This makes me turn on the waterworks as I’m touched. I thought I would be the last person she would ask. Considering my history of not wanting kids.
“Oh, Jess.” I try to think of words to say or how I can accommodate this situation. “Well, I could still come back for that maybe. When is it?”
“In seven months.”
“Are you happy about all of this?”
A smile forms on her mouth. “It’s a surprise… but I think I am happy.”
I give her my best comforting smile and touch her arm. “Okay. So, I will try and come back when the baby is due.”
She nods a weakened nod.
“We will all miss you, Abby. I know you’re coming back, but still…” Jess again tells me, and it makes me ache a little more.
“I wish it wasn’t so far away, but this opportunity, well… it’s not going to come again.”
Jess leans in for a hug. “Well then, I am sure you are making the right decision for you. It’s what matters. That you truly feel like you are making the right decision,” she offers me her advice, and I pull away from the hug giving her a soft smile.
“I think I am,” I declare.
21
LUCAS
Jake sits across from me at Matchbox with beer bottle in hand. We are on round two as we sit in our booth in the middle of a Sunday afternoon. The sound of a crowd yelling at the television is in the distance as they watch a sports game and a decent folk playlist plays on the speakers.
“You’re just going to let her go?”
I shrug a shoulder to my ear and take a gulp of Matchbox’s own brew. “It’s not like it’s forever, she’s back here for good at the end of a year.”
Jake lets a pretend laugh roll out. “Okay. But long-distance is hard, man.”
“Have you ever tried?”
“No. But I was once in a relationship where we knew we would probably have to end because of long-distance.”
“And is that why you broke up?” I press.
Jake pauses for a second to consider his words. “We never got that far, life had other plans for the reason of our ending.” I sense there is more to the story, but he doesn’t seem like he wants to go down that road.
It doesn’t sit well with me. The thought of me and Abby ending.
“You are a decent soul, Lucas. You didn’t even have a fight, you just rolled out the answer for her.”
Scratching my chin, I contemplate what he’s saying. It’s true, I didn’t fight or debate her on the topic. Instead, I made the decision for her. Even if deep down, I didn’t want to hear her say she would go.
“It was the right thing to do. I’m not going to hold her down.” I take another needed sip of beer.
“Okay. But didn’t you and your ex have issues because she wanted to travel and put work first?” he challenges.
He makes a valid point. But it isn’t the same. “My ex is the mother of my child. A child that plays a key role in decisions. Abby and I don’t have kids together, and besides, she is coming back. She’s off to save animals, not party on an island,” I try to justify.
Jake holds a hand out to protest. “Okay. I like Abby a lot and I want it to work. Just thought I would maybe highlight a few things.”
My eyes narrow in on Jake. “I get it.”
There’s a pause as the waitress brings us a new bowl of nuts to nibble on.
