Where babies come from

"The psychic told my mom I'm going to have a baby," she said.

"You believe in that stuff?" her friend asked.

"I don't know...maybe. It might be what Levi and I need to get our relationship back to where it was when we were newlyweds."

"A kid changes things. It's a commitment, not a quick fix." 

"I know," she pouted.

"I didn't mean to upset you. Besides you don't know anything for sure yet."

"Yeah."

A chair scraped on the tile.

"Maybe next time your mom can ask for lottery numbers or something useful," her friend added a harsh laugh for emphasis.

I watched her friend exit the food court.

I looked over my shoulder and cleared my throat.

"Excuse me Miss, I couldn't help but overhear."

She shrank back in the booth startled and embarrassed.

"I think she was a little hard on you."

"Um, thanks."

"Maybe the psychic was right? Some people have abilities like that. It's not all scams."

"Yeah...the thing is I am pregnant. I knew before my mom even went to the psychic. Heck, I knew before my body did. I just had a feeling. I can't explain it."

She gestured towards the exit.

"That woman that was with me is my best friend so I wanted her to be the first to know," she sighed.

"Oh, well let me be the first to congratulate then."

"Thanks," she said clutching her purse.

"You have options,"I said.

"Not really. I come from a religious family."

"That's not what I mean."

She raised an eyebrow.

"The psychic your mother visited is my sister. I have a watered down version of her abilities. That's what drew me to sit next to you."

She rose.

"You have the ability too. Your baby will too. It's overwhelming. So perhaps you disappear for awhile."

"What?"

"Stay with my sister until you deliver. She'll raise the baby. When you resurface your husband will see how much he's missed you and love you more than ever. Tragedy bonds like nothing else."

"You're suggesting I fake my own kidnapping?"

"It's worked before."

"I don't know," she said.

"It'll save your marriage. My sister already saw it."

Her eyes lit up. She closed her eyes and heaved a sigh that released not only carbon dioxide, but her troubles as well.

My phone rang.

"Good news Sis, I can see you're going to be a mom."