Chapter 39 – Alana
Chapter
Thirty-Nine
ALANA
Ismile at Lucia as the sonographer rolls the small device over her stomach, showing us images of her unborn child on the screen. My eyes flicker between the fuzzy pictures of the baby and Lucia herself.
“Oh look, Alana,” she says with tears on her cheeks. “He’s perfect.”
I take hold of her hand and squeeze tightly. I’m feeling a little teary myself.
“He certainly is, sweetheart,” I say. “Totally perfect. I can’t wait to meet him.” Seeing her baby on the screen is the perfect antidote to the completely crappy start I had to my day.
Alejandro was true to his word and stayed at his hotel all night. I hardly slept, foolishly hoping that he would come home and slip into bed beside me. When he didn’t, I wondered again if someone else had slipped into his bed—our bed—at the hotel instead.
Sex is his favorite way to unwind and deal with stress. If he isn’t doing it with me, then is he looking elsewhere? I’m being stupid. I know I am. Alejandro is not that man, and it’s my own insecurity speaking as much as anything.
“Would you like some photographs?” the sonographer asks, breaking my train of thought.
“Yes, please. We’ll need three, won’t we?” Lucia replies. “One each for me and Alana, and one for Alejandro.”
I nod at her, those tears spilling over now. Of course she would think of him. “Yes, that would be nice. He’ll appreciate that.”
The sonographer starts the printing process, and my mind drifts back to our argument last night.
I outright asked Alejandro if he regretted marrying me.
He just sat there, as though he didn’t want to admit it.
And then I made the whole situation worse by suggesting that I regretted our marriage when that couldn’t be further from the truth.
This marriage brought me to life, and even if it ended right now, I would never regret it.
I’ve checked my phone a dozen times this morning, hoping for a text or a call, but I’ve heard nothing from him.
I contemplate calling him, but I don’t. I’m too scared that he’ll reject my call. If I don’t reach out, he can’t push me away. I can carry on pretending this is just a silly argument. A blip that we will get over in no time at all.
A short time later, Lucia and I are climbing into the armored SUV with Hugo and Hank, as well as our new driver, George.
Alejandro now insists that if we must leave the house, we do so with armed guards and in the safest vehicle possible.
It does not suit the mood that Lucia is in, bright and bubbly, filled with happiness and excitement.
I sit next to her, both of us looking at the printouts of that adorable peanut shaped blob of a human. I always imagined I would have one of my own one day, but I’m trying to come to terms with reality. As everybody keeps pointing out to me, there is more than one way to have a family.
We’re just pulling out of the parking lot and toward the intersection when Hugo begins to shout to George in Spanish. I can’t understand what he’s saying, but I can tell it’s not good.
Before I have time to ask, or react, the whole car shakes and shudders. There’s a horrible grinding noise, and I’m thrown violently forward, my seatbelt cutting into my neck as the sound of crunching metal and smashed glass fills my ears.
I grab hold of Lucia’s hand as the car skids along the road, holding her tight.
My ears are ringing and my head spins. Her baby photos fly from her grip, floating in the air.
I hear more shouting and more gunshots, and then the door is tugged open.
Lucia screams as we’re dragged out of the car.
And I fight. I fight as hard and as nasty as I can.
But one of them punches me in back of the head, and the world goes black.