"…there was never a baby." Amanda had decided to reveal this little gem to Ted just days before their planned wedding date. Sure, she had said a bit more than that, but all Ted heard, and all he could think of, were the words "there was never a baby". Those words felt like freedom to him. When Amanda told him she was pregnant, his heart felt heavier than one-hundred bags of salt. He couldn't be with Laura. His future was set for him; marry Amanda, raise the child/children, grow old with her. Her who suggested him keeping Laura as a mistress. Her, who was more comfortable, as she said, with women. But he didn't want it to be her. So when he heard those five words, he felt free. Free to have a relationship with Laura. And maybe even marry, raise children with, and grow old with. Those five words brought not only freedom, but hope and happiness. But they also brought anger, because Amanda had lied to him. She had been the cause of his misery.
Ted's heart stopped. "There was.. never a baby?" His voice sounded like it was someone else's'.
"Oh Teddy, don't be upset. We can still have a baby." She wrapped her arms around him, and was about to kiss him, too, until Ted pushed her away from him. "Teddy!"
"You lied to me."
"But we can-"
"I don't care about babies."
Amanda eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "Then what's the matter, Teddy?"
"There's not going to be a wedding, Amanda. And you can stop calling me Teddy now. You're almost as bad as my parents. I don't like to be called Teddy or Edward."
"Ted, dear, you can't cancel the wedding, it's a few days away! And there's no reason to cancel the wedding, unless- oh I knew I should've waited to tell you until after the wedding day. It's Laura, isn't it? Always Laura."
"You shouldn't really care about my relationship with Laura, Amanda, because you good as said it- this isn't a marriage for love. It's convenient for you. With me, a family friend, you could count on me to keep your little.. secret. No one would know any better. You would be married to me, and no one would have any reason to be suspicious. But I want a marriage for love, Amanda, and you can find your own willing secret keeper. Oh, and I can cancel the wedding, because you forced me into it by lying to me. Shame on you, Amanda."
"No, no, you can't do that! It would ruin me- I'd be known as a liar, someone not to be trusted! I wouldn't be able to marry anyone, Ted, anyone," panicked Amanda.
"You know, if you just let me refuse to marry you, I would be the one looked down upon. But you brought this upon yourself." Ted pulled on his coat. "Goodbye."
"Ted.. Teddy.. please." Amanda grabbed his arm. "We can make this marriage work. Just give it a little time." Ted yanked his arm out of her grasp, gave her a dirty look, and left the apartment, leaving Amanda in sobs.