A Disconnected Heart by C. G. Gardiner

Author:C. G. Gardiner [GARDINER, C. G.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781543420388
Publisher: Xlibris US
Published: 2017-05-26T04:00:00+00:00

Act I—Scene V

It’s the day after Cora told Paul of Rachael’s pregnancy. Paul and Rachael meet at her small studio apartment. It is sparsely furnished. They are seated at a small kitchen table.

Paul (Looking at her with a steady gaze): So Mommy tells me you’re pregnant.

Rachael (Businesslike): Yes, I am!

Paul (Aggressively): Is this baby mine?

Rachael: What do you think?

Paul: They tell me you’ve been having an affair with someone at the hotel.

Rachael (Angrily): They? Who is “they?”

Paul: That’s the gossip around the hotel.

Rachael: Well, you can believe the gossip if you want to; one thing we know for certain—I’m the mother of this baby. If you don’t think you’re the father—that’s okay with me.

Paul: Why can’t you just answer my question?

Rachael (Brusquely): Because I don’t have to answer your question.

Paul: Look, I’d like you to come home, but not if you’re having a baby for another man.

Rachael: Oh! But you can have a baby with another woman, and it’s okay?

Paul: I made a mistake. I didn’t mean to hurt you. I didn’t . . .

Rachael: Oh, I’m sure you didn’t mean to hurt me, but you didn’t mind if you did.

Paul: That’s not true. I . . .

Rachael (Cutting him off): What I want to know is: how long was your affair going on?

Paul (Uncomfortably): I don’t want to get into all of that.

Rachael (With sarcasm): You don’t want to get into all of that? This isn’t about what you want. Not everything is about what you want, not anymore. I’m not the one asking to be taken back. I’m fine with my life. I’m quite ready to move on without you.

Paul (With a hint of anger): Is this baby mine? I think I have a right to know.

Rachael (With a careless shrug): If you don’t think the baby is yours, you can have a paternity test done after it’s born.

Paul (Agitated): I don’t want to wait for a paternity test. I want to know now.

Rachael (Almost shouting): To hell with what you want! I don’t care what you want (She takes a deep breath in an effort to control her anger.) Let me ask you something. Do you have any more children I should know about? (Raising her hand as a caution.) And don’t you lie to me because I’ll find out, sooner than you think.

Paul: I have one son.

Rachael: That you know of?

Paul (Firmly): I have one son.

(For a moment, there is silence between them.)

Paul: So are you going to answer my question?

Rachael (With finality): I answered your question. You can have a paternity test done after the baby is born, just like you did with your son.

Paul (With a touch of anger): Why can’t you just tell me if the baby is mine? I’m still your husband. I have rights.

Rachael: My husband! You should’ve remembered that before you got in another woman’s bed. (With a sarcastic laugh.) And rights! You think you have rights! What about my rights? Do you think I had a right to know you were having a baby with another woman?

Paul: I didn’t know she was pregnant.

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