Before I can talk myself out of it, I knock on Jeff's door as soon as I come down our street. I can hear Danny crying. I check my watch. It's time for his afternoon nap.

Jeff opens the door with Danny sitting on his hip. His hair is disheveled and Danny's face is red, as if he's been screaming for a while. When Danny sees me, he imperiously stretches out his arms. As soon as I take him, he shuts up. I kiss his squishy little tear-stained cheek.

"Thank God you're here," Jeff says. "I know we have to talk, but give me a half hour, okay?" He runs into his office and shuts the door.

"You're a little smelly," I tell Danny. "I think you pooped. And I think you could use a bath." Bathing him always makes him sleepy.

I carry Danny into the bathroom and fill the baby tub. I wipe his butt before he gets in. He splashes a little bit and gets me wet, but I don't mind. I use baby soap on his body and very carefully lather and rinse his little head, shielding his eyes with my hand. Then I wrap him in a fuzzy towel and put him on the changing table to slap a diaper on him. His eyes are more closed than open at this point. I sit down on the couch in Danny's room and I feel his whole body relax. I carefully move him into the crib, watching his chest rise and fall. He's okay.

I just don't know if I am. When I think of Danny getting a little brother, I swell with pride. But I still haven't talked to Jeff about my news.

I sit outside of his office door, listening to him conclude a meeting. When it's over, he opens the office door and almost walks right by me to get to the stairs.

"Hey." He whips around and sees me. "Danny?"

"Asleep. He was just tired and fussy. He needed a bath."

"Good," Jeff says, running a hand through his hair. "I don't know how to manage without you."

I blink. I can dance around this, but I need to just say it. My heart is beating in a crazy rhythm. "I have to talk to you about something." "It's for the best," Jeff says, his voice soft. But I can see longing in his face. It was harder to tell yesterday.

"No, it's something else." "Okay, shoot." "I'm pregnant."

Jeff's jaw drops. "What?" he chokes.

"I just went to the doctor. I've been throwing up every morning this week. The doctor confirmed that I'm pregnant." I watch Jeff's face. The surprise is fading into confusion.

"How?" "The first time," I tell him. "We tried to use condom, but once is all it takes. We weren't careful enough."

He sinks on the couch across from me. "I'm not going to ask for a paternity test." I can tell that he's thinking about the bloodstains created by my virginity in his bed.

"I've only slept with you," I say.

He's staring at the floor. I'm terrified that he'll look at me and just order me out, never to darken his doorstep again. What would happen to Danny?

"Marry me."

My jaw drops so far that it should hit the floor. Marry him?

"Marry me, Elia. We'll take care of this. Your baby will have my name. Our baby."

I am still gaping at him like a goldfish.

"I can get a marriage license soon and we'll be married within a week." He stands up. "I'll pay for your wedding dress, of course. Just go to a bridal shop and buy something off the rack."

I clench my fists and can feel anger rising inside of me. "It's that easy, huh?"

"We can cut to the chase, Elia. I know that this may not be what you envisioned, but you're pregnant."

I get to my feet, trying not to yell and wake the baby. "First of all, I can have my baby on my own. And he or she can have my name."

"Snowball's chance in hell," Jeff snorts.

"Second, I don't want to marry you. You broke up with me. I obviously don't mean much to you. And while we can negotiate a fair custody arrangement, I will not be living with you. If I can afford it, I'm moving away." I can see fire in his eyes. "No."

"I'm leaving," I say. "I'll come back tomorrow evening." He makes a move forward as if he wants to grab me and stop me, but I warn him with my eyes that it's not a good idea.

I walk home, almost ready to cry. When I get back to my room, I plop facedown on my bed. I don't even know if I'm crying. I just feel totally drained.