Chapter 5

Unfortunately for Glen, his excitement was short lived. No sooner than Debbie and Sally started really kissing and caressing each other, Debbie abruptly stopped and pulled back.

"Sally ... did you..."

"What, Deb? What's wrong?"

Glen had an immediate sense that the show he was waiting for wasn't going to be seen that day.

"Sally ... ohhhh, wow..."

Debbie seemed to be in deep thought.

"Debbie, what is it?"

"Sally, I need to talk to you, right away."

"What's going on, Deb?" Glen asked, more out of genuine curiosity than disappointment.

"I'm sorry, Glen. I just need to talk to my sister ... alone. Can you please ... can you just go take a shower or something?"

"Sure, why not?" Glen said, disappointment now coming through. "I don't know what the hell is going on around here anyway. So, why not stop right now and take a shower?"

Debbie barely heard his response. She was looking intently at her sister, waiting until they were alone so they could talk privately. Glen took his cue and left the room.

"Deb, what is going on? You're worrying me a little here."

"I'm not sure," Debbie replied with a furrowed brow. "But I ... I think something is going on."

"I don't get it," Sally said. "What do you mean?"

"Sally, we didn't ... we didn't plan this whole thing in some way, did we? I mean, what happened last night ... with Freddy and me. And you and Glen coming here and being together, while I was with Freddy."

"Plan it? Deb, how could we have planned it?"

"I don't know. I mean ... you and I have been talking about things ... when we've been alone. We've talked about babies, and taking chances, being wild sometimes. We've talked about things like that lately."

"Yeah, I know. But I never thought it meant anything serious. I mean, for one thing, I thought we were talking about me having a baby someday. I didn't think you wanted to have more. And I certainly never expected you would want that ... with Freddy."

"Of course. Of course we were talking about you. And of course I never, ever dreamed I would be with my own son ... or that I would want a baby ... with him. But last night ... and even today. It's been like I was another person or something ... like I wasn't in control of what I was doing."

"I understand. I felt that way too. I mean, we talked about having babies ... I mean you and I talked about it ... not ... me and ... you know... not me and Glen ... ever."

"It's OK, Sal. I'm not worried about all of that. I knew you guys were together. But I was never worried about you getting pregnant by Glen."

"But, I don't understand then, Debbie. What do you mean? I was always worried that he would get me pregnant. That's why things were so weird and different last night and today. I actually wanted him to ... at least ... I think that's what I wanted. I ... I hope you don't mind me saying that ... about your husband. I'm not sure now if I wanted him to get me pregnant or not. I feel really confused."

"Really, it's fine. Don't worry about that. I just meant that I wasn't too concerned that Glen would get you pregnant. I'm not sure he's capable of it."

"Now you've really lost me," Sally said, looking puzzled.

Debbie paused to think about what to say next. She took a deep breath and continued.

"Sal, he ... Glen has never been able to father a child. He tried ... we tried for a while."

"What on earth are you talking about? What about Freddy?"

"Freddy's ... Well, he's not..."

"Deb, are you saying ... is Freddy ... were you artificially inseminated or something? Is Freddy's father a sperm donor or something?"

"Well, yes and no."

"You never told anyone, Debbie. None of us had any idea you went through that kind of procedure."

"That's because I didn't."

Sally looked more bewildered than ever.

"What are you saying? I don't get it, Debbie."

"Glen is not Freddy's father. But I wasn't artificially inseminated. I didn't go through any procedure like that. And Glen doesn't know he's not Freddy's father. Freddy certainly has no idea. Through all the tests we had, one of the things that was clear was that Glen had a very low sperm count. They never said it was impossible for him to get me pregnant, but the odds were very much against it. He just thought that when it happened, that we had gotten lucky. And I let him believe that."

"Deb, are you serious? Then you must've ... Debbie ... oh my gosh. Who's Freddy's actual father? I can't believe this." Then it was Sally's turn to stop and think for a bit. "Oh ... Oh Deb, it wasn't..."

"It wasn't what ... or whom? What are you thinking? Because it can't be what you're thinking, I promise you. I don't know if I should tell you, Sal. It's a big deal."

"Debbie, please tell me."

Debbie took a deep breath, followed by a long pause.

"You're gonna hate me for this," she finally said, "but, I need to wait just a little bit before I talk to you about this. Can we just, get cleaned up, and then maybe go to your house so we can talk without being disturbed for a while?"

Sally could tell from her sister's tone of voice that something was stressing her. She had gone from throwing caution to the wind and begging her son to knock her up, to being suddenly serious and seemingly distracted. Sally agreed to Debbie's proposal. The sisters showered together in the master bathroom, while the men of the house had their own debrief.

"Dad, I'm really sorry," Freddy began. "I really don't know what to say."

"I'm sure I should be really, really pissed," Glen replied. "But with the vibe that's going on here, I don't think anything would shock me right now."

"I know what you mean. Were you and Aunt Sally ... um..."

"Yeah. We heard what you and Mom were doing and, well ... Sally wanted to do the same thing."

"You heard that? Dad..."

"It's OK, Freddy. Who am I to talk after all the times I've been with Mom's sister?"

"I know. Well, you know I don't blame you for having the hots for Aunt Sally. And how's Mom doing with all that?"

"It seemed like she and Sally were doing great ... totally in the swing of things, so to speak. But then I don't know. Mom asked me to leave so they could talk. She seemed to be worried about ... something ... just out of nowhere."

"Really? Do you think it was about ... all of this?"

Freddy gestured between himself and his father.

"Maybe. But like I said, she and Sally both seemed to be totally into what was happening. I even thought for a while ... and maybe I still think, that they planned all this somehow."

"Seriously? You really think that, Dad?"

"I'm not at all sure what to think. I might be totally wrong. But it seemed like ... Hell, I don't know."

"How could they possibly have planned any of this?"

"I really don't know, Freddy. I just feel like there's something your mother and your aunt aren't saying."

Freddy was considering his father's comments when they heard voices on the stairway. A few moments later Debbie and Sally entered the room.

"I'm sorry to break up the party, Guys," Debbie said. "But I need to spend a little time with Sally. We're going to drive to her house and hang out there for a while."

"Really?" Glen said. "Why are you going all the way there?"

"I just need some time, Glen. Things are strange right now, and I need to clear my head, and be with my sister. That's all there is to it."

"You're telling me that things are strange? And you don't have anything to do with the fact that things are that way, Deb?"

"I'm not saying anything about what has to do with whom, Glen. Just give me a break, OK? I'm in a weird place too. Freddy Sweetie, are you OK?"

"Oh, of course, Mom. Do what you need to do. No worries."

Freddy got up from his chair, kissed his mother, then his aunt on the cheek.

"It'll be OK, Glen," Sally said. "We just need to talk for a while."

"OK. Like Freddy said. Do what you need to do."

"Thanks, Glen," Debbie said, feeling relieved that she wasn't going to have to explain anything else to her husband.

She and Sally left promptly and soon they were driving to Sally's house.

"What is going on, Deb?" Sally asked after she and her sister had been in the car for a few minutes. "What got you so off-track at your house? You seemed like you were totally into what was happening."

"I was, Sally," Debbie replied.

"Then what happened? Why did you stop talking, and why do we have to go all the way to my house?"

"A bunch of thoughts just came crashing together. I have a weird feeling about something. And I want to talk to you in total private. That's all there is to it, Sal."

Sally could tell by her sister's demeanor that she was still not ready to talk more until they reached her house. The two rode the rest of the way in silence. When they arrived, Sally made coffee and joined her sister at the kitchen table.

"Thanks for waiting to talk, Sally. I just needed to be quiet and collect my thoughts."

"It's OK. Are you ready to tell me what's on your mind now, Deb?"

"Yes. What were you thinking ... or who were you thinking of, when you were going to ask me who Freddy's father is? I know it's not at all what you might think, but I'm really curious what came to your mind."

"OK. Well, what came to my mind was, is Dad Freddy's father?"

Debbie looked at her sister in disbelief.

"Sally!" she exclaimed. "What would make you say such a thing?"

"I'm sorry, Debbie. I just ... It was a wild idea. I'm ... I'm really sorry."

Debbie felt as though she was suddenly out of breath. She took time in responding.

"Sally ... I really need to know, why would you say that? Why would you think that, Dad, our father, could possibly be the father of my son?"

Now Sally stopped to consider her words before speaking. She looked her sister directly in the eyes as she went on.

"It is Dad, isn't it?"

"Sally ... I..."

"Come on, Debbie. We can talk about it. And I'm not upset or anything. I'm not judging you ... believe me. Just tell me. Is our dad Freddy's father?"