"Well," I began, choosing my words carefully. "I was wondering if you could help me. I could carry the child to conception, give birth and then give it up for adoption, maybe even to you. Or I could have an abortion, something that is not exactly sitting well with me."
Holding up his hand Mr. McTaber told me, "Abortion is out of the question! But, I have a suggestion, if you'll listen."
I made a motion for him to continue.
"I was wondering if you would allow me to take the amulet?" He asked, rather hesitantly.
"Why?" I asked, becoming suspicious.
"Let me finish." He barked. "If you let me take the Amulet of Zulo, I will age myself back to the age of thirty. I have powerful friends who could help both of us, legally. You could either become my daughter or my wife, your choice, but with my money and recluse nature we could both disappear."
I sat downed, stunned. Looking at him I said, "I don't think I could become your wife. The genetic resemblance is just to strong."
He nodded and said, "If you want, I can give you time to think."
Nodding again, I watched as he stood and said that he could remain in town for two weeks and excused himself out the door. Standing, I walked to the window and watched him walk away, absentmindedly rubbing my belly.
"Could I do this?" I thought. "Could I become his daughter. Sure, he would get a new lease on life and I would have a way to cover this mess that I'd made. But could I really go through with it? Was it a good thing, heck, the right thing to do?" A tiny voice in the back of my mind said that maybe it was.
I knew that I would have two weeks to think it over and then give him an answer. That night I slept in the nude, the question chasing me into my dreams.