Consequences

“Where am I?” asked Betty a few moments later, blushing when she saw she was in a bed and surrounded by her very concerned friends. Betty Cooper never fainted before.

Reggie was holding a cool compress on her head. He would not let anyone get near her.

 “You passed out, Bets. How do you feel now? The doctor’s here to check you out.” Reggie was peering into her eyes with a worried look on his face. He held her hand in his.

He knew that something was very wrong here. He had to know if she was pregnant. She resisted the urge to touch his face. She closed her eyes instead.

God! I can’t believe this, shit! Reggie will know!

“Look everyone, I don’t need a doctor!  I’m OK. I just started a new diet to keep from gaining any more weight.” Reggie turned to glare at Veronica.

“Now you have Betty starving herself to get into her gown?” He shook his head at her.

“Betty looks fine just the way she is.” Veronica raised her eyebrow at that statement.

“Oh, really? Alterations are costing me a fortune.” They glared at each other.

“Well, it’s only money. It’s making Bets ill.”

“Look you two. Let’s not make a big deal of this. I’m fine. Really!” She made as if to stand up.

“Well, I won’t hear of you leaving before the doctor checks you out. Now lay back down.” Reggie would take no for an answer. He eased her back onto the bed. Betty fought

down panic. She had to get the doctor alone.

 “Can you all just clear out while I examine Miss Cooper?” They all reluctantly left Betty alone with the doctor. The doctor had to stare Reggie down to make him leave the

room.

“Uh,  Dr. Franklin, I really don’t need an examination. I know what’s wrong with me. I just need to eat more.”

“Young lady, you can’t fool this old fool. You’re pregnant. I can tell  from your symptoms.”

“Oh God! Is it that obvious? Please don’t tell anyone. I have to keep this a secret!”

“It’s only obvious to me. I’ve seen so many pregnancies in my long career. You have a certain glow to you. Don’t worry, I won’t give you away. You must go home and rest.

You’ve been doing too much. You have to take it easy if you don’t want to lose the baby. All these wedding festivities are too much for an expectant mother. You can’t be in the

wedding. You have to take it easy.”

“I‘ll get some rest. I won’t risk my baby, doctor.”  Betty was horrified at the thought of losing her baby. She gently caressed her abdomen. She was also happy to have an

excuse to miss the wedding. After the doctor left, Reggie was the first one back in the room.

“What did he say, Bets? Are you all right? Come on, I’ll take you home.”

“NO!” That was from Betty and Veronica, who was right behind Reggie. Reggie gave them both a look that brooked no arguing. “Let’s go Bets.”

“Archie can take me. Thanks Reggie. Ron, I’m sorry, but I can’t be in the wedding.”

They were quiet until Reggie spoke,

“What did the doctor say?”

“He said that I’m not eating enough and my blood sugar dropped. I may faint again until I get stable. I don’t want to ruin your wedding, but I can't be in it. I’m sorry.” I need to leave town tonight.

Soon everyone will be able to tell that I’m pregnant.

“Betty, you have to be in the wedding!! We always dreamed of being in each other’s wedding. I can’t get married without you. You’re my best friend!”

“You heard the doctor, Ronnie.  I can’t go against his orders.” She didn’t want to risk falling out unconscious and hurting the baby. Besides, she really could not watch the

love of her life marry someone else.

“Come on Ron. You heard what the doctor said. Find another girl to be in the wedding.” Reggie was relieved Betty wouldn’t be there. The guilt and desire for her was killing

him. I guess if she’s pregnant she’d tell me.

   Archie helped Betty stand up, and they left. Reggie watched them leave. Reggie wanted to speak to Betty alone. Something was definitely not right there. Veronica was

disappointed, but orders were orders. She had to get a maid of honor who could wear Betty’s gown. She soon forgot about Betty and began calling her friends to see who

could fill in as her maid of honor.

     After Betty arrived home, she called her sister Polly to inform her of what happened. She needed to leave sooner than planned.

“I’m leaving in the morning. I need to leave before Reggie guesses my condition. He knows me too well. Can you meet me at the airport tomorrow evening?”

“Of course I will pumpkin. I can’t wait to see you and spoil my little sister. I’m so excited I’m going to be an Auntie!” Suddenly there was a knock on Betty’s door.

“Sis, I have to go. Someone is at the door. Just a minute! Sis, I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Imagine Betty’s surprise when she opened her door and saw this tall blond haired blue-eyed young man standing there.

“Chick!!” She ran into his arms. Chick or Harold Cooper Jr. was her older brother. He had left Riverdale many years ago to join the army. He eventually became an Army

Ranger. After three tours of duty, he joined the Central Intelligence Agency-CIA for short. You never knew when he would show up. Now here he was, standing at Betty’s

threshold. She was always happy to see him. They held each other for a few moments, and then he gently pushed her away from him, so he could look her over.

“Why won’t you tell me who the baby’s father is, Sissy?” She stared at him, incredulous that he knew of her condition.

“Chick! What are you talking about?” How did he know? I know Polly didn’t tell him.

“Don’t lie to me Betty. I know you’re pregnant. Who is it?” He would not tell her how he knew. He had his family under surveillance at all times for their protection.

“Alright Chick, it’s true. Sadly,  I don’t know for sure whose baby it is. I got very drunk at one of the wedding parties. It could be anybody’s baby. Let it go. I’m not a child

anymore. I can take care of myself.”

“No one impregnates my sister and gets away with it! Do I have to run DNA on every man in this state?” He would do it too. As they were speaking, the phone rang.

“Hi Babe, it’s me. Are you really alright?” She knew why Reggie was asking. He’s been watching her, waiting to see if he made her pregnant that night.

“Of course, I’m ok, silly. It’s not what you think. Stop worrying? You’re getting married tomorrow.”

“I want you to call me if anything does happen, OK Babe?”

“I’ll talk to you two after your honeymoon. Best to you both. Give my love to Ronnie. Good bye.”

“I’ll call you when we return in two weeks. Later.”

"Goodbye, Reg."

     She could barely get the words out of her dry mouth. This would be the last time she would hear his voice. She closed her eyes, holding the phone to her breast, forgetting

that her brother was there for a moment.

“Hurump! Earth to Betty!” Chick was clearing his throat to snap her back to reality.

“Who was that? Where did you go just now?” Whoever she was speaking to, he would bet his life was the baby’s father.

“Just a friend of mine. Please Chick. I can very well take care of myself and a baby. I'm not a little girl any longer, and Sis is going to help me.” Ignoring his question, Betty

tried to reason with her brother. He was very unreasonable when it came to protecting his sisters.

“And so will the father. My niece or nephew is not going to be born out of wedlock. I promised Mom and Dad I’d look after you if anything ever happened to them.” Chick was

the man of the family since the elder Coopers were  killed three years ago.

     Mentioning their dead parents had the desired effect. Betty burst into tears and pressed her face against her brother’s chest. “I know they’d be disappointed in me. I’m

sorry Chick. Don’t hate me. I don’t want to make you ashamed of me, but I want this baby. Please let it go.” 

  Chick felt bad for making her cry, but he couldn’t see his little sister bear this burden all on her own. She didn’t get pregnant by herself. Something is not right. He had to

admit she never looked better. He shook his head at her.

“Don’t be silly. I love you and will stand by anything you do, except for this. I won’t see you alone in this. Betty, are you upset about this baby, not knowing who the father is?

Maybe you’ll hate it.” He did not believe in abortion.

“Never! I’ll never hate my baby or its father!” Chick looked at her smugly. He didn’t believe that explanation she gave about not knowing who the father was.

“Ahh Ha!! Got ya. I did not buy it that you didn’t know who it was responsible for this. So who is he? I need to know!! ” He shook her just a little, to make his point.

“I can’t tell you. Please don’t ask me again.”

 “I just have to know, for my own sanity Sissy. Please tell me.”

“Chick, you got me.  I admit I lied.  The father is already married.”

He hugged her again to reassure her. “I never knew you to lie to me. Tell me Betty. Who is it?”

Chick was right. She felt very uncomfortable lying. What harm could he do?

“ I will only tell you his name if you promise not to interfere. Take it or leave it.”

“All right. I promise.” He easily made a promise he knew he would not keep. He did not feel as if he was interfering, so he felt no guilt.

She took a deep breath before speaking.

“Reggie Mantle is the father.”

“What! The same Reggie Mantle who is marrying Veronica Lodge in a few days?”

“Yes. Now, please let it go. I don’t want him to know anything about this. This will ruin too many lives. So just, let it go. This has to be a secret. We were both drunk when it

happened. It was an accident.”

Chick snorted at that last remark, but she refused to elaborate. Betty fixed dinner while they talked. Chick seemed to forget all about his revenge while they ate. She hoped to

divert him by asking many questions about his life and his work, at least the parts that was not classified information, Chick let her think he was all  was right in their world.

He did not intend to let his sister’s child grow up without a father. Chick had many old fashioned values. A child needed both parents. He did not want this baby to be labeled

as a bastard. He would do what he had to do to prevent that.

“I’m staying at the Riverdale Arms. I’m beat Sissy. I’ll come take you to the airport tomorrow. Get some rest. I love you.” Chick he had other things on his mind. He had a few

favors to call in.

     A few hours later, after leaving Veronica’s mansion, someone hit Reggie’s car.

 “Damn it!! Man, I hope you have insurance.”  Reggie angrily got out of his car. Before he knew

what happened, he was grabbed from behind,  and smelled something very sweet and fruity before blacking out.

Someone had used chloroform on him.