The Stupid Side of Practical

Chapter 4

For a moment she couldn't speak, her brain struggled to find the English language that she been speaking since childhood. "I know this is a shock for you. I know that," she said licking her suddenly dry lips. "But marriage?"

"Yes," Josh nodded as he got to his feet. "Marriage."

Gina shook her head, trying not to let the panic sink in. "Please don't say anything you'll regret in the morning, especially when you look at this situation with fresh eyes," she said pointing to his half-empty wine glass.

"The morning isn't going to change anything. You'll still be pregnant."

"And I still won't be marrying you," Gina's eyes widen as she took a step back.

"Gina," he grunted as he put the glass down. "Think about this, this is the obvious solution."

"Back in the nineteenth century maybe?" Gina countered, "There's no stigma to children born of wedlock."

His eyes widen with an emotion she didn't understand. "Children need and deserve two parents. You know that as well as I do."

"One. Two," she counted between them, "Who said they have to be married." She felt as if she'd been blindsided. Marriage was the last thing she expected Josh to suggest. The most she had hoped for was some moral support and even that was a stretch.

She hadn't allowed herself to hope for anything more substantial, hadn't envisaged her and the baby's future with Josh in it. She just assumed he would be a part time, if there at all, father. She had even practiced a 'please don't introduce our child to a succession of aunties' speech.

"Josh please, try to be a little realistic." Gina pleaded, "Marriage is..."

"Something neither of us wants," he finished for her, meeting her gaze with a steady eye. "But I would like to think that I am one of your best friends and I'm not going to let you face this alone."

Friends. Her insides did another crazy swoop, just before the nausea surged again. This was no confession of love, no happily-ever-after, no I-can't-live-without-you. This was Josh offering his friendship and support. She swallowed a weird swell of abject disappointment.

"Josh." She shook her head. "I don't know... I haven't made any decision. Plus..." she took a breath. "I can't-I won't-have a baby just because you want it. And once this gets out, whatever my decision is, my family is going to have a field day."

"Stop talking like that," Josh shut his eyes as he brought a hand up to his brow, "We both know you're not getting an abortion."

"There are other options Josh," Gina said in a harsh whisper. "Having a baby right now is not exactly where I saw my career going. Not to mention how scandalous this all is."

"Marriage will legitimize the pregnancy and advert any scandal."

"Oh my god, do you hear yourself?" Gina huffed, "just accepting that you're the father has the same affect. At this moment, that's all I need. Your acceptance. Everything else can be arranged between us later. There's plenty of time." Gina headed for the door.

"And what about what I need?"

Spinning around she watched him walk towards her. "What you need? Ten minutes ago you didn't even know you had a need."

Josh stopped just inches away from her, his smell surrounding her and encasing her in a haze of wine and Josh. "You tell me I'm going to be a father and that you want my support but when I offer you the biggest support I can, marriage, you dismiss it without a second thought."

"So what is it that you need?" Gina asked, now thoroughly confused. "What will you get out of us being married?"

"How about the chance to be a father?" Josh's eyes narrowed. "I know what it's like growing up without a father and I will not have my child go through that. I want my child to have my name and know that he or she is mine."