Page 88 of Can We Try?

“Oh, I couldn’t agree more. Now, go on. Lunch is waiting.”

“Thank you, Amanda.”

“You’re welcome, sweetheart. That’s what family is for.”

With a nod, I head to the bedroom to get ready for a lunch outing with my future mother-in-law. She’s right; I know she is. I was too deep in my pain to see the blessings I have. I see them now, and I won’t take them for granted ever again.

Chapter

Twenty

Lachlan

* * *

It’s a little before five, and I’ve just wrapped up for the day. I’m cleaning up before heading home. I haven’t heard from Maggie all day, and I’m worried about her. I don’t know how to reach her. My heart breaks from the pain she’s in, and I’m afraid I’m going to lose her to it. I’m worried the grief is going to suffocate her.

“He’s in the back.” I hear Lyra say.

I don’t know which one of the ladies is visiting, but it could only be one of them for Lyra to tell them to come on back. I keep doing what I’m doing so I can get out of here when there’s a knock at my door. Turning my head, my mouth drops open.

“Hey, is everything okay?” I ask, moving toward Maggie. She’s showered and dressed and looks more alive than she has since the morning we got the call about Doris.

“I’m fine. I was hoping you could give me a ride home?” She bites down on her bottom lip.

“How did you get here?” I look her over. “Did you break down? Where is your car?” I rattle off as I check for injuries with my eyes.

“Your mom brought me.”

“My mom?”

She nods. “She showed up at the house. We talked, I cried, and then she demanded I shower and go to lunch with her.” She points to the bags at her feet that I missed in my exploration of her for injuries. “We did some shopping, and then I asked her to bring me to you.”

I smile down at her and open my arms. This time, I wait for her to come to me, and she does. I wrap my arms around her and breathe her in. Relief washes over me.

“I’m so sorry, Lachlan. I know I’ve been hard to live with. I’m sorry I yelled at you this morning.”

Her words pierce my heart. She’s been struggling. I don’t know what it feels like to lose your only blood relative, but she has me. We’ll make it through this. As I pull away, I grab her bags and motion for her to step inside. I close the door, drop the bags on my desk, and take her hand in mine, leading her to the table. I lift her and settle between her legs. My hands rest on her cheeks as I stare into her blue eyes.

“I missed you, but you don’t owe me an apology. I know what she meant to you. I know how much you loved her, and it’s okay to be sad.”

“I lost myself for a little while. I got in my head that I have no one, but your mom, she helped me realize what I was doing. In my grief, under the pain, I was pushing everyone who loved me away. My family.”

“We are a family,” I tell her, brushing my lips lightly with hers. “You scared me. I didn’t know how to reach you.”

“I think it had to be her, your mom,” she clarifies. “I’m not sure I would have listened to anyone else. Your mom, she’s incredible, Lachlan. I’m honored that you chose me to be a part of your family.”

“Baby, my heart chose you, and there was no contest. It’s only ever been you.” I kiss her again, and she melts into me. This woman is my home and watching her struggle the last couple of weeks has been unbearable.

She pulls out of the kiss and smiles up at me. “Want to see what I got?”

“Most definitely.” I pick up the bags and hand them to her.

“This.” She holds up a small blue outfit with footballs all over it. “Is this not the cutest?” she asks.

“Very cute. Tiny,” I tell her. She shows me a few more outfits, a few blankets, and some books she bought today while shopping with my mom. “Did you buy out the store?” I joke.

“Hey!” She playfully smacks at my chest, and some of the heavy weight on my chest from the past two weeks lifts a little more. She’s coming back to me. “You’ve been buying, too, mister.”

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