“She asked to speak to you alone.”
He walked past me without meeting my eyes.
Clara lay beneath a white blanket, one hand resting over her stomach.
“The baby is still inside,” she said.
“Yes.”
“The doctor said her heart is strong.”
“That’s good.”
Clara nodded.
Then she began crying.
“I thought she was coming out.”
I sat beside the bed.
“You were very scared.”
“Yes.”
She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand.
“Ethan cried in the bathroom.”
I looked toward the door.
“How do you know?”
“I heard him.”
She became quiet again.
After a minute, she said, “The baby’s father is Julian.”
I waited.
“He worked at the art center.”
“Was he your boyfriend?”
“Yes.”
“How long?”
“Eight months.”
“What happened when you became pregnant?”
“He got angry.”
“Did he hurt you?”
“Not with his hands.”
She pointed at her chest.
“With words.”
“What did he say?”
“He said the baby could have Down syndrome.”
Her sentences became slower.
“He said he did not want two people like me.”
I felt sick.
“He said that?”
“Yes.”
“Clara, that was cruel.”
“He said I could not raise a baby.”
“Did you believe him?”
“At first.”
She stared at the blanket.
“Then I told my support worker. She said I need help, but lots of mothers need help.”
“That’s true.”
“Ethan said the same.”
“What happened to Julian?”
“He took money. He said we needed a house.”
“How did he get access to your money?”
“I signed papers.”
“Did you understand them?”
“No.”
She looked ashamed.
“He talked fast. He said I was too slow.”
“That was not your fault.”
“I should have asked for help.”
“He should not have lied to you.”
Clara nodded, but I could see she still blamed herself.
“Did Ethan help you report him?”
“Yes. Ethan found a lawyer. The lawyer talks slowly.”
“That’s good.”
“Julian came back.”
I looked at her.
“When?”
“Two months ago.”
“Why?”
“He wanted money.”
“Did he threaten you?”
“He said he would tell everyone Ethan was using me.”
“Did you tell Ethan?”
“Some of it.”
