He said nothing, his eyes searching hers before he reached into the linen bag and pulled out a couple sandwiches and a bottle. “I brought lunch.”
He looked down before tossing her a sandwich half heartedly, opening the bottle of formula for Aubrey.
She watched him, her brows furrowed. "I don't know if it means anything to you, but I missed you. Both of you."
His whole body tensed and his jaw clenched. “Stop,” he said sharply, shaking his head. “Just... stop.”
“You already gave up,” he told her sharply. “You’re here for her. That’s what you said. Let’s just leave it at that.”
"People say things they don't mean," she replied. "People make mistakes. My mistake was saying something hurtful and untrue in the heat of the moment, so no. I'm not leaving it at that. The fact that I left does not mean that I don't love you."
"Stop it!" He raised his voice and Aubrey started crying, her lower lip trembling as she sobbed. Jack looked down at her for a moment before sighing and pulling her into his lap. She buried her face in his chest, her shoulders still shaking with heartwrenching sobs. "If you want to get closer to her," he said quietly, "then be honest with me. None of this other bull*squee!*. Just be honest. That's all I'm asking from you here."
"Fine. I'll be honest. The last 10 months have been pretty *squee!*ty. I had nowhere to go, and was constantly worried about the state of my family that I had to leave. Maybe I was too hopeful, but I just want to breath. I need a chance to breath, but I'll never get it."
His eyes were dark and his voice was harsh. "Avice, you left. You left me in a situation where I had to deal with a newborn baby by myself and the love of my life disappeared with her only trace being a vague letter. You left her to grow up for the first year of her life without a mother. You left us. I'm fine with letting you see her, but I'm not going to let myself be fooled again. You can come and go as you please, but you're not going to break my heart. Not again."
"I didn't have a choice, Jack. I was forced to leave. If I didn't, then you would probably be dead. I never meant to break your heart, Jack. I would never try to do that to you."
"But you did," he said quietly, looking down at their child. "You did. I don't... I can't lose you again. I can't do that again."
