Baby on Board by Lisa Ruff

tempted to say yes. It would be so easy. Just say yes and she would have Patrick, and if not him, at least his family. She had to admit the combination was very potent. If she could not create her own family, she might choose the Berzani clan. But what would that mean for her child? At the best, she would grow up longing for a father she seldom saw. At worst, Patrick would die in one of his daredevil feats and the baby would never know her father at all.
    Slowly, she shook her head no.
    “Why not?”
    “Did you listen to the stories your family told about you?”
    Patrick frowned. “Of course I did. I’ve heard them a hundred times. What are you—”
    “In every one, you’re the kid who always pushes the envelope. You are the kid in jeopardy. You encourage others to follow along, get them to do things they wouldn’t dream of trying on their own.”
    “Maybe that’s true. So?” He was still frowning.
    Kate sighed and ran a hand over her hair, tucking a loose strand behind her ear. “You’re an adventurer, Patrick, in the true sense of the word.”
    “I don’t see what this has to do with me coming over tonight,” he said impatiently.
    “I know.” Kate stared at him for a long, silent moment. “You’re never going to change, Patrick. After today, I don’t think you can. You’re always going to push limits and try new things. Giving up sailing for me and the baby won’t make you any different.”
    “Kate, those were stories about a young boy.” Patrick put his hands on her shoulders, squeezing slightly. “Every kid gets into trouble, tests the boundaries. Well, maybe I did push them further than most,” he added with a coaxing smile.
    “And you still do,” she said.
    Patrick shook his head, his face serious. “Not like that. The ocean’s no place to be cocky.”
    “Then why can’t you quit? Stay home. Work in your family’s marina?”
    “I suppose because sailing is part of who I am,” he said quietly.
    “And you love it. I’ve seen the look on your face when you talk about racing. Your eyes light up like someone plugged you into an electrical socket.”
    “I do love racing, but I can cut back on it, so I’m here more than I’m gone.”
    Kate took a step away and hugged her arms around herself. She felt cold, despite the heat of the afternoon. “I don’t think you should,” she said.
    Patrick was plainly astounded. “What?” he asked, shaking his head.
    “It would be wrong for you to give up what you love. It’s also wrong for me to ask you. It would just be a matter of time before you hated me for tying you down.”
    Patrick was silent, watching her, his face still. He made no attempt to touch her again, but shoved his hands into the pockets of his shorts. A car passed by and pulled into a slot farther along. The people got out and walked off with only a brief glance at Kate and Patrick.
    “Why does this sound like goodbye?” he asked. His voice was quiet and deep, hard to hear over the shouts of the children in the park.
    “Maybe because it is?” Kate’s voice was a whisper, too. She didn’t want to hurt him, but she knew her words sliced like a jagged knife. “I can’t live with a man like that. I can’t have him be the father of a child that I love. I’m sorry, but I can’t.”
    Kate looked away, toward the pavilion. Fewer people were left now. Most had gone down to the beach to swim.
    “How can you throw everything we have away so easily?”
    “This is not easy, Patrick!” Tears welled up in her eyes and she blinked them back. “But we can’t ignore the truth about who we are. Too much is at stake. I’m sorry,” she said again. “I truly am.”
    Kate turned and walked quickly to her car. Patrick didn’t try to stop her. As she pulled out of the parking lot, she took one last look in the rearview mirror. Patrick was standing where she had left him, hands in his pockets. He looked so lonely and sad.
    A tear trickled down her cheek as she resolutely turned her