Page 7 of Be My Baby

“Being so specific? It wasn’t really a fair request to make, no matter how sick she was.”

Max pretended not to notice his father’s reference to Lucy’s death and let his words sink in. Some of the twisting guilt settled. “You’re right. It wasn’t particularly fair.”

“Hmm.” Ed sighed. “That could be a problem. Not the promise. Can he really be expected to be held to something like that? I know he’dfeelbound to do so… but, him having unresolved feelings for said lady, if indeed she doesn’t reciprocate, would be the bigger issue. Would having a child with her make him resentful or unhappy, long term?”

“I guess anything is possible, but I’d like to say no? I can’t see their friendship ending or anything like that, if that’s what you’re getting at. They’ve been friends for a long time.”

Max frowned and chewed at his bottom lip and jumped in at what was bothering him the most. “You don’t think that breaking that promise is a terrible thing? Betraying his ex-wife? Isn’t that something that should be important, and treated as untouchable?”

His father scratched his ear and a faraway expression softened his face. Max both longed to hear his father’s thoughts, and was equally terrified of his answer. What if he agreed?

“Well, I assume the… ex… is no longer in the equation, or is around. Honestly, regardless that your friend may have loved his wife and agreed, was it truly something that was reasonable of her to ask of him? I mean, he obviously lost his… marriage. And regardless that his wife may have been a lovely person, it also speaks of some unresolved jealousy toward the other woman on her part. If she is no longer in his life I don’t see how he could be held to such a promise.”

His father looked him straight in the eye. “You can’t predict the future. To force a promise from someone when they’re in extreme emotional distress is not only unfair, it’s malicious. You can’t approve of him one day being with one lady, but not another. I understand your friend is probably conflicted about that, but I would like to set his mind at rest, for my part, and tell him that if it’s truly something he wants, that he’snotbetraying her. He’s not being unfaithful; he’s not disrespecting her memory. The fact that it has him conflicted speaks to the fact that he’s a good man who wants to do the right thing. I say go ahead. See where it might lead.

“And without knowing who this friend of yours is I can’t say for certain, but I’m fairly confident his family would embrace both the young lady and the child, if all went well and the pregnancy were to be successful. Especially his parents. I’d think they’d be over the moon to think they’d have a grandchild coming and would support both their son and the young lady as much as they needed. I also think it could be a good thing for your friend, if he is indeed as lonely as you believe. Sometimes these choices fall in our path for a reason.”

They stood silently side by side for a while, soaking in the sun and the light, warm breeze while Max ruminated on his father’s words. It had kept him awake late into each night, tossing the idea around in his head, trying to imagine his future with Millie, or at least a child with her, in it. Inevitably he would fall asleep, only to wake drenched in sweat, Lucy’s accusing face etched behind his eyes.

He sighed and looked out toward the mountains in the distance. It was nice to just chill with his dad for a moment in comfortable silence. They didn’t often get time together alone, there was always someone else around. One of the problems of having a large family.

Ed drained the last of his mug of tea and looked at Max. “You want to stay for morning tea? Mum sent over some fancy pastries early this morning.”

Max shook his head. “Nah. I should get back. I have to open soon and there’s an early delivery scheduled. Thanks, though.”

He started walking toward his Jeep. “I’ll talk to my friend about the points you raised. I believe he was thinking along the same lines anyway, so it will be good to have reinforcement of that.”

“Max?”

Max turned with his hand on the handle of his Jeep’s door. “Yeah, Dad?”

His father’s face lit up with kindness and love. “Let your friend know that if it was one of my sons who was considering doing this? It’s a brave move and one not to be taken lightly. I, personally, would be really proud of him, because I know he would do the right thing by both of them, no matter what that was.”

A smile teased at the corners of Max’s mouth. He nodded and rubbed at his face to hide it, and got into his SUV. He spoke through the wound-down window as he clicked his seat belt in. “I’ll let him know. Thanks, Dad,” he said softly.

“Anytime, Maximillian.”

Max grinned at his father’s pet name for him as he trundled down the driveway toward the main road, driving slowly so as not to raise too much dust.

If nothing else, if he decided to say yes to Millie, he had his father’s support. And that meant a lot.

Chapter Five

Max looked atMillie’s birthday present, sitting on his office desk next to the mound of paperwork he was currently dealing with. Although he kept on top of it, the pile never seemed to get smaller. A smile kept wanting to cross his lips as he imagined Millie’s reaction to the present.

That seemed to be happening a lot lately.

The smiles, that is.

He couldn’t seem to stop himself, particularly when thinking about Millie and her crazy-assed idea. An idea that was seeming less crazy each day that passed.

She would be in tonight for dinner. He glanced at his watch. In less than an hour, if he wasn’t mistaken.

The smile got bigger. He hoped she liked what he’d bought.

He usually stayed away from jewellery for his gifts to her. It was too personal, too… intimate, and he hadn’t wanted her to get the wrong idea. Or the right one. If they were going to try and conceive, though, well, he guessed personal was no longer an issue.

He sighed and tackled the next letter in the pile, tapping away at his laptop to reply via email.

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