When Prudence woke up on the morning of her 13th day in Sunset Valley, she felt more rotund than ever.

“Ugh.  I’m like a beached whale on this bed.  I’ve got to move,” she grumbled.  She couldn’t deny it any longer–she was well and truly pregnant.

“Stupid fertile Xander,” she groused as she slipped into the mercifully loose sweats and pondered what to do.  She decided to go to the EverFresh Delights Supermarket to sell some vegetables–she needed money to buy a crib, after all.    After her transaction, she decided to walk a bit to clear her head.  Unfortunately, she dropped her receipt on her way out the door.  As she was waddling after it, a handsome young man with an interesting haircut picked it up and held it out to her.

“Oh, thank you so much.  I wasn’t sure I would be able to bend and pick it up!” Prudence said.

“My pleasure, Ms…?” he asked, holding out his hand.

“Prudence Breedgood.  And you are?” she asked cheerfully.

“Leighton Sekemoto.” he replied with a smile.

“Leighton?  Oh!  You’re Yumi Sekemoto’s son!” Prudence said excitedly.

“You’ve met my mother?  Let me guess–she said she’d invite you over to dinner so you could meet her son?” he asked.

“Well….yes.” Prudence admitted, laughing with relief when he smiled in response, rather than looked horrified.

“It looks like you’re um…well…already spoken for.” Leighton said, eyeing Prudence’s belly.

“It’s not…I’m not…I don’t know.  It’s complicated.” Prudence stammered out evasively.

“Then you should come over for dinner sometime–no complications in just sharing a meal.” he said.

“Oh, I don’t know…”Prudence said.  She wasn’t sure what Yumi would think of her now that she was a single mother.  Leighton saw the look of unease that crossed her face, and he suddenly crouched.

“What’s that?” he said, acting as though he heard a voice from Prudence’s tummy.  “You would like to come for dinner?  Well…as it stands you really can’t come on your own–you have to bring her with you.” Leighton said, then glanced up at Prudence’s amused face with a mischievous grin.

“Very well….sometime I will visit.”  Prudence said.  But she figured he would forget to invite her and the whole situation would evaporate anyway.

Prudence settled down on a bench to read a book, and she was surprised when Leighton sat down right beside her.  She kept stealing glances at him–she loved the way his biceps flexed as he turned the pages.

Maybe I could write a story about a woman who finds love with a man who moves in with his mother after experiencing some great tragedy…. Prudence mused.

Suddenly, Prudence lurched up from the bench, gripping her stomach.  The pains pulsated through her body, making her whimper out loud.  She puffed out breaths, looking around in embarrassment as people started to gather around her.  She broke through them to flag down a cab, and arrived at the hospital–there was no going back.  She was in labor.

As Prudence prepared to go through the pain and stress of labor alone, Xander sprinted for the hospital doors.  Ethan Bunch had told his mother about his visit with Prudence, and about his suspicions.  Judy knew a lot of people in Sunset Valley, and after making some calls she found out that Prudence had been dating Xander Clavell.  Judy managed to get in touch with Xander and told him what Prudence hadn’t.

Prudence walked out of the hospital with her newborn–a baby boy she named Arthur.  Xander climbed into the cab with her, and he was so quiet that Prudence wondered if he was angry.  Finally, he spoke.

“I…I just don’t know why you didn’t tell me.”  he said.

“I didn’t know what to say.” Prudence said.

They both fell silent for the rest of the trip home.

When they got to Prudence’s cottage, she placed Arthur in a crib that Judy had dropped off.  She was so grateful for the woman’s help.  Xander sat down to read, and Prudence took this as a sign that she could leave little Arthur to his care while she completed her gardening chores.

But Prudence was in for quite a shock when she came back inside.

“So, uh….how about twenty dollars?” Xander asked.

“Uh…twenty dollars for what?” Prudence asked, confused.

“For watching Arthur.” Xander said as if it were obvious.

“What? You’re charging me to watch your own son?” Prudence asked, with growing irritation.

“My son?” Xander snarled.  “You are trying to saddle me with this?”

“Xander, I wasn’t trying to saddle you with anything!  I didn’t ask you for one thing the entire time I was pregnant!  How dare you act like some righteous…..” Prudence began, but trailed off as she struggled to keep a cool head.  She didn’t want to be on bad terms with him, especially now that they had a son together.

“Look, I didn’t sign up for this!” Xander said in a desperate voice.  Prudence realized that Xander was frightened.  Terrified.  He couldn’t commit to them.

“I didn’t either, Xander.” Prudence said as she looked away.  She didn’t want him to see that her eyes were filling with tears.  She was going to have to do this alone.  She took a deep breath and cleared her throat before talking again.

“Listen….under the circumstances, I think it would be best if we agreed to be friends.” Prudence said, looking at Xander steadily.

“Uh….sure…” Xander said slowly, looking suspicious.

“And I’m really tired, so if you don’t mind…could you please leave, now?” she asked.

“Oh…sure.  Bye.”  Xander said, and beat a hasty retreat from Prudence’s house.

Prudence felt the anger stir in her as soon as her back was to him.

I don’t need him.  I can do this on my own.  A man like that is practically useless, and I don’t need him.  I don’t need ANY man.  I can do this….the thoughts swirled in her head like a chant, just repeating over and over.

I can do this….right?

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