“Yeah. But I had good reason.”
“I’m sure you did. But I think I may see the problem.”
“What?”
“I think I need to tell you a little about Dallas’s marriage.”
“It’s not really any of my business.”
“I’m thinking it is. This is all starting to make sense, as you’ll see in a minute.”
“Okay. Shoot.”
“Dallas and Chelsea were together for about ten years.”
“Really? That long?”
“Yeah. Dallas was never happy, but didn’t want to admit failure and end the marriage. At least that’s my take on it.”
“He tried to be gentlemanly.”
“Exactly. You do know him, don’t you?”
“Yeah. It’s annoying, to tell you the truth.”
“A little.” Dusty laughed. “Anyway, the straw that broke the camel’s back came when he found out Chelsea had been deceiving him.”
“How?”
“Well, Dallas wanted kids, and Chelsea said she did, too. According to Zach, they didn’t have much of a sex life, so I guess Dallas just thought they hadn’t hit the right time yet. Until he found Chelsea’s stash.”
“Stash of what?”
“Birth control pills. She had been taking them throughout their entire marriage. Turns out she really didn’t want kids. Was afraid pregnancy would taint her perfect body, or something like that.”
“Oh, God…”
“So you see, when you told Dallas you were on the pill without your husband’s knowledge, that probably brought back the whole ugly mess with Chelsea.”
“But, Dusty, I had good reason for not wanting to get pregnant. It had nothing to do with some sainted image of my body.”
“Did you tell Dallas that?”
“He didn’t ask.”
“Do you want to tell me?”
Annie cleared her throat. “I’m not sure.”
&nbs
p; “You don’t have to. But I’m here if you change your mind.”
“Thanks. And I do want kids someday.”
“They’re the best,” Dusty said. “I can’t imagine my life without Sean. And I may not get the chance to have another.”
“Why not?”