Evelyn nodded, "I knew."

They'd been around each other a long time, and Tayson had been her bodyguard for over a decade. Evelyn was no dummy, and had a nose for such things.

“She invited him out for drinks, but he turned her down. He also told

Terilynn that he was engaged. He and his bride-to-be were tying the knot later on this year." Both Carlos and Debbie knew what happened this evening. Tayson called Carlos as soon as he left the bar.

Silent, Evelyn sat on the edge of Terilynn's bed and smoothed her long hair, brushing errant strands from her face.

"Your father wanted to pick her up earlier, but I wouldn't Let him.

Terilynn must be upset. She'll need time to get over it." Carlos told

Bennett to keep an eye on Terilynn, and that he would give her a Lift home later.

Debbie's heart broke. She wondered why both her daughters had such bad luck with men.

Evelyn said in a low voice, "Tayson's right. Since he doesn't like her that way, it was nice of him to let her know. At least he wasn't going to string her along.”

Evelyn had been considering telling Sheffield the same thing. Was she stringing him along, too?

Debbie stood in front of her and asked, "About you and that guy; your dad and I don't see eye-to-eye on that. You still talk to him?"

Evelyn didn't know whether she should nod or shake her head. She didn't give Sheffield her number or anything, but she bumped into him all the time.

"I've been thinking... Dad's right. He shouldn't have gotten me pregnant without asking.

She had thought about it for many nights, but she still couldn't figure out how she got pregnant. Eventually, she concluded that it must have been Sheffield who had tampered with the condom.

It wasn't that she didn't want kids, but not like this. She almost died, thanks to him.

“Did you ever tell him? Ask him what happened?" Since Evelyn had had sex with that man, Debbie assumed that she wanted to spend the rest of her life with the guy.

Evelyn was a mature and calm woman. She wouldn't misjudge people.

Debbie was worried that if Evelyn and the guy didn't talk frankly, they wouldn't be able to get past this. They'd stay apart, and stay miserable.

But if the man was just toying with Evelyn's feelings, then he'd have to deal with Debbie. So she thought it necessary for Evelyn to have a talk with him.

“No. I don't want to talk about it. It's water under the bridge, Mom."

Evelyn didn't want to talk about it anymore. Nor did she want to argue about what had happened. There was no point in confronting him.

Debbie nodded resignedly.

"I asked around about the guy your dad fixed you up with. He's a bit of a player, but all young men are, right? He doesn't like to brag, and he works in the Prosecutor General's

Office..."