.

Perhaps it's better this was, Claire thought as she put her phone down. A clean break, rather than watch him go through contortions trying to escape when he finds out I'm pregnant, and who or what it is I'm carrying. Better all around. She dipped a carrot stick in a bowl of hummus and ate it. No point in trying to restrain my eating anymore. And Mrs. Niu will be here soon.

She was at home. There had been no point in going to work, and her superior had accepted her reasons for calling in sick. In fact, he had been generous, telling her to take all the time she needed. It was the perfect opening: she explained that she was pregnant, and her doctor didn't want her to expose herself or her baby to the dangers inherent in working with potential sources of contagion such as corpses and tissue samples.

The Family and Medical Leave Act was on her side, and she had plenty of paid sick leave— several weeks worth, in fact— so she braced herself for an argument…which didn't come. He asked the usual questions, and told her to contact the Human Resources department for some forms she would have to fill out, and that was all. She was off from work for the foreseeable future.

Unfortunately, the foreseeable future extended exactly one month. Samara moved within her—there was no mistaking that feeling for indigestion or imagination any more. At least I know what she wants now. She wants to be alive again. But does she want a real second chance, or is she coming back just to make as many people suffer as she can?

I don't know.

I don't know.

She crossed her apartment and took a book of mythology off its shelf. I need to brush up on my demigods, she thought, opening it up. And on their mothers


Rachel Keller parked her car across the street from the complex where Claire Winslow lived, and gathered up the bouquet of cheerful gerbera daisies and the cranberry nut bread she had bought at Whole Foods, as a peace offering and a friendly gesture both. I got her into this. I made her watch the tape. I'm going to have to get over my dislike and do everything I can to help her.

Glancing at her watch as she slid out of her car and locked it, she noted that she had two hours until Aiden's school let out. That will give me an excuse to leave if things get nasty. Dr. Winslow doesn't have to know Pamela's picking him up for me.

At the corner, Rachel found herself waiting for the light to change while standing behind an Asian family—an older woman with her grown son and daughter—or daughter in law, it was hard to tell. The mother wore a kimono jacket in shades of rose, beige, green and brown, and she carried a bunch of burgundy chrysanthemums. The man was exceptionally tall, with a 'startled porcupine' hairstyle and thin round glasses; the girl was classically beautiful, or would have been if she weren't so annoyed.

"What made you go and get new frames?" she asked the man peevishly.

"Someone whose judgment I trust told me they were outdated and made me look socially inept," he replied. The light turned to green and the 'Walk' sign came on; the four of them started across.

"You are socially inept," she shot back. "That's why they were so perfect for you."

"Meg," said the older woman warningly. "Why don't you go and study in the coffee shop while we pay our visit? This doesn't concern you, and you have exams coming up, do you not?"

"So I'm just the chauffeur?" the girl demanded. "Fine, fine." She stomped off down the street while mother and son continued into the complex—and wound up right where Rachel was going.

"I'm sorry. Are we in your way?" asked the man, stopping in front of Dr. Winslow's door.

"I don't know. I'm here to see Dr, Winslow, so—."

"So are we." said the older woman. "Is she expecting you? Go ahead and ring, Martin."

At that moment, from the opposite direction, the blond man Rachel recalled as having been with Dr. Winslow at Shelter Mountain appeared, looking out of breath and carrying an enormous bouquet of roses. "Excuse me—!" he panted.

Dr. Winslow opened her door ."Oh, Mrs Niu! I'm so glad..." Then she saw the the clot of people who were waiting to see her. Her eyes widened when she took in Rachel, and widened further when she saw the blond man, but not as much as theirs did.

Whether she hadn't any clothing which would conceal her belly, or whether she just wasn't bothering, the effect was the same. She wasn't at the 'Oh, my god' stage, but she was undeniably pregnant, her belly hoisting up the front of her dress. Her slim arms and legs made her expanding midsection and swollen breasts look even larger in contrast.

"Oh." she said. "Isn't this awkward." She sounded as bitter as a pinch of alum. "I suppose you had better all come in.


Hey! Thank you, Overthemoon, MimiBReal, Sabejias, Elthiel and Vampyro! Hope you like...