2 Unhitched (12 page)

Chapter 9

F
OR THE FIRST TIME IN months, I sleep soundly. Not even my recurring nightmare disturbs me. At the crack of dawn, I wake up, refreshed and renewed with hope. Yes, Gallant still loves me. I can’t wait for him to confess his little transgression and beg for my forgiveness. But I’m not going to make it that easy. He’s going to have to get down on his knees, and he’d better have a gift for me. Yes, something sparkling and expensive. Very expensive.

It’s amazing how much better the world seems when you can be forgiving. My face lights up when Gallant strides into the kitchen. He, too, looks rested. And clean-shaven. And oh so heart-stoppingly handsome. Maybe while he was at Faraway, the Badass Fairies mentioned my visit and knocked some sense into him.

He helps himself to the tea I’ve brewed and says, “Good morning, my love.”

He called me
my love!
That’s it; he’s done with Aurora. It’s only a matter of time until the confession. And we kiss and make up.

“Darling, is there anything you want to tell me?” I say, prodding him.

He gazes at me with his piercing blue eyes that still make me melt. I’m ready to hear the truth and forgive him.

He takes a sip of tea. “Jane, don’t forget that we have an appointment with Dr. Grimm at noon.”

I’m a little taken aback by his response but glad he’s reminded me; I almost forgot. I brighten. Of course, another sign he loves me. He’s still determined to have a child with me!

“Is there
anything
else?” I say, pushing harder.

“I’ll be in my studio most of the day.” He finishes his tea and dashes off. Without kissing me good-bye.

My heart sinks. Maybe, he’s still working on his confession speech and wants to give it to me tonight over a romantic dinner. And there’s also that perfect I-love-you bauble he needs to buy.

Moving to the window, I keep my eyes on the man I married as he gallops off on his beautiful white steed. His loose flaxen hair blows in the wind. How handsome he is! And smart and creative. He’s such a good father too. And what a lover! How lucky I am that he’s mine! And that Aurora is out of the picture!

Dr. Grimm’s waiting room is exactly what you would expect to find inside a storybook cottage. It’s a whimsical hodgepodge of colorful furniture—a cozy couch and a couple of rocking chairs, plus a silly cuckoo clock on one wall and a brightly painted mural of baby lambs jumping over a rainbow, one after another. “
Where Fairy Tales are Born
” is brightly written above the scene in a large, flowery font.

I’m disappointed that Gallant isn’t already here. The truth is, I’m early. I couldn’t wait to get here. All morning, I fantasized snuggling next to him, holding hands, and exchanging our favorite baby names between little kisses. Regret fills me. I should have played it closer to the clock—even have been late—to angst him out a little. To make him think that I wasn’t that into having his baby or that maybe my eyes had wandered. He should pay for his affair with Aurora!

Sighing, I plunk down onto the couch and look for something to read. On the coffee table, there are three choices. One is a copy of my children’s book,
Dewitched
, which I personally autographed for Dr. Grimm. Next to it is a copy of
Grimm’s Fairy Tales: Vol. 2,
a recently published sequel to the bestseller Dr. Grimm co-wrote with his brother, Wilhelm, my group therapist at Faraway. And, lastly, a copy of today’s
Fairytale Tattler
.

I’ve been eager to read the new Grimm book. I open it and gasp.
CHAPTER ONE:
Sleeping Beauty.
My mind races. Did the Brothers Grimm write about Gallant and Aurora’s little childhood romance?

“Jane, close the book,” a little voice inside my head whispers. “Don’t read it!” I ignore it.

Once upon a time, there lived a king and queen who could not bear any children. They tried everything, but nothing seemed to work. Finally, after much time, The Queen became pregnant and gave birth to a beautiful daughter. They named her Aurora.

Aurora!
I toss the book back on the table as if it’s poison. Enough! I’ve got to get her name out of my head. Needing a distraction, I pick up the
Tattler
and leaf through it. My stomach twists with apprehension. What if there’s a story about Gallant and Aurora? I can already see the headline:
“Snow White’s Prince Finds a New Sleeping Beauty.”
I tear through the pages. Not a word about Aurora and Phillip splitting. And not a word about Aurora and Gallant! HA! Those two gossip queens in the steam room were dead wrong! I take a deep breath and calm myself down. There’s no way that Gallant is having an affair with what’s her name! At least not anymore.

Feeling much better, I make a deal with myself to stop projecting things that aren’t necessarily true. And to stop distrusting Gallant. I can’t wait to see
my
Prince. I just wish he’d get here already.

A woman the size of a cow totters into the waiting room and plops into the large rocking chair across from me. She picks up my children’s book and begins to read it. I’m flattered and can’t help smiling. Yet, another soon-to-be mother who will be reading
my
story to her little one. She gets to the last page and flings it back on the table.

“What did you think?” I ask, debating whether I should tell her I wrote it.

She shakes her head and makes a disgusted face. “An appalling story!”

“What do you mean?” I say, shocked. That hurt!

“The Evil Queen didn’t deserved to live happily ever after.” Her voice grows more contemptuous. “Evil shouldn’t be rewarded in our society. It sends a bad message to our children.”

What! She’s missed the entire point of my fable. Life can be rewritten, and everyone has a chance at happily ever after. I want to scream out and tell her that hundreds of women have written me letters, thanking me for giving them hope. And for at last putting a kibosh on that evil stepmother myth. I want to give this bitch a piece of my mind. My mouth opens wide on the verge of a tirade, but only one word comes out. “Whatever.” It’s not worth the effort to defend my book. She’s probably too stupid and pigheaded to get it. I’ve also made up my mind. I’m not telling her I’m the author.

The woman folds her pudgy hands on top of her ballooning belly and gives me the once over. I’m hating her more by the minute. “So, what are you doing here?” Her tone is snarky. “You don’t look pregnant.”

I clench my fists. “I’m trying to have a baby.”

She smiles at me smugly. “I’m having multiples.”

No wonder she’s the size of a cow! Okay, I admit, I’m a little jealous, but I’d kill myself if I ever got that fat.

“They’re very active.” She rubs her humongous belly. “I can feel one kicking right now.”

“That’s nice,” I say coolly. I just want to punch her.

“Dr. Grimm thinks I’m having twelve dancing princesses.”

The wall clock spares me from having to say another word to this peasant. “CUCKOO!” says the little birdie twelve times. It’s noon. Time for our appointment. Where the hell is Gallant?

Dr. Grimm teeters into the waiting room. He’s wearing a long white coat and a tall cone-shaped white cap that sits just above his rimless spectacles. His white flyaway hair sticks out on the sides, and his white beard falls to his chest. To be honest, he looks more like a sorcerer than a doctor.

“My dear Jane, let’s see how we’re doing in the baby department,” he says warmly.

“Shouldn’t we wait for Gallant?” I ask tentatively.

Dr. Grimm wraps an arm around my shoulders and escorts me into his office. “No need, my dear. He messengered over a note saying he couldn’t make it.”

What! He’s not coming? I thought having a baby was the most important thing in the world to him. He’s even the one who forced me to see Dr. Grimm to help us along. He’s never missed an appointment! Ever!

“Did Gallant say what he was doing?” I ask nervously.

“He said he had an emergency meeting.”

My breath catches in my throat, and every muscle in my body tightens. “
We’ve been
meeting.”
Gallant’s words from the other night ring in my head.

I was wrong. Dead wrong. Gallant’s affair with Aurora is far from over. He can’t resist her! He’s still sleeping with the beauty!

Dr. Grimm’s small office looks like it
does
belong to a sorcerer. Or an evil mad scientist. There are large flasks of candle-warmed bubbling potions, test tubes dangling from wires, and frighteningly complicated arrays of dials, controls, and strange gurgling apparatus. On one wall is a library of books dealing with magic spells, chants, diets, and other bizarre fertility aids. On another is a shelf filled with neatly labeled bottles. Like evening primrose, birthing stones, and sparkling crystals. Magic fertility enhancers.

What the hell am I doing here?
I ask myself as I sit hunched over on Dr. Grimm’s examining table. There’s no rhyme or reason to be here while Gallant is off gallivanting with his mistress of evil. How could I be so foolish to think that he only loves me? A fat scorching tear rolls down my cheek. Dr. Grimm catches sight of it before I can wipe it away.

“My dear, you must be experiencing a maternal meltdown,” says Dr. Grimm sympathetically. “Where are we on our cycle?”

Our cycle
. I hate when he says that. It’s
my
cycle.
My
body.
My
life. And I’m not having
my
baby with Gallant. Ever!

“I don’t know,” I splutter. The truth is, ever since my awful miscarriage, my cycle has been totally irregular. It’s been even more erratic with my fertility treatments. A month with no period. Followed by some spotting. And then no period again—sometimes for several months. I think the stress of having a baby with Gallant has taken a toll on my body. I’m glad it’s finally coming to an end.

“Well, then, we’ll have to put you on a regiment of tribulous, mugwort, and black cohosh. It will enhance your fertility and help you get over your mood swings,” he says cheerfully.

He mixes up a vial of the awful sounding herbs. He then fills up a bag with glistening multi-color stones. “My very special Magic Birthing Stones. I want you and Gallant to take a love bath with them every night.”

A love bath? I don’t think so. I grab the bag and the vial and stuff them into my purse. As soon as I’m out of here, I’ll scatter their contents in his front yard. Maybe they’ll help some unfortunate infertile critters reproduce.

“My dear, I’ve had wonderful success with those stones. Princess Aurora would have never been born without them.”

Aurora! Why did she have to ever be born! I silently curse Dr. Grimm. I hate this sweet man for ruining my life! Rage races through my bloodstream. It takes all I’ve got not to pummel him with the stones. Or stuff them down his throat. I need to get out of here. FAST!

“Now, dear, just follow my instructions, and we’ll have a wee Gallant or mini-Jane before no time. I’ll see you back here a week from tomorrow.”