That night Claire couldn't sleep. She was lucky if she got two hours. Most of the night she was crying. She couldn't believe the nerve of John. She felt like a fool. She figured John did that kind of thing all the time. Except this time he got something extra out of it. She didn't buy his excuse about problems with his wife for one second. She got up the next morning and packed. She'd thought about what to do about the baby last night. This morning with a much more clear head she'd reached a decision. One that would be best for everyone. She was going to call Heather when she got back home to Chicago and tell her what she decided. Several hours later when she got home she picked up the phone and dialed Heather's number.

"Hello?" She said.

"Hi it's me."

"How was your trip?"

"Terrible."

"What happened?"

"I found John."

"You did?"

"Yeah he's the one doing the commercial." "That sports company, it's a wresting company called World Wrestling Entertainment."

"He's a professional wrestler?"

"Yeah his name is John Cena."

"Daniel knows who that is I think he watches wrestling sometimes." "Did you tell John about the baby?"

"Yeah." She started to cry. "Maria, he's married."

"What?"

"John's married." "When I went into his locker room to talk to him I saw his wedding ring sitting on the coffee table."

"Oh my god."

"I can't believe I fell for that shit that night." "I was taken in by a playboy." "I was used."

"What did he say when you found the ring?"

"He told me some bullshit story about how the night he met me him and his wife started a trial separation but a few weeks later she wanted to work it out."

"What a lying asshole."

"I know." "I feel like such a slut." "I got pregnant by a married man."

"You didn't know he was married it's not your fault."

"I never would've done anything with him had I of known that."

"I know."

"I've decided what I'm doing about the baby."

"Good." "What are you doing?"

"I'm not keeping it."

"You're getting an abortion?"

"I thought about that but I can't do it." "I'm giving it up for adoption."

"Claire are you sure that what you want?"

"Yes." "The baby deserves a good home."

"You don't think it'd have a good home with you?"

"No I wouldn't be able to take care of it." "I'll tell John when I see him in two days."

"Why are you seeing him in two days?"

"I have to supervise the commercial."

"What are you gonna tell people when you start showing?"

"I'm gonna tell them that I volunteered to be a surrogate mother to a friend of mine in Europe."

"What do you think your parents will say?"

"It won't be as bad as if they knew the truth."

"I know this is a difficult time for you." "We can talk about it anytime you want to."

"Thanks." "I gotta go so I can make arrangements for the adoption."

"Ok bye."

"Bye."

Claire dialed a number.

"This is The Cradle Adoption Agency." "How may I help you?" A woman said.

"Hi my name is Claire Logan." "I'm pregnant and I need to speak to someone about giving my baby up for adoption."

"Please hold." A few seconds later someone picked up.

"This is Laura how can I help you?"

"Hi my name is Claire Logan." "I'm pregnant and interested in putting my baby up for adoption."

"Ok." "Can you come in so we can discuss things?"

"Yes."

"How about tomorrow?"

"Ok but I don't get off work until five."

"Is 6:30 ok?"

"That's fine."

"Ok see you tomorrow."

"Ok bye."

"Bye."

The next day after Claire got off work she went to the adoption agency. She went up to the desk.

"Hi I'm Claire Logan I have an appointment with Laura."

"Yes she's expecting you." A woman said. "Take the elevator to the third floor." "Her office is the third door on the left."

Claire took the elevator to the third floor went to the office door and knocked.

"Come in." She went in. "Claire?"

"Yes."

"Please sit down." She sat down. "I'm Lauren Jane."

"Nice to meet you."

"So you're considering giving your baby up for adoption?"

"Yes."

"May I ask why?"

"My pregnancy was a result of a one night stand with some loser."

"Does he know about the pregnancy?"

"I can't find him."

"Have you considered your other options?"

"Yes I think adoption is for the best."

"Do you have any questions?"

"My baby will go to a loving family right?"

"Yes we screen all applicants thoroughly and carefully."

"Can I choose the adoptive parents?"

"Yes you can."

"I would like to proceed with the adoption."

"Ok." She started writing on a form. "Do you smoke?"

"No never."

"Do you drink?"

"Not since I found out I'm pregnant."

"Do you do drugs?"

"No."

"Would you like an open or closed adoption?"

"What's the difference?"

"With an open adoption you get the occasional picture of your child, letters, maybe a phone call." "With a closed adoption you get none of that."

"I want a closed adoption." "I couldn't bare to look at pictures of my child." "This is hard enough." "I don't even know if I wanna see it when it's born."

"Ok." "I'll start notifying potential families and call you when I have a few ready to be interviewed."

"Thank you."

It was the day of the commercial shoot. Claire along with everyone involved was at the TV studio. Just the sight of John made Claire angry. Everyone was on a five minute break. Claire went up to John.

"Come with me outside." She said. They went outside.

"How are you feeling?"

"I'm pregnant with a scumbags baby." "How do you think?"

"Claire what I told about me and my wife the other day was the truth." "I swear to god." "I don't want you to go through this alone."

"Look I just wanted to tell you that I've decided to give the baby up for adoption."

"Adoption?"

"Yeah so you don't have to worry."

"I want you to keep the baby."

"I can't I don't know the first thing about raising a baby."

"I'll help you."

"How can you help me?" "What are gonna do for me?" "What I am supposed to do send it to you and your wife every other weekend."

"Claire this is our baby." He put his hand on her stomach. "I know how you feel about me and I don't blame you." "Can you honestly tell me you don't love this baby?"

"Why are you doing this to me?" "You're off the hook John." "You can continue to cheat on your wife with as many unsuspecting bar whores as you want." "Just like you did with me."

"I've never cheated on my wife." "That was the only time."

"Stop lying."

"I'm not lying." "Let's work something out about the baby."

"No if we did I know the press would find out about this and I'll be damned if I let my child be branded the bastard child of John Cena."

"Claire I want us to raise it together."

"Together?"

"Yes."

"Even if what you told me about you and your wife is true answer me this." "Are you or are you not still married?"

"We are."

"Well then obviously you're not ready to move on and I don't have anything more to say to you." "After today we go our separate ways." She went back inside.

Later that night she was sitting at home. She started rubbing her stomach.

"Hi little baby." "I want you to know how hard this is for me." "Always remember that I love you." "I'll never forget you." "You're gonna go to a really nice family that will love you the way you deserve to be loved."