Wicked Forest (DeBeers 2)

I lost control of myself. I'm pregnant, It is not something a responsible person would do, especially someone with my obligations.

What I have learned is that, although hindsight is the best sight, it does us no good, even does us harm if it encourages us to wallow in the past and seif-pity.. What are the questions I have taught you to ask yourself Willow?

What is the problem? What are the solutions? What are the pluses and minuses for each, and which one will best serve me and the people who will be affected?

Is there anything else to think about now,- but that?

No.

Then why are you wasting your time moaning and groaning and crying?

I took a deep breath and flicked the tears from my cheeks.

The decision that had to be made wasn't only mine to make. I thought, although I did have the most to say about it. I wanted to tell Mother. but I thought it was only right to tell Thatcher first and see his reaction.

He called and started to make an apology for not being able to come home to dinner, when I interrupted him and said, "You have to come home right now. You don't have to stay for dinner, but I must see you immediately."

"-What is it this time?" he asked, his voice full of groans.

It has nothing to do with my brother or my mother. It has to do only with us."

"Oh?"

"Come home now. Thatcher."

He was silent a moment.

"Okay," he said. I'll swing by on my way to the meeting."

After he hung up, I washed my face,

straightened my clothing, fixed my hair, and prepared to have him join me down by the pool. Linden was still in his studio and Mother was in her room resting. I instructed Jennings to tell Thatcher where I would be waiting for him.

Only a half hour later, he came charging down the walkway toward the pool patio. I was sitting under an umbrella looking out at the water.

"What?" he demanded as soon as he was before me. "I hope you haven't demanded my presence on the basis of some Palm Beach rumor."

Funny how it never had occurred to me he would think such a thing, I thought, and for a moment. I was thrown off balance.

"No. This isn't any rumor."

"Well, what is it. then. Willow? This sort of dramatics is more characteristic of my side of the family. You're not taking lessons from Bunny, are you?" he said, softening his face into a smile, but still a smile that masked much irritation,

"I don't mean to be dramatic, Thatcher, only concerned and responsible." I said.

He nodded.

"Okay, you have my full attention." He folded his arms across his chest.

"Just a little while ago, I discovered I was pregnant," I said as dryly as I could,

His eyes widened, and then he reached back for a chair and sat. "Pregnant? But I thought you were taking precautions and--"

"Except for our wild behavior in the Bahamas." I said.

His mouth opened and closed, and then he nodded.

"Oh. Right." He smiled. "Well, we were a bit wild then, weren't we?"