“What you and I did wasn’t wrong in itself, Bren,” Stephen said. “But I’m married. It was dishonest and against Maggie’s will. I can’t hurt her anymore.”

“Stephen, we love each other,” Brenda pleaded. “Can’t we go on together somehow?”

“No, Bren. I have to stop. My marriage is too important to me. I care for you, but my commitment to Maggie comes first.”

“What about our child?”

“I’ll take responsibility and do what’s right. But if you and I ever hook up sexually, it can only be with Maggie’s knowledge and consent.”

“Bullshit, Stephen! That’s never going to happen!”

“Did Maggie tell you she was leaving?”

“No, she didn’t,” Nadia assured Stephen. “She must have thought I’d talk her out of it. I don’t think she knows what she wants. She’s just a pregnant scared girl running home to Mom.”

“That’s what I don’t get. She doesn’t even like her Mom.”

“Well,” Nadia said wryly, “There is something magnetic about Mommy when you’re in crisis. It’s positively atavistic. She’ll be back in a week.”

“I feel like such a shit.”

“You should, Stephen. She deserved better from you.”

“All right, I’m an asshole. What now?”

“Give her some time.”

“I can’t do this,” Maggie’s note began. Stephen’s heart froze. “I’ve tried to imagine it and I can’t. Okay, Brenda’s being pregnant complicates things. But the bottom line is simple: you want to stay married and have this child with me, or you don’t.

“I’m going home to my mom. If you decide you want a normal family life with me, then I might be persuaded to try again. But you have to understand, poly is not an option for me, not ever.

“Decide, Stephen. Brenda and the sex cult, or me and our child.”

“Ahh, Maggie, no!” Stephen groaned.

Maggie gazed blankly out the bus window. She felt numb. Stephen had been so stubborn. Up until the end, he had refused to concede that a real family needed exactly one mother and one father. He used confusing language and concepts she didn’t understand. He was no longer the man she loved.

How could she live without him? An aching lump swelled in her chest.

No, this was not the place to cry. She would cry later. Meanwhile, she wished Stephen well in his new life as harem king. They’d find some other slut to play their perverted poly games.

Maggie’s mother was shocked. “But you’re having a baby, Maggie! Is this the time?”

“Not for six and a half more months, Mom. And there’s a lot you don’t know.”

“I’m listening.”

“I needed him to make a solid commitment to our family… and he wouldn’t. So I’m leaving Stephen.”

Maggie nibbled a fingernail. Let’s see… I need to close out the joint account and take the money… that’s only fair, since I’m the one having the baby… I need to pack, of course… what else?

“Maggie, have you heard a word I’ve said?”

“Sorry, Mom. I’m a little distracted.”

Maggie lay in the darkness beside Stephen’s silent form.

“Stephen? You awake?” she whispered.

“Hmph? Uhh…I guess so,” he mumbled. “Whassup?”

“The usual thing,” she sighed. “I can’t sleep. This Brenda thing is driving me mad, Stephen.”

“Mags…honey, couldn’t you just…”

“No, I couldn’t. I need resolution! I need you to commit to me and this baby.”

“I am committed. But her child is mine, too.”

“So pay child support and visit on weekends! You can’t have us both, Stephen.”

“Maggie, you’re tearing me apart.”

“Stephen, I’m monogamous. If you’re with me, you have to be too. Deal with it.”

Maggie was not surprised to hear Brenda’s voice on the line. She called every day. It was always the same.

“Stephen isn’t here,” she said.

“Maggie, you know I called to talk to you. Won’t you talk with me?”

“No.”

“Why not? Please tell me why not! Must you hate me?” Brenda sounded close to tears.

“I don’t hate you. But the situation doesn’t work for me. I can’t deal with this now.”

“Our babies will be half-sisters or brothers. That matters! Don’t you care?”

“I might… someday. Right now, I want you to stop calling me!” She hung up.

“I’d like a baby someday,” Nadia said wistfully. She glanced at Maggie’s belly, now noticeably rounded. “How does it feel to be pregnant?”

“I’m so distracted by the crap and drama in my life…guess I haven’t been paying much attention,” Maggie admitted. She cupped her hands over her womb. “I should be enjoying this. God knows if it’ll happen again.”

She paused introspectively, then continued. “I felt the baby move a little while ago. I was mad at Stephen, so I didn’t tell him. But it was incredible. Like a butterfly, soft and fluttery. Stunning to realize… this baby is alive!”

“So what did you think?” Maggie averted her eyes as she stirred sugar into her cappuccino. “About, you know, her?”

Nadia sighed. “She was nervous,” she said. “And obviously a flake. But she was kind of sweet and vulnerable. It was hard not to like her, in a pitying sort of way.”

Maggie was silent for a moment. “I guess she was sweet, in a sticky way. Oh, Nad, they make the sharesies thing sound almost reasonable. ‘Open your heart and everything is fine’. But is it that simple?”

“I don’t think so. The world isn’t structured that way, Mag.”

Brenda was older than Maggie expected. She smiled radiantly. “Maggie! I’m so glad to meet you! Thank you for being willing to meet me, that must have been so difficult.”

Maggie allowed the woman to clutch her hand, though her flesh crawled. She quashed the urge to bolt.

Stephen looked uncomfortable; understandably, Nadia thought. She was here at Maggie’s request, but was determined to stay out of it. “Don’t expect me to intervene for you,” she’d warned. “I’m just a witness.”

With a wry smile, Maggie had agreed. “I’ll want a post-mortem. It’d be easier if you were here.”