Tom felt relief after having the quick passionate interlude with Renée.  After watching Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, there was a little time left before he had to be home without breaking curfew.  They went into the Holtz’ bedroom, and were petting heavily, when Lee began to cry for his mommy.   Renée was very attentive to the little boy she was in charge of, and Tom was mature enough to understand.  He felt it would be better if he left rather than run the risk of being late if it took a long time to get the three year old back to sleep.  He was sorry that he and Renée had gotten aroused again, meaning that he would have to drive home quite stiff.  However, the romantic evening he was planning for Saturday night was keeping his mind occupied.

            Tom woke up bright and early Saturday morning, and got busy right away with chores.  He knew the horses would be taken care of whether he did, or not.  However, he loved his animals, and spent as much time as he could with them, remembering when they were the only things he loved, and felt they alone loved him back.  Once again he jumped, nearly startled out of his skin when he heard someone say his name.  This time, it was Lydia’s voice, not that of his father.  “Hi ya Lydia, how are you?  Feeling better I hope.”

            “Not really Tom.”

            “I don’t understand.  You went back to that doctor across the State line to find out if you were clean after the penicillin shot, right?”

            “Right.”

            “He give you a clean bill of health?”

            “Yes, and no.”  Lydia picked up a brush, and began grooming Dusty.

            “And, what’s that supposed to mean?  You’re either cured or you’re not.”

            “I’m cured of gonorrhea, but I’ve got another problem.  Actually I’ve got several.  Tommy, I wish they would have killed me that night.”

            “Lydia!  Please don’t say that!  Nothing can be that bad.  Animal loves you, I love you, and so does Renée.  What on earth can possibly be so bad that you wish you would have died?”

            “Tommy, I’m pregnant.”

            Tom dropped the brush.  He didn’t bend to pick it up.  He pulled Lydia close to him, and swayed with her in his arms.  They hugged for a few minutes before Tom spoke again.  “Lydia, is there any chance it’s a mistake?”

            “It was a mistake alright, but it’s a fact that I am pregnant. The doctor said so.” Lydia was steadfast.

            “Any chance at all that the baby is Animal’s?”

            “None. No chance whatsoever, Tom.  Animal and I have not had sex, not even once.  The father is either Donnie, Jack, or Jeremy.  What am I going to tell my parents?  I don’t want to tell them what happened.  And, Tom, if I don’t say it was them, this is the worst part... my parents are going to think it’s yours.”

            “Oh shit.”

        “I was suspicious that I was pregnant when we saw Peyton Place. Then I was sure when I read a book at the library.  The doctor confirmed it.  Like Selena, I wish I could get the doctor to give me something to get rid of it.  I asked.  He asked me if I wanted him to investigate who I really was.  Guess I didn’t fool him with my false identity.  I don’t want to have this baby, I definitely don’t want to keep it.  I don’t want to even see it.  Most of all, I don’t want Animal to know I’m pregnant.”

            “How do you plan on keeping a baby a secret from him?”

            “Umm, I thought I’d tell him I’m going to stay with my aunt for the summer, which I am going to do. Then in the fall I’ll think of something else as to why I don’t come back in time for school.”

            “We need to think this through.  Do you think your parents will expect me to marry you?”

            “Oh no!  I never gave that a thought.”

            “Do your parents know yet?”

            “No.”

            “When are you going to tell them?”

            “Tonight.  I’m running out of excuses for not feeling well. I don’t want them to know about the rape. They may force me to marry one of them, and I don’t want to ever be with any of those boys again.  They’ve ruined my whole life, and I hate them all.”

            Tommy thought, and thought.  “Lydia, tell them the baby is mine.  We have to convince them that we love each other, but we realize we made a mistake.  We’re sorry, and we still want to get married someday.  But, because we are so young, we think for the sake of the baby, we should give it up for adoption.”

            “Tommy, you would do that?”

           Tom let out a long sigh.  “Lydia, we made our bed when we told them we were going steady. Unless we tell them the complete truth, I’m the only logical candidate to be the father.”

            Lydia’s eyes filled with tears.  “I can’t believe you would do this for me.  No matter what Tom, I will refuse to marry you.  There is no way I want to keep this kid.  I feel bad because it is half mine, but with the hate I feel for those boys, I’m afraid I’d not be good to the baby.  No child deserves a mother that hates it.”

            “Oh, dear God, please don’t let them force us to get married.”  Tom took a moment out to say a short prayer.  “Lydia, if I wasn’t so in love with Renée, I would marry you.  We still could give the baby up, then decide what we wanted to do. But, everything I do everyday of my life revolves around marrying Renée next March.”

            “Tommy, anything I can do to help you, just let me know.  I only hope I can keep this kid hidden from Animal for two more months.  I’ve told my aunt. For some reason, she understands.  She’s my mothers sister, and I’ve been closer to her my whole life than I ever was to my mother. The only thing we’ve bumped heads about is me giving the baby up for adoption.”

            “What?  She wants you to keep it?”

            “Not necessarily.  She thinks I should let someone in the family, or the father’s family adopt it.  I want it to go to strangers because I don’t ever want to see it, or know anything about it.  I’ve tried everything I could think of to get rid of it.  I took a fist full of aspirin with five shots of vodka on an empty stomach, hoping that would poison me enough to lose it.  I’ve even fallen down the flight of stairs at home, and that didn’t bring on my period.  This baby is determined to stay in there just to make my life miserable.  I hope my parents understand. I asked Aunt Grace if I could stay there and not tell them, but she said no. Thank you Tommy, you are the best friend I’ve ever had.  Thank you for being you.”

            Tom drove to the Holtz’ home to pick up Renée and Lee.  They visited with Renée’s parents a few minutes.  Sven and Marta fussed over Lee, saying what a clever little boy he was.  Then the two big kids, and the little one walked toward the park. Renée knocked on Mrs. Hansen’s door and asked to take Lumpy for a walk.  With the dog on a leash, and a little boy in the middle holding Tom’s hand on one side, and Renée’s on the other, they began a day of fun and games.  Lee was scared to climb up the slide, even after watching first Renée, then Tommy go up and down it several times.  But, when he saw Lumpy do it, his fear disappeared.  After several hours of playing chase with Lumpy, hide and seek with the big kids, climbing trees, and swinging up to the sky, Lee was tired.  Tom carried the little guy back to Renée’s, she brought Lumpy home to Mrs. Hansen. Then, Tom drove Renée and Lee back to his house.  He lightly kissed Renée on the cheek in front of the boy, then whispered, “See you later.”

            Even after a short nap, Lee was still tired.  Renée had taken a Swanson Frozen TV dinner out of the ice box and put it in the oven following the directions closely.  Lee ate every bite, and still wanted more to eat.  Renée made him a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, and a second tall glass of milk.  Lee rolled on the floor, giggling as he watched the Three Stooges, but Renée hated them thinking they were just stupid, not to mention excessively violent.  Must be a boy thing, she thought remembering a laughing fest Tommy and Animal had one night over pizza busting up discussing different episodes.  She and Lydia looked at each other and rolled their eyes.  Soon, it was time to ready Lee for bed.  First the bath, then the bed time story, finally it was time to watch for Tommy. 

       Tom bought the ingredients for Mrs. Miltonelli, and Lydia to make lasagna, and a loaf of homemade Italian bread for him.  He stopped by the 5 and Dime and bought a picnic tablecloth made of oil cloth, and some candles, candleholders, and a few other items.  He sat in his car in the driveway until he saw the back porch light turn on, then he went to the door.

            Tommy spread out the checkered red and white tablecloth, and placed the candles on the table. 

            The young lovers shared their first candle light dinner.  Afterward, they washed, and dried the dishes together.  Tom had never before washed a dish in his life.  Renée checked in on the little boy, took a quick shower, and dressed.  Tom built a fire in the fireplace.  He spread the table cloth on the floor, fuzzy side up.  With only the light of the fireplace, and candles, he waited for his beautiful Renée to join him for a night of unbridled passion.  When she entered the room she was amazed by the romantic atmosphere in the room. 

            Tom stood, took Renée into his arms, and kissed her with all of his heart.  He slowly and sensuously unbuttoned each pearl button on her crisp white blouse.  He slipped it off of her shoulders, unhooked her brassier, removed it, then kissed each rosy bud on her breasts.  Tom walked her to where he had spread the cloth in front of the fireplace and dropped to his knees, encouraging her to do the same.  He again kissed her, then running his hands smoothly down her rib cage, he stopped to unbutton and unzipp her skirt.  He leaned her down into the lying position, removed her skirt, and placed it on the couch where he had tossed her blouse and bra.  Tom kissed her mouth again.  Reaching under the couch, he retrieved a bottle of baby oil that he’d stashed there while Renée was busy.  Never had she felt the sensations that his hands were giving her as they smoothly caressed the oil over her skin.   Tom started rubbing at her shoulders, and massaged it into her breasts, across her taut stomach, and all the way down to her hips.  He baby oiled her feet, and then up both long shapely legs.  Renée had never known such ecstasy.   Her sighs of delight thrilled and excited him while he kissed, and fluttered her with his flicking tongue.  Knowing the moment was near, he slid his body upon her oiled, glistening skin, and touched her with himself.  She raised up, taking him into herself with a cry of delight.  For such a long time they pushed lovingly toward each other.  When he stroked a spot deep inside, she began vigorously moving on him to heighten the pleasure it created.  Her head was beyond whirling, every nerve ending in her body, inside and out, sparked at the same time as Tommy lifted her hips, and gave her all he had to give.  He felt wave after wave flow from his body into hers, as she felt orgasmic contractions stronger than ever before.

            They knew they were good in the past, but tonight, they were incredible.  Without saying a word, they both were convinced no one in the world made better love than the two of them.  They lay contented in each others arms.  Whispering “I love you,” to each other, Tommy and Renée both broke down and cried.