The next day I didn't see Ian. I was glad that I didn't because I probably would have socked him. Since it was Saturday, I was off. Mary Anne was at the house, I knew, because her car was still there. I didn't want to approach her too soon. I just wanted to see if she was OK. I decided to take Luke for a walk around 11 o'clock. I walked the other way around the block so I can pass her house on the way back. When we passed her house she was checking her mail.

I stopped and said, "Hi, Mary Anne."

She looked up and smiled. "Hi, Logan. Hi, Luke." Luke wagged his tail and licked her hand.

"How are you?" I asked.

"Oh, I'm, um, OK, I guess. How are you?" she asked.

"Oh, I'm great," I said.

She nodded. "Do you want to come in for a little?"

"Sure. Let me put Luke up," I said.

"You don't have to. He can come, too."

"OK," I said. We walked into the spacious house.

"Tea?" she asked. I nodded. I followed her into the kitchen.

"So, what brings you here today?" she asked.

"Oh, I just wanted to see what you were doing," I said.

"Oh, well I wasn't feeling well today, so I took the day off."

"What's wrong?" I asked, concerned, although I had a hunch what it was.

"Oh, it's nothing really. My throat is just a little sore and, um, my head really hurts."

I knew she was lying immediately. She never was a good liar. "Maybe you just need some rest." I said.

She nodded. She poured the tea into two cups. We sat at the table. We talked about our weeks. Luke sat obediently by me on the floor. Mary Anne smiled and gave him a pat.

"He's such a good dog. He's so cute and obedient."

I smiled. "I guess he was born that way."

I studied her face closely. She was never very big on makeup, but I noticed that today she was wearing a lot of it. I knew why, of course. I decided to approach the subject gently.

"Could I ask you a personal question?" I asked.

"Sure," she said.

"How does Ian treat you?"

"He treats me fine."

"I mean, does he ever --" I paused.

"Does he ever what?" she asked.

I decided to just come right out with it. "Does he ever hit you?"

She gave me a surprised look. Then she hesitated before answering me.

"Why do you ask that?" She asked.

I sighed. "Because I was walking Luke last night and coming back I- I heard him. And don't try to lie about it, Mary Anne. I know you better than that. You never were a very good liar. Plus, it won't do you any good. Now, come on. Just admit it, he's abusive to you, isn't he?"

She looked down, her lower lip trembling. I knew she was going to cry at any minute. Finally, she looked up, tears running down her face.

"Yes, he does, but he doesn't do it on purpose. I mean, mostly it's my fault."

I patted her arm. "No, Mary Anne, it's not your fault. He's gotten you to think that it's your fault, when it's really only his fault. The only way it's your fault is how you've kept it a secret so long. Now that it's out in the open, you can get help. I'll help with whatever you need to do."

She nodded. "I just don't know if I can. I mean, he is my husband and I do love him. He says he'll get help and I believe him."

"Has he done it before?" I asked.

She nodded. "He was better for awhile, but then he went back to his old ways."

"Do your parents know?" I asked.

"No, I haven't told anybody. I'm afraid to."

"You know you have to get help. It'll just get worse." I said.

She nodded. "I know I do, but I just don't think that right now is a good time."

"What I want to know is, why haven't you left him?"

"Well, I've always threatened to, but I always chicken out, I guess. I mean, I've gotten more outgoing over the years, but I guess I'm just not outgoing enough to go through with it. He always says he's sorry and says it will never happen again. But later on it always does. It's not really his fault. He had a really bad childhood and I guess he takes out his frustrations from that time in his life on me."

I shook my head. "That's awful. I'm beginning to feel just a little bit sorry for him, but not any more than a thousandth of an inch."

She laughed a little. "I know that I need help taking that big step to leaving him, but right now is not the right time."

"I know it's not any of my business, but why isn't it a good time? I mean, I understand that you still love him and all, but just answer me this question, OK?"

She nodded. "Don't tell this to anybody, but the other day I found out that I'm..."

"What?" I asked, confused. This wasn't making any sense.

She looked at me and said softly, "I found out that I'm pregnant."

I was shocked. This certainly put a new light on things. "Oh. Congratulations. I hope that this will make you see that you need to leave even more, but I understand why you don't want to leave him. You think that it's only fair to give the baby a mother and a father, right?"

She nodded. "You read my mind. I told Ian and he is so happy. He promises that he won't do anything to hurt me or the baby. I believe him. When he's really telling the truth, he gets this look in his eyes. He had that look in his eyes when I told him."

"When are you due?" I asked. Even under the circumstances, a baby was something to celebrate.

"In mid-December. I can't wait," she said.

I looked at the clock. It was almost 12:30. I got up from my seat.

"I'd better go. I'll see you later. Take care of yourself," I said.

She smiled. "I will. 'Bye."

I left with Luke, hoping for once that Ian would keep his promises.