The Fine Print: Daniel Knauf and HBO own Carnivale and, unfortunately, Justin and Iris.

Minutes Like Hours

By twinb80

Chapter Nine: Choices

The Donalds ended up staying with them for two weeks. And to Iris's amazement, she actually enjoyed them being in her home. Ray and Lucy Donalds always seemed to have a story to tell or a joke they had just heard that needed to be told. Their children were well mannered and never threw a fit to get their heart's desires. Even Justin, home on the weekends, had been charmed by their family. Iris found the time spent with the Donalds to be a gift to her. In just one night, she had made a major life choice in going to bed with Norman, and found that she did not regret this choice. In his arms, she had found her escape from whatever it was she was running from. Iris did not want to stop and think about what she was running from - so she didn't.

Having the Donalds in the house for so long also helped Iris get past on of her greatest fears. Her period had been late in coming and the possibility that she might be pregnant terrified her. Thankfully, her period had been a week late in coming, but until it came Iris was scared to death. She knew that if the Donalds had not been visiting, the chance that Norman and her going to bed again and her ending up pregnant would have been twice as high. Norman had asked her in that darkened hallway if she wanted to continue their affair form the night before. Her face had turned bright red at, such a thought, but she still had said yes to his question. Now she was concerned about the possibility of becoming pregnant. If she ended up with a baby, she didn't know what she would do. She could endure the ridicule and taunts thrown at her as an unwed mother and being considered a harlot. She could deal with hidden smiles and smirks behind people's backs and being gossiped about. She would even endure the disappointment from Rose and Norman. No, it wasn't Norman she was concerned about either. It was having to tell Justin that she was pregnant. That she would be carrying another man's child and that man being Norman would be twice a blow to Justin. No, she couldn't tell Justin if that happened. If he found out that the father of her child was Norman he would kill Norman. Iris knew that. No, this affair had to stop before the possibility of her ending up with a child became a reality.

The Donalds had finally left, and Iris found her opportunity to talk with Norman privately one afternoon. Rose had gone into town to do some shopping and wouldn't be back until later that night. Justin was still in school, so it was the perfect time to talk with Norman. She found him in his office going over some paper work. He looked up to find her standing in the doorway like a lost child. She said nothing until she reached his desk and then it was in one quick rushed sentence. "So you see, I can't...we can't...I mean...it won't work out..."

Norman had been sitting in his chair, patiently listening to Iris's concerns. He gently took her hand and pulled her onto his lap. Startled, Iris looked up at him and found him smiling at her. He wasn't upset like she thought he would be, and explained to her that the chance of her becoming pregnant by him was next to impossible. "I don't understand. You're a man and I am a woman. What else do you need to make a baby?"

Norman chuckled at her question and Iris began to get upset. Did he think she was stupid? Some stupid little girl who had never had a lover? She wasn't as gullible or as innocent as she appeared to be. But that wasn't any of Norman's or anyone else's business. She tried to stand up but he held her tightly to him. One of his arms was wrapped around her waist while the other hand lay gently in her lap. She struggled some more and hit at him with her fists and shoes. "What do you want from me? I am not stupid, you know, and I don't like being made fun of!" she yelled at him.

After her little fit was over, Norman let go of his hold on her. She stood up and turned to leave the room. He caught her wrist and turned her back toward him. He didn't speak until she stopped struggling and looked him in the eye. "I am sorry I laughed at you. You're right about how anyone can make a baby. Its a valid concern. But you don't have to worry about that. I can't make babies. It's not Rose's fault, it's mine. I've even been tested, and it's my fault. I would never have asked you to continue this affair if I thought you might end up pregnant." Iris didn't know what to say to this information. He could be lying to her just to get her back into bed with him. She studied his face and found no clues that he was lying to her. Her gut feeling agreed with this. He had spoken the truth and as embarrassing as it had been for him, he still told her. He stood up from his chair and closed the small distance between them. Norman put his hands gently on the side of her face and she closed her eyes as he brought his mouth down onto hers. His arms were soon around her waist and his body pressed against hers. The thought that Rose could come home earlier never entered Norman's mind as his hands explored her body. Iris found herself returning his kisses and her desire to be satisfied grew. Norman's kisses soon find their way to her neck and she gasped out loud as he hefted her up onto his desk. His hands soon had her skirt pulled up to her waist, and the buttons on her blouse soon revealed her breasts to his eager eyes and hands. Within minutes, his pants were on the floor and their bodies were once again brought together in their forbidden act. His office echoed with their lovemaking and her legs were soon wrapped tightly around his waist as he came within her calling out her name.