I tried to stomp on the rumors that we had split, but school being school, most people were more than willing to believe the worst.It was curious to w...tch Beth's mice at lunch. Some gave me dirty looks while a couple of them started eyeing me almost like they were hunting.The rest of the week dragged on. I went to school every day. Somehow my homework didn't suffer although my classroom work was nothing like it should have been. I was so preoccupied that Thursday afternoon I literally bumped. . I didn’t mean that to sound the way it did.”He laughed. “That’s okay. I think I know what you mean though. My mother was the same.”Their conversation changed the subject matter and he spoke about his wife and family back in New York. “I will bring them over here eventually,” he told her. “Once I get schooling sorted out.”“We have had to put children on hold for the time being,” she told him. “Until our future is more settled.”She noticed his gaze drop to her tummy momentarily. “Well, we do. " Good," she said giving him a squeeze.Mark drove over to the Saddle Club, signed in and then went over to the tack-room where he was hit by a small blonde tornado who wound her arms round his neck, her legs round his waist and her lips round his.Neither said a word. They just clung drawing strength and reassurance from each other. Mark was suddenly wracked with silent sobs. The emotional damn had burst. Victoria tightened her hold. Eventually the moment passed. Victoria relaxed in his arms. And I lifted her head up to look me right into the eyes and told her that when she wanted it, and desired it, I would help her with it all.But for him to outright act like he just had, I’d beat his ass with my belt and stop it immediately as I had just done.Now she just snuggled up to me ever tighter and began to cry and thanked me for being here as I was and stopping all this.I guess in a sense of thought about that moment, I was in some way as a Mother would be with one of her children.Patti.