Child of Her Heart. Irene Brand

in her personality.

      “Oh, I didn’t know who he was sending.” She stepped back into the apartment. “They’re boxed and in the bedroom. The janitor will carry them downstairs.”

      “Two of the men from the office are with me. They’ll carry the boxes.”

      The men, both of whom had often visited their apartment, pushed a luggage carrier down the hall. Mute, Sonya motioned them to enter. They spoke, and after that, refused to meet her gaze.

      Sonya followed them into the bedroom. They stacked the boxes on the carrier while Gail riffled the dresser drawers. She added Bryon’s jewelry box and several books to the stack. When she picked up Sonya’s jewelry box, Sonya said, “That happens to be mine. Or do you have orders to take my things, too?”

      Gail fingered several of the gold chains and lifted the diamond necklace, Bryon’s last-year’s Christmas gift. She dropped it back into the box and closed the lid. “You’d better put those in a safer place. You won’t be getting any more.”

      From the nightstand drawer, she took an album filled with pictures of Bryon’s childhood and youth activities. She brushed by Sonya and went back into the living room, where she collected the trophies and plaques that Bryon had won at bowling and golf tournaments.

      “Where are his golf clubs and bowling ball? He wants those, also.”

      Sonya pointed to the closet beside the hallway. She had lost the power to speak. Gail handed Bryon’s sports equipment to the waiting men, and as Sonya listened to the carrier squeaking down the hall removing all evidence of Bryon from the apartment, she couldn’t have been any more disconsolate if they had been wheeling Bryon out in a casket.

      Before Gail left, she took a letter from her purse. “Bryon also wanted me to give you this.” Her brown eyes flared maliciously.

      Sonya couldn’t lift her arm to take the E-mail letter, so Gail laid it on the table, exited into the hall and slammed the door.

      Gail! Was she the other woman Leta had warned her about?

      Sonya locked the door, as she didn’t want anyone to come in. She had about reached the end of her endurance, and if she came completely unwound, she didn’t want anyone to witness it

      She forced herself to pick up the message Gail had placed on the table.

      Sonya,

      I’ve paid the bills you sent, and I think it’s only fair to tell you that I’ll pay no more. I’ve arranged for the telephone to be disconnected, and the electric and gas will be shut off the last of the month. If you had been reasonable when I asked for a divorce, I wouldn’t have gone to this extent. As far as I’m concerned, you can fend for yourself.

      Your “loving” husband, Bryon.

      The last of the month. So she had three more days to live in this apartment. Even if Leta permitted her to stay rent free, she couldn’t live here without utilities.

      The telephone rang several times before Sonya finally answered it.

      “Mrs. Dixon, this is Doctor Hammer’s office. When we submitted the statement for your last office call, the insurance company rejected our request stating you were no longer on that policy. I’m sure it’s a mistake, but I thought you should check it out.”

      “Thank you for calling. I’ll look into it.”

      “And don’t forget your next appointment in two weeks.”

      Sonya replaced the phone. Of course, there wasn’t any mistake—Bryon had removed her from the policy. What could she do? She had no job, no money, no insurance for the birth of her baby, no friends, no nothing.

      Laughing wildly, Sonya charged around the room kicking the furniture. She looked out the window. What did she have to live for? Three floors down. One quick jump would end it all. It would be practically painless and easy. She unlatched the window and climbed out onto the ledge. The traffic roared below her. She looked down fearlessly. On the count of ten, she would jump.

      “One.”

      I’ve always feared heights. Shouldn’t I be afraid now?

      “Two.”

      The clouds are pretty today. They remind me of the sky in Ohio when I was a child. I used to pick out all kinds of figures in the clouds—animals, continents, states. Can I do that now? Why, yes, that one looks like an angel. Is it my guardian angel? “I looked over Jordan, and what did I see? Angels coming to carry me home,” she sang dreamily.

      “Three.”

      The first time Bryon had seen her, he’d said, “Gee, you’re beautiful. Where have you been all my life?” She had been so proud that Bryon had chosen her. Was that why she had always done what he’d wanted her to? Come to think of it, she had never refused to do anything he’d asked until he had demanded she have an abortion. Maybe Bryon wasn’t as perfect as she’d thought Was she only a possession to him? Was he kind only when he had his own way? But she refused to believe it, for to concede that Bryon’s character contained many flaws would reflect on her own judgment.

      “Four.”

      The trees above her were beginning to display colored foliage. She had always liked fall; too bad she would miss all of the beauty.

      “Five.”

      Would Bryon feel sorry when he heard the news? Would he realize he had caused her death? Maybe she should have left him a note.

      “Six.”

      I should have written my parents, but there’s no time. If I don’t do this now, I might lose my nerve.

      “Seven.”

      The pavement looked inviting. I must remember to fall on my head. Sonya envisioned that her landing would have the sensation of settling into a water bed.

      “Eight.”

      When I awaken, where will I be? That was a sobering thought, but Sonya counted on.

      “Nine.”

      She released her hold on the brick wall and leaned forward, but she staggered back when the ringing telephone shattered the stillness.

      What am I doing on this window ledge? she thought frantically. When the telephone continued to ring, she scampered back inside the living room.

      Grasping the receiver as if it were a lifeline, she said breathlessly, “Hello.”

      A resonant voice answered her. “This is Adam Benson. Daniel Massie gave me your name. When would it be convenient for my wife and me to call on you?”

      “Could you come right now?” Sonya gasped. “I’m desperate. I’m afraid of what I’ll do if I’m alone anymore. I need help. Please come right away.”

       Chapter Three

      By the time Adam Benson rang her doorbell, Sonya shook like a woman with the palsy. Her throat was dry, and when she opened the door she seized the man’s arm.

      “I’m Adam Benson, and this is my wife, Marie.” His brown eyes gleamed with compassion, and he murmured, “My dear, trust us.”

      Marie Benson put an arm around Sonya and led her to the couch.

      Adam said to his wife, “Make some tea, and see if you can find something for her to eat.”

      “I’m not hungry,” Sonya murmured between stiff lips. Marie disappeared in the direction of the kitchen, and Sonya heard her opening cabinet doors as if she were at home.

      “I almost did a terrible thing,” Sonya confided to Adam. “When the telephone rang, I was standing on the window ledge ready to jump to my death. How did you know I needed