Oh, that was it, then. Ben had to admit, grudgingly, that it made sense. He didn't have any of the context, or know about anything that had changed from yesterday morning to today. There was a large part of Ben, however, that was hesitant to say anything about the pregnancy. Art hadn't exactly reacted well to it — he'd immediately called it into doubt and then suggested divorce was still in order — and Ben had no reason to believe that Aldous would take this news at face value. As admittedly convenient as the timing may have been, however, Ben believed Melody; he believed she wouldn't lie about it, and after she'd offered to leave last night he believed that she didn't have any ulterior motives in telling him. But he knew the way it looked, and he didn't have any defense or counterargument if Aldous started in along the same lines Art had.

"Well — things changed," he said evasively. "I was being stupid before. We can get through this. Honestly."