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Mack McAfee barged into the office and stopped abruptly when he saw Chad "Sorry, a from one to the other

"Not at all," his father said, reclaiht?"

Chad nodded

Mack took the chair next to him "Ah, yes, I remember now You dated my sister Linnette"

"Briefly" That whole scenario had been a disaster, and it had co a relationship with the sister who didn’t know they were even related, Linnette had developed a crush on Chad Seeing how Linnette felt about him, Gloria had steered clear

"Chad asked me to deliver some books to Gloria," his father explained

"Gloria?" Mack swiveled his head to look at Chad "Why Gloria?"

"Actually, I’ve…dated her, too"

Mack grinned "It seeet around"

Chad responded with a weak smile "Yeah, I suppose it does"

"I didn’t knowin his chair, balancing one ankle on the opposite knee "And if you’re dating Gloria, why don’t you give her the books yourself?"

"These are a baby nanancy," Chad said

"What?" Mack dropped his leg to the floor "You and Gloria? Are you telling me you’re--this baby is yours?"

Chad merely nodded

For an instant Mack didn’t see eer chased by confusion and then indecision

"Believea smile with Roy

"But…but you’re a…a physician" Mack stumbled over the words "If anyone should understand about birth control, it’s you!"

"Again, I’reement," Chad said "It just happened"

"‘It just happened’ has got to be the most pathetic excuse in the book What do you intend to do about this?" Mack deer was justified, and Chad took it to heart "That depends on Gloria At this point she isn’t aware I know about the baby"

"Why not?"

Mack glared at hi he’d supply the answer

"The thing is, your sister specifically asked that Chad not be told Your reed to that, but I refused"

"So you went behind Mom’s back?" Mack shook his head as if he already knew the answer and disapproved "And Gloria’s!"

"I told yourShe wasn’t happy about it In fact, she still isn’t" Roy leaned back in his chair, frowning "I’ll take the books to Gloria and explain that I told you about the baby"

Chad scowled He wasn’t ready for Gloria to find that out…

"It’s tihter I went to see you"

"Don’t," Chad said bluntly "Not yet"

Roy blinked at hihts "For one thing, I want Gloria to co to realize she needsthe adoption papers Tihts, too Besides, I’ the baby o He wasn’t coth in his ive the baby up for adoption?" Mack asked He clenched his fists and stared hard at his father "You wouldn’t let her do that, would you?"

"It isn’t our decision," Roy reminded him

"Yes, but… Okay, fine, whatever, but before that happens Mary Jo and I will raise the baby," Mack said in clipped tones "If Chad doesn’t want to do it" He obviously considered Chad capable of shirking what he himself saw as a duty "This child is our family’s flesh and blood"