Page 45 of Rescuing Tobias

“It’s Tobias,” the man standing in the doorway called out.

“Oh, I think you're about six weeks too late,” Becca said, coming to stand beside her, slinging an arm around her shoulders. “You okay?” she asked again.

“Yeah. Fine. Pretty mad though.”

“You have every right to be angry with me,” Tobias said, his words spiking her frustration.

“Thank you, Mr. Obvious. Of course, I have every right to my feelings. I would anyway, but especially when you just brushed me off without even giving me the decency of an explanation. Your decision not to be involved in our child’s life affects both of us. All three of us actually, so if you were going to make unilateral decisions, the least you could have done was explain to me why.”

“That’s why I'm here. To explain,” Tobias told her.

“It’s too late for explanations.”

“I understand that it might be, but I’d still like to if you're willing.” There was a shadow of pain in his eyes when he said he got that his explanation might be coming too late, but there was also determination. He’d come to talk, and it seemed like he wasn't going to leave until he said what he wanted to say.

Was there also hope in his dark eyes?

Tenderness and affection, too?

And if she wasn't mistaken, his gaze kept darting from her face to her stomach and back again. Thinking about their baby?

“You don’t have to listen to him if you don’t want to, Izzy,” Becca assured her.

“If you want him gone, you just say the word,” Connor added.

Part of her expected Tobias to tell them this had nothing to do with them, to insist he wasn't leaving until he did what he’d come there to do. But he said nothing. Instead, he just watched her expectantly, letting her dictate what happened next.

Somewhat childishly, she wanted to just tell him to get lost. That it was too late for explanations, that she no longer caredwhat his reasons were for sending her away. She wanted to insist that she could do the single mom thing with no trouble at all, and it would be better for both her and their baby if he stuck to his original plan.

But that wouldn't be fair to their baby.

If at all possible, she’d still like for her child to have his or her dad in its life. That didn't mean she and Tobias had to be anything more than the mom and dad to the same child.

Only that wasn't entirely true either.

The jagged edges of her soul that had broken a little more with Tobias’ calm rejection also wanted to be soothed.

Whether or not they could all depended on what Tobias had gone there to say.

CHAPTER 14

April 24th

8:39 A.M.

He was on thin ice.

Didn't take a genius to figure that out.

Tobias could easily read the indecision on Isabella’s face. A part of her wanted Connor to throw him out, or rather, his little firecracker would love the privilege of doing it herself. But also a part of her wanted to hear him out, if for no other reason than for their baby.

Of course, he prayed her desire to hear an explanation won out, but if it didn't, he would respect that. He’d leave. For now, at least. But he wasn't going anywhere. Just outside to his rental car. Where he would sit and watch over Isabella until she felt she was in a place where she could listen to him without causing her more pain.

Felt like hours ticked by as he waited for her answer, even as he knew it couldn’t possibly be more than a few seconds.

Finally, she gave a small nod.

Did that mean he was staying or going?

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