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“No,” I said firmly. “There are no apologies. This is a great opportunity, and you are taking it. I am so proud of you. It’s not the end, Maddy. It’s a pause. And you are going to go and rock it. Then come home and find a job here.”

She blinked at the tears in her eyes. “They offer guaranteed employment at the end of the program to successful students.” She swallowed and paused. “In Ontario. If you accept it for a minimum of a year, then there is no repayment of any student loans.”

I felt as if I had been punched in the gut.

“Maddy,” I breathed out. “Two years?”

“I haven’t decided anything.”

“But it’s a possibility.”

“Maybe,” she whispered.

I sat back down, staring at the table. Two years apart. Maybe more. She might find she liked the hospital she was working at. She might discover she enjoyed the bustle of Toronto. She was a people person.

I cleared my throat. “I think we’ll just take it a move at a time, right? We agreed not to panic and not to make decisions until we need to. So many things could change.”

“Yes,” she replied. “I can’t think that far ahead. I need to get there, find my bearings, and start school. Figure out my way around.”

“I’m going to give you my sister’s number in case. My uncles’ numbers as well. If you need something, or want a friendly face, they would be happy to help.”

“Thank you.”

I nodded. “Can I help you pack?”

“No, I’m organizing first.”

“Okay.” I wasn’t sure what to do. I wanted to stay, but I had a feeling she needed some alone time. It was obvious neither of us was hungry, so I wrapped the partially eaten burgers and stuck them in the fridge. “I’m going to go see my boss and trade a shift. I’ll be back later and I’ll help.”

She hadn’t moved. “Okay.”

I bent and kissed her. “Everything is going to be fine, Maddy. I promise.”

She nodded, but I wasn’t sure she believed me.

I wasn’t sure I did either.

CHAPTER 14

MADDY

Matthew left, kissing me sweetly and telling me he would return later. He was calm and understanding. Incredibly supportive. Trying to do everything he could think of to make this easier on me. On both of us. But I saw his worry and his pain. It reflected my own anxiety.

I sat down after I heard his car pull away, dropping my aching head into my hands.

Not long ago, I would have been jumping for joy. Running around ecstatic over the opportunity. Probably agreeing to the extra year without a thought.

But that was before Matthew VanRyan walked into the bakery with his teasing grin and charming personality, making me fall for him faster than I knew was possible.

He was the most wonderful man I had ever met. Warm and caring. Sexy and sweet. A great listener, a dedicated doctor. Sex with him was mind-blowing. He was the whole package.

And I was walking away.

No, I argued with myself. I was doing this for the future. Our future. It was, as he kept pointing out, only a year. I wasn’t locked into staying in Toronto. I had to do my schooling, and if I carried debt from it, then so be it. I could come back to Victoria and find a job. There was a nursing shortage all over the country, so I was confident I would have no trouble finding employment. Toronto was desperate for nurses, which was why they sweetened the pot with eliminating the loan repayments.

I shut my eyes, rubbing my head. I couldn’t think that far ahead. Matthew was right—I had to concentrate on what needed to be done today. What I needed to accomplish in order to fly to Toronto, get set, and be ready to start the heavy grind the next year promised to be.

I stood and grabbed the boxes he had brought. Packing was first.