Dawn of Eve - MJ Howson (read full novel .txt) 📗

“What kids?”

“Tina, Billy, Anna.” Dawn glanced back at Eve and sighed. “Why?”

Dr. Cole resisted the urge to write the names down. He looked at Dawn and asked, “Any others?”

“Others? Kids? Um, Charles was one.” Dawn folded her arms and frowned. “Why?”

“No reason. I’m just curious.” Dr. Cole smiled. “And this diary helps you sleep? The stories relax you?”

“Um, yes. I . . . I guess.”

“Maybe you can bring it with you next time.”

Dawn grabbed her purse from the floor, her heavy jeweled bracelets rattling against one another. As she stood up, she looked into the stroller for several seconds. Eve’s eyes snapped open. Dawn turned to the doctor and said, “Maybe.”

“Dawn, I’m going to write you a new prescription.”

“What?” Dawn gripped the carriage’s handlebar. “Why?”

Dr. Cole opened his top drawer and brushed his cell phones aside, searching for his script pad. When he found it, he pulled it out and grabbed a pen. As he began to write, he said, “It’s for stress.”

“Stress? I’m not stressed. I told you, I’m much happier since getting Eve.”

“I know.” Dr. Cole finished writing the script, tore it from the pad, and placed it at the front of his desk. He waited for Dawn to pick it up, but she remained glued to the side of the stroller. “You’re attitude shows happiness, as it relates to caring for Eve, but your anxiety regarding your family and even Jacob has been on the rise.”

“It . . . it has?” Dawn slowly walked toward the desk. “But, I thought I was doing better.”

“Don’t take this as a setback, Dawn. You’re postpartum depression is much improved. Truly.”

Dawn picked up the script and stared at it for what Dr. Cole felt was an extremely long time. She finally sighed, unclasped her purse, and shoved the paper inside. As she did, one of the phones in the drawers began to buzz, causing a series of rattles to occur, including a resonating hum from the Trust plaque. Dawn stared at the small frame, flipped it face down to stop the buzzing, and said, “I’ve told you before, that’s very rude.” She glanced over her shoulder at the ticking wall clock and added, “Almost as annoying as that thing.”

Almost as if on cue, the radiator began to clank and hiss as it filled with steam. Dawn shot it a look of disapproval and frowned.

Dr. Cole leaned forward, pressing his stomach against the drawer. He flipped the plaque upright and said, “I got this from my brother-in-law Daniel. Did I ever tell you that?”

“No.”

“It was a gift to celebrate opening this office. Daniel understood trust to be the foundation I planned to build my practice on. Trust is important, Dawn.”

Dawn folded her arms and looked away.

“Don’t forget to schedule your next session with Flo when you leave.” The phone continued to buzz. Dr. Cole ignored it. “Enjoy your weekend.”

Dawn stared at the Trust plaque buzzing on the desk. She finally said, “Thanks. You too.”

Dr. Cole waited until Dawn left the room before stopping the tape recorder. He hit the rewind button. The unit shimmied as it began rewinding the tape. The phone continued buzzing, causing various things on his desk to hum and vibrate. He let out a loud audible sigh as he grabbed his pen and slid his notepad closer. With a heavy sigh, he wrote, not schiz aff dis?

The phone in his drawer stopped buzzing. Dr. Cole slid the drawer open and looked at the two phones. He checked the one with the blue case, but there were no messages. The red-cased phone showed a series of notifications from an app called SAM. The doctor unlocked the phone and opened the app. The first message indicated he had a new message from someone named Justice. This was followed by a half-dozen more alerts regarding unlocked pictures.

The old Panasonic recorder shuddered as the tape finished rewinding. Dr. Cole ejected the cassette and looked at the date on the label–Easton-D 10/25/19 #11. He placed the tape on top of his notepad.

Dr. Cole returned the phone to the drawer and quickly made his way to the door. He opened it to find his wife at her desk, typing away at her computer. Luna emerged from her litterbox and jumped onto the windowsill where she could keep watch on the outside world. Dawn had thankfully left.

“I’m thinking ribs for lunch today,” Flo said. She didn’t bother to look up from the screen.

“That sounds great.”

“I thought we could take a walk and get some fresh air.”

“I’d love to, but I need to sort through my notes from Dawn’s session before my next patient comes. It will have to be takeout today.”

“What on earth was that freaky doll?” Flo shook her head and pursed her lips. “I got so excited to see a baby in the stroller, but then I looked inside.”

“It’s part of her therapy. Sort of.”

“Mm-hmmm.” Flo always emphasized the second half of that acknowledgment, dragging it out a bit longer than most people. She shook her head and sighed. “That lipstick shade was all wrong. And her hair? That girl needs a beautician. Pronto.”

“Her hair? What about it?”

“Winston! I swear, there are days . . . .” Flo stood up, walked around her desk, and kissed her husband’s cheek. “You know you’d be lost without me.”

“I do.”

“I’ll call an order in for takeout on my way there. Do you want your usual?”

“Yes, please.”

Dr. Cole helped his wife into her coat and locked the door after she left. He then went back into his office and snapped the door’s lock in place. Once back at his desk, he grabbed the phone with the SAM app and began swiping through the pictures Justice had sent him. The shattered screen made the task somewhat clumsy to perform. As with many of these online profiles he came across, Justice chose not to share any face pictures. But he couldn’t complain about what he saw.

Dr. Cole glanced back at his office door to confirm it was locked.