A Shot in the Heart

Chantilly took her slice of cake, along with a glass of milk, into the living room to eat while she watched the latest episode of her favorite daytime talk show. Settling onto the chintz-covered couch, she turned the TV on with the remote, switching the channels until she found the one she was searching for. Today was her first day of vacation, and even though Franklin had to work all week, she had every intention of enjoying it to the hilt.

Sitting curled up on the couch, Chantilly nibbled on the cake to make it last as she watched the lady talk show hosts sitting on the TV screen. During the commercials, she went over the notes she’d made of enjoyable places she’d like to go in the city while she was off work. Once she had selected the places she wanted to visit, she would begin calling her friends to see if any of them would be available for trips to the museums, zoos, and theaters.

As Chantilly was sitting there, enjoying the ooey-gooey goodness of her favorite dessert, she was startled by a pounding on the door and the ringing of the doorbell. Since she wasn’t expecting anyone, she turned on the Ring’s video. Dropping her phone, she was startled by the eye that took up the entire screen when she opened the app.

Chantilly thought about ignoring whoever was at the door, considering whoever it was wouldn’t back up for her to see their face. They had other plans, though. Soon, she could hear a voice yelling for her to answer the door, along with the knocking on the door and ringing of the bell. After a few minutes, she decided to see who was at the door, so that the neighbors wouldn’t become curious. Chantilly hated when a scene was made.

Wiping her hands on her blue jeans, she opened the door wide enough to look out. There was a young lady, no taller than five feet tall, and at least five months pregnant, on the doorstep. With a questioning look on her face, Chantilly opened the door wider and asked the girl if she could help her.

“Good morning, Mrs. Firman, my name’s Leah Neil. I’m a student of your husband’s. I was wondering if I could speak with you for a second?” the tiny little woman at the door questioned.

With a feeling of dread, Chantilly began, “I don’t know. I’m kind of busy. I’ve several things I need to do before tomorrow.” She looked at the sadly hopeful expression on Leah’s face and changed her mind, “I suppose I could take a little break. Would you like to come in and sit down, Miss Neil?”

Chantilly led Leah into the parlor and motioned for Leah to sit down as she sat in her favorite armchair. As she waited for Leah to sit down, Chantilly wondered what this girl had to do with her husband and herself. Perhaps Miss Neil wanted them to adopt her baby, since Chantilly and Franklin hadn’t kept it private that they were looking to expand their family, and were considering adopting. It wasn’t too far-fetched that this young girl had heard of their search.

With her hopes up, Chantilly relaxed. Smiling, she sat back in her seat and leaned her chin onto her fingertips. Patiently, she watched as Leah settled into the loveseat.

“What is it that I can help you with, Miss Neil?” Chantilly began the conversation once Leah was comfortable.

Placing her hand on her belly, Leah smiled a Madonna-like smile and began, “Well, I’ve come over here to talk to you, I guess you could say, about my baby…”

Chantilly excitedly interrupted, “Oh, I know exactly what you’re going to say! This is such an exciting moment! I’ve dreamed of this moment so many times, but never quite like this!! Oh, this is too surreal!”

Leah, with a stricken look on her face, tried to cut in, “No, you’ve got it all wro…”

“Your baby will be the most loved child. You don’t know how long we’ve been waiting to adopt. Oh, you’ve made me the happiest woman in the world, right now!”

“Really, Mrs. Firman, you’ve misunderstood the reason I’ve stopped by he…,” Leah once more tried to interrupt to no avail.

“Do you know if you’re having a boy or a girl? It doesn’t matter! I’ve already decorated the nursery in gender neutral colors. Only the best for any infant that my husband and I adopt.” Chantilly was babbling in her excitement. “We’ll send them to the best schools, too. They’ll see the best doctors; I’ll make sure of it all. I promise you this.”

“Mrs. Firman,” Leah raised her voice loud enough to be heard over the ramblings of Chantilly, then continued, “I’m not giving my baby up for adoption. I wanted to tell you that Professor Franklin Firman is the father of my baby. I have proof.” She handed Chantilly folded papers, then said, “That’s a paternity test, and it shows your husband is the father of my baby. Now, do I have your attention?”

Unfolding the papers, her mind refusing to grasp what her eyes were seeing, confused, Chantilly responded, “Excuse me, I…I…what?”

“Good. You’re listening now. I’ll repeat it, so you’ll understand,” Leah calmly resumed. “Franklin and I have been sleeping together for over a year and a half. I’m six months pregnant with his son. I love him, Mrs. Firman, and I want to marry him. I always get what I want, just so you know. You may want to prepare for a change in your life. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I really must go.” With those final words, the younger woman stood up, walked out into the hall, and out the front door.

Chantilly sat forward in her chair, half raised, with her mouth hanging open. She could feel shock freeze throughout her body. Finally, she rose to her feet, and as a sleepwalker, she went up the stairs.

Sometime after three o’clock, Chantilly came back down the stairs. Heading into her husband’s study, she waited for his arrival. Not bothering to turn on the light, she sat in his chair and listened to the ticking of the clock while staring blankly into the gloom.

An hour passed, and a key was heard in the front door. The clicking of heels could be heard as Franklin walked down the hall. Chantilly didn’t move as she waited.

When Franklin entered his study, he turned a lamp on by the doorway and walked over to his private bar. Poured himself a neat scotch and turned to sit at his desk. He almost jumped out of his skin when he saw Chantilly sitting behind it, in his chair, staring at him.

“Damn it. Jesus, Tilly. What are you doing sitting in here in the dark for? You almost gave me a heart attack,” Franklin queried his wife.

As her husband sat down heavily in one of the antique leather chairs, Chantilly slowly straightened and responded, “We’re overdue for a serious talk, don’t you think, Franklin?”

“I suppose, what is it, hon?” Professor Firman answered in a wary tone.

“Let’s discuss how you and I plus Leah make four. This is a fascinating new equation that needs to be explored further, don’t you think, Franklin?”

When he just sat there staring at her dumbly, Chantilly continued, “Seriously, did you not think this equation through when you discovered it? You didn’t, did you? I bet you didn’t see all the side equations that spring up from that one little equation. Money - baby supplies, support x 2 squared, or even marriage + therapy.”

Pausing, Chantilly took a deep breath. Franklin took the chance to speak up and said, “Tilly, dear, sweetheart, it wasn’t what you thought. I swear it was only the one time. I have not seen her since then, I promise.”

“Why do I have the feeling you’re just telling me what I want to hear, Franklin. It's as if you are telling me one big lie.”

“Honest, love. It’s you I love. We’ll get through this. We’ll figure something out, and it’ll just be you and me again.”

Chantilly stared at her husband as she very calmly brought up her right hand, “You know what, I think you’re right. There is a way out of this, a way for me to get past your infidelity. I don’t think you’ll like it too much, though.”

When she pulled the trigger on the handgun, Franklin screamed, “No! Dear Jesus, Tilly, no!” The bullet struck him in his chest, killing him instantly. Chantilly watched as blood stained his shirt as he fell backwards into the chair.

Going back upstairs, Chantilly grabbed her packed suitcase and put her passport in her purse. She would purchase a ticket on the way to the airport. According to her phone, her Uber had just arrived to drive her to the airport. Locking up the house, she left to begin her life anew somewhere sunny, and maybe a little bit sandy.