Branch Two Hundred and Eighty Three

"If I'm the father should I not have a say over this?" Burke asked.

The shock of what he had just heard could not leave his face. How could she think of doing something like this?

"Maybe you can make decisions like that when you are the one who carries the baby"

"Okay here's what we will do, give birth to the baby and give it to me. I'll take care of the baby" he said.

If he did not know about the baby he wouldn't have cared but now that he knew he had to make sure the baby received as much love as he lacked growing up.

"I won't carry this baby," she said tapping the table.

"Why?" he said almost crying.

"Because carrying this baby means I would devote at least a year of my life to tending to it and at least six months to get back into my shape. That's a long time" she said in a tone that suggests that he should know this and not ask her such questions.

"And?" he asked confusion at what she was driving at.

"And I don't have that time. No man would approach me if I am pregnant