Free Chapter from Yesterday's Chains

 

Chapter 1

“I can’t believe I’m pregnant,” Pamela Fontaine whispered. “Jack is going to kill me.”

 

Well, he wouldn’t actually kill her, but he wouldn’t be happy. He’d made it clear he didn’t want kids. At times like this, Pamela wished she had a female friend to confide in. The only person besides Jack she was truly close to was his mother, Henrietta, and she couldn’t very well tell her.

 

Dr. Smithey returned to his office, smiling.  In his early 40s, he was a tall, lanky man with grey eyes. His hair had prematurely turned grey. She remembered her surprise seeing him look so much older around the time of what would have been her ten-year high school reunion. Should have been, that is. She didn’t graduate.

“So, there you have it,” he stated, breaking her train of thought. “Your due date is December 23^rd.”

 

“That soon?” It was only seven months away.  How was she going to tell Jack?

 

He smiled again. He was always smiling.

 

“Would you like to know the baby’s sex?” Dr. Smithey asked.

 

Despite her concern over Jack’s response, Pamela wanted to know. “Yes, please.”

 

Her heart fluttered in anticipation.

 

Grinning from ear to ear, Dr. Smithey told her what she had hoped to hear.

 

***

As she made her way through the grocery store, Pamela wished for the millionth time she lived somewhere other than Hopeville Bay, a tiny town in Eastern Canada. She knew there were strict rules about patient confidentiality but the population was only 1,017. What if word got around somehow? She’d tell Jack, of course, but wasn’t ready yet. 

 

Pamela’s right hand went to her stomach, though she wasn’t showing yet. Immediately, she placed both of her hands back on the shopping cart and looked around. Seeing no one nearby, she chided herself for being paranoid. So what if I’m pregnant? I’m a married woman. Still, she wanted to protect the news for as long as she could.

 

Picking up the last of her grocery items and standing in the checkout, she smiled at the cashier. The same young lady helped her every week.

 

“How are you, Pamela?” 

 

“Good, thanks, Trudy. How are classes going?”

 

Pamela wondered what it would be like to attend classes again.

 

Trudy Gumby’s smile was wide but her eyes looked tired as she rang in her items with her usual efficiency.

 

“They’re great but I can’t wait to graduate.  It’s hard keeping a full-time job while going to school.”

 

Trudy was studying at the local community college to be a hairstylist.

“I can imagine,” Pamela wished for the millionth time she’d received her high school diploma.

 

“You’ll still let me cut your hair when I open my own business?” Trudy asked, eyeing Pamela’s wavy long auburn hair.

 

“Absolutely,” Pamela offered, running her left hand through her tresses.

 

They talked about potential hairstyles and, before she knew it, the groceries were packed.

         

“Thanks, Trudy.  See you next week.”

         

“Bye now.”

 

***

Pulling up to their apartment on Grand Drive, Pamela thought about how her life had turned out. Newly married, she and Jack lived in a one-bedroom apartment on a family-friendly, tree-lined street housing mostly young professionals. 

 

It’s a shame she didn’t know her neighbours, but they kept to themselves. Jack didn’t trust most people and asked her to keep her distance. The stories he told her about his first few months in town made his hesitation understandable. Besides, his protectiveness made her feel cared for. She adored that.

 

She hugged herself, imagining it was his arms around her. He’d been away for work for a couple of weeks and she missed him. He’d gone to school to be a teacher but that hadn’t worked out for reasons she felt responsible for.

So, he’d had to find work where he could and that typically meant casual work in nearby towns. She missed him terribly when he was gone and worked extra hours at her job to keep her mind occupied. The last couple of days, however, she’d called in sick. 

 

Now that she knew what the issue was, she’d return tomorrow. The Dilly Dally Diner, where she worked as a waitress, had been short-staffed lately, so her boss hadn’t been happy when she missed a second day. 

 

***

 

Her mother-in-law, Henrietta Fontaine, invited her to dinner that evening and she was glad for two reasons. She was lonely and her cooking wasn’t the best whereas every meal of Henrietta’s was delicious. Henrietta was a chef during her working years. Now, her son and daughter-in-law ate the fruits of her labour.

 

Knocking on the door of Henrietta’s cozy cottage-like home on the outskirts of town, Pamela heard footsteps at the other end of the door as well as Henrietta’s booming voice. 

 

“Mouse, you’d better disappear or I’ll send you to the basement. You know you make my sweet Pammy nervous.”

         

Pamela smiled despite her somber mood.  She was sure Henrietta was the only woman in the world with a cat named Mouse.

 

The door swung wide open and four-foot-tall Henrietta with curly salt and pepper hair greeted Pamela with a smile and outstretched arms. Towering over Henrietta at five foot seven, Pamela fell into her mother-in-law’s hug.

 

“I’m so glad you’re here, dear,” Henrietta said, pulling back as if to get a good look at her. “Now tell me, are you feeling okay? You look a little pale.” 

 

Henrietta’s gaze continued to hover over her.

 

Her concern reminded her of her own mother, at least before their falling out.

 

“I’ve been under the weather,” Pamela whispered, staring down at Henrietta’s fuzzy bunny slippers in an effort to avoid her penetrating gaze.

 

“Does Jack know?”

Pamela shook her head. “I didn’t have the heart to tell him.”

 

Henrietta nodded. “Just as well with him being away.”

         

Pamela nodded in agreement as Henrietta led her into her tiny yellow kitchen, which had a small table set for two complete with a bouquet of lilacs. Lilacs were commonplace in Hopeville Bay, and the scent never failed to refresh her senses.

 

“At least we’ll have elbow room tonight,” Henrietta said, chuckling.

 

Pamela giggled. She couldn’t help it. Her mother-in-law had a contagious laugh. Plus, she was right. The table was a tight squeeze when Jack was there.

 

After a hearty meal of Tuscan chicken soup, homemade bread, and a salad with all the colours of the rainbow, the two of them sat in the living room with slices of warm apple pie and ice cream.

 

As Pamela savoured every bite, she suddenly wondered if she should change her diet now that she was pregnant. 

 

“You’re deep in thought,” Henrietta mused, taking the last bite of her pie while gazing at her guest.

         

Shrugging her shoulders, Pamela didn’t quite know what to say.

         

“I know you must miss Jack,” Henrietta said.  “Has he phoned?”

         

Pamela shook her head. How she wished she could answer yes.

 

“He works so hard, and the time difference must make it hard for him to call.” Henrietta counted the time difference on her fingers.

 

“Three hours,” Pamela confirmed.

         

“Any idea when he’ll be back?” her mother-in-law asked.

 

“He said it might be six months this time,” Pamela sighed. “It’s good pay though,” she continued. “We’ll need it when the baby comes.”

 

 “Baby?”  Henrietta shrieked, a sparkle in her eyes.

 

Pamela hadn’t meant to say that aloud. What had she done? She slid down the chair as if to disappear.

 

Henrietta stared at Pamela as if waiting for more but nothing came except for silence and tears.

 

“There, there, dear,” Henrietta said, moving closer to Pamela and putting an arm around her.

 

“I didn’t mean to say anything. I haven’t even told Jack. He doesn’t want kids,” Pamela lamented. 

 

The tears continued to fall, the stress of the last few days catching up to her. As if sensing her distress, Mouse came out of hiding and rubbed up against Pamela’s legs. For once, she didn’t mind.

“I know Jack isn’t sure about kids,” Henrietta said, offering her daughter-in-law a tissue. “It’s only because he grew up without a dad. Don’t you worry, I know my son. He just needs time. You’ll see, Pammy, everything will work out.”

 

Pamela appreciated her mother-in-law’s positivity but she wasn’t as confident.

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