Betrayed by Trust by Frankie Robertson

over lunch. They’d confined themselves to the usual questions about work and where he grew up and where he went to school. Fortunately, once Dad discovered that Dan played golf, the conversation had veered onto the links with both of them lamenting that in February all the courses around Evanston were closed for the season.
    Once we were on our own, Mom talked about the quilts she was making for the kids at the hospital, the deplorable way the new minister’s wife dressed, and how my cousin Brad had just gotten a new job. With every dish I dried I waited for the shoe to drop. Finally, with the dishes washed and hot coffee in our mugs, Mom speared me with her patented “fess up” gaze.
    I couldn’t help squirming a little.
    “Are you and Dan sleeping together?”
    “No!” I responded automatically. It was even true. Then I remembered the baby, and knew she’d think I’d lied and be hurt when she found out about it. So I lied. “Yes.”
    She nodded. “Are you going to move in with each other?”
    “Mother!”
    “Don’t ‘Mother’ me. I read Newsweek. I know what’s going on in the world. I may not like it, but I know you young folk aren’t going about things the way your father and I did.”
    “Mark was born eight months after you got married.”
    “That’s different. We were engaged.”
    I gaped. Always before she’d said he was a preemie. After a moment, I regained my wits. “So are we. Dan’s probably asking for Dad’s blessing right now.”
    A smile transformed her face. “That’s wonderful! I like Dan. He seems very nice. And now Aunt Patty will stop nagging us about ‘when is that girl going to settle down?’” Mom’s voice was a perfect parody of her aunt’s. “Do you want help planning the wedding? When do you want to have it? Most places will want you to reserve at least six months out.”
    I hated to steal the thrill from her. “Next month.”
    Her expression froze on her face, turning joy into a rictus. “You’re pregnant.” It wasn’t a question.
    “I think so. Probably. But he asked me before we, um, well, you know. And we both want this baby.”
    Mom’s gaze bored into mine and I blessed Dan for making my words true.
    “I guess I’m not in a position to cast stones, am I?” She smiled ruefully. “At least Aunt Patty won’t be asking, ‘When is that boy going to do his duty by this family!’” Then she got a pad of paper and started making a list of everything we’d need to do to have a wedding in four weeks.
    She’d filled three pages and was still at it when Dan and my dad came in, peeling off their winter coats. Dad’s face was grim, but Dan gave me a wink.
    Dad poured himself a cup of coffee and sat down next to my mother. “The kids are getting married,” he said as if someone had died.
    “I know,” was all she said in an equally dark tone.
    Dan’s brows drew together. This obviously wasn’t how he’d thought the conversation would play out.
    “Next month,” Dad said in the same sad voice.
    “Yes.” Mom said with sigh.
    I might have worried, but I’d seen them do this routine all my life. It had worked on me every time until Mark had clued me in when I was eight.
    “You kinda got the cart before the horse, girl.” Dad tried to look stern, but a smile forced its way out. “I’m going to be a grandfather!” Wonder lit his face. He leaned over, pulled me into a one-armed hug, and kissed my forehead the way he had since I was little.
    Mom laughed and clapped her hands like a girl. “I can’t wait to have a grandbaby to spoil!”
    “The blood test came back positive.” Kincaid smiled from behind his expansive mahogany desk. “Congratulations. The project is a go.”
    A week had passed since my date with Conrad. Dan and I sat in the leather chairs in front of the director’s desk. They were lower than his desk chair, making us look up to Kincaid. Every time I came into this room I felt like a child called into the principal’s office. I