Rayne decided to burn old bridges and never look back. With the money she got from selling the watch, she was able to commute to another city for a fresh start. She managed to find a job, and had been working for a month, but lately she just couldn’t concentrate, and she felt sick almost every morning. She had no idea what was wrong with her.

"I said the special salmon dish. What is wrong with you? You gave me something else." A customer yelled at her and she apologised for the mixup in the order.

Like that, Rayne kept apologising and apologising till her shift was almost over, because she kept making silly mistakes. On top of that, she had broken three dishes in one day. When it was finally closing time, Rayne was ready to go home. She looked at her reflection in the mirror of the employee bathroom, and nearly didn't recognize herself. Her hair was bedraggled even when it was brushed because she sisn’t have money to visit the salon, or buy good hair care products. Dark rings graced her eyes and her skin was pale. She scooped water and splashed it on her face hoping the cold would settle the weird feeling in her stomach. Instead, she ended up puking in the sink.

Dana, her colleague came into the bathroom.

"What did you have for lunch? You don’t look so good."

"A burger." Rayne replied and suddenly started feeling dizzy. She held onto the wall for support.

"You okay?" Dana asked with concern.

"I don't feel so good," Rayne said weakly.

"We're going to the hospital." Dana said immediately.

“I can’t. I don’t have the money for it.”

“Then I’ll talk to our boss. She’s a nice woman. And even though you’re not supposed to be on the company’s insurance list till you’ve worked for three months, I’m sure she’ll help when she sees how sick you are. I’ve worked here longer than you, just trust me on this.”

Just as Dana had predicted, Jane Reynolds the owner of the restaurant helped Rayne get medical care immediately. Rayne couldn't fathom her reaction when the doctor broke the news to her.

"Excuse me?" She sat up on the bed.

The doctor, a middle aged man of Mediterranean descent with round frames covering his blue eyes, said,

"You're about four weeks pregnant, ma'am."

"Oh my God. Congratulations, Rayne." Dana threw her arms around Rayne, laughing gleefully.

Rayne just stared ahead, with a pale expression on her face. She was pregnant. It couldn't be. It couldn't possibly be. She thought she was barren. She had been trying to have a child for her ex-husband for years and never took in. But it couldn’t possibly be Quentin’s child because before the divorce, she hadn’t slept with him for several years. So the child must belong to the stranger she had a one night stand with. They had used condoms a few times, but some other times, they did it bare that night.

She never bothered to take contraceptives because she believed she was infertile. But this was proof that she wasn’t barren. But she could barely take care of herself now, how would she be able to handle a child. She still had the pale expression on her face when she got to work the next day.

"Table 13." Hamish, the chef, called from the kitchen and Rayne went to get it, but the plate slipped from her hand and crashed to the floor.

He exploded with anger. "What the heck is wrong with you?"

"I'm so sorry." Rayne apologised with her head low.

"You never do anything right. What is your problem? This is the second plate you're breaking today. You think this is funny?" Hamish barked at her, attracting the customers' attention to them both.

Rayne glared at him, blinking back angry tears. "It's not funny because no one's laughing."

Hamish scoffed and Rayne clenched her jaw so hard, her face ached. "You always have a problem with me. What did I ever do to you?"

"Enough." A voice thundered from the staircase. They all looked up to see it was Jane Reynolds.

"I apologise for the nuisance, everyone. Lunch is on the house."Jane smiled at them and gave a light wave.

That trick worked to distract the crowd from the situation and they all returned to their meals.

"My office. Now." Jane said through gritted teeth.

In her office, Hamish and Rayne sat quietly together, while Jane sat opposite them.

"Do you mind explaining what is going on? Why the heck yell at her in front of everyone? If you have differences, why not settle it where no customer can witness it?" She looked at them over her spectacles.

"I'm so sorry, ma'am." was Hamish's immediate reply.

"And you? What do you have to say for yourself? You came in today and assured me you were not sick, and that you were fit to work. Why are you being clumsy?" Jane asked Rayne who hung her head.

"I'm sorry, ma'am." Rayne fumbled with the hem of her dress.

"Speak up! I also want to know what your problem is. Silly girl." Hamish burst out in anger and Jane silenced him.

"Enough! " She sat up. "If I see you or hear you yelling at anyone again, especially in front of my customers, I will fire you. Now leave us."

"I'm sorry, ma'am." Hamish apologised.

Rayne watched Hamish leave, and became nervous now that all the attention was on her. Was she going to be fired?