“You’re Brian’s daughter,” Regina said recognizing Brian Grisham, the billion dollar tech company owner’s button nose and pointed chin in Melody’s face.
“Yeah,” she said, “Daddy asked Leo to do me a favor,” she rolled her eyes affecting embarrassment Regina was sure Melody didn’t feel. “I see you’ve lost weight. I’m glad you’re finally making an effort. It must be torture on your knees.”
Regina, who had spent the past three days throwing up more than she ate, felt her smile stiffen. She always found it surprising that people who were so private about their own lives and spouted slogans such as ‘live and let die’ would think it perfectly appropriate to talk to her about her weight as if it were a national issue.
“Melody used to be fat,” Leo added hastily.
“A whale!” Melody said. “This one vacation when I was seven I had to be rolled around in a wheelchair because I couldn’t walk. So humiliating!”
“I’m sure,” Regina said, non-committal.
“Leo told me you’re handling the Simpson case,” she said taking a seat at their table. “How can you defend someone like that?”
“Our justice system demands that everyone be given a fair trial,” Regina said lightly but she couldn’t shake the ominous feeling that she was being attacked.
“But a monster like that; can you imagine doing that to children?” Melody asked Leo, effectively cutting Regina out of the conversation. “I can’t wait to have kids and the thought of someone as reprehensible as that at large gives me the creeps. Do you want children?” she asked Regina.
“Not particularly,” Regina said trying to keep the conversation as light as she possibly could. She’d noticed Leo’s jaw tighten.
“That’s unfortunate,” Melody said glancing at Leo. “I think everyone should have children and the women who abort are despicable.”
“So they should go ahead and have the children they never wanted and murder them then?” Regina asked losing her cool, her stomach roiling. Leo put a steady hand on her arm but she had had enough, of little Miss Perfect with her perfect white teeth, her creamy skin and the surety of her daddy’s money.
“Of course not!” Melody said disgusted. “If they don’t want children they shouldn’t get in relationships where the other person does.”
“I agree,” Regina said. “If you’ll excuse me.”
Regina felt the bile rising up in her throat and just about made it in time to the bathroom. She felt tears prick her eyes. She felt miserable and vulnerable. She desperately wanted to get rid of this baby but her love for Leo had made her weak.
And he’s spending his days with a baby crazy nut job, Regina groaned at the thought of Melody cozying up to Leo. She gargled with some mouth wash in the bathroom and reapplied her lipstick. She patted her hair down and exited to find Leo waiting for her outside.
“What the hell was that?” Leo asked her and Regina felt all her anxiety and insecurity rear its head. “She’s opinionated, yes, but you could have ignored her.”
“You’re defending her?” Regina shot back. “She gets excuses from you while I get the third degree.”
“It’s not like that,” Leo said a bit more placidly than before. “She’s just a kid.”
“No, she’s a woman who can’t wait to have babies,” Regina snapped, she was not going to reign in her anger. “Your babies, specifically. She practically had her legs wide open for you to fuck her and make a baby inside her right there and then!”
“That’s ridiculous,” Leo protested.
“No, what’s ridiculous is how blind you are,” Regina said. “And you know I don’t take kindly to being harassed about children.”
“Oh, believe me, I know,” Leo said bitterly.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Regina asked.
“It means that maybe I should take your advice for Frank Simpson and find someone who does want children rather than force you to have mine,” Leo said coldly and Regina felt her insides freeze. “If it’s a good rule for him, why not for me?” Leo didn’t wait for her reply but walked away.