the discussion with Tyler. Yes, the idea of having to move to a completely new city scared me, but wasn’t that part of being in a relationship? Making sacrifices? Stepping out of your comfort zone? I would have been lying if the thought of Triple B growing up in Tyler’s gorgeous house hadn’t crossed my mind once or twice over the past few months. And maybe that was what was most important. Not what was best for me or Tyler, but what was best for our baby.
“I’m not saying yes, but I’ll think about it.”
“That’s my girl,” Brayden said, helping me up from the glider.
“But you promise you’ll both come visit every chance you get?”
“Of course! We can’t have Friday girls’ night without you!” He nudged me.
I wrapped my arms around both of them, pulling them in close. “Thanks, guys. I love you wholes.”
“And we love you, too, Mack,” Brayden said, kissing my forehead.
Mackenzie
SATURDAY WAS A PERFECT day. The air was crisp and warm, the sun was shining, a few clouds adding a beautiful texture to the sky, and the summer tourist season was over, leaving the island calm and peaceful for a change. On the outside, it appeared as though everything was just as it should be. But inside, I struggled to fight back the uneasy feeling growing stronger with each passing second.
As I stood on the sidewalk outside my restaurant, listening to Tyler’s voicemail pick up for the seventh time that morning, I struggled to control my anger. I had tried to reach him yesterday evening before girls’ night, but got no answer. At the time, I shook it off, knowing he’d be at my baby shower today. But now that it was thirty minutes past the time the shower was scheduled to begin, I questioned my entire relationship with him. I had told him how important it was to me that he be at my side today. I didn’t know what to think anymore.
“Mack,” Jenna’s voice cut through. I spun around to see her stepping outside.
“Hey,” I said, my expression dropping.
“I’m sorry, Mack, but it’s time.”
She placed her hand on my arm in a consoling manner and led me toward the front doors. “I’m sure there’s a very good reason he’s not here,” she offered. “He wouldn’t just not show up. That’s not like him.”
“Apparently, he’s not the man I thought he was,” I hissed. Pausing, I put a fake smile on my face, not wanting all my friends, who had traveled from far away, to see how upset I was about Tyler’s absence, especially Colleen and Olivia.
“There she is!” Brayden exclaimed, wrapping his arms around me as I entered the dining room of the restaurant that had been decorated in pastel blues and yellows. I blindly followed him as I approached each table, thanking everyone for coming. I tried to put on a smile, but my brain was elsewhere.
“Is everything okay, Mackenzie, dear?” Colleen asked, placing her hand on my arm as we sat eating lunch. I had barely touched the food in front of me.
“Hmm? What?” I responded, trying to snap out of my thoughts. I could feel the eyes of everyone sitting at our table, Olivia and Melanie included, on me.
“Are you okay?” she asked in a hushed tone.
“I’m fine. Just tired.” I continued to move my salad around my plate, a lump beginning to form in my throat.
“Does this have something to do with the reason my son’s not here?” she whispered.
I tore my eyes from my food and sighed. “I suppose.” I lowered my voice. “He asked me to move to Boston with him…”
“He did?” she replied in shock, her voice rising in pitch before she lowered it. “I had no idea he was thinking that. I thought he’d want to stay here.”
“Join the club,” I responded flatly.
“It threw you for a bit of a surprise, didn’t it?”
“Yes, but Brayden and Jenna smacked some sense into me after I told them I may have overreacted when he asked me. Now he’s just ignoring me.”
“Well, don’t worry. When I see him next, I’ll give him hell for missing this. He’s already missed so much of your pregnancy. Even if he is upset, he has no reason not to be here today.”
I placed a bit of lettuce in my mouth, a sick feeling in my stomach as I tried to swallow. I couldn’t shake what Jenna had said earlier. Tyler wouldn’t simply miss this. I never considered anything could be wrong, but I was