I told him I couldn't because of a prior engagement to which he replied, "You have no choice, be there at 5:30 PM". I had lied about the engagement an...d thought I could get out of going to Dan's because I knew this was going to be trouble if I went.The rest of that day, pacing the floor all through the night and all of the next day as I approached the hour, I was as nervous as all hell. I had no sleep and couldn't eat and knew that going to Dan's was a big mistake but I couldn't come up with a. Then, about six weeks later, I discovered that I was pregnant – quite a surprise, as we had used contraceptives, but, y’know, they don’t always work!I had no desire for marriage or to burden him with the responsibilities of a fatherhood that he had never intended, and so I did not tell him. Almost as much of a surprise as the pregnancy was my fierce desire to have the baby, and to bring it up on my own. My parents and my sister helped with some of the c***dcare when Chloe was little and I was. ..” I paused, “very good.”I turned before she could respond and headed to the bar hearing a slight gasp as I did. If nothing else I was enjoying teasing her with a few risqué innuendos.Upon returning with her gin and tonic (and my safe soda and lime; I was driving, after all) I found Mamaw and Gladys in deep discussion. Did I see guilty looks on their faces as I approached? What were these two plotting?“Just what are you two wicked ladies doing, planning a bank heist?”“I was just telling Clara. "She pulled away from me and went over to join the other girls who were riding with the group. I couldn't figure out what she had against Vickie. As far as I knew the two of them had never met. I put it out of my mind and joined the guys around the pool table.It was three days after I'd proposed to Vickie. She had left that morning on a four day trip and I was on my bike heading for Charlie's house to meet the rest of the guys and then we were going to run over to Cascade to the Elk's Club for.