Covert Conception. Delores Fossen

Project have to do with anything that happened to Natalie and me?”

      Macy swallowed hard and lowered her head. “It has everything to do with you. Everything. It’s because of the Cyrene Project that Natalie’s pregnant.”

      Chapter Five

      To put it mildly, Macy’s revelation floored him.

      Rick stopped pacing, and his hands went on his hips. He stared at Macy waiting for more of the explanation. When it didn’t come, he asked, “You’re saying this Cyrene Project is responsible?”

      “Yes.” Macy walked to the bar, poured herself a shot of Kentucky bourbon and downed it in one gulp. It took a few deep breaths and a headshake to deal with the straight liquor which had no doubt burned her throat and watered her eyes. “Before you were even born, you two were already paired for the second phase of the project.”

      Rick didn’t know whether to continue cursing or to laugh. Judging from Natalie’s expression, she was trying to make the same decision.

      This just kept getting crazier and crazier. Which made him wonder—had Macy gone insane? Except she seemed not insane, but adamant.

      “That’s the reason I wanted the two of you together when you were younger,” Macy continued. She set the empty glass back on the bar, poured a second shot and drained the liquid. “That’s the reason I pushed so hard with the matchmaking. Not any more though. Not any more.”

      “Hell,” Rick mumbled.

      Natalie mumbled something similar, and they waited for her mother to continue.

      “To the day I die, I’ll regret that I ever got involved with the Cyrene Project,” Macy said. “Because of it, I married a man I didn’t love. A man who didn’t love me. And yes, we had three beautiful, intelligent children, but for years I’ve had to live with the fact that I cheated Mother Nature. I don’t think Mother Nature likes it when people do that. She’s punishing me. That’s why I have these horrible headaches. That’s why I can’t sleep, why I hear these voices.”