today, and someone she knew owed her a favour and tested my tablets. As I had my suspicions, she thought I needed to know the truth either way. I gave her two packets, an old packet and a newer one. They both tested as placebos."

Emily let out a sharp intake of breath with the impact of my news.

"So now, I have lost all hope, I just don't trust him. Jarod's the only one who could have done this,"