Chapter 2 - Voices Over Me
The door at the end of the hallway swung open and the air moved. I heard heels first, fast and sharp on the tile, and then a second set of shoes stopping dead.
It was the wedding planner. I knew her voice before I saw her face. She'd spent the whole morning with a clipboard, telling everybody where to stand. She took one look at me on the floor and at Julian in his tuxedo above me and just froze. Behind her came a man in a tux like Julian's, I figured the best man, holding his phone up like he'd been filming something else.
"Oh, my God," the planner said.
Julian didn't look at them. He was still staring down at me. His bow tie was crooked. His breathing was loud.
"Call 911," he said.
The planner blinked. "Julian, the ceremony is in —"
"Call 911," he said again, harder this time.
That was when Vanessa moved into my line of sight. Her veil had slipped forward over her shoulder and her lace sleeves caught the warm light from the hall fixtures. The staircase rose behind her, white marble and that dark iron railing cutting lines across everything.
"She slipped," Vanessa said. Her voice was high. "She's making this a big thing. Tell her to get up."
The best man lowered his phone. "Man, what happened?"
Julian pointed toward the upper hall without taking his eyes off me. "Check the security cameras," he said to no one in particular. "Somebody check them."
"No one needs to check anything," Vanessa said. "She slipped on the tile. Right, Elena? Tell them."
I tried to shift my weight and a sharp pull ran low across my belly. I sucked in air and pressed both hands harder against my uniform. The gray fabric was wrinkled where I'd grabbed it. Black trim dug into my palm.
"Don't," I whispered.
Julian crouched down. His knees cracked. Up close I could see sweat along his hairline and the short beard around his mouth moving as he tried to keep his voice steady.
"Elena. What happened here?" he said.
My throat was dry. I could hear my own heartbeat in my ears.
"She pushed me," I said. "My baby isn't moving."
Vanessa let out a short laugh that didn't sound like a laugh. "She's lying. She slipped."
"No," I said. It came out thin. "Please don't —"
The planner was already on her phone. "Yes, hi, we need an ambulance," she said, turning away toward the door. "Mansion at — yes — a pregnant woman fell — she's on the floor —"
"Fell," Vanessa repeated. "She fell. Write that down."
I closed my eyes for a second. The tile was cold through my uniform. The cool blue light from the windows mixed with the warm hall lights and I could see it on the ceiling when I blinked. I tried to feel for the baby the way I did at night in my apartment, lying still and waiting for that little roll. There was nothing. Just the ache and my own breathing.
"Can you sit up?" the best man asked. He stepped closer like he was going to grab my arm.
"No," I said. "Don't move me wrong."
Julian put his hand up to stop him. "Don't touch her," he said.
Vanessa's dress rustled as she stepped closer. "Julian, we have a hundred people upstairs. She can get up. She wants attention."
"Stop," Julian said. He didn't shout it. He said it low.
The planner covered her phone. "They're sending paramedics. They said don't move her. Keep her warm. Is there a blanket?"
Nobody moved. The best man finally shoved his phone in his pocket and ran toward the stairs, probably for a coat or something. His shoes hit the marble loud.
Vanessa stared down at me. "Get up," she mouthed, no sound this time.
I turned my face away from her and looked at Julian. "Please," I said. "Stay till they come."
May you like
He nodded and stayed crouched beside me. The hallway went quiet except for the planner still giving the address and Vanessa breathing fast through her nose.
We waited on that floor while the wedding paused around us.
