I — I'm on the Pill, but I'm late."Chris sat back in his chair, face now blank. He visibly pulled himself together, and asked, "You think this is wh... you've not been well in the mornings this past few days?" Uh-huh. Probably." She felt tears starting to form, and her throat became tight. "I'm s — sorry, Chris, I —" Shhhh, Mari, love. How long before we can find out for sure?" I — I don't know. Chris, I'm on the Pill. I can't be pregnant, can I?" They're not foolproof, Mari. Not completely." I. There was an entire corner filled with clothing racks and plastic-bagged sportswear. Kate and I had arranged a nice storage rack for canvases and we had drawers of paint, paper, and pencils.That’s when I saw the draped easel in the corner of the studio.I’d finished a self-portrait that last night before I left and arranged a drape over it while it dried. The drape didn’t look right. And there was no note on it.I lifted the drape to look at the empty easel.God-fucking-damn it!The doorbell rang. She hadalready been avoiding pregnancy because she didn?t want to put up with all thatcame with it. Now here she was with a big round belly and enlarged saggingbreasts pulling on her and restricting her breathing. She didn?t quite really look pregnant though which puzzledher until Mark explained. He told her that as she wasn?t pregnant he didn?t seewhy she should enjoy the attention an expectant mother would receive. So he hadmodified the empathy belly somewhat. He had removed the weights and. "Let's see if we canleave that out for now." Oh yes, Miss Cassia. Thank you. Thank you so much, Miss Cassia." Ikneeled before and kissed her hand before scurrying out of the room.After I left, I considered my situation. It seemed I was back in hergood graces, which was better than anything, and my tender asshole mightget a chance to recover, but I wondered what kind of hole I had dug formyself. She would be looking for me to screw up now, and I showed her Icould please her with my ass well as I.