Page 37 of Prognosis Christmas Baby

Nash frowned. ‘Don’t be ridiculous,’ he snapped. ‘This baby is my responsibility too and I don’t shirk my responsibilities.’

Maggie gaped at him, stunned by his categorical rejection of her offer to absolve him of consequence. The man looked like he’d fly all the way to London today if he could, even if it meant he had to flap his own arms.

She gave a half-laugh. Did he mean he wanted to be an us? ‘Wh...what?’

‘You heard me,’ he said tersely.

‘But...but why? This isn’t the Victorian age, Nash. Women can and do have babies without a man to take care of them. You have a whole career planned. You really don’t have to worry about this.’

Nash, feeling rather contrary himself amidst the roller-coaster of emotions he was experiencing, suddenly felt disposable. ‘Were you even going to tell me?’

Maggie shook her head dazedly, spun out by the unexpected turn of events. ‘What?’

‘If I hadn’t walked in here today and discovered the test, would you have told me?’

She struggled with the question. ‘Yes. No. I...don’t know ...Maybe?’

Nash shot her a hard look. ‘Maybe? Well, that’s just great, Maggie.’

‘Oh, come on, Nash,’ Maggie pleaded, chilled by the way the warmth in his tropical island eyes had turned glacial. ‘I’ve only just found out. I haven’t really thought anything through.’

One blond eyebrow shot up. ‘Maybe?’ he repeated.

‘You leave for the other side of the world in a month. Wouldn’t it be wrong of me to dump this in your lap now? What possible good could come of it? You have this whole plan for your future. London for a few years and then setting up the flying paediatrician service. A baby doesn’t figure into that. Anyway, you don’t want to be a father. You told me that yourself.’

‘Not wanting to have children when there are none is entirely different from finding out someone’s carrying your baby and it’s very much a reality.’

‘I didn’t plan this, Nash.’ Hell, she’d have never thought it possible!

He sighed. ‘I know.’

‘Well, what do you want, then?’ Maggie’s heart thundered at the possibility that Nash might want to be part of his baby’s life.

Part of her life.

Was that what he wanted? What she wanted?

Maggie had a sudden flash of him with Brodie on his hip that day in the Radio Giggle studio and the way he’d been with Dougy.

He was great with kids.

Nash stood and raked his hand through his hair. ‘Damn it, Maggie, I don’t know. This is a lot to process.’

For him, maybe. For her it felt like she’d finally arrived at her destination. She was already this baby’s mother, already loved it more than she had words to describe.

‘I mean, do you even want me to be a part of this baby’s life?’ he demanded.

She shrugged. ‘I...I suppose...’

‘Gee, Maggie. Could you be a little more enthusiastic?’

‘I’m sorry, I didn’t mean that to sound half-hearted. I’m just surprised that you do, that’s all. I wouldn’t have thought for a minute that you would.’

Nash clenched his jaw at her unintended insult. He was from the country, where men were honourable and took their obligations seriously.

‘It’s my responsibility, Maggie. I told you that. I like to think I’m an honourable man and honourable men do not walk away from their mistakes.’

Even as the word came out Nash wished he could retract it. He saw Maggie freeze and felt like the worse kind of bastard. ‘I’m sorry, I didn’t mean...’

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