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Sitting on the couch Cyrus tried to explain, “Tammy showed me her divorce papers. That asshole old man of hers left because he didn’t want the baby. He told her she was a burden now, especially since she was sick. All he wanted from her was a young wife and nothing to tie him down.”

“He sounds like a prick. Who just throws their child away like that?”

“Probably for the best. He was abusing Tammy before he left. Greyson started drinking again, and she said he was violent when he was drunk. It started not long into their marriage. The best thing for baby Elias is him being out of the picture completely.”

“I never thought I would feel bad for your ex, but here we are.”

Cyrus chuckled. “Yep. Me too. Anyway. I saw the doctor’s reports and her bills. She’s telling the truth. It took me a while to get back because she got sick and I couldn’t leave her and the baby alone like that. She had just left the hospital from having chemo when we saw her today.”

“So that’s why she collapsed.”

“She was trying to get some baby food before she headed home. I gave her some money and paid up her household bills. They didn’t even have any lights on at the house. I took her to my parent’s old home. She’s at the cabin now so they are in a safe, warm place. I convinced her to let me sell our old house and she can move into my parent’s house. It’s smaller, but it will allow her to get around easier. I’ll hire her a nurse once she’s settled in.”

“What about the baby? She can’t take care of that little one if she is so sick.”

“That’s what I wanted to talk to you about. I’m going to take care of Elias. She wants me to adopt him after she passes and for me to take this time to bond with him.”

Mia felt a lump form in the back of her throat. “Oh. So… you’ll be moving in with her?”

“No. Not just me. We. I want you to come too. I told her that’s the only way. One day I’m going to marry you, Mia. That means when I adopt the baby, it will be our child.”

“You want to marry me?”

“Yes. I’m not asking right now, but I plan to one day. There has never been a question in my mind that you’re the one. I love you, but I can’t be another man who abandons that child. Mia, he’s so adorable, and…” Cyrus smiled from ear to ear.

Mia interrupted, “Wait. I need time to think this over. This is a lot to ask of me, Cyrus. I love you, but I don’t know if I’m ready to move in with your ex-wife.”

“I know. If you don’t want to, I understand. I would like for you to spend time with the baby so we can bond with him. Unless you don’t want a child.”

“Or course I do. You know that, but are you just going to take in the child, just like that? Are you sure? That’s a big step.”

“I want this, Mia. I have wanted a baby for years and I can make a difference in his life. This is my chance to keep this little one from being thrown around through the foster care system. I could give him a good life.”

“ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME?” Holly rushed over, pushing her brother off the couch. “Fuck you, Cyrus Evans! How could you ask Mia to do this without ever so much as considering her feelings first?”

Mia jumped up, trying to calm Holly. “Holly, it’s okay.”

Holly pointed at Cyrus as she yelled. They had no idea she had been listening in. “No! It’s not okay. This isn’t fair. Cyrus finally finds someone who loves him for who he is, and now this! When I finally trust this chick, you screw it up. You expect Mia to just drop everything for you to deal with the ghost of your past? What the hell are you thinking?”

Cyrus stood up, trying to go to his sister to explain. Holly pulled back and kicked him in the nuts as hard as she could. Cyrus fell to the floor like a rock.

“AHHH! What the fuck, Holly!”

“You can’t ask Mia to move in with her. You just can’t! It’s wrong! Find her a nurse. Anything that makes you feel better. Just don’t use Mia to rectify some of your pent-up guilt for a failed marriage. Damn it, Cy! Tammy never really loved you. She cheated on you more than once. I saw it firsthand; I just couldn’t prove it. I never told you and have held this secret for years. I did it because I knew it would break your heart and didn’t want to hurt you. She keeps hurting you and you allow it.”

“I knew. I always knew. I just didn’t want to end up divorced and thought I could fix it. I was wrong.”

“And you’re wrong now!”

Mia looked at Cyrus on the floor whose eyes were full of hurt and confusion. He looked up at her and she could see the pain he was feeling. Cyrus knew Holly was right, but he was trying to be the good man he had always been. Despite how people treated him, he was; the protector, the nurture, the man who stood up for the ones who couldn’t stand up for themselves.

Mia stood watching him as she thought back to the conversion they had online. His one consistent conversion was his love for family. She knew a child was the one thing he may never have on his own. This could be the one way she would be sure he had it. With a deep breath, she tried to calm herself before she said the words that could make or break the future of their relationship.

“I’ll do it.”

Holly turned to Mia. “What?”

“What?” Cyrus shuffled to his feet, watching her in disbelief.

“I’ll do it. If it makes Cyrus happy, I’ll do it. He’s right. If I’m going to be the child’s mother one day, I need to get to know him. I want a baby too. I always thought adoption was the option. I can get to know Tammy and show her the baby will have love and taken care of. Yes, she did a lot of heartless things, but I believe everyone is redeemable. Maybe she just needs to see that this is her chance to set things right, and Cyrus can make peace with it. She’s dying. Leaving her alone, when she’s reaching out for help, would be wrong.”

Holly huffed. “Why are you so dang likable? Why can’t you just get mad and be more of a bitch? She doesn’t deserve it.”

“Maybe not. But I’m not doing it for her. I’m doing it for, Cy.”

“Geez. You need to stop being so damn nice and get pissed off sometimes. I have a lot to teach you.”

Mia giggled. “I guess we are like yin and yang. Good and evil. Maybe we will rub off on each other.”

Holly shook her head with a slight chuckle. “I guess that’s why we will probably end up best friends. We can even out each other’s weaknesses.”

Mia went over to lay her head on Hollys’ shoulder with a giggle. “I hope we are. I need someone to kick your brother’s ass when he gets out of line. Besides, when you kicked him in the nuts, it did make me feel a little better.”

“Hey, that’s not fair,” Cyrus grumbled.

“You asked your new girlfriend to move in with your ex. Pretty sure a kick in the nuts is only half of what you deserve right now.”

Cyrus went over and pulled Mia into his arms with a kiss. “As long as you don’t leave me, I’ll make it all up to you.”

“Trust me, you sure as hell will.”