Throttle was having dinner when his cellphone rang. He recognized the ringtone as it was the tone for when I called. It was a Five Finger Death Punch snip it from one of my fave songs, "Wrong Side of Heaven and the Righteous Side of Hell".

He finished what was in his mouth before answering the phone. He took a drink of his coffee then picked up the phone. It had been ringing while he finished what was in his mouth plus get a sip of coffee.

"Hey babe. You on your way home?"

"Uh…I need to tell you something, but not over the phone. Can you meet me at the bar?"

"What's going on, Michelle? What's wrong?"

"Just meet me at the bar, Throttle. Please?"

"Sure, I'll meet you at the bar. I hope everything is ok."

"I'll tell you everything when you get there." Then I hung up.
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An hour later, Throttle arrived at the bar and saw me sitting in the corner at a booth. He saw the worried look on my face. When he sat down across from me, he also saw it in my eyes. He didn't like that look, either.

"Michelle honey, what is going on? Is everything ok?"

I reached over the table and grabbed his hands and held them in mine.

"I'm…I'm pregnant."

Throttle pulled his hands away from mine then started to get upset. I didn't like the look on his face. He thinks I cheated on him. He didn't say a word. Just got up and left. I started crying.

I had my phone out on the table. I texted Jake. I told him that Throttle wasn't happy when I told him that I was pregnant. And that he didn't even ask if I had cheated or was raped. He had a look in his eyes that made him think I cheated.

Jake called shortly after I sent him the text. "He really just up and walked out of the bar? Not a word after you told him you were pregnant?"

"Not a peep. He thinks I cheated on him. The look in his eyes and on his face told me everything. He may not let me back in the house."

"Want me to come get you?"

"No. Since I left the SUV here, I'll drive home. I have to explain to Throttle that I didn't cheat on him."

"Good luck, chica."

"Thanks, Jake." Then I hung up.

I walked out to my car, then got in and started it up. I put it in gear and headed home. I had to tell him that I didn't cheat on him. That I was raped.

When I got home, I noticed all my things in garbage sacks sitting outside.

"He really thinks I cheated on him. I can't believe this is happening." I looked up and saw Ty looking out his window. I made the phone gesture with my left hand. He nodded then called me while looking out his window.

"What's going on, mom? Why is dad so pissed?"

"I'm pregnant, Ty. Your father thinks I cheated on him. I was raped last night by a former friend. Your father wouldn't let me explain."

Ty felt bad for me. "I'm so sorry, mom. I wish dad would have at least let you explain. Is that why your things are sitting outside in garbage bags?"

"Yeah. Apparently, your father doesn't want me here anymore. I don't think he's going to let me explain that I was raped. I would never cheat on your father. I love him dearly."

"I know you do, mom. Do you have a place you can stay 'til I can talk some sense into dad's thick skull?"

"Yeah, I do. I have my twin brothers and best friend. I wish you luck, Ty. Don't ever let your father tell you that I don't love you. If you, somehow, manage to get some sense into his thick skull, tell him he can call me and meet me at the bar."

"I will, mom. I love you and be careful."

"I love you too, Ty." Then I ended the call.

I grabbed the bags and put them in the back of the SUV. I closed the back end, then got into the car and backed out of the driveway. Before I drove down the road, I waved at Ty, who waved back at me, then left. I couldn't believe what was happening.

I kept thinking, 'what if this is it? What if he really decides to divorce me and I never see Ty again?'
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When I got to Jake's place, I got out of the SUV, grabbed the bags from the back of it, then went to the door and knocked with my foot since my hands were holding my things in the bags.

Jake opened the door and let me in. "I won't even ask. I'm so sorry, chica."

"Don't be. My son, Ty, is going to try to talk to his father and explain that I didn't cheat on him, but was raped by a former friend."

"So, what's gonna happen if your son can't talk sense into your husband?"

"Then I'll be more than happy to give him a divorce if he wants it. I just don't want him taking my son from me. Ty is 2 yrs. away from being 18 where he can decide who he wants to live with, but because the hockey season is coming up soon, Ty has to be with both of us. Both Throttle and I have to be on the road with the team. He's my assistant manager."

"Think you 2 would be civil enough for the season?"

"We don't have a choice. I'm hoping he doesn't want a divorce and wants to talk."

"What do you plan to do about the baby?"

I sighed. "That's ok, chica. We don't need to talk about it. If you would like to lay down for a while, you can use my room."

I hugged Jake. "Thanks Jake. Where's Sean and Seamus?"

"Would you believe I sent them to get some groceries?"

"No, but I know they don't fuck with you when you tell them what to do."

"Heh, so true. So, I got a call from an old friend."

"Yeah, who?"

"Orion."

"Really? How's he doing?"

"He's good. He knew you had been in the Marines and asked the General to keep tabs on you."

"Why? Isn't he a General himself at the Army base in New York?"

"He also knew that you train the new recruits, as well. He wants you to come to New York to train his new recruits in the same style as the Marines."

"If I wasn't manager of the Blackhawks, I'd do it. I love training the new recruits, but since I have this job, I can't do it anymore. I told the General at the Marine Corps. base that I can't do it anymore during the winter."

"Orion wants you there for the summer. I told him you work during the hockey season."

"Do you have his number? Maybe I'll give him a call right now."

"He'd love to hear from you, I'm sure."

"It has been a very long time since I talked to him. Think he'll recognize my voice?"

"Maybe. Here, you can call him from my phone." Then he dials the number.
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

New York Army Base. Orion had just finished his paperwork when his phone rang. He picked it up.

"Hello? This is General Whitchurch."

"Hey Orion. How's it going?"

"Michelle? Is that you?"

"Is there any other woman that would call you?"

"Actually, there would be. How are you, Michelle?"

"I'm doing good, Orion. Its good to hear your voice. Been a very long time."

"Yeah, it has. What have you been doing with your life since the Marines?"

"Got married and had a family 16 yrs. ago. I married a biker and he's wonderful. Treats me with respect."

"That's good and congrats. I never pictured you with a biker, but if he treats you with respect, then great."

"So, Jake told me you would like me to come to New York to train the new recruits during the summer."

"Yes, I would. The Army is too lenient on their training and I know how the Marines are trained. I also know that you train the new recruits in your special style of training."

"You want me to train them in my special style of training during the summer? Right now, isn't the best time. My husband and I are having problems right now."

"I thought you said he treats you with respect?"

"He does, but when I told him I was pregnant, he put all my things in garbage bags and put them outside the house. He thinks I cheated on him. I was raped. That's how I found out I was pregnant."

"He wouldn't let you explain?"

"Nope. My son is going to try to talk some sense into his father and hopefully, he'll want to talk to me."

"Well, no matter what happens, you can always call me to talk. I'm told I'm a great listener."

"You never told me that you were married or dating someone at the beginning of the call."

"Do you remember Arial from school?"

"Yeah, I do. She was our biggest fan when the band was together. What about her?"

"I married her. She now works at the same school we all went to."

"Good for her. You 2 wanting kids?"

"We're a little old to be having kids now. She's in her 40's and I'm in my mid 50's."

"Could have fooled me back in the day, Orion. If you weren't in school with us, then what were you doing?"

"I worked at the school. I was vice principal at the school."

"I didn't know that. Well hell."

"I'm going to be honest with you, Michelle. I always thought you were beautiful and wanted to date you, but cause of the age difference, I didn't want to take the chance of being labeled a child molester."

"I appreciate the compliment, Orion."

"You're quite welcome, Michelle. Just thought you should know."

"I'm glad you told me. I just hope my husband wants to talk and not want a divorce. Don't think I could handle it. The separation of the connection could kill us both."

"What kind of connection, if you don't mind me asking?"

"It's a connection that only Martian Mice have when they're married. If that connection is severed for whatever reason, it will kill one or both. It almost happened yrs. ago."

While we were talking, Jake told me that Throttle had called my cell phone about 10 mins. ago.

"Hey, Orion. I gotta go. My husband called 10 mins. ago. I need to call him back and hope he wants to talk."

"Ok, Michelle. Let me know how things went. Good or bad."

"I will, Orion. Thank you for being my friend all these years."

"You're welcome. Have a good day." Then I hung up and handed Jake his phone back.

I picked up my phone and called Throttle back. I was hoping he wanted to meet at the bar and talk.

I dialed his number then waited for him to pick up. I asked Jake for something to drink while I waited for Throttle to pick up.

A few mins. later, Throttle finally picked up. "Can we talk?"

"I don't know. You gonna get up and walk out without hearing my explanation?"

"That's fair. I was stupid. I admit it. Meet me at the bar and we'll talk."

"Ok." Then I ended the call. I grabbed my keys then went out to the car and got in. I started it and headed for the bar to talk with Throttle.