Page 83 of Can We Try?

We push inside, and Maggie’s choked sob has me swallowing hard. “Grandma,” she cries as she moves to the side of the bed. Doris tries to open her eyes. It takes her a few moments, but she finally does it.

“My sweet Maggie,” she says, her voice is hoarse and weak.

“What do you need?” Maggie asks her.

“Sweetheart, I’m just old,” she says, giving her a half smile.

“Hey, Doris,” I say, coming to stand behind Maggie. I place my hands on her shoulders, letting her know that I’m here. “You’re looking beautiful as ever,” I tell her.

“Oh phooey.” She coughs, and I immediately regret my words when I see her struggling. “Such a charmer.” She looks at Maggie, then back at me. “You taking care of my girl?” she asks. There is something in her eyes as she studies me that has me choking up.

“Always.” I feel as though this is more than just a “yes, I’m taking care of her,” and more of an “I’ll always take care of her.”

“Good. I like knowing she’s in good hands.”

“Grandma, I love you.” Maggie’s voice cracks.

“I love you, too, dear. I’m so proud of you, Maggie. Of the woman you’ve become, of the man you’ve chosen to share your life with. I know you’re going to be an amazing mother.”

“And you’ll be an amazing great-grandmother,” Maggie says.

“Honey, I don’t know that I’ll get to meet him,” Doris says, closing her eyes. “Not from here,” she rasps.

Fuck.

“No, Grandma. No, don’t say that,” Maggie cries.

“My dear girl, I’m old. I’ve lived such a good life. You’ve brought me so much joy. So much love,” Doris says. She opens her eyes and looks between the two of us. “I love you both.”

Leaning over the bed, I place a kiss on her cheek. “Love you too,” I tell her. My lip quivers as I try like hell to fight the tears that are threatening to fall. I need to be strong for Maggie.

“You should let her rest,” the nurse says as she quietly enters the room.

“I’m not leaving her,” Maggie says, wiping at her cheeks.

“Can we stay?” I ask the nurse.

She looks at Maggie, then at her pregnant belly. “You can stay. Just let her rest.”

“We will. I promise,” I tell the nurse.

She checks Doris’s vitals, and then she slips out as quietly as she entered.

“Tell me what you need, Mags,” I whisper, pulling the extra chair over to sit next to her. I’d rather her be in my arms, but I know getting her to let go of Doris’s hand even for a second is out of the question.

“I need her to be okay. She’s it, Lachlan. I have no family left. I can’t lose her. She’s all I have left.” She sobs, and I lean over and hug her as best as I can.

I want to remind her that she’s not alone. That I am her family, that our son, my parents, and our friends are her family, but I know that now is not the right time. Instead, I hold her as she cries, and eventually, exhaustion takes over and she drifts off to sleep.

With my hand that’s not holding her, I text my parents and the group chat, letting the guys know what’s going on. We need them. I know that we can lean on them and that they will be here for whatever we need. I’m out of my depth here. I don’t know what to do to make this better for her.

Eventually, I too drift off to sleep, only to be woken not long after to the sound of beeping. Maggie jolts awake as the room fills with doctors and nurses.

“What’s wrong? What’s happening?” Maggie cries.

I manage to lead her to the corner of the room, so we are out of the way to let the doctors and nurses take care of her. “Let’s step outside, just right outside the door,” I suggest, but she refuses.

“No. No. I can’t leave her. I won’t leave her.”

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