Page 69 of Can We Try?

“Thank you,” Lachlan and I say to her at the same time.

“Mom, we’re going to have you get up on the exam table and pull up your shirt and your leggings down just past your belly.” Her fingers fly across the keyboard of her ultrasound machine.

Lachlan helps me up onto the exam table and takes it upon himself to pull my shirt up and my leggings down, tucking them just beneath my baby belly. Not giving a single care that Clara is watching, he bends and places not just his hand but a tender kiss on my belly.

“Ready?” Clara asks, once he’s standing to his full height.

I smile up at him. “We’re ready.” Lachlan squeezes my hand, and then it begins. Clara moves the wand around a little, then turns the screen so that we can see.

“There he is. Handsome little guy,” she says, moving the wand around. “Don’t worry, the package your husband ordered was the full deal, so you’ll get lots of printouts as well as a video copy as a keepsake.”

My husband.

“Really?” I ask, forcing my eyes from the screen to land on Lachlan. He nods and winks before his gaze goes back to the screen, watching our son.

By the time our session is over, I’m a crying, snotty mess, but it's happy tears. “I’ll have everything ready for you to pick up at the front desk after your massage. Enjoy,” Clara says, handing us back to Ashley, the receptionist.

“Now, the massage. You’re going to be up on floor three. Nala and Amber are your massage therapists today.”

“Thank you,” I tell her.

“Go ahead and get undressed to whatever feels comfortable for you,” Ashley says once we’re in the couple’s massage room. “Once you’re ready, just hit the green button on the wall, and they’ll give you five minutes from that point to get on the beds, covered, and face down. Obviously, the pregnancy table is for mom to be.” She smiles.

“Thanks, Ashley,” Lachlan tells her as she shuts the door, leaving us inside.

“Lachlan?”

“What’s up, Momma?”

“Come here.” I motion for him to come closer, and he does without question. His hands rest on my belly. “Thank you for this. That was incredible. I’ll never forget today.”

“The day’s not over, Mags.”

“I know, but I needed you to know what this means to me. Thank you.” I stand on my tiptoes, and he meets me, because I can’t get as close to him as I used to with my belly in the way. He kisses me softly.

“Come on. We have a massage to get ready for.” He winks as he helps me strip down to my bra and panties. I’m not willing to go further than that. Then he strips to his underwear. He helps me onto my massage table, letting his hands roam.

“You have to stop that, or we’ll never hit that green button,” I mutter, feeling my body reacting to his touch.

“The idea has merit, but we can do that at home.” He kisses my bare shoulder before pulling the cover up over me, going to the wall to hit the green button, and moving to his table, where he pulls the cover over himself. We’re staring into each other’s eyes, and the words that always come to mind when I think of him are on the tip of my tongue. A knock at the door stops me.

Soon. I’ll tell him soon.

“Now, where are we going?” I ask Lachlan. I’m relaxed from the massage, my belly is full from an amazing meal at my favorite Italian restaurant, and I have 3D pictures of our baby boy, as well as a video in my hands. The man I’ve fallen madly in love with is sitting next to me.

I’m not sure life gets better than this.

“Well, I have one last surprise for you.”

“Is it today’s mission to make me a blubbering mess?” I’m only half teasing.

“No.” He’s quiet as he drives. “Today’s mission was to show you that you’re not alone. It was to show you that you are my family, and not just because we’re having a son together. I wanted you to feel how special you are to me.”

“Your mission was to make me cry,” I tell him, wiping at my cheeks.

Reaching over the console without taking his eyes off the road, he takes my hand in his. “I promise you, Mags, it wasn’t. I hope those tears are happy?” he asks.

“They are. Every moment of today has been incredible, and I don’t know what you have planned next, but I’m certain it will be the perfect ending to our day.”

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