“I believe congratulations are in order for you two.” The man smiled brightly, clasping his hands before him.
“I need some air.” Marg dropped the napkin on the table, pushed her chair back, and stood to her feet. She turned and headed for the exit. The air swept across her face the moment she got outside. She shivered as the cold penetrated the thin fabric of her dress. She folded her arms across her chest. As her mind fell to a blank, she allowed her feet to move her forward, and she found herself on the pier looking out at nothing. The rhythm of the waves was all she could hear, but it was enough to calm the aching in her heart for a bit.
Ben wanted to marry her. She had been waiting for him to ask and had planned to say yes. But her desire grew, and she wanted more. She wondered if she was being overly ambitious. Why would she want a child now at this age? How would it work if she had to do it on her own? Still, the desire to have a child, to nurture, felt more critical now than it ever had. She returned to the restaurant, knowing what she needed to do.
She found Ben at the front of the restaurant.
“Hey, I was starting to get worried,” he spoke with relief.
Marg gave him a small apologetic grin. “I want to have a child, Ben.” She held up her hand when he attempted to say something. “As much as I love you, I can’t compromise on this.”
“So, what are you saying?” Ben asked slowly.
Her nails dug into her palms, and her lips quivered as she stared at him through watery eyes.
“I’m sorry, Ben. I can’t marry you.”
ChapterTwelve
“Hey.”
Erin looked up from the design book she was pouring over to see her sister by the living room door.
“Hey.” She smiled. “Where’s my beautiful niece?” she asked, craning her neck to look behind Jules as if baby Becca would somehow appear there.
“She’s with Noah,” Jules replied, walking further into the room. Erin scooted over on the couch to give her room to sit. “What’re you working on?” she indicated with her chin toward the book now folded on her lap.
“Oh, this?” Erin asked, holding the book up. “It’s just some design sketches I was working on. It’s nothing, really.” She shrugged.
“Can I see?” Jules held out her hand for it.
Erin looked down at the book before handing it to her.Jules opened it and flipped through the pages. She looked over at Erin every few seconds before turning her attention back to the designs.
“Erin, wow! These are…amazing,” Jules exclaimed.
Erin beamed at her sister as pride filled her. “Thanks.”
“Are you going to show these?”
“What?” Erin widened her eyes. “No. I’m a fashion marketer, not a designer,” she said, vehemently shaking her head.
“But these are so good. Why didn’t you think about becoming a designer, Erin? I’d definitely buy these,” Jules said, flipping through the book again.
“That’s not how it works, Jules,” Erin said, taking the book out of her sister’s hand. “I only got the job at Saint International because of my marketing major. Besides, these designs are nothing compared to the ones you see on all the supermodels.”
Jules shook her head. “You’re selling yourself short, Erin. I guarantee if you showed those to your boss, you’d become one of his top designers like that,” she said, snapping her finger.
“What did you need me for?” Erin asked, changing the subject.
“Oh. I know I kind of blindsided you when I told you I was moving.”
“Yeah. You did.” Erin winked. “But it’s okay. You have a new family now. I respect that.”
Jules smiled in appreciation. “I was thinking that since you’ve been back, we haven’t really spent any quality time together. You know? Like we used to.”
“What are you suggesting?” Erin asked, interested.
“Do you wanna go for a boat ride?”
