My hands folded into my lap, I dare myself to look at Erik. He looks miserable. I can't take this. This is completely unfair to Erik. I won't keep this quiet any longer. I forbid it! I will justify this situation, and redeem myself as his girlfriend!

I slowly look up from the table to my mom, who is digging her fork into the eggplant parmesan.

"Jack and I aren't together anymore," I declare sternly.

Mom stops eating. Dad chokes on his food.

"Dad?" I question with concerned eyes.

He continues to cough and wheeze, but holds up a hand to indicate his wellbeing. The coughing dies down.

"Wha-what do you mean you and Jack aren't together?" Mom exclaims. "Especially now?!"

I wince. Erik is hunching over in his seat. I can understand his desire to be invisible. I take his hand in mine and place it on top of the table. I want Erik to know that I'm not embarrassed by him. Erik faces me, a sparse look of hope appears in his eyes.

"Erik and I are together now," I announce. "We got together a few weeks ago."

Mom's aghast. "But...what about Jack?!"

"Tracy-"

"They were perfect for one another, George!"

"Mom! Enough!" I blurt. "Erik and I are together now. We care for each other deeply. He's

more than I could ask for in a man and a partner."

Erik smiles endearingly at me.

Mom's not done. "But Jack-"

"-And I are over!" I finish for her.

Mom sits quietly, looking indignant. "Okay." Her voice has grown calm, deadly calm. "Erik..."

"Yes, ma'am?" he asks politely.

"Since you and my daughter are now together, I must clarify a few things."

"Yes, ma'am."

"I don't like you. You wear a…an unconventional clothing material upon your face. It makes me think that you are hiding something, something suspicious and scary. Like a criminal. And it makes me want to ask you what you are hiding underneath it. I like Jack. I'll alway like Jack, and I want him to get back together with my daughter. Especially now in her condition."

My hand covers my mouth. What a horrible, treacherous thing to say!

"Mom!" I shout. Tears start to fall from my eyes. Erik looks away, but I can tell he's hurt-I feel the tremors in his hand. Then, to make things worse, he removes his hand from mine and places it on his lap.

In a low voice he says, "I'm going to wrap up the eggplant parmesan in some foil." He stands up and saunters into the kitchen.

As soon as he disappears, I attack Mom. "What is wrong with you?!" I gnash out, not bothering to hide my tears.

"Honey, calm down-" Dad tries to tell me.

"No, I will not! What you said was horrible. And what you did was horrible. I like Erik. He likes me. Why can't you accept that he's a little different? That he's physically different!? Mentally and emotionally, he's like any male."

And I love him. Oh, how I wish I can just yell that out to the world.

"We can't accept him because you and Jack belong with one another!" Mom yells. "Especially since you are carrying his CHILD!"

Something big and loud crashes from the kitchen. I have the dreaded feeling that I will be mopping eggplant parmesan off the tile floor in the morning.

My faces blanches, and my arms and legs become noodles.

The truth is out: Erik knows of my pregnancy.

Slowly the kitchen door opens, and a dazed Erik stumbles out into the dining room. He looks at my mother. "Excuse me, Mrs. Stein. I know you don't like me, but may you repeat that?"

Mother looks surprised by his blunt statement. "Why, Amy is pregnant with Jack's child. Didn't you know?" Mom's eyes volley between Erik and I for a moment, taking in the scene. She gasps. "You didn't know, did you?"

I force myself to glance at each person in the room, unsure what to do.

Dad doesn't say anything; he just stays quiet and camouflages into the background.

Without prelude, the front door opens. Nadir and Allison enter. They are laughing about something.

Wonderful…

Allison turns around and gasps. "Mr. and Mrs. Stein!" Her hands cave her mouth. She looks at

me, then at Erik, then at my parents. She pales. By the expressions on all our faces, I know that she's deduced our predicament. She knows that my secret is out.

"Mom, Dad...you remember Allison," I say in a hoarse voice. They nod. "This is Nadir Khan," I

introduce, "Allison's date, Erik's best friend, and...my obstetrician."

Nadir looks at the scene before him and is able to understand immediately. "Nice to meet you,"

he smiles. "Allison, I think you forgot something back in the, um, car."

"I think so too," she says, without hesitation. "Let's go."

They leave, shutting the door behind them.

We all stay in unanimous silence.

I break it. "Mom. Dad. I think you need to leave and come back another time. Erik and I need

to have a discussion."

Mom looks like she wants to stay. Dad takes her arm gently, urging her to come with him. He

whispers something in her ear, and that seems to do the trick. Mom glances back at me one last

time-I don't return her glance-and gets off the chair. Their solemn footsteps crawl to the door. The door clicks shut, and its like a graveyard has taken place in my dining room.

I rise from my chair, unable to look at Erik. "We need to talk."

Erik looks back at me in despair, his eyes red around the rims. "I need to leave."