A Woman Scorned
by Polly

Email:  Polly122456@yahoo.com
Category:  500 Words, Pre-XF, Teena Mulder POV
Rating:  PG
Notes:  Written for Haven 500 Word "You're Having My 
Baby" Challenge

Disclaimer:  They belong to CC, not me (and I 
wouldn't want CSM anyhow, even back when he didn't 
smoke)


*   *   *   *   *   *

"I'm pregnant."

In an instant he was kneeling beside my chair, his 
arms around my waist, tears in his eyes. "Finally!  
We're going to be a family!"

I'd said the same words earlier today.  Different 
man, different reaction.  Both times I felt nothing 
but shame.

*   *   *   *   *   *

"I'm pregnant."

"Bill must be thrilled."

"You know this isn't Bill's child."

The cool, piercing eyes that once gazed at me with 
lustful desire were now filled with righteous 
indignation. "I don't know anything of the sort."

How foolish I've been.

We'd met a year earlier, at a Fort Bragg mixer for 
new officers and their wives.  Charles was everything 
Bill wasn't - charming, charismatic, mysterious, 
ambitious.  Later I added attentive, passionate, and 
accomplished lover to the list.

The Mulders and the Spenders became fast friends; 
evenings at the movies, weekends at the shore.  One 
day I stopped for coffee at a local diner and he was 
there.  He poured his heart out, lamenting his frigid 
wife who didn't share his aspirations.  He knew I'd 
understand, he said, because we were two of a kind.  
He talked of far-away places he intended to see, and 
halls of power he intended to walk, and I was 
smitten.

We drove to a motel outside Fayetteville where he 
completed the seduction, his voice mesmerizing, his 
touch captivating.  He was gentle and forceful at the 
same time, leaving me satisfied but wanting more.

We began to meet for "coffee" once a week, and in 
January spent two glorious days together when 
Cassandra visited her mother and Bill drew a surprise 
assignment as driver for a visiting General.  I was 
playing a dangerous game, but didn't care.

A short time later, our trysts ended as abruptly as 
they'd begun.  Cassandra suspected, he said, but I 
knew that wasn't the reason.  A powerful man lives 
for the challenge; and once he's taken his best 
friend's wife in his best friend's bed, there's no 
challenge left.

"Give Bill my congratulations," he smirked.  "And 
tell him I'm glad I was available to make up for his 
shortcomings."

"Bastard!"  I raised my hand to slap his face, but he 
caught my wrist.

"Careful, Teena," he sneered.  "We wouldn't want Bill 
to find out what kind of woman you really are."

I ran away and never looked back.

*   *   *   *   *   *

"How long?  I mean ... when?"

I blinked away the tears and stroked Bill's hair.  
"Late November," I lied.  When the baby was born in 
October Bill would be over-the-moon happy, and if he 
noticed the discrepancy at all, it could be easily 
explained away.

"I love you, Teena."  He kissed me chastely and 
headed for the kitchen.  "I'm gonna call the folks.  
They'll be delirious."

Bill was a good man who longed for a happy family.  
At that moment I promised myself he would have that 
and more.  Charles would find out that even a 
powerful man is no match for a woman scorned.

THE END