The nurse was surprised that Tori seemed overwrought about her pregnancy. But sometimes that happens, especially if it’s not planned and if you’re in your late thirties.

How did we get to this point? Tori wondered.

She wasn’t ready to go home. She needed time to think. She couldn’t have another baby. Not with him. Her job at the law firm paid well but not well enough for her to be on her own. Plus, he would never let her leave. Not without a fight. It would be ugly. His ego would not be able to take it.

Tori had been driving for almost an hour. She had no particular destination in mind. She was deep in thought, recalling the past twenty years, looking for the tipping point, the point at which things started to go south.

As expected, after they ran away, no one came looking for her. Them. His family was even worse than hers. Maybe that’s why they connected at such a young age. They commiserated. His father was a drunk. Her mother was a drunk. They would often joke that their parents should get divorced and marry each other. They were going to rescue each other from their lives in “Casa Aluminum.”

Dusk was setting in. The sudden ring from her cell phone caused her to swerve. Fortunately, no one else was on the road. She hit the Bluetooth button. Before she had a chance to say hello, the taut voice of her husband came through the speaker. “Where are you?”

“Running some errands. Sorry, hon.” Tori steadied her voice. “Everything OK?”

“Yeah. Fine. Just wondering where you’re at.” He softened a bit.

“Like I said, running errands. You need anything while I’m out?”

“Nah. I’m going to meet the guys at Ringo’s. Shoot some pool.” He was referring to the watering hole the local boys in blue frequented. That was one place where he could let loose and know his fellow officers had his back. It was understood. No one let anyone drive if they were trashed. They’d try to sober up whoever was “overserved,” at least to the point where they could walk, then someone would drive them home with another “brother” following in the sloshed person’s car. It wasn’t that often, but everyone seemed to bring some personal drama at one point or another. Cheating. Divorce. Loss of a loved one. Or it could be a cause for celebration. A “good collar,” getting engaged, having a kid.

Tori wasn’t about to give him a reason to celebrate. Not yet. Not tonight. She still had a lot of thinking to do. At that moment, she had to come up with an idea of what she was bringing home from her “errands.” She knew he would eventually ask. Such a control freak. Aha. There it was again.

“You gonna grab something to eat at Ringo’s?” Tori hoped he’d say yes.