“She won’t have children because she doesn’t want to pass it on.”
“Ah.” Bradley dug his toes in the sand. “And because she thinks you do want to procreate, she has broken up with you. Do I have it right?”
Matt gave a bitter laugh. “If you could call it that, yes. Not that we were really a couple yet, but it was heading that way. At least I thought it was.”
“And that cheeses you off, correct?”
“Correct.”
“I understand her logic.” Bradley picked up the stick his dog dropped at his feet and threw it.
Matt jammed his hands in his pocket, frustrated. “So do I, but the genetic component is not a sure thing. There’s a fifty-fifty chance, from what I understand, that her children will get it or not. Nothing is guaranteed.”
The dog came back with the stick and dropped it again, whining until Bradley threw it.
“Losing a parent is traumatic, is it not?”
Memories of that fateful day jumped to the front of Matt’s mind. He’d pushed it so far away, he barely thought of it anymore. Trust Bradley to bring it up. “Yeah.”
“I wouldn’t wish that on anyone. Just the chance of it happening is enough to make one balk at marriage and childbearing.”
Matt hated how the retired psychologist managed to score a direct point every time. “You hit below the belt, you know that?”
Bradley grinned. “It’s a knack I have. Took me years to perfect it.”
“So what do I do?” Matt took a turn at throwing the dog’s stick, and it raced down the sand to get it.
“Is she worth fighting for? As you say, you’re not really a couple yet. At least not where you think you should be.”
“She’s the only one I’ve ever met who I really want to try with.”
Bradley pursed his lips. “Well, in that case, I suppose you need to look at the alternatives. Do you really want children? If so, do they need to be of your blood? Could you use a donor egg or could you adopt or foster? IVF is simpler these days. Lots of things to consider, if you ask me. No one answer suits everyone.”
“You’re right. I hadn’t thought of it that way.”
“My pleasure. You know I only want what’s best for you kids.” He called the dog and snapped its lead on. “How’s April? Isn’t she about due?”
The thought of a new baby in the family gave him a moment of happiness. “Yes. We’re waiting for the word. Drew is still pushing for her to go to the mainland but she’s adamant that Liam deliver the baby on the island.”
“Ah the joy of overprotective fathers. It’ll do him good to sweat a bit. I hardly think April would put either herself or the baby in danger.” He patted Matt on the shoulder. “Think about it seriously before you go off half-cocked and promise something you won’t be able to stick with. None of the options should be taken lightly, and rushing into a decision you’re not a hundred percent focused on could cause more damage than you realize later on when your wants and needs change.”
“What do you mean?”
“You love her already, that’s obvious. What you should be doing is trying to convince Mia that it can work between you.”
“Yeah, you’re right. Thanks, Bradley.”
* * *
Mia heard the back door close and listened as Matt went to his room. He’d been out for ages.
She was hurting just as much as he was. She hated to hurt him and it was selfish of her to want him as a friend but she couldn’t help herself. She wanted Matt in her life, even if they couldn’t have everything. Surely a good friend was better than nothing? She punched her pillow and tried not to worry about what would happen if he said he didn’t want her on the island.
When she woke in the morning, her eyes stung and her head throbbed. It’d been the worst night tossing and worrying about her future. She crawled out of bed when she heard the coffee machine kick on and stumbled into the bathroom. A hot shower did little to wake her up or shake off the dread she felt about seeing Matt. But she couldn’t put it off any longer. Mia needed to know what he’d decided about her opening a shop on the island.
She walked down the stairs and into the aroma-filled kitchen, ready for her world to come crashing down.
“Hey. Morning.”
He was incredibly cheerful, which gave her hope. “Morning.”
“I have coffee ready. Waffles are coming. Do you want bacon with yours?”
She tried to focus on his eyes and read his mind but she was too foggy. “Sorry. I didn’t sleep well. Waffles? Sure. Anything.”
He peered at her, a grin on his face. “Did someone have bad dreams again?” He poured her a cup of coffee and put it down in front of her.
Mia wrapped her hands around the mug. “My brain wouldn’t stop. Look, about yesterday…”
Matt held up his hand to stop her practiced speech. “Think nothing of it. You’re right. You shouldn’t bring a child into the world with those odds. I happen to agree. I also lost a parent and know how that feels, so I’m the last person who should be telling you what to decide. Let’s not dwell on it. I want you to eat your breakfast and then you can show me the shop you’d like to open. I can grab the keys from my father and we can walk down and check it out a bit later. What do you say? Friends?”
Mia was lost for words. He seemed too eager to please her. Too content with the situation. It worried her more than him being angry or sad. “Sure.”
“Excellent. I’ve got a guest coming in early this morning, so once he arrives, I’ll grab the keys and we can go.”
“Morning, you two.” Ryan walked into the kitchen, his hair wet from the shower. “Slept like a baby again. There’s
