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‘After, we convince the world that we were keeping this pregnancy quiet because it’s our first child. We show everyone that we are a family. We’ll start with a few small public appearances.’ Matt had it all figured out. He could control the narrative, make sure the media reported what he wanted them to. ‘And, once we have everyone convinced, we will get married.’
‘Married?’ Hannah all but yelled.
‘Do you have a problem with being married to me?’
‘Of course I do! Matt, we had a holiday fling seven months ago!’
‘I know, Hannah. I was there.’
‘That doesn’t mean we should get married! What reason would we have for doing something like that?’ she sputtered.
‘A baby?’ It was a suitable solution, the best way to give his child a stable home. A family that could springboard it to greatness. Maybe he could finally make his father proud. The thought almost made him laugh. Wanting any sort of validation would have been seen as a weakness by his father.
‘A man doesn’t get emotional, Matthew. It’s a weakness. Control makes you strong. Remember that when you’re out partying your life away.’
A stoic, controlled family man, that was what his father had wanted him to be. It wasn’t too late to try and be that man.
Hannah made a choking sound. ‘People have babies every day without being married or engaged, Matt. We’re not even—’
‘Not even what?’
‘In love!’
‘I told you, my baby would have a family,’ he said evenly. There was no way he would budge on this. No one would change his mind. And love wasn’t essential. He knew better than anyone.
She snatched her hand back from his and he frowned at the loss of her warmth. ‘How would this even work? I live on the other side of the world! I doubt you’d leave your company and move to Melbourne.’
‘You’re right. I wouldn’t. That’s why you will be moving in with me.’
* * *
Hannah was sure she was going mad. He couldn’t have just said that, could he?
‘Move in? Matt, I’m leaving in a couple of days. Going back to work.’ What Matt was suggesting was outrageous.
‘You will be staying right here in London,’ he countered.
‘I can’t just leave my job in Melbourne!’
‘You’ll walk into another, I promise.’
‘I’m not working for you, Matt. I’ve earned my position. This baby won’t change that.’ She didn’t want his promises. She had worked damn hard to get where she was. Nothing had ever been handed to her so, even though Matt had a tech company that most software developers would dream of working at, she wouldn’t accept his hand-out.
‘Then don’t work for me. But you’re staying here with me. My child will have their father around for every moment of their lives. I won’t be scheduled in.’
Oh, he was impossible!
‘I can appreciate that, but I have a life.’ One she was reluctant to abandon at the demand of someone else.
‘And we can have one here, together.’
Hannah awkwardly stood, too riled up to care about how ungainly she felt. She needed some space from him.
‘I’m happy you want to be a part of our lives. Really, I am. But I can’t say goodbye to everything I know. My home. My friends. My job.’
But he was willing to be there for their child. Her baby could have things most people could only dream of. They wouldn’t know a single moment of ‘not today, sweetheart, maybe next week’. And, with her as a single parent, that would be a real possibility for her child.
She hated the thought of having to rely on anyone. Not when she had worked so hard to succeed on her own. Still, it was undeniable that Matt could provide more. Be there to catch their child regardless of what they wanted to do.
