Turn of a Card

"How are you managing?"

"Oh, I've still got my job, when the time comes," she shrugged, "I'll manage somehow."

"You don't have to manage 'somehow' Tania. Would you come to me?"

"You don't have to offer that Ted. If we hadn't met just now we might never have seen each other again and you'd never have known, and I had no intention of telling you."

She paused and gave an odd smile; "After all, you paid enough for that one night."

"God's sake Tania," I exploded, making the other customers look up so I went on more quietly, "It wasn't like that, and you know it wasn't. I told you I Ioved you and I'd never said that to any woman before, and you said you loved me."

She reached across the table and laid her hand over mine.

"I'm sorry Ted, it's just that I don't want you to take the responsibility, I..."

"Dammit Tania, doesn't it occur to you I might want to be responsible? I told you I love you and I want to be responsible for those words. That child inside you is part of me as well as you, so why wouldn't I want to be responsible?" "I knew...I knew you'd be like this if you ever found out and it isn't the way I wanted it."

"Tania, it doesn't matter how you or I might have wanted it, it's the way it is now. Come to me...let me show you I love you...please."

Her hand tightened on mine. She was crying but at the same time she tried to smile.

"Ted, do you mind if I ask you to do something that will sound silly?"

"Ask away," I replied, "just so long as you'll come to me."

"Would you court me, just for a little while...oh my God, that sounds so old fashioned; I'm making myself blush."

"I'll court you for as long as it takes to get you to come to me."

Epilogue.

I've given up playing cards even to win or lose a few dollars. There are a few card games Tania and I play with the children, but nothing is ever going to depend on the turn of a card again; least of all, Tania and the children.