Chapter 3 - The First Guest)
They did not carry Claire into the garage at first.
Daniel brought a rolling office chair.
Claire refused to sit in it.
So he threatened to carry her.
She knew fighting physically would risk another fall.
She sat.
Margaret wheeled her through the mudroom.
Claire's face burned.
"Where is my phone?"
Daniel closed the kitchen door behind them.
"Safe."
"You mean stolen."
"It's not stolen."
"It belongs to me."
"You're my wife."
Claire stared at him.
"What does that have to do with anything?"
He said nothing.
The garage was cold.
December air seeped around the closed doors.
Plastic storage bins lined metal shelves.
Bicycles hung from wall hooks.
Folded Christmas decorations filled one corner.
A large commercial style laundry cart stood near the washer and dryer, used mostly for hauling sheets from the upstairs guest rooms.
Daniel positioned Claire beside a workbench.
Margaret brought a blanket.
For one strange moment, the setup looked almost caring.
Then Margaret closed the mudroom door.
The Christmas music became muffled.
Claire stared at the door.
"Open it."
Margaret arranged the blanket across Claire's lap.
"You need quiet."
"I need an ambulance."
"Stop saying that."
"Why?"
"Because you're being dramatic."
Claire began to laugh.
She could not help it.
The absurdity was too much.
Margaret recoiled.
Daniel frowned.
"What's funny?"
Claire wiped tears from her eyes.
"You."
"Claire."
"Both of you."
Her laughter stopped.
"You think you're normal."
Margaret's face hardened.
Daniel stepped closer.
"You need to get yourself under control before people arrive."
"People are already arriving."
As if summoned by the words, the doorbell rang.
Voices entered the house.
Merry Christmas.
So good to see you.
Something smells wonderful.
Claire could hear Margaret's personality change instantly.
She smiled toward the mudroom door.
Then remembered Claire could see her.
The smile vanished.
"I'll check on you."
Claire pointed toward Daniel.
"He stays."
Margaret looked surprised.
"Why?"
"Because if he leaves, I'm screaming."
Daniel sighed.
"This is ridiculous."
"Try me."
Margaret stared at Claire.
Then at Daniel.
"I'll tell people she's lying down."
Claire said, "Tell them I asked for a hospital."
Margaret opened the door.
Warm party noise rushed into the garage.
"Don't you dare."
Then she closed it behind her.
Daniel stood in silence.
Claire looked at him.
He looked tired.
That almost made her angry enough to cry.
"Do you understand what you're doing?"
He rubbed his forehead.
"You're turning this into something it's not."
"I'm injured."
"Yes."
"I'm pregnant."
"Yes."
"I asked for medical care."
"I know."
"You took my phone."
"Because you were about to call Rachel and create chaos."
"You isolated me in the garage."
"To rest."
"You locked the door."
Daniel glanced at the mudroom door.
"I didn't lock it."
Claire reached for the handle.
Daniel stepped between her and the door.
She stared at him.
He realized what he had done.
For a fraction of a second, shame crossed his face.
Then defensiveness replaced it.
"There are guests in there."
"So?"
"You can barely stand."
"Then everyone will understand why I need a doctor."
"Mom has been planning this for months."
Claire could not believe he said it.
"Your mother's hors d'oeuvres are more important than my leg?"
"That's not what I said."
"It's exactly what you said."
"No, it isn't."
"You just use more words."
Daniel's jaw tightened.
Claire leaned back in the chair.
She suddenly felt exhausted.
Not merely physically.
Years of conversations seemed to line up behind this one.
Every time Daniel had changed the meaning of his own words.
Every time he had told her she misunderstood.
Every time Margaret insulted her and Daniel translated the insult into concern.
Every time Claire had accepted the translation.
A knock came from the mudroom door.
Daniel opened it slightly.
Margaret stood there.
"People are asking for Claire."
Daniel said, "Tell them she's resting."
"I did."
"Then?"
"Susan wants to bring her tea."
Claire raised her voice.
"Tell Susan to come in."
Margaret's eyes flashed.
Daniel shut the door.
Claire stared at him.
"You're afraid they'll see me."
"No."
"Yes."
"You're making everything sound sinister."
"Then open the door."
He did not.
Claire nodded.
"That's what I thought."
The party grew louder.
For the next twenty minutes, Daniel stayed with her.
Then someone called for him.
His boss had arrived.
Daniel looked torn.
Claire saw her opportunity.
"Go."
He studied her.
"Promise you won't do anything stupid."
Claire smiled faintly.
"You mean like asking for help?"
Daniel ignored that.
He opened the mudroom door.
Claire waited.
Just before he stepped through, she said, "Daniel."
He turned.
"If you leave me in here, something between us ends tonight."
He stared at her.
Claire watched his face carefully.
She wanted hesitation.
Regret.
Fear.
Anything.
Instead he said, "Don't be dramatic."
Then he closed the door.
Claire was alone.
For the first time all afternoon.
She reached toward the workbench.
There were tools there.
A screwdriver.
Pliers.
A utility knife.
Tape.
And, near the far edge, Daniel's old tablet.
Claire's heartbeat quickened.
She leaned forward.
The tablet was almost four feet away.
Her injured leg throbbed.
She placed both hands on the chair arms.
Then she heard the garage side door unlock.
Claire froze.
The door opened.
May you like
Margaret stepped in.
And she was carrying Claire's phone.
