The Things We Do for Love

The carpet on the stairs was so thick her shoes made no sound at all. Downstairs, the room was big and perfectly decorated. Flax-colored carpeting, an oversized cream suede sectional with gold and taupe pillows, a coffee table made of pale marble. Ornately carved wooden doors concealed a huge plasma screen television.

She perched uncomfortably on the sofa, waiting. She didnt hear footsteps on the stairs, but suddenly David was there, bounding into the room, pulling her up into his arms.

She clung to him.

She would give anything to go back in time, to have nothing more important to tell him than how much she loved him. Adults always talked about mistakes, the cost of doing the wrong thing. She wished shed listened now.

"I love you, David. " She heard the tinny, desperate edge in her voice and she winced.

He frowned down at her, drew back.

She hated that, the pulling away.

"Youve been acting weird lately," he said, lying down on the sofa, pulling her on top of him.

She slid sideways, then knelt beside the sofa. "Your parents are home. We cant--"

"Only my dad. Moms at some fund-raiser in town. " He tried again to pull her on top of him.

She wanted to. Wanted to kiss him and let him touch her until she forgot all about . . .

the baby.

She gently pushed him back, then sat on her heels. "David. " It seemed to take everything she had just to say his name.

"Whats up? Youre scaring me. "

She couldnt stop herself; tears burned her eyes.

He touched her face, wiped her tears away. "Ive never seen you cry before. " She heard the rising panic in his voice.

She took a deep breath. "Remember the Longview game? The first home game of the year?"

His confusion was obvious. "Yeah, 21-7. "

"I was thinking of a different score. "

"Huh?"

"After the game we all went to Roccos for pizza, and then to the state park. "

"Yeah. Whats your point, Lo?"

"You had your moms Escalade," she said softly, remembering it all. The way hed pushed the back seat down and brought out a pale blue blanket and a chenille pillow. Everything except the accessory that mattered most.

A condom.

Theyd parked out on the edge of the beach, beneath the dark fringe of ancient cedar trees. A huge silver moon gazed down on them, giving their faces a tarnished, shiny look. Savage Gardens "Truly, Madly, Deeply" had been playing on the radio.

He remembered it, too. She saw the memories move across his face. She knew instantly when the realization dawned. Fear narrowed his eyes. He drew back, frowning. "I remember. "

"Im pregnant. "

He made a sound that tore at her heart, a sigh that faded into silence. "No. " He closed his eyes. "Fuck. Fuck. "

"I guess weve pinpointed the problem. " She felt him ease away from her, and it hurt more than shed imagined. Shed tried to prepare herself for any reaction, but if he stopped loving her, she couldnt bear it.

Slowly, his eyes opened. He turned, looked at her through eyes that were dull. "Are you sure?"