doorbell being rung,

ngers. Her hands were sweaty, and her heart was beating too wildly. She had be

a called sharply f

d. "Be strong," she told hers

e staircase was a step into obscurity, as though she we

nding in the

s hands thrust into his pockets, but he was tense in his face. His eyes

asked, his voice tight. "Yo

r arms. "You two n

d snapped

"I'll be in the kitchen." She tur

the door between the livin

nsued was heavy an

"Okay," he said slow

Her throat felt dr

id quickly. "

She put her arms around hers

gnant,"

s hung i

once. Then

t out into a sharp laugh of d

not j

his face. "No. No,

d down at

"Ava, I haven't seen yo

kno

the dawn of knowing came to his eyes

no

tamped his feet on the floor. "This doesn't ma

ed," Ava sa

sharply. "I'm finding out l

know how t

d pacing. "

ame to her

The prevarication she had already given he

ours,"

tared

cheeks were pale, his gaze roaming on her, an

e repeate

es

together, he said

"But it happened before th

d. "Why didn't you

time," she

thout humour. "Time? Ava, this is

he said, breaking her voi

front of her.

was beating in

her face. "

he lifted

said. Not about anyt

herself, and the idea of i

n the couch with a heavy sigh. He st

d. I did not even know that

anybody to know

Your mom called me alread

ched. "She... she

n underst

r hands near. "Mark, please

at you are pregnant, and only dec

rt you, said Ava. "I just

anger was clear now. Do y

pered. "That's w

. "And you're tel

i

hed her fa

look like yo

filled her eyes. "I'm scared. I do

jaw tig

t to have don

d at her

st now I want y

Mark rep

kind o

a shaky

this. Not in public. Not

ared at

t me to

e said q

stand by me. At

w?" he

tatement that will ruin

ssed his

asking

her voice was hardly

and my life w

k said, but there was a

ot," Av

t know my

out a lon

is too

pped cl

ase. I'm b

here was a change in his face. Not an

again,"

y w

e baby i

nly a fractio

not

es nar

id you

," Ava sa

you

ok her

just

closer to her. Hi

look a

ding, and she look

me that ba

ned her

big and threatening