The Great Escape: History

After an hour of lying down, I came downstairs to see Claudia Joy in the kitchen, flipping through a magazine.

“Claudia Joy—you really didn’t have to stay. I’m sure that you have other things to do.”

“Nothing that I can’t do from a phone.” She held it up, and then placed it back on the table. 

“Feeling any better?”

Absently, I rubbed at my neck, while grabbing a drink of water from the faucet. I noticed that my hands weren’t shaking as much as before, and took that as a sign that I was on the mend. “Depends on your definition of better.” Looking around, I finally noticed that Denise wasn’t there. “When did Denise leave?”

“She went to relieve the babysitter, just after you went upstairs to lie down. But she did tell me she would call later on, to see how you were doing.”

“Of course.” The air grew silent between us. I don’t think either of us knew what else to say. Once we were rivals, but now friends. It always amazed me just how quickly things could change.

“Jackie?”

“Yeah.” I read the look on her face, and expressed a quiet response. “I’m fine, Claudia Joy—really. I was actually just thinking how good it is to have friends again.” The inflection in my voice seemed to catch her eye.

Walking over to the table, she placed a supporting hand over mine. “I know things didn’t get off to the perfect start—but I hope you know that you are always welcome.”

“I know that now.” Giving her an appreciative glance, I went on.” My father always had this saying that went something like: always put your best foot forward—which basically meant nothing should be second best. That included the best schools, friends—you name it. Yet, I didn’t really start thinking about it until after I was married; how I had such a privileged life.”

The reason I thought about it so often, was I felt like after I met and married Kevin—took on 

his name and had his children—I watched as history repeated itself.

“We all want what’s best for our children. But a lot of times we put our own happiness to the side. When Amanda died, I felt torn and thought that I could never be happy again.”

I could tell that it still hurt to talk about the loss of her daughter. Claudia Joy had been through so many things, that it didn’t seem fair that she was going through yet another trial at the end of this week.

“You okay?”

Rubbing absently at my forehead, I looked up at her. “Just a headache.”

“I can leave, if you want to go lay down.” 

“I think I will, actually. If you don’t mind?”

“No, not at all.” She stood up from her chair and grabbed her purse from off the counter.”Just promise me one thing?”  

“Yeah.”

“No more outside trips, and if you need anything you call. If I don’t hear anything from you, I’m coming back over. Do you want me to try and get hold of Kevin?”

“No. He should be coming home around seven. I’ll just lie down until then and hopefully my headache and fever will go down.”

Clearing her throat, Claudia looked at her watch. “That’s still eight hours away. You’re sure that you’re going to be okay until then?”

“Yes. If I don’t call you in a couple hours, feel free to come back over. ”

Watching as I went upstairs, Claudia Joy had one hand on the doorknob. Just as I was lying down, I heard the front door close. I sighed in relief, especially at the decreased pounding in my head.

Sadly, it was enough to distract me enough from going back to sleep. It took another twenty minutes before I could grab the energy to go into the bathroom and run the water for a bath.

By the time that I had got in, I had almost drifted off to sleep a few times. The second time, I heard a car door close outside and Kevin calling my name.

Listening, I finally heard his heavy footsteps on the steps, as I tried to get up, but was shaking considerably now. I figured that I would wait a few minutes, and then have Kevin 

help me.

“Jackie?”

“In here.” He padded into the bathroom, still in uniform. He closed the door behind him, even though it was just the two of us living here.

“There was a message on my desk that said I should call you, but you never picked up. What’s going on Key?”

I looked almost confused as him as I held out my hand and he pulled me out of the water. Grabbing the towel, he handed it to me and I wrapped it around my body. “What message? I never called you.”

He shrugged, still holding onto me as I almost fell. “Easy.” He guided me over to the bed to sit. “Then if you didn’t call, who did?”

“Honestly Kevin, I don’t know. When I didn’t show up for a meeting today, Denise and Claudia Joy showed up at our door.” Holding the towel tighter, I tried to find balance again, but was failing miserably.  

“What meeting?”

My head felt like it was spinning. Really, I couldn’t handle another potential argument with my husband. “We were supposed to go through a few minor things while Denise and Claudia Joy 

are recovering.”

“Right. Have you eaten anything today?”

“Cereal. But then I couldn’t keep anything down.”

“That’s all? Jackie, it’s almost one in the afternoon.” He brushed his hand over my forehead, and frowned. I had never seen him to attentive. “Then you already know that you have a fever?”

“Yeah. It’s not my fever that I’m worried about. My head is killing me.”

“Have you taken anything yet?”

“No.” I said it all a little quickly and slightly panicked. I was afraid that I would have to explain why I was refusing to take anything. “I just want to sleep.” If emphasizing, I nuzzled my head into the pillow.

I was drifting off when I heard him reenter the room. It was a slightly odd feeling that I hadn’t heard him leave. As he walked over to the bed, I heard him set something down on the nightstand, before a beeping sound echoed through my slightly frazzled nerves.

I could tell that he wasn’t convinced: that he had decided to take my temperature anyway. The next thing I knew, he was muttering, “102.1” and shaking my shoulders and telling me to open my eyes.  

“Mmm…” A simple moan was all I could muster, before my world went black.