Karen arrived back at her penthouse after a few hours of retail therapy. But spending Stan's money on clothes she'd only wear once wasn't as thrilling as it usually would be. During a spell down 5th Avenue, she passed a baby store and couldn't help but stop and look through the window. Her eyes passed over all the families and she stepped back with fear. The pregnant mums with their comfy, unstylish gear and their hair tied back in rough ponytails caused her to catch her breath. Could she be like them? She didn't think so.
Now she was sat in her bedroom, her fingers playing delicately over the phone book she held in her lap. Opening it, Karen quickly flicked through to the page she required. Nobody knows, she thought to herself, and they'll never need to. I've done it before; I'll do it again. Karen glanced at the number for the clinic and dialled.
"Hello, this is…erm...Anastasia Beaverhausen." She smiled slightly at using her alias but the smile faded as the woman asked what she wanted. "I…I need to book an abortion, As soon as possible."
Grace was sat in her apartment thinking over what had happened that day. First, her mother. But that was to be expected, what would be happening with the world if something didn't happen when her mother came to town? Then there was Will. How DARE he compare her to her mother? He knows how she feels about her! Or does he? Maybe Will doesn't know her at all? Finally, the pregnancy test she found in the office. The only person who'd been in all day was Karen, and she suspected Jack was there too. Did that mean Karen was pregnant? If she were, why would she leave the evidence for all to see? Or did she want Grace to find it? Maybe she didn't know how to tell her any other way. Did anyone else know? Grace walked to the kitchen and got a bottle of Evian out of the fridge, her head was starting to hurt with all the thoughts she was processing. Acting on impulse, she almost ran to the door, deciding she needed to talk to Karen.
"Gracie?"
As she opened the door, the face of her mother greeted her on the other side.
"Mom."
"What are you doing? You look upset?"
She sighed, she didn't need this now. She had to talk to Karen.
"Mom, look, it doesn't matter. I need to be somewhere, I'll see you later, ok?"
"But honey, I haven't told you about my commercial! Just think, your mother in a commercial! I bumped into these kids downtown and…" but Grace had gone.
Karen sat in her limo fingering her purse nervously.
"Driver? Stop here."
"Yes, Miss Walker."
She got out and looked up at the building before her. A moment of doubt flickered in her mind but she pushed it away and walked up the stairs to the door.
"Rosario? Where's Karen?" The maid looked shocked as Grace flung herself into the penthouse.
"She had to go to the doctors."
"What? Why would she…?" Grace stopped as she realised what Karen was planning to do. "Oh my god, we need to find her!"
"What? What's going on?" Rosario was confused, not understanding what her boss was about to do, andwhy Grace needed to stop her.
"Just tell me which clinic she went to," Grace said, grabbing Rosario by the shoulders. "before it's too late!"
Karen pushed the door open and walked into the clean, white waiting room. She'd given her name at the desk and the nurse told her that it'd only be a few minutes so she should sit in the waiting room. She looked around. Scared looking teenagers sat alone trying to read the various, scattered magazines. Then there were a few women in their early twenties, some with husbands. High-powered businesswomen, Karen thought. They'd got no time for a baby yet. Then there was her. What category did she fit into? High-powered businesswoman? Well, she worked for Grace but it wasn't really what you'd call a 'highflying' job. So she sat alone, like the forlorn teenagers, just waiting for her life to return back to normal.
As the cab drove towards the clinic, Grace couldn't help but think about how surreal the whole situation was. If someone had told her yesterday that she would be rushing to stop Karen having an abortion, she would have said they were mad! The cab came to a stop and Grace threw money at the driver whilst leaping out. I hope I'm still in time, she thought. But as she came to the top of the stairs, Karen came walking out.
"Karen!"
She stopped dead and looked in shock at Grace standing before her.
"Grace? What the…? How did you find me?"
"Rosario." She said simply. "I found the test. Please tell me you didn't!" she pleaded with the woman standing before her. Karen hesitated before she answered.
Ha ha! Cliffhanger! Though you all probably know what the outcome will be! R&R my dears please!