The Other Man's Child

ded; for a second, it felt like the world spun around me. I shook my head. "I can't be pregnant; Rowland and I, we have always been careful." Her smile faltered. "Well, these th

away together" My heart skipped a beat. "I mean, if you don't want to, it's fine." He added. For a second the thought of being away from my family sent shivers down my spine, but as long as I was going to spend the rest of my life with him, I didn't mind. A smile played across my lips "that's the craziest thing you have ever said to me Rowland, and I love it" He grinned widely "That's my girl" We were going to leave the next month. Did he leave without me? "When is he coming back Mark?" My voice shook. "Look, Selene, he is never coming back" Mark said, "you have to take things easy, and really, I would advise you to move on with your life. It all just kind of happened. Take care Selene" He turned and walked away. I stood frozen to the floor. My heart pounded against my ribs, the pasta I had eaten earlier threatening to spill. What was going to happen to me? To my baby? How was I going to handle this. How would my parents take this? I didn't go home; I went back to school. I needed to get myself together. I was Determined to keep the news to myself till I was ready or till I couldn't hide my protruding belly any longer. But two days later, my father had called for me, furious and angrier than I had ever seen him in my entire life. He wiggled the test results above my head, with my mother sobbing behind him, dabbing her eyes with a handkerchief while he spoke. "What is the meaning of this, Selene?" His voice came out in thunders. I cowered in fear. "I was going to tell you, I promise." Tears streamed down my cheeks as I struggled to find the right words that wouldn't provoke him further. "You are not bringing shame to this family, Selene," he said through gritted teeth. "Dad, please, I am sorry." I clutched his feet. "I didn't mean for any of this to happen." "We should have kicked that boy out the moment he stepped his dirty feet into this house." He frowned, pacing back and forth. Mother wouldn't dare speak, not when he was in such a mood. "You are going to marry Mr Harold's first son," he said, finally. "No!" I yelled; my voice came out weaker than I intended. "Yes, Selene, we won't have a daughter who has a child but no husband. A child born out of wedlock. Never!" "Dad, please. I can't marry him. I don't love him," I begged. "You should have thought of that before..." He raised his hand above me. I flinched. "Richard, no, please," Mother cried. She ran to him with quickened steps, clutching his hands in hers. I looked up at him, and in his eyes was