Chapter Fourteen Max #2
“I always thought we’d have them by now.
We’ve been married long enough. We’ve seen the world.
To be honest, I’m over the traveling, especially after our childhood and moving around all the time for Dad’s work.
I’m happy in my job. I feel settled. But I’m thirty-five this year, Max.
My body has its own timeline. And the longer I wait…
I don’t think I want to wait around for something that might never come. ”
“Do April and Gemma know?”
She shakes her head. “I haven’t told them anything yet.”
“Are you going to?”
“Eventually, maybe. April’s just got engaged, and I don’t want to bring the mood down with my problems. I don’t want them to think differently of Mason. He’s their friend too.”
“They’re your friends, weasel.”
“I’ll tell them when I’m ready.” Her voice is final, so I don’t bother arguing. Instead, I pull her into a hug, feeling her shoulders shake.
“Have you tried counseling?” I ask into her hair.
“I’m so sick of crying,” she says, pulling back and wiping her tears. “He doesn’t want to try counseling. He says there’s nothing to discuss.”
“Nothing to discuss? Look at you. You’re bloody upset,” I say, growing agitated.
“I’m kind of counting on him changing his mind. We’ve gone through phases over the years of wanting kids and not wanting them, but we always agreed we’d have them, eventually. I’m hoping this is another phase.”
“Is it a deal breaker?” I ask carefully.
“I hope not,” she whispers. “I love Mason, and I’ve wanted to be a mother since I was a little girl.
You know that.” She exhales. “I just thought I’d have a baby by now.
And working as a teacher? I see the way the children run toward their parents who wait for them by the school gate at the end of the day. I want that.”
“Did he say when he changed his mind?”
“Apparently he’s felt this way for a few years.”
“And when did he tell you?”
She pauses, hesitating to answer me.
“Weasel,” I urge.
“A month ago.”
“Christ, Anna. I’m so sorry.” I shake my head in disbelief. “That’s not good enough.”
“That’s life.”
“Bullshit,” I snap. She watches me, wordless, as I try to rein in my emotions.
I clench my jaw, a bitter taste rising in the back of my throat.
It wasn’t until I was in my mid-thirties that I realized I didn’t want to be a father.
The difference is, Casey and I had never really spoken about starting a family—at least not in any way that mattered.
She was too busy chasing the next party or shopping, and I was too wrapped up in my work and trying to salvage something that was already broken.
By the time I pulled away from her, she saw a baby as a quick fix.
A way to keep me tied to her. In her eyes, a child was a solution.
To me, it was a life sentence. That’s when I knew it was over.
But Mason? I’m surprised.
Anna has always been honest about wanting kids. This isn’t some whim she’s suddenly landed on.
I sympathize with Mason for not wanting to be a father—what I can’t get my head around is watching someone you love plan and lay out your whole future, knowing you’ll never give it to them. He’s kept his feelings from her for years, and that pisses me off.
“So, what are you going to do?”
She shrugs, attempting a smile. “Question of the century, isn’t it?”
“And you,” I say, emphasizing my point. “How are you?”
“I’m generally doing well. I have my good days and my bad days… I’m sure we’ll get through this. It’s all very new. I just need to consider what’s more important to me. I’m trying not to let it take over my life at the moment or ruin our marriage.”
“It’s a big decision, Anna.”
“I agree. It is a big decision. Which is why I need some time. We might be able to work on it yet.”
“I’m a phone call away. You know that, right? And if you ever need a space to stay…”
I don’t finish my sentence. She knows I’d do anything for her. My home is her home, and I mean it. I’d do anything for Anna.
She shoots me a grateful smile. “I know, thank you.” She perks up suddenly. “Oh! Speaking of big decisions…”
I know exactly where this is going.
“Don’t,” I warn. She has that look in her eye, that cunning expression she gets when she’s up to something. And I can already guess the words that are about to come out of her mouth.
“You need to pick Gemma and Henry for the campaign.”
I roll up the damp tea towel and flick it at her thigh. She yelps, dancing out of reach. “Nice way to change the subject.”
“You have to do what I say. I’m sad. Pick Gemma and Henry.”
“Don’t give me the guilt trip.”
“Why not?”
I sling the tea towel over my shoulder and place my hands on my hips. “Because that’s not how life works.”
“But Gemma and Henry’s pitch was amazing, right?” she says, her eyes glazing over.
“Yes. It was,” I say, my patience thinning.
“Then you know they’re the right team for the job. You want the best. Well, they’re the best.” She sticks out her bottom lip in a ridiculous pout. The little shit.
“I’m serious. Stop it, Anna,” I say. The corner of my mouth twitches, threatening to blow my cover.
Her eyes go wide and watery. Jesus Christ.
“I’m just so sad,” she says, forcing a croak in her voice. “Please make me happy.”
She bats her lashes.
“No.”
A single tear rolls down her cheek. “Please, Max. Gemma means so much to me and it would make me feel so much better.”
She throws in a sniffle for good measure.
Oh God. Now she’s wailing—loud, hiccupping sobs.
“What’s going on in there?” Dad yells from the living room.
“Nothing!” I call out, dragging a hand down my face before glaring at Anna. “You’re a menace.”
A small, pathetic sound escapes her, one I know for a fact she thinks is going to win this little battle.
“You’re not going to stop, are you?”
“No,” she says through fake tears.
I stare at her, holding out for a grand total of ten more seconds before I blow a sharp breath through my nose.
“I was going to pick them anyway,” I say, resigned. “They had the more innovative pitch.”
The tears stop immediately, and she wipes her eyes as a wide grin spreads across her splotchy face. “Of course they did.”
I laugh. “You should have been a bloody actress, not a teacher.”
She takes a dramatic bow.