I scrunch my nose. “No.”
“I’m just trying to understand.”
“Before he got his memory back, he found my birth control pills. I had fallen behind taking them when he was in the hospital and he um…well he accused me of missing them on purpose. He said I was trying to trap him.”
“Oh, honey. He has to know you wouldn’t do that.”
“Maybe but maybe not. He made it clear he doesn’t want a kid.”
“Everyone says that until faced with the reality, my precious girl. I understand, but I still think you should tell him.”
“I can’t. Maybe one day, but right now he needs to focus on himself.”
“And what about you? You want to be a young single mom? My offer still stands. Cooper and I can adopt the baby, and no one will ever know.”
“I’d know, and I think I can handle it. Sure, I’m scared but you managed with me.”
“Chicago is what you really want?”
“I think so.”
“Then I guess I can show you this.” Mom hands me her phone.
“What’s this?” I start swiping through the pictures of a gorgeous apartment with big windows and gorgeous views of the Chicago skyline.
“It’s Cooper’s penthouse in Chicago. He wants you and the baby to stay there. We’ll be there for the first year or as long as you need me.”
“You guys have really thought about this.”
“Of course we have. There is nothing more important to me than you and if having this baby and living in Chicago are what you truly want then I’m going to make it happen.”
“You’ll just pick up and move with me? I can’t ask you to do that.”
“You’re not asking. Cooper was going to be going up a lot anyway because he has invested a lot of money and wants to see this venture succeed.”
“I’m glad you are being so chill.” At the word chill my heart skips a beat, and I think of him. Of Killian. One day I hope he can understand.
“Chill is one way to describe it. I guess I know what it’s like. I’ve been in your shoes, and I wish my parents would have supported my choices more. I know you are probably thinking I will be all up in your business, but I won’t. I have my own life and problems to deal with. This divorce won’t be easy.”
I’m not giving Killian a choice, but it’s the right thing to do. I know it is. He doesn’t want this.
“I need a kid like I need a hole in my head.”
He wouldn’t want me, and I don’t know if I could survive him rejecting us both. I just miss him. I want his arms around me. His mouth on mine. His voice in my ear telling me he loves me, that we’ll be okay, and we can do this together.
That’s not my reality though.
The reality is I’m alone.
Chapter 23
Liri
“I’m so glad you’re here. I am seriously bored out of my mind.” Hayley hugs my neck and about squishes me with her big boobs. She flew out a few days before I did. Mom made me get in to see an OBGYN as soon as possible. I measure at seven and a half weeks. Everything was good and my mother is already on the hunt for a new doctor for me in Chicago.
“I’m happy to be here.” I pull my rolling luggage behind me and through the front door.
“Dad’s at work so we have the house to ourselves.”