Page 32 of Can We Try?

“I came bearing gifts.”

“Gifts? Lachlan, what are you doing here?”

“Last night when we talked, you said yesterday morning was rough for you, so I brought reinforcements.” He steps into the house, and I close the door behind him, slowly trailing behind him to the kitchen. “I brought a plain bagel and got plain and cinnamon cream cheese on the side, or I thought you might want to do peanut butter for the protein, but I got them just in case. I have two cans of ginger ale. I wasn’t sure if you were out. I grabbed another box of saltines, so you can take them to work with you today, too, if you need them, and some peppermint and ginger candy. I read online that it helps with nausea.”

I plop down onto a kitchen chair. “You did all of that before 6:30 a.m.?” I ask.

“No. I went out last night to get everything but the bagel.”

“We talked after nine. Everything in town is closed.”

“I know. I drove to the all-hours convenience store in Nashville after we hung up.”

“You drove an hour away last night to get this stuff?”

He shrugs. “You needed it. This morning, I went to Pastry Heaven, so the bagel is fresh. I also have a loaf of wheat bread. I know that’s your favorite, in case you prefer toast.”

I’m stunned speechless. I don’t know what to say. My stomach rolls again, and this time, I know it’s not good. Standing, I slap my hand over my mouth and rush down the hall to the bathroom. I drop to my knees just in time. I groan once it’s over, and that’s when I realize my hair's being held back.

“What can I do?” Lachlan asks, rubbing my back with the hand that’s not holding my hair.

“You can go. I hate you seeing me this way,” I grumble. Tears spring to my eyes. The last thing I want to do is be a burden to him.

“I’m not going anywhere, and see you like what? Pregnant with our baby? I told you, I’m here for it all, Maggie. Tell me what you need.”

“To brush my teeth.”

“Fair enough.” He drops my hair and climbs to his feet. The next thing I know, he’s lifting me into his arms and carrying me to the sink. He sets me on the counter and starts adding toothpaste to my toothbrush.

“I can do it,” I tell him.

“I know you can, Mags, but you’re doing it all. You’re doing all the work, and I feel helpless. Let me help you.”

“I don’t want to be your burden, Lachlan.”

“What?” He rears back as if I slapped him. My toothbrush is dripping with water and the toothpaste is slowly slipping off the bristles. “You think you’re a burden? To me?”

“You didn’t sign up for this.”

“And you did? Maggie, we did this together. It took both of us to make this baby. It’s going to take both of us, and a damn village, to raise him or her. Those are the facts. What isn’t is you being a burden.” He pulls in a deep breath and heavily exhales. “I know that’s him talking. That bastard who made you feel like you weren’t enough. Listen to me. You are enough, Maggie. You are everything. You’re the mother of my child. You’re not a burden. You’re a fucking rock star. You’re growing our baby. Keeping him or her safe and healthy until we’re ready to meet them. That’s not a burden, Maggie Ward. That’s a fucking miracle.”

My heart feels like it’s too big for my chest. I know with absolute clarity that this baby might not have been planned, but without a doubt, I wouldn’t want to be doing this with anyone but Lachlan. That’s a scary revelation for me and for my heart. “You drove an hour last night after nine. That’s easily a two-and-a-half-hour trip… longer depending on how long you were in the store, and now you’re here bright and early to bring me food, and then you had to see that.” I shudder as I nod to the toilet.

“I did that because I wanted to. Not because I felt obligated. That’s what a dad does, Maggie. He shows up for those he cares about. He helps them in their time of need and goes above and beyond. I have a great role model, the absolute best. While I didn’t ever see him take care of my mom while pregnant, I did watch him take care of both of us growing up, and it wasn’t because we were his burden to bear. It’s because we are his family. We were what was important, and that to me, is you and our baby.”

Tears well in my eyes. “I’m sorry. Hormones.”

“Don’t push me away, Maggie. I know this is unconventional, but I promise you there is nowhere else on this earth I’d rather be than right there with you.”

I nod, and wipe at my eyes. “Can I brush my teeth now?”

He chuckles. “Yeah, babe, you can brush your teeth now.”

My heart stutters at the nickname he’s never used with me before. It’s so familiar and, in a way, intimate. He hands me the toothbrush, lifts me off the counter, and I turn to handle my business. Once I’m done, he laces his fingers through mine and leads me back to the kitchen.

“What are you thinking for breakfast?”

“The bagel, please. With peanut butter.”

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