Chapter 59: What I Can’t Promise
Hearing Xavier’s steady, supportive words, Cassidy felt the weight on her shoulders lift a little. Her chest loosened, her breath came easier.
"Thank you," she said quietly.
Xavier gave a gentle smile. "I just want what’s best for you and for Claire."
Cassidy’s lips curved into a small, grateful smile. "I know."
There was a pause before Xavier, a bit hesitant, asked, "Can I ask something? Why didn’t you ever tell Zeke about Claire? I mean, if you don’t mind sharing."
Cassidy’s gaze drifted past him, toward some distant spot above his head. Her expression turned thoughtful, a little heavy.
"Maybe... because I thought he already had someone he loved," she said slowly, her voice quiet but steady. "We were already divorced at that point. And I didn’t want my pregnancy to ruin that for him."
Xavier gave a slow nod, taking it all in. Honestly, he hadn’t even known Cassidy had been married until that flight back to the States.
When he first found out she was pregnant, a few thoughts had crossed his mind. Things like maybe she’d gotten pregnant out of wedlock, maybe she ran away from something. But knowing now that she had been married... somehow, it still stung a little.
He couldn’t really explain it. Maybe it was the thought of someone else having had a part of her life that he would never touch. Still, he understood. Everyone had a past. No one’s perfect.
He cleared his throat and offered her a soft smile. "You should head back upstairs. Get some rest. And don’t let all this stuff mess with your head too much, alright? Call me if you need anything. Seriously."