Fall From Grace: The Dance Thriller, Part 2

What People Will Do To Get This High

Silver Springs, Maryland
Monday, December 1, 1997
(1:00 am)
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"Why are you doing this?"

Stevie sat at the foot of the bed and watched as Kristen fiddled around with the sink in the bathroom, the sound of the exhaust fan connected to the lights over the sink just loud enough for her to have to speak up.

"What are you talking about?" Kristen turned around, her hand draping over her pregnant belly. "Isn't it obvious? Lindsey and I are having a baby together and we are going to build a life together."

"After a month of knowing each other?" Stevie had no idea what was giving her the courage to ask questions. The pain in her back had become pain around her stomach, lower down under the baby, and although she was starting to worry that she might be in premature labor, she knew now was not the time to ask Kristen to be compassionate. "Forgive me for asking, Kristen, but don't you think that's moving a bit too fast?"

"When you know, you know," Kristen said with a smile that frightened Stevie. It was clear that she was not dealing in reality. "As far as I understand it, there's only one thing standing in our way."

"What's your plan here? I mean, I've yet to see a weapon or a gag or ropes or anything, so..."

"Don't you get it? This isn't a movie here, Stevie...one of those ridiculous crime dramas where people are tied up and screaming...this is real life! My real life...and it was going perfectly before you flew in and fucked it all up with your love songs and your tambourine and your bullshit about the past! Lindsey loves me, okay, and the proof is right here!" She gripped her belly for emphasis.

"And what makes you think he feels the same way? I mean, in case you haven't noticed, I'm sitting here just as pregnant as you are." Stevie squirmed in her seat; something was damp and she couldn't tell where it was coming from. The pain started up again, and she sucked in a breath. She knew Kristen saw.

"There's a difference between a young, healthy woman in her twenties giving birth and a middle-aged woman who probably thought it was menopause and not a baby at the beginning."

Stevie would never have told her she was right.

"But this relationship...my God, Kristen, he broke up with you, told you he had feelings for another woman...conceived a child with that other woman...someone he's known for years...that doesn't bother you?"

Kristen was getting visibly agitated. "Look. You are what's wrong in our relationship, okay, and all I'm trying to do is get him on the right path, get you to give him some much-needed space from you for awhile to come to his senses...Men always need help in that area, and I'm just..." She trailed off. Kristen watched as Stevie pitched forward suddenly, clutching at her baby. "Hey look...would you like a bottle of water or something? You don't look good, and I know you're nervous and I know pregnancy can be a bitch sometimes...it's uncomfortable as all hell...let me get you some water and I'll go. Obviously you have no idea what I'm talking about!"

Stevie held out a hand, tried to respond, but she was hit with a sudden, sharp pain in her lower stomach that made her wince, then hold her breath for a moment before letting it out shakily. "Kristen..." She struggled to find the right way to explain herself without making this obviously unhinged woman who wanted her out of the way angry.

Baby Robin...please not now, she thought. You're not supposed to come out for almost two months, baby...please hang in there with Mommy while we're here with this crazy lady...please listen to Mommy.

The pain began to subside and Stevie let out a long exhale. She looked up at Kristen, who couldn't seem to stop moving around the room. She tried again to speak. "Kristen...look, this isn't nerves I've got going on here...I'm in pain. I think it's the baby."

"Jesus Christ, Stevie, that old chestnut?" Kristen rolled her eyes. "You expect me to believe that? Hell, I'm not due until the middle of January! Lindsey didn't fall into your trap, so to speak, until after that bullshit line he tried to feed me over coffee...I always heard you had a flair for the dramatic, Stevie but come on!"

Kristen was heading for the door where she had dropped her coat and her purse. Stevie's eyes widened in panic.

"I'm serious...Kristen, please..." With visible effort, she sat more forward on the end of the bed. "Look, Lindsey and everything aside...I'm not fooling around, okay? My God, Kristen, you're a pregnant woman too...you have to understand this..."

"I understand you're a drama queen and you'll do stop at nothing to take another woman's husband or boyfriend," said Kristen, pulling on her coat and grimacing at the snow piling up outside the window. "I'm twenty-seven, Stevie, not five...I've heard the stories. I'm not even going to comment about Mick Fleetwood! I'll be back with supplies in the morning." She pulled her purse over her shoulder. "And to answer your next question, you're in here until such time as Lindsey comes to his senses and sees reality...after that I don't care what you do. Have a baby, don't have a baby...it's not like you can go crying to Lindsey if he doesn't know where you are." She had a key card in her hand, and for a moment Stevie considered rushing her when she opened the door, but the pain was back and any doubt that it was a contraction went out the window when she suddenly felt the dampness again, more of a slow flood this time, and realized her water had just broken.

"Please..." Don't cry, Stevie. Don't cry, Stevie. Don't cry, Stevie. "At least send someone...something like that...whoever brought me in here..." In her unconscious state earlier, Stevie had felt herself being carried, but she'd been dreaming that she'd fallen asleep in the pink nursery rocking her baby girl and Lindsey was carrying her to bed, whispering, "Sleep, angel. It's okay. I'll hold you."

"Lindsey was right," said Kristen. "You are a handful!" And in one swift motion, she was on the other side of the door, leaving Stevie locked inside alone. She could see her getting into a waiting car in the snow-covered parking lot, and the driver sped off into the night.

Stevie quickly looked around and realized there was no phone. She must have yanked it out of the wall...or maybe that guy who just drove off with her did it... She had no idea how long she'd been unconscious.

Rolling over onto her side on the end of the bed, Stevie curled up against the pain of another contraction and prayed. This time, it was not her baby Robin but her best friend Robin who she asked for help.

Robin, I looked after your premature baby, she said in her head. I took care of Matthew, and maybe I did it wrong but it's what I thought was best...so I'm begging you...Robin, please take care of my baby. Please let someone find us. Baby Robin needs her Aunt Robin to protect her. Please, Robin, save my baby girl.

All alone in the locked motel room, her hands on her baby, Stevie finally gave in to her tears.

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