Page 82 of Mending Hearts

Ignoring Laura, I circled the counter to stand shoulder to shoulder with Katie. I stared at the papers, but I wasn’t focused. Back in the room, I’d been so close to asking Mia to reconsider, telling her she didn’t have to go, asking her to stay.

I couldn’t decide if Laura was right and asking her would be selfish. Would that make me just as bad as her? Only willing to consider whatIwanted?

“Tyler?” Katie stroked my arm. “You okay? I don’t think you heard a word I just said.”

“I didn’t. Sorry. It’s…I…does Mia need to fill out any of this?”

“Well, yes, at least some of it. Your circumstance is unusual. Did you two talk about that?”

I shook my head. Any time I’d brought up details about the baby, she’d stonewalled me. A lot of things hadn’t been decided, including the baby’s name. Although, I had an idea, if she’d let me use it.

At least the baby’s room was ready, but even that was in my house, not the train station. Since I’d started preparing for the baby, she’d refused to go there.

Maybe she’d come home with me, and maybe she’d return to the train station without us. I’d loved the little bubble we’d built so much I hadn’t wanted to ask or imply anything that would burst it.

From the counter, I gathered up the papers and snatched a pen. Ignoring Katie, I stormed past Laura to the entrance of Mia’s room. We should be happy—this should be a happy day. Instead, it felt like my life was falling apart in front of my eyes. From the moment Mia had turned up at the shop to announce she was pregnant, my life had been chaotic and strange; but at every turn, it had been better because of her. Life had been better, and I feared my world was about to become wonderful with the baby and awful without Mia at the same time. I couldn’t reconcile how both realities could be true.

Taking a deep breath, I opened the door, but I didn’t make it past the doorway. In the bed, Mia was hunched over the baby, tears dotting her cheeks as she tenderly traced our daughter’s features.

The door clicked shut behind me, and Mia glanced up, wiping her face with her free hand.

“Do you need me to sign something?”

I stared at her, trying to decide the right thing to do.Stay with us. Don’t go. We can make it work.

Laura’s biting words clung on. Was it selfish to ask her to choose me when she was still so young? Twenty-one. At her age, none of this would have been on my radar. I rubbed my face with my free hand and wandered over to the bed.

“How are you doing?” I locked eyes with Mia.

“I’m a fucking mess.” She laughed softly and tucked some of her hair behind her ears. “She looks like you.”

“Does she?” I peered into the blanket and ran my fingers along her puckered forehead. My daughter.Ourdaughter. “It’s funny. All I see is you.” I leaned down and kissed Mia’s forehead. “Maybe we look for the traits we want to see.”

A beat of silence filled the room, heavy with things unsaid.

“What have you got there?” Mia tipped her chin at the papers and sniffed.

I passed her a tissue from the box, and she gave me a small smile. “We need a name.” I dragged the chair close to the edge of the bed. “Can we talk about it?”

“Yes.” Her bottom lip trembled.

“I think we should name her Victoria Anne. Victoria for your grandma and Anne for mine. But if you’ve got something you want—”

“It’s perfect.” Mia’s words were garbled around a sob. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

“What? Hey. Hey. What’s going on?”

“I’m sorry,” she choked out. “I probably ruined all this for you. All the excitement. All the planning.” She covered her face with her free hand. “You wanted to be a dad. You deserve someone who wants to be a mom.”

“No, hey, no. Mia…” Where had all this come from? The last few months would have definitely been different if we’d both been excited and looking forward to the delivery, but she hadn’t ruined anything. “I wouldn’t have wanted to do this with anyone else. I can’t…the last few months have been the best of my life.” I swallowed and stared at the papers clutched in my hand. The words were on the tip of my tongue, but I couldn’t decide if they were the right ones, the fair ones. Words could be weapons, and I never wanted Mia to feel I backed her into a corner. If she even hinted she might stay, I’d go for it, say something, lay myself bare.

“I’ve been sitting here thinking. Thinking. Thinking. Thinking. You know?” Mia sniffed and grabbed another tissue from the box I passed her.

“What have you been thinking about?”

“Knock, knock!” David said as he wheeled in a bassinet. “Things have been a little crazy. Sorry to interrupt. I need to get you stitched up, and then we’ll have someone in here to talk about feeding and other care essentials. If everything is good, we’ll have you on your way in two days.”

“On our way?” Mia paled. “On our way?”

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