The drive to Virginia's is quiet, not uncomfortably so, but enough for my headache to start to act up.
"Are you sure you're alright?" Ollie asks me once we pull into his grandama's driveway. "We can always just go back."
Shaking my head, I look over at him, the worry in his eyes making me feel a bit better. "No, it's fine, Ollie. You know that she'll just come to us if we leave now."
He gives a small nod. "True."
Giving him a smile, I go to open my door. Virginia is already waiting for us, the front door opening before we even make it to the first step.
"Oh, there you two are!" she says, a wide smile on her face, the warmth of her house creeping up from behind her. "Come on in before you two freeze out here."
Ollie gives her an exasperated shake of his head but does as she says once I step inside. "Grandama, it's only fifty degrees out here."
"Too cold," she calls behind her and she moves into the kitchen. "Now, close the door, Ollie, before you let all the heat out."
He mumbles something under his breath but does as she says. It smells amazing in here, just as it always does. It has been a while since I have been here, too preoccupied with trying to get pregnant. The guilt creeps up. This woman has always been nurturing, going against the alpha stereotype of being harsh.
It smells amazing in the kitchen. Apple-bacon sausage is cooking on the stove, along with some eggs. A bowl of fruit is sitting on the counter, along with a steaming hot container of coffee. "Ollie, go ahead and set everything on the table." When her eyes land on the pan her grandson is holding, she looks over at me with a wide grin. "Is that what I think it is?"
"Sure is," I say, not able to hold back my own smile.
"Milo, you didn't have to bring anything, but I am happy you did. Thank you, dear," she says, coming over to give me a tight hug. She pulls away slightly, brushing away a few strand of my hair, her eyes roaming over my face. "You go sit down, you look like you could use some rest." She gives my hand a squeeze. "And then you're going to tell me what has you so down."
Knowing that it is useless to argue, I just nod my head, letting Ollie lead me over to the table. It is made of old wood, the stain rubbed off in some sections. But Virginia cherishes the thing, seeing as it used to be her own parents' before they passed it down to her.
By the time breakfast is finally all set out on the table and everyone is sitting down, my stomach is rumbling. Everything smells amazing, and I have only had coffee today. To say that I am hungry would be an understatement.
We are quiet as we all dig in, but Virginia finishes first, having only eaten half of what Ollie and I are eating. "Now, Milo, what has been going on with you. How is Aaron doing?" Her mouth twists at his name. She has never liked him, sharing the same views as Ollie.
"Grandama, not right now," Ollie whispers harshly, his eyes flicking over to me in worry.
Shaking my head, I set down my fork. "It's fine, Ollie." He looks worried but doesn't say anything else. "We have decided to get a divorce. Things haven't been working for a while, but the stress of the failed fertility treatments was the last straw. He's getting his stuff tonight."
"What? He is?" Ollie asks.
"Yeah."
"Oh dear, I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have prodded." Virginia's mouth is turned down, her hands gripping her coffee cup tightly.
"It's alright. I know you worry." Letting out a sigh, I grab my own coffee cup, grateful for the warmth. "Now it's time to just move forward. I can't keep letting myself dwell in the past."
"What about-?"
"Grandama, no," Ollie hisses.
It is clear that she was going to ask about my plans on having kids. It has been my main focus for the last couple years, but something I have been hoping for, for much longer. Just thinking about never having kids makes my heart twist, but I swallow down the lump in my throat.
"Having kids just isn't for me, I guess," I whisper. I force a smile on my face, but it is shaky at best. "I'll just have to move on from that, too."
"There is always adoption," Virginia says, her voice soft. "Don't give up completely, Milo."
"I think I am just going to take a break. Try not to think about it anymore," I whisper, taking a small sip of coffee. "It hurts too much to keep holding on."
My eyes flicker up to each of them before resting back on the table. Virginia looks as sympathetic as always, but Ollie just looks contemplative, seeming to think over something while staring at me.
"Well, alright then," Virginia says, "I saw that wonderful poke cake you brought. Why don't I bring it out, and we can enjoy it with some tea?"
"Sounds wonderful," I say, giving her a grateful smile for the change of subject.
The rest of the brunch goes by easily. Everything gets discussed, from Ollie's students to my shops. But any mention of pregnancy or children is left behind, and for that I am grateful. Virginia finally lets us leave around a quarter after one, with a promise of talking to one of her friends who is looking for some new renters.
It is only when we get back to my house that Ollie clears his throat, causing me to look over at him. His hands tighten on the steering wheel, and the way his lips are pursed and his brows are scrunched tell me that he is somewhat nervous to say whatever he wants to say.
"What is it?" I ask, finally sitting back in the seat and letting my hand drop away from the handle.
"I know you want to not talk about it anymore, but before you give up completely, I wanted to give you another option." He looks up at me then, his brown eyes wide and his bottom lip caught between his teeth.
"What are you talking about?"
His eyes flicker out the window before settling on me again. "Milo, I-I can give you a baby?" His words come out more like a question than a real statement, catching me off guard.
My brows crinkle in confusion. "What?"
He doesn't say anything for a few seconds, bottom lip caught between his teeth as he seems to mull something over. After what seems like forever, he finally turns to look at me, his eyes steeled in determination.
"You want a baby, and I can give you one. It won't be too hard. I'll just stop taking my suppressants, go through a heat, and then I'll have a baby."
The words come crashing down on me, and all I can do is shake my head, opening the car door so that I can get some fresh air. "That isn't going to work, Ollie." He opens his mouth to say something, but I just raise my hand to stop him. "There are so many things wrong with that. First of all, you can't just go find a random person to knock you up. That's way too dangerous. Second, I am not going to take a baby from you. I know you too well. You love kids. You work with them, for God's sake. I'm not going to be responsible for you putting yourself in harm's way, both physically and emotionally."
He stares at me stunned, and I take the opportunity to get out of the car. "Thanks for coming over last night and for the brunch this morning. I'll see you later, alright?"
This seems to snap him out of whatever state he was in, because he comes scrambling out of the car, racing up the front steps after me. "Milo, wait! You're wrong." He plants his palm on the door, preventing me from opening it once I unlock it. "All of that was wrong."
Looking up at him, I see that he is watching me with desperate eyes. "How?"
"I wouldn't go out and get pregnant by some big-headed alpha. We could spend a heat together or something. And you wouldn't be taking the baby away. We could have joint custody, raise them as friends who live together. You're right, I do love kids, and while I didn't expect to have them for a few more years, I'm perfectly fine breaking away from that plan." He lets out a long breath. "I know this isn't the traditional way, but we could make it work."
"When have you ever known me to be traditional?" I ask, my lips twisting up into a small smile. He nods his head, not moving away at all. "I have to think about it, Ollie. There isn't even a way I can afford a kid right now."
"We can figure everything out."
"Yeah, we would." Letting out a long sigh, I gently push Ollie away from the door. "Just give me today to think about it. I'll call you tomorrow."
"Promise?" he asks, only moving away enough for me to open the door.
"Promise," I tell him, and with a small wave, I close the door.
The silence greets me, everything too cold in here. Once I hear Ollie leave the drive way, I rush into the office, grabbing all of my stuff before walking back out of the house. My coffee shop is closing in a few hours, and Xania should be closing right now. I'll just sneak into my back office and get some work done.
Because even if I'll be in the back room, at least it won't be quiet.