Dawn of Eve

by MJ Howson

  Dawn fidgeted with her straight shoulder-length white-blonde hair as she looked out the nearby window. Her black eyebrows only made her hair color appear that much more artificial. Standing five foot nine and with a slim hourglass figure, Dawn’s features would be considered bland if not for her odd obvious dye job. Rarely one to wear makeup, Dawn’s crystal blue eyes were the only pop of color on an otherwise blank canvas.

  “How are you feeling today?” Gwen pulled a chrome stool covered in dark gray leather beside the exam table. She adjusted the height, sat down beside Dawn, and scanned the medical chart one more time. “Any changes?”

  “Changes?” Dawn’s eyes darted around as she bit her upper lip. “Should there be?”

  Gwen glanced up from the chart, somewhat surprised at how concerned Dawn sounded. Then she let her eyes settle on her history of miscarriages spilled across the patient file. A wave of guilt washed across Gwen. She knew she needed to be much more sympathetic.

  “I didn’t mean to alarm you. Just checking.” Gwen smiled and gently patted Dawn on her hand. “Fifth time? I’m sure this must be rather nerve-racking for you.”

  “Just a bit.”

  “Well, don’t worry, you’re in the best care here.” Gwen checked Dawn’s chart one more time. “I see we have you at seven weeks. We’re looking at a December baby. Perhaps near Christmas?” Gwen’s smile faded as she did not get any sort of reaction from Dawn. She asked, “Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine.” Dawn fidgeted in the bed and ran her fingers through her hair. “I’m sorry, but where’s Jill?”

  “Jill’s out sick with the flu. I’m sorry. I should have introduced myself. I’m Gwen. I’m covering for Jill this weekend.”

  Dawn stared blankly at Gwen, the patient’s blue eyes floating in her porcelain skin. Gwen suddenly felt uncomfortable, as if she were being judged. She turned her attention back to the chart resting in her lap.

  “I see you turn forty later this year,” Gwen said.

  “The doctor said I wasn’t too old to get pregnant again.”

  “Not at all.”

  Gwen gave Dawn’s hand a gentle squeeze in an attempt to convey some reassurance. Dawn’s hand remained cold, stiff, and curled. Gwen calmly let go of Dawn and made her way over to the ultrasound machine.

  “According to your chart, it’s been several years since you were last pregnant.”

  “It has, but I know this time will be different. I can feel her.”

  Gwen smiled as she prepped the machine.

  “Her? Today’s ultrasound is just to confirm the pregnancy and determine your due date. We won’t know the sex of the baby for a few more months. It’s still just an embryo.”

  “That’s not true!” Dawn ran her hand across her stomach and stared coldly at Gwen. “Life begins at conception. You do know that, don’t you?”

  “I . . . I didn’t mean to imply anything. I just wanted you to know that, medically, we won’t be able to confirm the sex until you’re into your second trimester.”

  “I’m sorry I snapped. I’ve just been down this road too many times.”

  Gwen pulled the stool toward the midpoint of the exam table and sat beside Dawn. She smiled and held both her hands. Dawn was much more receptive this time and gently squeezed Gwen’s fingers. Dawn ran her thumb across a small diamond ring on Gwen’s hand.

  “That’s a lovely ring,” Dawn said. “Are you engaged?”

  “I am. My fiancé proposed last month.”

  “How wonderful.” Dawn spent a few moments admiring the half-carat diamond before letting go of Gwen. Dawn held her hands out and wiggled her fingers in the air. “I’m still waiting for mine. Jacob and I never discussed marriage but then the pregnancy, well, it . . . it sort of surprised us. I know it’s only a matter of time before he pops the question.”

  “Is Jacob excited about becoming a dad?”

  “I . . . I think so. We’ve been dating for several months now. Jacob lives in Jersey but works close to my apartment. That’s how we met. He’s the most handsome man.” The blank look on Dawn’s face melted into a broad smile. “He used to be a model. He’s, um, a bit younger than me.”

  Gwen grinned and let out a slight chuckle.

  “Nothing wrong with having a younger beautiful man by your side.”

  “I suppose.” Dawn rolled her head sideways and looked out the window. “Jacob and I didn’t expect this. But I know Evelyn will bring us closer. It was fate. He’s . . . he’s going to make a wonderful father.”

  “Evelyn?”

  “That will be her name.” Dawn looked back at Gwen and furrowed her brow. “My baby. I’m going to name her after my mother.”

  Gwen stood up and returned to the ultrasound machine.

  “All right, Miss Easton, let’s begin.”

  ∞∞∞

  Gwen closed the exam room door behind her as she stepped into the hallway. She brought Dawn’s chart over to the main desk and dropped it on the counter. Gwen sighed and began to rub her temples. Jack, one of the nurses, strolled up next to her and put his arm around her.

  “How’re you holding up, Buttercup?” Jack squeezed Gwen’s shoulder and pulled her close. “You must be exhausted. When does your shift end?”

  “Not soon enough. I’m struggling to keep myself upbeat. Especially when I get these oddballs.”

  Jack slid the chart closer and began to read the details.

  “Holy shit. That’s Dawn Easton.”

  “Do you know her?”

  “Do I know her?” Jack spun Gwen around and locked eyes with her. “Dawn Easton. As in the daughter of Evelyn Easton.”

  “She told me that was her mother’s name. She plans to name the baby after her. But I’m still not following you.”

  “Are you just tired or clueless?”

  “I don’t know, Jack. Maybe both?”

  “Evelyn Easton. As in high-end fashion? The back-to-back double-E symbol on half the handbags in Manhattan?” Jack smiled as Gwen’s jaw slowly fell open. “There it is. I knew the lightbulb would come on at some point.”

  “I . . . I have one of her scarves. So, that woman Dawn I just examined is–”

  “Heir to a huge fashion empire.”

  “Shit. I had no idea.” Gwen shook her head and started to review Dawn’s chart. “But then again, I’m no fashion hound like you are.”

  “True. I’ve never missed an episode of Project Runway.”

  “She must be worth a fortune. Is Dawn a fashion designer like her mom?”

  “No.” Jack paused and glanced around the hallway to confirm they were alone. “She calls herself an artist. She does these dreadful paintings. With all her money, she gets them into exhibits and galleries. At least she used to. Now, most people kindly decline. It’s sad, really. She’s got zero design talent. There’s nobody in the family running the company.”

  “Where’s her mother?”

  Jack was about to speak but instead nodded past Gwen’s shoulder. She spun around to see Dawn approaching, a long white raincoat with black piping draped over her shoulders. Gwen couldn’t help but think the colors, or rather lack of color, matched Dawn’s hair and face.

  “Thank you, Gwen,” Dawn said. She stopped and tapped Gwen’s engagement ring. “You have a lovely weekend.”

  “You too,” Gwen replied.

  “I’m seeing my Jacob tonight! I hope he’s happy that the ultrasound went well.” Dawn ran her hand across her stomach. “Evelyn will be kicking any day now.”

  Dawn waved her fingers, continued down the hallway, and disappeared around the corner.

  Jack turned to Gwen and said, “She’s not fooling anyone with that dye job.”

  “Ya think?”

  “Is Jacob the guy who knocked her up?”

  Gwen gently smacked Jack on his shoulder. She rolled her eyes and said, “Be nice, Jack.”

  Jack looked down the empty hallway in the direction Dawn had gone. He sighed and asked, “What kind of guy dates the heir to a fash
ion empire?”

  Three

  The Spire

  The sixty-story Spire, home to many of New York City’s elite, offered stunning views from its location along the High Line on the corner of W 26th Street and 10th Avenue. The apartments started at 1,000 square feet and grew larger from there. The structure’s design proved highly controversial upon its debut a year ago. The founder of Ross Architectural Designs, Justin Ross, loved to fuse styles. Justin blended the Catalan Modernism of Antoni Gaudi with the steel and glass designs of the nearby Hudson Yards towers. The rust-colored concrete supports flared from the bottom third of the building and then narrowed as they twisted their way toward the top. The apex itself served as a beacon, with its blood-red LED lighting marking the building’s location. The steel components were painted off-white, and the flush windows were tinted in a deep gray hue. Critics were divided on the end result, with some praising it as a future icon and others calling it an eyesore on the city. One particularly scathing review dubbed it “the exposed human skeleton of Manhattan.”

  Being one of the first to move into the building, Dawn had secured one of the two penthouse units. Each apartment took up three stories, with one unit facing southeast and the other northwest. Dawn selected the northwest facing apartment for its stunning views of the Hudson River as well as the late afternoon sunsets, especially from the main terrace.

  The ultra-modern interior design belied the relatively avant-garde exterior. The entire building was networked. Residents could use voice commands to control their smart home features and interface with the concierge, make appointments at the spa, or reservations at one of the four restaurants.

  Dawn’s 5,000 square-foot unit contained three bedrooms and three bathrooms along with a powder room. A private elevator serviced each of the three levels, along with a grand central spiral staircase just off the main entrance. The first floor was an open area with a kitchen, dining, and living room. There was also a den, powder room, and a curved terrace at the most western corner. Dawn had worked closely with the interior designer to develop a modern yet warm and inviting space. Polished cream porcelain tile intersected with deep walnut hardwood flooring to create a series of separate living spaces for her furnishings. Black, white, cream, and wood tones were the only color palate. All suggestions of color from her designer had been rejected.

  Dawn, her cream kaftan rippling in the chilly wind, stood on her terrace and admired the view of the Hudson River. The view west looked out across the Hoboken skyline. One World Trade Center, just over three miles south, shone brightly in the distance.

  At just after 11:30 p.m., Dawn knew Jacob would arrive soon. She went back inside and headed to the kitchen to select a bottle of merlot from her wine cooler.

  “Evelyn, play smooth jazz music,” Dawn said. She waited patiently for the automated smart home system to respond. The technician who’d configured the system told Dawn she could pick any name to use as a trigger. She went with her mother’s name.

  “Playing smooth jazz music.” The calming female voice came from the dozens of overhead speakers embedded in the ceiling. The system soon began to play David Benoit’s Cast Your Fate to the Wind.

  As Dawn retrieved a bottle of wine, the music suddenly faded out and paused.

  “Jacob Jilani arriving,” the smart home system announced.

  Dawn smiled at the notification that Jacob was on his way. The penthouse units had dedicated access buttons within the elevators. They were automated to notify owners when someone was on their way up. Dawn had informed the front desk that she did not need to approve Jacob to enter the building. Dawn quickly made her way to the front door.

  A brightly lit mirrored lobby divided the front entrance from the elevator. Dawn stepped into the hall and stopped to inspect her hair. She frowned as she noticed a hint of her original hair color starting to emerge. Her frown disappeared once the stainless steel elevator doors opened.

  Jacob smiled as he exited the elevator, stopping briefly to inspect the scar running across the left side of his face. The old wound ran from his chin through his lips to just below his left eye. The deep cut couldn’t detract from his highly chiseled cheekbones and jawline. The six-foot-tall twenty-nine-year-old Italian-American held his arms open wide as he approached Dawn. She met him at the center of the lobby and fell into his embrace, flinging her arms around his broad shoulders. Jacob allowed his hands to slide down Dawn’s sides and settle on her waist, resting his chin on her head.

  “Hey gorgeous,” Jacob said. “How’s it going?

  “Better now.”

  Dawn wrapped her hand around Jacob’s neck and pulled him closer, pausing to stare into his deep brown eyes. They kissed briefly, the deep scar cutting through Jacob’s lips, slightly pinching Dawn’s. Jacob kept his arm around her as they entered the apartment.

  Jacob closed the door behind them, unzipped his olive green Italian wool bomber jacket, and tossed it across the back of one of the living room sofas before joining Dawn in her kitchen. He paused beside her as she poured a glass of merlot.

  “Should you be drinking?” Jacob asked.

  “That’s for you.” Dawn pointed at a glass of water on the counter. She ran her hand across her stomach. “I’m looking out for Evelyn. She’s all that matters now.”

  Jacob was about to say something when the music faded, and the automated system said, “Please restate the command.”

  “Cancel,” Dawn said. She passed Jacob the glass of merlot and shook her head. “That’s becoming a problem.”

  “I’ve told you before to change the system’s name,” Jacob said. “Or the baby’s.”

  “But the baby must have my mother’s name.”

  “Why? She’s no longer a part of your life.”

  “That’s exactly why.” Dawn glanced up at the nearest speaker and frowned. “I’ll call the technician tomorrow and ask him how to change it.”

  “Or just call the baby Evie.”

  “Evie? My mother hated that nickname.”

  “How about Eve?”

  “Eve?” Dawn tapped her lip and smiled. “Eve. I like that.” Dawn led Jacob over to the living room. “Evelyn, light the fireplace.”

  The two settled into a black leather loveseat that faced the wall of windows. To the left, a large wall covered in black marble contained a ten-foot-wide fireplace filled with white crystals. It quickly sparked to life. A pair of white Barcelona chairs that faced the fireplace began to reflect the glow.

  “How’d things go today?” Jacob asked. “Your text said it was perfect.”

  “It was. I had this new technician. Gwen. She said there were no complications.”

  “That’s great.”

  “She’s engaged.”

  “Who?”

  “Gwen. She showed me her ring. It was cute.” Dawn wiggled her fingers and stared at them. “I . . . I know you want to wait to see what happens with the baby, but–”

  “Dawn, we talked about this.” Jacob smiled and gently held her hands. “Let’s take this day by day.” Jacob kissed Dawn’s fingertips one by one. “I have a surprise.” Jacob walked over to his coat, reached into an inner pocket, and retrieved a robin-egg-blue Tiffany box wrapped in a white silk ribbon.

  Dawn’s eyes widened as she stared at the gift. Jacob sat beside her and smiled as he handed it to her. She gently released the bow and opened the box.

  “I hope you like it,” Jacob said.

  Dawn retrieved a platinum necklace with a half-carat sapphire pendant. She cupped the sparkling jewel in her hand and suppressed a frown.

  “What?” Jacob asked. “It matches your eyes.”

  “It’s . . . it’s lovely. But you can’t afford this. Why do you keep buying me these expensive gifts?”

  “You’ve been so stressed about the baby. I just wanted to show you how much I love you.”

  Dawn dropped the pendant back in the box and said, “But, someone of your means–”

  “Is lucky to have someone like you.”
>
  “Honestly, Jacob, there are times I think you’re trying to overcompensate. Most men feel . . . threatened by my wealth.”

  “I’m not most men.” Jacob winked at Dawn and kissed her on the cheek. “You deserve the best.”

  Dawn slid closer and let Jacob wrap his arm around her, burying her face in his chest. She smiled as Jacob began to run his fingers through her hair.

  “We’ll get through this,” Dawn said. She sighed and ran her hand across Jacob’s shirt. The sweet woody scent of his Bulgari Man cologne wrapped itself around her, comforting her. “I know a baby was never in our plans.”

  “No. No, it wasn’t.”

  Dawn stared at the small blue box, wondering how in the world Jacob could afford a pendant from Tiffany’s. This wasn’t the first time he’d lavished her with luxury.

  “I have a surprise for you,” Dawn said. She sat up and kissed Jacob on his cheek. The rough stubble around his lips felt raw. “Follow me.”

  Dawn stood up and hurried to the spiral staircase. The massive steps, alternating in black and white marble, circled a set of four thick pillars. Glass walls on the outer edge of each stair made for a sleek modern look. She didn’t bother to wait for Jacob as she made her way upstairs.

  Jacob stood up and adjusted his black wool trousers. As Dawn disappeared upstairs, he checked his cellphone tucked away inside his coat pocket. He frowned when he saw over a dozen notifications.

  The second floor included two bedrooms, each with adjacent bathrooms. The doors to both rooms were closed. Dawn waited for Jacob beside the private elevator. When Jacob reached the top of the stairs, Dawn walked over to the nearest bedroom door and grabbed the handle.

  “I hope you like it,” Dawn said.

  Jacob waited as Dawn spun the crystal doorknob and slowly opened the door. Inside, the walls and ceiling were awash in a pale white aurora borealis. The ribbons of light danced as they swam across the boundaries of the room, reflecting off the baby furniture inside.