He persisted in his affections when he went back to work, with phone calls. And sending flowers. The next time Eric came to town it was to see Mandy, who gave in and slept with him almost immediately. He stayed at her apartment on his days off, and then returned to work. The sporadic relationship was a relief for Mandy as she was still reeling from Kip's departure.
Six months into the affair, the worry set in. She was late. She tried to hide her worries from Eric when he called. But the weeks passed too quickly and it became apparent that her menstrual period wasn't going to return anytime soon. After a visit with her doctor, she cried herself to sleep. She wasn't supposed to be pregnant with anyone's baby, anyone except for Kip.
How often in those last months together had she wished to get pregnant. Not so Kip would stay, but so she would have a piece of him with her.
Shaking, in the dim light of the kitchen stove, Mandy dialled Eric's number.
He wasn't available. She left a message that he was to call no matter the time. Mandy lay in the fetal position, wrapped in one of Kip's old sweaters. She hadn't heard from Kip in two years. He'd kept in touch at first, but then she insisted on a clean break. For him, she reminded herself, as the tears came again. She wished she could call him, but now, pregnant with another man's child, her relationship with Kip was final.
The phone rang, jarring Mandy. She sniffed, and cleared her throat, trying to remove any evidence that she'd been crying. "Hello?" No such luck on the deceit.
"Mandy, they said it was urgent."
"It wasn't. I just, Eric, I'm pregnant."
"And it's ... I mean. No."
"Yes," she sniffed, and reached for another tissue.
"Marry me."
"What?"
"Marry me. I mean it Mandy. I know we haven't been together that long. And there's the whole. Never mind. We'll be a family."
"I can't get married. I still have a year left of university. I can't have a baby." The tears flowed again, freely this time.
"Mandy, don't make any decisions right now okay. I'll get some days off. I'll come down so we can discuss this. I'm shocked, but in a good way. You know. It'll be okay. We'll work it out. Okay."
He sound so strong and confident. So much more than his 25 years. She didn't have the energy to go on her own right now. She took the support he offered. "Okay, Eric. Not marriage I mean. But let's do this baby together."