Surprise Valor

Chapter 1

Mr Ken Lawson,

Your presence is required at 10 a.m. on Friday, September 10, 2008, at Maple Shade Youth and Family Services at 23704 Ocean Gtwy, Mardela Springs, MD 21837. Please be prepared to be here for a few days. It is imperative that you come to this meeting.

Sincerely,

Martha D. Schmidt

"Alex, what do you think this is about?" I asked. I made a mental note to talk to my superior the next day to get the time off to make the trip.

"I don't know Ken, but it's something you need to figure out."

I swore I could hear the irritation in his voice, but I chose to ignore it because I didn't want to fight with him again. It seemed like all we did lately was fight. I envied the relationship Chase had with Alex's best friend Jason and wished our relationship was that easy. For them, it was love at first sight, and even though things got a little rocky while they dated nothing seemed to deter them and their relationship seemed to get stronger.

I paced back and forth in my living room as I tried to figure out why I was contacted by Youth and Family Services in Maryland. I briefly wondered about a past relationship but dismissed it. While trying to hide my sexuality from the Marine Corps I was in a relationship with a woman, but it ended after a few months when she realized I was more attracted to men than I was to women. I like both sexes but it's men that do it for me.

"Would you stop pacing? You are driving me nuts," complained Alex.

I turned to stare at Alex. I couldn't believe he could be so insensitive at a time like this. What happened to the man I fell in love with? Lately, he has turned into a whiny baby, and makes me glad we hadn't moved in together yet.

"You know what Alex? Why don't you go home? I have some things I need to do if I am going to be traveling out East. I would have preferred for you to come with me, but I think I need to go on my own." Alex looked shocked, but he couldn't possibly think that I would want to take him with me with the attitude he was showing right now. I think I will need to think about our relationship while I am gone.

"Fine!" he turned and stormed out of my house, slamming the door behind him.

***

My superiors weren't happy to give me the time off, but they eventually did. I had booked my ticket and was set to leave in a week. I wish I could have gotten an earlier flight, but I couldn't without paying an arm and a leg for it. All I had left to do was to call the lady from Family Services and let her know when I would be there.

I looked up the number and dialed her number. A multitude of things ran through my head as I listened to the ringing on the other end of the line.

"Family Services. This is Martha Schmidt. How may I help you?"

"Ms Schmidt, this is Ken Lawson. I received a letter from you asking me to come in for a meeting."

"Ah, Mr Lawson. Thank you for calling me. I am sorry for being so vague in my letter, but I prefer to discuss the particulars in person. Before we go any further, can I get you to confirm your identity for me?"

"Sure, what do you need from me?"

"First, can you give me your full name and date of birth?"

"Sure. Kenneth James Lawson. My date of birth is January 10, 1978."

"Thank you, Mr Lawson. As I said, I prefer to speak in person, however, I need to ask if you were ever in a relationship with a Jane Mason?"

I was dumbfounded by the question. Jane was the woman I had been in a relationship with while I was stationed in Maryland for a couple of months.

"Mr. Lawson, are you there?"

I shook myself out of my stupor. "Sorry. Yes, I knew Jane Mason. I dated her for a couple of months a few years ago."

"Thank you. I need you to come and provide a DNA sample as soon as possible."

"I will be there next Tuesday. My flight gets in at 10 AM. I can be at your office around 11."

"Alright, I will see you then Mr Lawson."

"Ok, Ms Schmidt. I will see you Tuesday." I ended the call and sat down in thought. Why would someone from Family Services call and ask me about Jane? My mind whirled in a furor. The only thing I could think of was that a child was involved. I was positive that we always used protection and she swore she was taking birth control. A child would explain why she requested a DNA test. I started to hyperventilate at the thought that I had fathered a child and didn't know about it. If the child was mine, how could she have kept them from me? The only thing I could think of was to go talk to Chase. Hopefully, he could calm me down. If the child was mine, I knew Alex would walk away. He told me from the beginning that he didn't want children. I knew this would be the end of our relationship because if the child was mine, I would take the child in and raise them. No child of mine would grow up in foster care if I could do anything. My course of action was decided, I grabbed my keys and headed out the door to go to Chase and Jason's house to talk things over.

***

"Ken, calm down. I can't understand what you're talking about," Chase said in exasperation.

"Sorry, Chase. I got a letter in the mail the other day from someone in Family Services in Maryland. I called her today and she wants me to come in for an appointment and to take a DNA test. She asked me about Jane."

"Why would you be asked about Jane? You haven't seen her in about three years."

"I know. That's what has me worried. The only thing I can think of is that there is a child involved. You know if the child is mine, I won't let them grow up in foster care as I did."

"Yeah, I know Ken. Didn't you use protection while you were with her?"

"Always. She swore she was on the pill. Plus, I always used a condom. If she had gotten pregnant from me, why didn't she ever tell me?"

"Maybe she wanted to punish you because you liked men more than women. Wasn't that the time when you realized you were gay? Or at least bisexual?"

'Yeah, and she was pissed when I broke up with her."

"Ok, have you calmed down now?"

"Yeah. I better get going. I know you don't have secrets from Jason, and I understand that you will tell him about this, but could you please stress with him to not talk about it with Alex? Alex wasn't happy about the letter and wanted me to ignore it. He knows that I won't let a child of mine grow up in foster care, but he has been very vocal about not wanting children."

"Ken, you need to talk this out with Alex. Honesty is important in any relationship. You can't expect him to accept your decision without talking about it."

"I know, but I already know he doesn't want children. Why would he suddenly change his opinion now? There is no way that I will deny any child of mine."

"I'm not saying that you should. I'm just saying that as a couple you need to talk this out."

"You're right, Chase. I will call Alex when I get home. Hopefully, we can work this out. Maybe I can get him to come with me to Maryland."

"There's the man I know. Call us if you need anything; even if it's Jason giving Alex a swift kick in the ass."

***

I called Alex several times over the next few days before I had to leave, but he never answered or returned my calls. I finally had to realize that I would have to travel whatever this new path was alone. I knew Chase and Jason would be there for me, I just wished Alex would allow me to work this out between us.