Prologue

Even though it was against all odds and to a great extent, unethical for Karen, she and Rodney continued to grow closer and closer, meeting in the infirmary as often as possible. One morning, Karen came to Rodney’s cell earlier than normal for a Saturday conference. Once she arrived at his cell door, Rodney looked surprised, although he wasn’t.

“Karen, what a surprise to see you here now-I didn’t expect to see you for at least acouple more hours. I hope everything is alright?” Rodney asked, approaching the cell door.

“Yes and no…I mean it could be alright;as long as it’s alright with you. It’s just that … it’s so unexpected and I should have been more careful. I don’t know what I was thinking,” Karen admitted.

Karen was doing battle with herself, because of the dilemma she was now facing. Her colleagues all had opposition to her getting deeper involved with someone that was her patient, but she couldn’t stop her feelings from growing for Rodney. And to make matters worse, she had missed her period.

“Wait a minute, what’s the problem? What are you rattling on about?I’m ok with anything that concerns you and me,” Rodney assured her.

“Rodney, I’m pregnant. Or I think I am-I only missed one month and I’m worried because I’ve never missed a periodbefore. Oh Rodney, what are we going to do?” she asked with

tears welling up in her eyes.

Rodney reached out to her and gently rubbed her neck as he began to speak, “First thing, we have to make sure that you are, and if you are, it looks like we’re going to be parents.”

“You mean if I’m pregnant it’s ok with you, Rodney?” Karen asked happily.

“Yeah, it’s ok with me. Is it ‘ok with you’ is the real question to be asked.”

They held hands and touched foreheads through the bars. Over the months of therapy they had developed a way of communicating without speaking and at this moment they were happy about the news ofKaren’s pregnancy. Rodney remainedsilent as he thought about what could b