Bittersweet

~~ Stupid Is, As Stupid Does ~~

"Yeah, and look, I'm sorry about last night. I wanted to leave as soon as I knew he was okay, but Al was a little hysterical begging to talk."

Jenna lowered her eyes, sipping her coffee as the silence became the loudest sound in the room. She seemed distant. "Hey, everything okay?"

She swallowed, placing her cup down. "I'm not sure. If I'm honest I feel—" she paused, rubbing a finger against her temple. "It's nothing. What did she want... to talk about?"

Here goes. "Al said she doesn't want him—the baby."

Jenna's eyes widened, her mouth parted. "She doesn't want him?"

I shook my head. "No." My heart kicked up a notch. Not sure how she'd react to my next statement. "She's asked if I want to adopt him."

"She said what!?" Her eyes flitted around the room. "You adopt him?" she repeated, as if she didn't understand the words. "And just like that, she's going to give him up—to you?"

Jenna looked horrified. "Why?"

I shrugged. "I'm not sure, but she knows I'm serious about us and that we can't have any children."

"You told her that I can't have any more children?" That was definitely the wrong thing to say. She blinked back tears.

"Hey, I'm sorry I didn't think—"

"Didn't think?" She shook her head. "You had no right to tell her about me. None, that was personal Gabe, private."

Fuck! "I'm a dumbass—" Way to go. I reached for her hand, but she snatched it back.

Jenna cleared her throat, sitting straighter in her seat. "Are you considering it—adopting her son?"

I rubbed my hand over the back of my neck. "I wanted to talk to you first."

"Me?" She placed a hand across her chest.

"Yes, of course." She bit the inside of her cheek. "If I was to consider this... then it affects you and me. And I need to know how you feel."

"How do I feel about you adopting your ex-girlfriend's son? Just like that—with no warning." Her lips squeezed as her brow tightened. "Something's not right."

"What, are you saying you wouldn't consider adopting a child with me—ever?"

She shook her head. "No, I'm not saying that, Gabe. I'm saying, its feel off. No one in their right mind just gives their child away."

I hadn't considered that.

"What are her reasons?"

"She said she'd been thinking about it and wasn't ready for children—wants him to have a good home... parents who can give him what he needs, love him."

Jenna pushed her chair out and stood. "Gabe, this is huge, a baby..." She cupped her cheeks.

She wasn't wrong. "Would you come to the hospital with me today?"

"Why?"

"Because if I'm going to consider this." Pausing. "I need you onboard. I want you to do this with me?"

"Gabe, do you hear yourself? She dropped back down to her chair. "You can't just expect me to make a life-changing decision—just like that. I have Ava to consider and then there's us—"

"What about us?"

"A baby needs a family... a family that's settled, secure. Together."

"Aren't we together?" I wasn't sure what she was trying to say.