Money for Nothing and Your Kicks for Free (standard:mystery, 1072 words) [2/3] show all parts
Author: jenne64	Added: Oct 26 2000	Views/Reads: 3225/2085	Part vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
The plot thickens. FEEDBACK ALWAYS WELCOME.

Money for Nothing and Your Kicks for Free. 

By Jenne64 

Chapter 2 

Anne watched as the small drops of oil fell into the bath causing a
small oil slick to form on the surface of the water. The aroma of 
freshly squeezed oranges hit her as the essential oils were warmed and 
immediately cleared her head. This was just the effect she had hoped 
her careful preparation would achieve. The candles that littered the 
room flickered and danced around her as she sank back into the tub, 
allowing her tired and aching body to be enveloped and soothed by the 
scented water. 

She allowed her thoughts to drift. She was all too aware that there
would be precious little time for moments like these once her work 
began in earnest. Quickly she dismissed thoughts of tomorrows journey 
from her mind, tonight was hers. 

Absently she picked up the bar of sweet scented soap from its dish and
began to soap her own form. Anne felt an intense pang of guilt as her 
fingertips reached her stomach. ‘You should have made that call, 
shouldn’t you?’ The voice in her head reminded her. 

“ Ok, ok I know I should have but....” She informed the fish that was
inlaid into the tile just above her head. He seemed to stare back at 
her in disbelief of her stupidity and had only the effect of adding to 
her guilt. 

“Look, what would I have achieved if I had made the call?” she
continued, returning the fishes stare defiantly. “We both already know 
the answer.” She ran her hand across her belly once more as if trying 
to protect the tiny human form that she was sure was growing inside 
her. 

“All it would mean is I’d have to tell the Boss and Neil and all the
others and then they would treat me differently. Hell, they might take 
me off this case and I’m not losing this, not for anyone.” As the words 
left her mouth she suddenly realized the futility of the situation and 
the tears began to well in her eyes. She knew that sooner or later she 
would have to tell but right now didn’t seem the right time. She 
thought about what had stopped her making that call today. ‘Fear’ came 
the resounding answer. Fear of the unknown, this would be her first 
child. Fear of losing her career, a career that she had worked so hard 
for. Fear of how Neil would react to the news. 

The fish seemed to speak to her again, “Neil, he has a right to know, it
is his child too.” 

“But he’s never here anymore, he’s not going to change just because...”
She trailed off suddenly unable to handle her emotions. This was not a 
feeling that she was used to and it only added to her distress. She 
pulled her knees towards her chest and sat watching the teardrops that 
rolled down her cheeks and into the water below before forming small 
pools of their own. 

Anne was broken from her stupor of self-pity by the abrupt tones of the
telephone ringing in her ears. Instinctively her hand reached out and 
she finally found the phone as she wiped the tears from her face before 
accepting the call. 

“Hi Honey, how you doing?” came the cheery but crackly voice at the end
of the line. 

“Neil?” 

“ Course, who else where you expecting to call? ” came the somewhat
terse, crackling reply. Before she could reply he continued, “ So I got 
your mail, it sounded kind of urgent. So?” 

Anne composed herself before speaking again,  “ I’ve just landed
possibly the biggest case of my career and will have to go out of State 
for a while, that’s all. Just thought you’d wanna’ know.” 



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