Cathal didn't think he was being overly kind, but he tried to imagine how he might be reacting if he thought he was a person who deserved children. Maybe in that hypothetical world he would yell at Marcie? Tell her that it was his baby and how dare she keep it from him? Shout at her that he was the man and that any choices she made about her body needed to be informed by him? That she needed to remember that her place was to do anything her wanted? And, then what, call her a bitch while she cried at his kitchen table about a miscarriage?
No, Cathal didn't want to live in that parallel world. It was too vibrant in his mind and too real, and he refused to bring it into his home.
So instead he said, "lemme get you tissues." He let go of her hand and stood up only to take the two steps required to grab the box from the bench, bringing it back to put in front of her. Then he rested his hand on her shoulder. "I've got a box of foreign chocolates waiting to be eaten if you want some?" He gave her a warm smile, trying to make sure she knew that everything here was okay with him. She was allowed to be sad, but he didn't want it to be because she was worried about his reactions.