Ford wished that Macnair would have just stayed quiet for a few minutes and let him hold him. He wanted to comfort him, but what was he supposed to say in response to that? The way Macnair framed it made it seem as though the only obstacle to the two of them being together was Ford's latest whim, which wasn't an accurate representation of things at all. Did Macnair really think that he'd have gotten to this point if there was any alternative? Ford had tried to reason through it a hundred times. He'd tried to come up with some way to get them through this. He'd even asked Noble about it, although without the details. Noble had just confirmed what Ford already knew: there was no way around it. Fathers had to be fathers first and foremost, and Ford couldn't conscious helping someone be a bad father. Not even someone he loved. Especially not someone he loved.
"I can't do it." He was still holding Macnair and he didn't want to let go, even though given what he was saying he probably ought to. "It's — I was okay with your wife. Or — not okay, but I was fine, because you said it was different and she didn't expect anything from you, and if that's how things are then who am I to say otherwise? But it's different with a baby." Here Ford did manage to pry himself off of Macnair, because saying this next sentence while embracing him would have just been cruel. "A child doesn't choose to have parents who don't love each other."
"I can't do it." He was still holding Macnair and he didn't want to let go, even though given what he was saying he probably ought to. "It's — I was okay with your wife. Or — not okay, but I was fine, because you said it was different and she didn't expect anything from you, and if that's how things are then who am I to say otherwise? But it's different with a baby." Here Ford did manage to pry himself off of Macnair, because saying this next sentence while embracing him would have just been cruel. "A child doesn't choose to have parents who don't love each other."
Set by Lady!