Chapter 71: Ready for a Family?

Chapter 71: Ready for a Family?
Elyse’s P.O.V

I sat back against the chair, the warmth from the late afternoon sun spilling through the windows. The light danced on the hardwood floors, but my mind was far from the peaceful scene. I couldn’t focus on the beauty of it, not with the storm that was brewing in my head.

Cam’s words were still echoing in my mind. "Are you ready for this? Children…and a family?" I could hear him clearly, his voice steady but with an undercurrent of something I couldn’t quite place. It wasn’t just hope. It was something else—something that made my chest tighten.

I looked at him now, his form still sitting in front of me, his eyes hopeful. His posture was casual, but the way his eyes watched me like I was the only thing in the room, told me everything I needed to know.

“You’ve been quiet for a while, Elyse,” he said, his voice softer now. He must have noticed the silence, the weight of it because there was something in his tone that made me feel like I had to say something. But the words were hard to come by.

I finally broke the silence, my voice low, uncertain. “I didn’t expect this, Cam. I didn’t expect… this.” I gestured between us, frustration creeping in. “You’re talking about a baby like it’s just something that can happen. I don’t know if I’m ready for that. Hell, I don’t even know if it’s the right time.”

Cam let out a soft sigh and uncrossed his arms. He stepped closer, bringing his chair next to mine, but not too close. He was giving me space, as if waiting for me to continue, to let it all out.

I ran a hand through my hair. “I wasn’t planning on any of this. Growing up, I was alone most of the time. An only child. My parents worked constantly. They were good people, but they didn’t have much time for me. I had to figure things out on my own. And when I got older, I worked my ass off to get where I am. This… this project with Viker—it’s everything right now. I’m focused on it, Cam. I have to be.”

Cam didn’t interrupt, didn’t push. He let me speak, let me get the words out, even though I could see the concern on his face growing with every pause I made.

“You think that I haven’t thought about all of that?” Cam finally spoke, his voice steady, though there was an edge to it. “I understand where you’re coming from, Elyse. I really do. But sometimes, things happen that you can’t control. You can’t plan everything. Hell, if we waited for everything to be perfect, we’d never do anything.”

I swallowed, feeling the weight of his words press down on me. “But a baby, Cam? That’s not just something that happens. That’s a lifetime. That’s responsibility.”

His gaze softened, and he leaned forward, elbows resting on his knees as he looked at me seriously. “I’m not saying it’s easy. I’m not saying it won’t change everything. But I don’t want to make decisions out of fear, Elyse. And I don’t want to lose the chance to have something real with you—whatever that looks like. We’re in this together, whether we’re ready for it or not.”

I turned my face away, staring at the floor, the words tumbling around in my mind. I knew he was right about some things. I’d always been the planner, the one who needed control over everything. But something was terrifying about not knowing, about the uncertainty that came with the idea of having a child, raising it, and still trying to balance everything else in my life…especially when I felt like I had already fallen out of love with Cam.

“I don’t know if I can do it, Cam,” I whispered, my voice barely audible. “I don’t know if I can be the person you want me to be. I’m not... I’m not like you. You’re sure of things. You’ve got everything figured out. I don’t.”

Cam’s hand found mine, his fingers warm against mine, grounding me in a way that felt comforting but also terrifying. “You don’t have to have it all figured out, Elyse. I don’t either. I’m just telling you that I don’t want to lose you. I want to be with you, no matter what comes next.”

For the first time in a long while, I felt numb, like I couldn’t process what was happening. Cam was talking about a future—about a family, about a child, and I was standing on the edge of it, not sure whether to leap or pull back.

A family. A baby. It was all too much for me to absorb in this moment. The idea of it seemed so distant, so foreign. Could I be the kind of person who could actually give him that? Could we build that kind of life together, a life that was so different from the one I had known growing up?

But the most important question was…was it really him that I wanted that kind of family with?

I took a shaky breath, feeling the air catch in my lungs. I didn’t know how to deal with any of it.

“Elyse?” Cam’s voice pulled me from my spiraling thoughts. “Are you getting cold feet?”

I blinked, trying to focus on him, but everything around me felt so blurred. It was like I was floating just above myself, disconnected from the reality we were facing.

“If you are,” Cam continued gently, “we can wait. We don’t have to rush into anything. I’m not asking for a decision right now. We can take a step back and see if this pregnancy happens. Maybe it won’t, and maybe it’ll give us some time to think about it all. But just so you know…” He paused, leaning forward, his voice soft but insistent. “I want our child to be born legitimate. I want to do this right.”

“I’ll be right back,” I whispered, the words slipping out before I could think about them. “I need to think about all of this.”

“Do you want me to come with you?” he asked, his voice low, the softness of it a stark contrast to the tension I could feel in the room. “Your leg’s still healing, Elyse. You shouldn’t be out walking alone for too long.”

I glanced down at the floor, the silence stretching between us. My chest felt tight again, that old weight pulling me down, but I needed to breathe. I needed space. Not just from him, but from everything—the decisions, the future, the unknown.

“I need to be alone right now, Cam,” I said, the words coming out almost in a whisper. My voice sounded different, distant like I wasn’t fully here. “I need to sort through everything in my head, think it all through. I don’t want you to worry about me, but I... I just need to walk and clear my mind. We’ll talk when I get back. I promise.”

He was quiet for a moment, studying me, and I could feel the weight of his gaze, like he was trying to decide whether he should push me to stay, to let him help. But then, slowly, he nodded.

“I understand,” he said softly, though I could hear the reluctance in his voice. “But if you need anything, you know where I am.”

“I’ll be back soon,” I said, turning toward the door. The cool air outside was waiting for me, and I needed to escape for just a little while—to breathe without the pressure of having to make decisions or face all the emotions tangled inside me.