The Blue Pill

Anna looked around the empty room. It was large and well-proportioned, with bay windows that looked out over a garden. She heard footsteps and felt strong arms around her.

“Morning, darling. Did you sleep well? What are you doing in here? I thought we could paint this room next. Were you thinking of a color scheme?”

Jeff dropped a kiss on her head and held her close. Anna blinked as her mind slowly cleared. She freed herself from his grasp.

“I don’t know. I was still half asleep. I’ll have a shower and get dressed.”

Jeff stepped back and beamed as if she was a toddler who’d learned a new word.

“That’s my girl. I’ve made coffee.”

He left the room, his expensive cologne lingering in the air. Anna shuddered, slightly nauseated. As she crossed the landing of the stairs, she could hear him in the hall below. He was pacing as he talked on the phone.

“Yes, the medicine’s working. I understand it can't be rushed. It takes time.”

Anna frowned. What took time? Showered and dressed, she joined Jeff in the kitchen.

“Who were you talking to?”

Jeff set her favorite coffee mug down on the table.

“Oh, the doctor was wondering how that new medication was working. The blue pill.”

Anna sipped her coffee, staring at him.

“Why didn’t you call me to the phone? I’m the one taking the medication. I’m much better now. I can speak for myself.”

Jeff reached over and stroked her hair.

“I’m sorry, sweetheart. I didn’t mean to overstep. I’m just trying to spare you more anxiety. You’ve been through such a traumatic time. To think that…”

His eyes welled and his voice trailed off.

“To think that I was losing my marbles?” Anna said, staring into her coffee.

“No,” he said. “To think that I was losing the love of my life.”

He wiped his eyes. The front doorbell rang.

“That’ll be your dad. Time for me to go anyway,” he said, getting up to open the front door. “Hi, Frank.”

Anna’s father nodded briefly as he entered.

“Hello, Jeff.”

Anna said. “Hi, Dad. Help yourself to coffee.

Her father smiled as he deposited a large container on the kitchen counter.

“Hi, princess. Your mom sent some home-made lasagna.”

“That lasagna’s the best,” said Jeff, putting the container in the fridge. “Please tell her I said thanks. Anna, don’t forget to take your medicine. I set it out for you.”

“I won’t,” said Anna, sighing.

He blew Anna a kiss as he left. Frank stared after him.

“Perhaps I misjudged him,” he said. “I thought he was a fly-by-night who was just after your money, but he seems to be taking good care of you.”

“Almost too good,” said Anna. “I feel smothered. Let’s go for a walk.”

“Good idea,” said Frank. “It’s beautiful day out there.”

As they walked in the park, Frank watched Anna anxiously. She smiled and squeezed his arm.

“Dad, relax. I’m not going to go off the deep end. Oh, look, there’s Maureen, my editor.”

A smartly dressed woman with vivid red hair rushed over to them and swept Anna into a bear hug.

“Anna, I was on my way to see you. Every time I called, Jeff said you were resting and shouldn’t be disturbed. Don’t think I forgot about you. “

“Really?” said Anna. “He didn’t tell me that you called. I wonder if anyone else tried to reach me.”

“Who is your handsome escort?” said Maureen.

Frank blushed and coughed.

“This is my father, Frank,” said Anna, smiling.

“Actually, I have some things to do,” Frank said. “I’ll talk to you later, pet.”

He doffed his hat to Maureen and hurried away.

“He’s old school,” said Anna, smiling fondly after him. “He and Mom have been married for forty odd years. Other women make him nervous.”

She linked arms with Maureen as they strolled along.

" I’m starting to feel a tiny bit more human after stumbling about like a zombie.”

Maureen patted her hand.

“I’m famous for putting my foot in my mouth, so tell me to shut up if I say the wrong thing. Why did you end up in the hospital?”

Anna shrugged.

“I don’t really know. The doctors called it a psychotic break. I kept hearing a baby crying in the house. Jeff said I went bananas when he tried to console me. Next thing I know I’m sedated and in a psychiatric ward. I'd been seeing a psychiatrist after my divorce from Rob, but nothing like that had ever happened before."

“Any thoughts of writing again?” said Maureen “Just to get your mind off things. No pressure though. Your last book’s still up there on the best seller list and I’ve been approached about making it into a movie.”

“I’ll try,” said Anna. “It might do me good.”

On returning home, she suddenly remembered that she had not taken her medicine. She fetched a glass of water and picked up the blue pill. On impulse, she flushed it down the sink. Sitting down on the couch, she opened her phone, went to contacts and dialed.

“Hi, Luce, It’s me, Anna. I’m getting better, thanks. Did you try to call me recently? Oh, I see. Jeff must have forgotten to tell me.”

After multiple similar calls, she rubbed her forehead, wondering how she could question Jeff without seeming unhinged. As if on cue, she heard the front door open and looked up as he came in holding his briefcase in one hand and the mail in the other.

“Where’s your dad? You know I don’t like you being alone in your condition,” he said, as he bent to kiss her.

“He had to go home. I’m fine, honest. You’re early. How was work?”

“The usual,” he said skimming through the mail and handing it to Anna.

“Junk. Let me get changed and then I’ll make dinner. Did you take your medication?”

“Yes,” said Anna, nodding and smiling.

“Wonderful! You’ll soon be back to normal…”

“As opposed to what? Crazy?”

“Don’t put words in my mouth, Anna. I’ve been worried about you.”

Anna began to sort through the mail. Amongst the advertisements and flyers, there was a letter from their bank. The word URGENT was stamped on the envelope.

She tiptoed to the hallway and listened. Jeff was singing loudly in the shower. Hurriedly, she opened the envelope. Words jumped disjointedly off the paper at her.

“We regret…legal action… mortgage…foreclosure…”

Anna gasped. What mortgage? She couldn’t remember. After years of toiling in obscurity, she had written a bestseller. It should have been a fabulous time, but her marriage had failed in exact proportion to her success as her then husband Rob, jealous and insecure, had left. On her book promotion tour, Anna had toiled through television appearances and interviews, drinking and flirting to hide her misery as her divorce dragged on. Jeff, spotting her at a party, immediately held out his arms to her.

“I’ll take care of this,” he’d said, skillfully getting rid of the creepy publisher who’d been trying to corner her all evening. Anna had sighed with relief and walked out with him. One thing had led to another. Before long he’d moved in with her and they’d married as soon as her divorce was final.

“He’s wonderful,” she’d gushed to Maureen, who raised her brows. “He’s found this fabulous house for us.”

“Don’t you think it’s bit fast?” Maureen had said. “What’s he planning to buy it with? Your money? Be careful.”

“Don’t worry. He makes good money. Something in finance,” Anna had said, airily brushing off questions.

Frank had been equally skeptical.

“He’s too slick for my liking and you’re vulnerable right now, not to mention that you’re making lots of money.”

Anna, deliriously in love, had ignored them both. The conclusion of her book tour and the purchase of the house had been a blur. Then after they’d moved in, she’d had what her father called her ‘episode’, and that time was still a jumble of confusion. She hastily shoved the letter under the sofa cushion as Jeff returned, whistling and rolling up his sleeves.

“Sweetheart, why don't we watch whatever you want on Netflix after dinner?”

“That sounds amazing,” said Anna, forcing a grin. “You’re so good to me.”

Although Jeff was an excellent cook, she could barely choke down her food. He looked at her quizzically.

“Did I add too much salt?”

“No, I’m just not very hungry. Maybe it’s that new medicine. I’ll call Dr. Jenkins tomorrow and ask him about it.”

“He’s a busy man,” said Jeff, gathering plates. “Why don’t you just ask at your next appointment?”

Anna tossed and turned most of the night, trying to recall what Jeff had said about purchasing the house. Numbers had always flummoxed her, and she’d been happy to let him take over their finances. She finally fell into a troubled sleep and woke to find he had already left for work. A note decorated with hearts reminding her to take her medicine lay on the counter next to a blue pill on a saucer. She tossed the note in the garbage, flushed the pill away, grabbed her phone and dialed.

“Good morning, Dr. Jenkin’s office. How may I help you?” said the receptionist cheerily.

“Hi, this is Anna Fraser. I’d like to speak to Dr. Jenkins, please.”

“You’re in luck,” said the receptionist. “He had a cancellation. I’ll put you through to him.”

“Jenkins here,” said a gruff voice after a pause.

“Hi, this is Anna Fraser.”

“Ah, yes, Ms. Fraser,” the voice said in a friendlier tone. “How are you?”

“Feeling better, thanks. I had a question about that new medicine you prescribed for me.”

“Let me look at your notes. Hmm…let’s see. I didn’t prescribe anything different at your last visit.”

“No,” said Anna. “My husband said you called him afterwards saying you’d called it in to the pharmacy. I was still so forgetful at the time that he was dealing with my medications.”

“That’s odd,” said Dr. Jenkins. “I have no recollection of doing that. Are you seeing any other doctors?”

“None,” said Anna. “I swear I’m not making it up.”

“Why don’t you call the pharmacy? Their number should be on the label of the bottle. They can tell you who prescribed it. Let me know what you find out."

“Okay, I will,” said Anna. “Thank you.”

She rummaged through the kitchen cabinets, eventually finding the bottle at the back of the spice rack. The label was smudged and completely illegible. She stuck it in her purse, retrieved the letter from under the sofa cushion and headed to the bank where an apologetic bank manager explained that the mortgage payments were seriously overdue. Anna stumbled outside and took a deep breath before reaching for her phone.

“Maureen?” she croaked, barely able to speak. “I need help…now!”

Within a short time, Maureen's little red convertible screeched to a halt outside the bank and she swooped Anna off to her elegant condo.

“Tell me what is going on,” she said.

“He’s been lying to me and drugging me,” said Anna. “He was talking on the phone to someone about me and he hasn’t paid the mortgage and he made me think I was crazy and…”

She broke off, breathless and on the verge of tears.

“Slow down, girl,” said Maureen.

She gradually prized the story out of Anna who showed her the medication bottle and the letter. Maureen looked at the medicine bottle thoughtfully.

“We must get these analyzed. There are all kinds of street drugs out there. I'll talk to a friend of mine in the police department. Then we need to find out what’s going on with the money. I’ll make sure no more deposits go into that account. Let’s not tip Jeff off yet."

As Maureen drove her home, Anna sat silently in the car, thoughts whirling.

“Are you going to be okay?” Maureen said, anxiously.

“I’m fine,” said Anna. “Let me know what your police friend says. Thanks for coming to the rescue. Bye!”

On returning home, Anna saw with relief that Jeff was not yet back. She took two blue pills out of the bottle before putting it in her pocket. Donning an apron, she set to work. Jeff stopped in surprise as he returned to find the dining table set with candles, soft music playing and a delicious smell wafting from the kitchen. Anna hugged him.

“You’ve been taking such good care of me that I thought it was time I returned the favor,” she said. “Though I can’t take any credit for Mom’s lasagna, I did make the salad.”

The lasagna tasted wonderful. Jeff ate everything on his plate. Anna cleared the table and returned with dessert.

“Your favorite tiramisu from that new Italian deli!”

Jeff stared at her, eyes glazed. He pulled at his collar to loosen it, his cheeks flushed.

“Jeff, are you okay?” Anna said with concern. “You don’t look well.”

He jumped to his feet, looking around wildly.

“I hear cats. Cats or babies. There’s something evil in this house. No! Don’t touch me! Get away from me!”

Anna grabbed her phone and ran outside.

“What is your emergency?” said the 911 operator.

“My husband’s having a breakdown. He’s acting crazy. Please send help!” Anna said, frantic.

She could hear banging and crashing inside the house. Paramedics arrived, followed by police. Anna handed the pill bottle to one of the police officers.

“I think he’s been taking these,” she said, as a restrained and struggling Jeff was loaded into the ambulance.

“Thank you, ma’am,” said the officer. “Are you okay? Is there someone you can call?”

“Yes, I’ll call my friend,” Anna said. “She’ll bring me to the hospital.”

As soon as emergency services left, Anna grabbed her phone.

“Maureen? Can you come over? Jeff’s had a taste of his own medicine.”