Scott had slept in his office the day he found out Lauren was pregnant, and every day since. Throwing himself into his work was a defense mechanism he always used so that he wouldn't have to deal with what was really happening to him. It hid the hurt and the fear that he was feeling and it kept him from thinking of things that he would rather not think about.
And there were so many of those things. First, what did he say to Lauren? She was pregnant, she was twenty-nine years old, unmarried, and expecting a baby in roughly six to six and a half months, a baby that he was, no, he could be, responsible for. All week she had avoided both Harry and himself like the plague, and to be honest, he was glad. He didn't want to talk about this with her until he was sure of what he wanted to do and what he should say.
Second, there was Cathleen. Over the past few weeks, his feelings for her had grown from gratitude and admiration to a legitimate sense of caring, and now that she had told him about Bridget, he felt even more or an attachment. If the baby was his, he would have to tell her, because then, he would be honor bound to offer his support and his name to Lauren and her child. He didn't know if she would accept his offer, but it was one he had to make nonetheless.
Scott was honor bound to do a few more things as well. He needed to tell Cathleen the truth. There couldn't and shouldn't be any secrets between them if their relationship was going to go to the next level. If it did, he would have to be careful, the way he should have been with Lauren. That "next step" could not be taken until he knew if Lauren's child was his child as well, and, he told himself, until that baby was born, he would be there for Lauren when she needed him to be, regardless of the baby's paternity. He needed to do that for her. He needed to do that for himself.
A knock at the door jolted Scott into reality. A man with a long, dark ponytail was standing at his office door. He motioned for him to enter.
"Excuse me, sir, I'm Frank Monroe, the new chemistry teacher, Mr. Harper told me I should speak a Scott Guber."
"I am Scott Guber. Have a seat, Mr. Monroe. We have relatively little to discuss since Steven had all ready told you all of the necessary rules and regulations. You're classroom will be room 9. First period begins at 8:30. You don't have a homeroom, so you are required to report to work at 8:15. Do you have any questions?"
"Yes, just one. Where is Room 9?"
"It's down the...It's easier to show you."
The words had no sooner left his mouth than Scott realized that in order to walk Mr. Monroe to his class he would have to pass Lauren's classroom. His only saving grace was that it was still early and with any luck, he wouldn't run into her. Well, luck was not on his side. Just as he passed the doorway to her classroom, she stepped out of it. There was nothing to do but say good morning to her.
"Good morning, Lauren."
"Scott."
Frank smiled at Scott, "Girl trouble?"
"What? No, there's nothing between, that's Lauren Davis, head of the Social Studies Department."
"From the reception she gave you, I'd either say you were either an item or mortal enemies and from the way you looked at her..."
"What way are you referring to, Mr. Monroe?"
"With all due respect, sir, you looked at her like you were a halogen and she was some industrial strength hydrogen. But, I can tell by the look you are giving me that this is none of my business and I should shut my mouth before I get myself fired."
"Not fired, but on my bad side, and that Mr. Monroe, is a place you don't want to be."
"I'll say no more, but know this; feelings are more evident to the outside observer. Just think about what I said."
Scott pretended not to hear this over perceptive chemistry teacher, but he realized that he did want Lauren, and not just in the biblical sense. He wanted her as a friend, as a companion, as a mate. She made him feel whole. When she was in the room, even if they were angry at each other, even if they weren't speaking, he was complete with her presence. She was the left hand and he was the right. A perfect match. Maybe.
Scott went back to his office and there, seated in the big leather chair in front of his desk was Lauren. It was upon him. The moment he had been dreading. She sough him out, and now he had to deal with all this...stuff.
"Good morning, Miss Davis," he said trying to sound professional, "What can I do for you?"
"First off, you can stop calling me Miss Davis. There's no going back now, Scott, we both know that."
"Yes, we do. Lauren, I know how difficult..."
"No, you don't, you have no idea how hard this is for me, Scott. I've been with three men in my entire life, that's all, and now I'm pregnant, and two of those three men are prospective fathers for the baby. I'm hurt, I'm angry, and I'm scared.
"Lauren, this is my, or could be my baby too. You think that just because I'm not carrying the child I don't feel those things that I won't live up to my responsibility."
"Scott, that is what I've come here to tell you. I've tried calling, but you have been out."
"I've been sl..."
"Sleeping in your office. I know, Louisa told me. Why?"
"Because I needed some time to think things through."
"And what conclusions have you come to?"
"If this baby is mine, I need to take responsibility for it. And you."
"No, Scott. That's what I wanted to tell you. I've told this to Harry and now I'm telling you, I have no problem raising this child on my own. In fact, I'd prefer it."
"I don't want it that way."
"Well, I do. It's my life, Scott, and my baby. Those are the only things I know for sure right now. You are under no obligation to me or to this child. No generous deeds or noble gestures are required."
"Lauren, this could be my baby too. We weren't exactly careful."
"Don't you think I know that? Remember, I'm the one that's going to be having the baby. All, I'm saying is, I don't know who the father is, and that's my fault. Neither you nor Harry should put your lives on hold. You have someone else that needs you, someone else in your life...?"
"What?"
"Cathleen Montgomery. I know you're seeing her."
"What does Cathleen have to do with you and the baby?"
"Everything. Scott, you are an honorable man. Even if this baby was Harry's, and I'm not saying that it is, you would love it and raise it as your own. I can't allow you to do that. Not when you care for someone else, and not when I know that you would come to resent me for it."
As Lauren said these words, Scott realized that she really thought that he didn't love her any more; maybe she thought he never really did. He looked at her face and saw the tears streaming down her cheeks. She turned away from him and began to sob. Moved to tenderness, Scott knelt beside her in the chair, and lifted her chin so that he could hold her head to his chest. He wanted to absorb the fear and pain he saw in her eyes, he wanted to take away the shame. He needs to say something. He couldn't say anything. He couldn't propose, she would not accept. He couldn't tell her he loved her, she wouldn't believe him. All he could do was hold her and murmur softly in her hair, "It's all right; I'll take care of everything. It's all right."
Little did Scott know, that situation was far from all right, and little did Lauren know, by this time tomorrow, she'd have something to really cry about.
