Page 51 of Devil's Dilemma

“I do not stretch that way.” I complain.

“You will,” both Vi and Mo speak at the same time. They’re laughing. I glare. They’ve both experienced birth and know what to expect. I’ve got this to look forward to in less than eight months.

“How the hell did you do this three times, Mo?”

“It’s easier with the second,” she replies, giving her daughter-in-law a pointed look.

“What?” says Vi, innocently.

“Anything you want to tell me?”

“Mo, stop. You know we want to wait until Theo’s a little bit older. I promise, when I am, you’ll be the first to know.”

Demon’s mother pouts, then pulls her chair in a bit closer to mine. “Then I’ll just have to be a proxy grandmother to Mel’s for now.”

I give her a genuine smile. That actually sounds nice.

But it reminds me I haven’t told my parents. How can I? How do I explain I might be a single mother? I don’t think they’ll be judgmental, it’s just, I still haven’t found the right words to form an explanation, when I don’t know what’s going on myself. I won’t be able to put it off forever, soon I’ll have to admit Skull is gone.

Each day I hope for news, but it never comes. Days pass slowly, one after the other, each twenty-four-hour period the same as the last. I go to work and try to concentrate on doing my job. Because of my reddened eyes, my forlorn expression of hope when the phone rings, I’ve had to tell co-workers that Skull’s disappeared, but not that I’m having his baby. Unfortunately, they treat him being missing as an intriguing mystery, and I have to put up with a daily inquisition. Is there news?No.Any new ideas why?Again, no.They offer up theories and then look at me with that sad look in their eyes. It was Carter who dared to say the words,Bikes are dangerous, he probably had an accident.

It’s not much better at the weekend when I’m in the clubhouse. If people talk about Skull I get upset, if they don’t, I want to cry. Life goes on and they’re moving onto other things now, Skull being gone is yesterday’s topic.

Time also rushes by all too fast. Each day gone is another that he’s been missing, and they are starting to mount up. Even I know as the period of time lengthens, it’s hardly a good sign. If he was able to return or wanted to, he’d have come back by now.

The day of my appointment with the OB/GYN comes around. When I descend the staircase, I don’t just find Violet waiting for me, but Pyro as well.

When I cock my eyebrow, he nods to Vi, then takes me to one side.

“Mel, if Skull was here, he’d be going with you. But he can’t be, so I’m coming in his place.”

“You don’t have to do that.”

“I know, but I owe it to him as my brother.”

“I’ve got Vi…”

“Let me go with you, instead. Mel. Let me give you the support Skull would have given.”

But he’s not Skull.

Pyro’s been there for me since Skull went missing.

I might not have my man with me, but Pyro seems hellbent on making sure I won’t be going through this alone.

“If you’re not comfortable with the arrangement, Mel, we can stick to the original plan,” Vi offers, anxiously.

I won’t have Skull, but Pyro seems intent on being his proxy. While I’m sure the doctor won’t be judgmental, there’s something comforting about walking in with a man.

“Okay,” I say slowly. “Thank you, Pyro.”

Vi leans over to the sofa and picks up a cushion, asking casually, “Did this make a difference Ro?”

Pyro rubs his neck. “Yeah, it did. Thanks Vi.”

“Make a difference to what?” I look from one to the other.

“Sleeping on the sofa,” Vi informs me.

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