One Last Objection_A Small-Town Romance

by Nancy Stopper

  “Exactly like you’d expect.”

  “Lucas was calm and thoughtful and Joey got upset.”

  “Exactly.” Maggie’s insight was once again spot on. No wonder she made such a good counselor. And friend. And lover. And more, if she’d let him.

  “How did Rachel handle it?”

  He ran his hand through his hair. Now that the rush of telling his brothers was behind him, the enormity of everything his family was faced with weighed him down. “She did great. Sawyer was there with her, but she would have been strong enough to handle the conversation on her own. Good job, Doc.”

  “What? I didn’t do anything.”

  Did she not understand the impact she had in people’s lives? Shoot, Lucas might not be engaged to be married now if it weren’t for Maggie. Certainly Rachel and Sawyer wouldn’t have found their way to each other. If only she could work her magic on their relationship—if only she could see that they could have what his siblings did. “You gave us the old Rachel back. How she was before she started dating Shane. Now that we know what triggered her issues, everything makes sense. She doubted herself for so long and Shane took advantage of that.”

  Maggie chuckled and slid her hand over his belly.

  His groin tightened. It never took much, a touch, a glance from Maggie, and he was ready to go. But if he wanted a chance for a future with her, their relationship couldn’t be all about sex. She’d been here for him emotionally before he’d even realized it, and now it was his turn to prove that he was the man for her.

  Christmas was right around the corner. He had to calm her fears before his well-meaning family herded them up the aisle the minute they heard about the baby.

  Chapter Fourteen

  MAGGIE TUGGED THE cardigan down. It just wasn’t long enough to cover her belly. What else could she wear? No way was she walking into Michael’s parents’ house wearing a neon sign that screamed pregnant, at least not until Michael had told his family. This was the first time the Bennetts would all be together since Rachel had dropped her bombshell the week before. Dinner could go sideways, and announcing an unexpected pregnancy might not help matters

  “Meow.” Rascal wound around her legs.

  Maggie picked him up and snuggled him to her breast. “What is it, sweetie? Are you hungwy?” Why did otherwise mature adults turn into babbling idiots around pets? “Do you know why, sweetie?”

  Maggie fed Rascal and then trekked back to her bedroom. Stalling didn’t get her any closer to being ready to go to Christmas dinner, and now she had cat fur all over her sweater. She was about to pull it off when a knock at the door had her buttoning the sweater back up.

  What time was it anyway? She glanced at her phone. Crap. It was late, and she was nowhere near ready. She hustled to the door and flung it open, spinning around and heading back to the bedroom before Michael could speak. “Come on in, I just need a few more minutes.”

  Michael grabbed her arm. “Wait a minute. Calm down.”

  She huffed so hard her bangs flopped. Didn’t he understand how stressed she was with the idea of meeting his parents? She thought she had more time to panic before he got here. “What is it? I need to finish getting ready.”

  His strong arms enveloped her and he settled her head onto his chest. The heat from his body soaked into her, calming her nerves. He always took everything in stride. Why couldn’t she be the same? Just a couple of minutes in his arms and her heart rate slowed and her stress melted away.

  She pushed away from him. He studied her face with a weird expression and then ran his finger under her eye.

  She didn’t even know she’d been crying.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing. Everything. I’ve never had to meet anyone’s parents. Maybe Christmas isn’t the best time to tell everyone about the baby. How about we wait a week until things calm down?”

  He steered her to the couch and sat beside her. “What’s really going on, Maggie?”

  She threw her arms into the air and sighed. “I don’t know. Nothing looks right on me anymore, I don’t want your parents to hate me because I show up pregnant, and I’m worried about being in the middle of your family issues if Joey decides to raise a stink.” She flopped back onto the couch. No wonder she was stressed. She mentally reviewed her schedule to see if she could fit in a trip to see Barry next week. He’d help her work through things.

  “First things first. I think you look great.” He kissed her briefly, his warm lips brushing across hers. But he backed away before she could deepen the kiss. “Second, my parents are going to be over the moon that you’re having a baby, no matter what. And lastly, Lucas will not let Joey act up to our parents. At least not while you’re there.”

  “I guess. I’m still not sure—”

  “You’re going, and that’s final. Now march your little heiney into that bedroom and finish getting ready. We’re leaving in five minutes.”

  Maggie was halfway down the hall before she stopped. Michael had just told her what to do—and she’d done it. She shook her head and finished the trek into the bedroom where she changed into a different sweater, swiped a little bit of blush and mascara on her face, and applied some light pink lip gloss. That would have to do.

  She drew in a deep breath and headed back down the hall.

  “You look beautiful.” Michael’s words soothed her. He was full of shit, but she’d take the compliment.

  A few minutes later she was tucked into Michael’s car, the heater blowing full blast against the frigid cold that had settled over Oak Grove two days ago. The air smelled like snow, and she wouldn’t be surprised if they had a few inches on the ground by morning.

  Michael pulled his SUV to the curb behind two trucks and a car.

  Nothing like having nine sets of eyes waiting for them to walk in the door. “I guess everyone’s here already, huh?”

  Michael squeezed her hand. “It’s going to be fine. You already know Rachel, Sawyer, and Lucas. And Rachel was thrilled to find out we were dating.”

  “We’re hardly dating.”

  He covered his heart with his hand in mock outrage. “What? Not dating?” He leaned closer. “It’s not like I can tell my parents that we were just screwing around, now can I?”

  That would be so much worse. “You better not!”

  His phone dinged. He laughed and then turned the screen her way. “It’s from Rachel.”

  U guys gonna sit out there all night or u gonna come inside?

  “I guess it’s now or never.” If Maggie had brought her own car, she could escape and not have to deal with telling Michael’s entire family. But they were here now and they couldn’t put this off any longer.

  She reached for the door handle.

  “Wait for me.”

  Michael hustled around the car. She’d never been big on the whole chivalrous thing, but when she slid her hand into his, his soothing touch calmed her frayed nerves. He linked their fingers together and tucked her into his side.

  Michael steered her down the driveway toward the back yard. “Why aren’t we going in the front door?”

  “No one goes through the front door. I mean, guests, maybe, but family uses the back.”

  “I’m not family.”

  He stopped so fast that her arm extended as she took a few more steps.

  “What?”

  His arms snaked around her, and he lowered his head until he was staring in her eyes. “You’re having our baby, so that makes you family. I know this is hard for you… you haven’t really had much family to speak of, but my family is now your family. And they’re going to love you. I promise.”

  He may want to believe that, but she’d never really feel like part of his family… or any family. It had just been her and Rascal for a long time. More recently, Michael, since she hadn’t scared him away yet. But would she call him family? She wasn’t sure about that.

  He shivered and then grabbed her hand. “I’m freezing. Let’s go inside.”

  Micha
el led her up the three stairs and through the back door into the Bennett family home. She looked around at a kitchen right out of Martha Stewart. Recessed lighting in the ceiling cast a warm glow over the room. The scent of roasted chicken, garlic, and chocolate filled her senses. Deep red flowers sat in the middle of the long buffet-style table… every inch of which was covered with food. She stretched up to Michael’s ear. “I should have brought something. Why didn’t I think of that?”

  “My mother wouldn’t hear of it. She loves cooking for others.”

  Loud voices and laughter rang out from another room. “Come on, they’re all in the family room.”

  She squared her shoulders. This was ridiculous. She was tougher than this. She was Maggie James, and she’d worked her way through college and grad school. She was a strong, independent woman. They had no reason not to like her. These were Michael’s parents. And his siblings.

  But that didn’t stop her from pressing up against Michael as they stepped into the room.

  “Michael.” An older woman with graying, curly hair leapt from a chair and rushed across the room. Even his mother was straight out of a magazine, with a deep red apron wrapped around her. A cute Santa Claus peeked out from behind a pocket, the words Merry Christmas blazing across the front. Maggie hadn’t even known women still wore aprons—she certainly didn’t own one of her own.

  “Hey, Ma.” Michael kissed the woman on the cheek and then tugged Maggie closer to his side. Good thing, too. That way they wouldn’t see her knees shaking. “I want to introduce you to Maggie James. Maggie, this is my mother Evelyn.”

  Evelyn took both of Maggie’s hands. “Dear, it’s so wonderful to meet you.”

  The warmth that passed from Evelyn shocked Maggie. Warmth wasn’t quite the right word. Acceptance, maybe. Michael’s mother was nothing like Maggie’s, who always dressed like she was greeting the queen and shunned any form of physical contact. Instead, Michael’s mother patted Maggie’s hand and smiled up at her with love in her eyes. Maggie couldn’t help but respond to that kind of friendliness. “It’s nice to meet you, Mrs. Bennett.”

  “Please, call me Evelyn.” She motioned to the man beside her. Maggie would recognize Michael’s father anywhere. He and Michael shared their broad shoulders and sharp chin. Where Michael’s hair was thick and dark, his father’s hair was graying at the temples and the laugh lines around his eyes were more pronounced. It was like looking thirty years into the future and seeing how Michael would look. “And this is Michael’s father, Matthew.”

  Maggie extended her hand, but instead of taking it, Matthew pulled her into a hug. His large arms enveloped her and she sank into his comfort. She was immediately thrown back to her childhood, the days she wished for this kind of Daddy, one who hugged her when she skinned her knee or her boyfriend broke up with her.

  “I’m sorry, honey. It’s just that we hug in this family. Shaking hands just seems, I don’t know, impersonal.”

  Evelyn laid her hand on Maggie’s arm. “We’re so happy Michael brought you with him today. If you had anything to do with him moving home for good, you have a fan for life. Now, come on, let’s meet the rest of the family.”

  Michael pulled Maggie’s coat off her shoulders and leaned close. “Relax. I told you they’d love you.”

  Maggie shoved her hair behind her ear and tugged her sweater lower. She’d barely taken a step before Rachel rushed up to her. “Dr. James, I’m so glad you came.”

  “Please, we’re out of the office. Call me Maggie.”

  Rachel hooked her arm in Maggie’s elbow and led her to the couch. “You know Sawyer, of course. And Lucas.”

  Both men stood and nodded. Lucas pulled a blonde to her feet. “I don’t believe you’ve met my fiancée, Sarah.”

  Maggie smiled at Lucas and then turned to Sarah. “It’s so nice to meet you. I’ve heard a lot about you.”

  Just then, a small, curly-haired girl ran up and hugged her mother’s legs. “This is my daughter, Lily. Can you say hello to Dr. James?”

  “Nice to meet you.” Lily extended her hand like a prim and proper girl. But she didn’t have the shadows behind her eyes that Maggie had at that age. Lily’s smile lit up the room, and while she may be trying to act grown up, she bounced on her toes and squirmed as if standing still was a challenge.

  Maggie took the small, delicate hand. “Nice to meet you, too, Lily. You have wonderful manners.”

  “Thank you.” Lily stared at Maggie for another moment before she ran off.

  “She’s lovely. You must be very proud.”

  “We are,” Lucas said as he snaked his arm around Sarah’s waist.

  Rachel directed her attention across the room to the one brooding member of the family. Joey relaxed in an arm chair with his ankle propped on his knee and his lips pursed in a straight line. A glass of swirling, amber liquid rested in his hand. Rachel whispered in Maggie’s ear. “Don’t let him fool you. Joey’s okay. He’s just got a lot on his mind.”

  Surely still reeling over Rachel’s secret. Maggie extended the first olive branch. “It’s nice to meet you, Joey. I’m Maggie James.”

  He stood. “You too. Thank you for helping Rachel this summer.” Joey’s face relaxed a little and he clasped hands with the woman beside him. “This is my fiancée, Brittany.”

  Brittany beamed. “So you’re Michael’s girlfriend.”

  Joey and Rachel chuckled. Maggie didn’t know what they found all that funny. “I guess, yeah.”

  “I’m so glad to meet you. I moved here just a few months ago. It’s like a whirlwind being with this family.”

  “You can say that again.” Maggie had gotten so worked up about this dinner that in her mind, the women would be looking down their noses at her and the men’s expressions would be one of disapproval. Instead, everyone was friendly and welcoming. She should have expected nothing less, with the members of this family that she’d already met.

  Michael steered Maggie to a chair. The enormity of the Bennett family Christmas was just too much. Maggie had never had a Christmas like this with a tree tucked in the corner and filled with homemade ornaments and garland. To Maggie, the holiday meant pristine trees decorated by a professional with expensive glass balls and ribbons she wasn’t allowed to touch.

  The adults returned to their conversations as Lily sat on the floor playing with a doll with human-looking hair that looked just like the little imp. She might not remember her biological father who died in a fire, but she had a lot of love from this family.

  A hand landed on Maggie’s shoulder. Evelyn stood over her with a wrapped box in her hand. “I’m sorry, dear, I didn’t mean to startle you. But we have a little something for you.”

  Maggie’s heart sank. Was she supposed to bring a gift to exchange? She shot a glare at Michael who just shrugged his shoulders and continued his conversation with Joey. “I’m so sorry, Evelyn, I didn’t bring anything.”

  “We didn’t expect you to. This is just something Matthew and I wanted to do for the new members of our family.”

  Wait a minute. They didn’t know she was having Michael’s baby yet, did they? “Oh, I’m not… we’re not…”

  Evelyn’s hand on Maggie’s arm soothed her racing heart. “At least for today, you’re a part of our family and we’d like you to have this.”

  Tears sprang to Maggie’s eyes, and she reluctantly slid the package onto her lap and looked around as the other new members of the family held the same. For just a few moments, she felt like she belonged, and, surprisingly, that didn’t scare her.

  She smiled at Michael as he crossed the room and then squeaked when he lifted her from the chair and sat, dragging her onto his lap. “You looked like you needed a hug.”

  His warmth spread through her and surrounded her. She closed her eyes and imagined for a moment that this was truly her family and pictured her son or daughter playing on the floor with other cousins, and maybe a sibling or two. Where in the hell had that thought come from? There would be
no siblings. One was enough.

  Michael motioned to the box. “Are you going to open it?”

  “Oh, yeah.” She tugged gently at the tape, not wanting to rip the beautiful wrapping. After she carefully removed the paper, she lifted the lid on the box to discover a beautiful deep-green silk scarf. “Oh, Michael, it’s lovely. Did you help your mother pick this out?”

  He raised his hands. “I didn’t have anything to do with this. This was all Ma.”

  “But how did she—” Maggie’s gaze landed on Rachel, who giggled. Maggie turned back to Michael. “I think Rachel had a hand in this.” Maggie continued looking around the room as Sarah and Brittany opened similar packages while Sawyer admired an inlaid pocket knife.

  Michael snuggled her closer. “Probably. I’m just happy to see that Joey’s mood has thawed a bit. I was worried when we walked in.”

  “Me, too. I was afraid we were going to have to hold one big counseling session right here in the living room.” Maggie would, if they asked, because this family deserved to be happy. Sure, she counseled couples and families, but always seeing the negative underbelly of dynamics reinforced her notion that this future wasn’t for her.

  Being here today, with the Bennetts, had her rethinking that position.

  Across the room, Evelyn clapped her hands. “Now that everyone’s been introduced, Matthew wanted to say a few words before we eat.”

  Matthew wrapped his arm around Evelyn’s waist, and she leaned into him. Maggie couldn’t blame any of the offspring for being shocked about Rachel’s paternity after seeing Matthew and Evelyn together. Regardless, this family of brothers and sisters, boyfriends and fiancées, loved each other, and it showed in every look and every touch.

  “I want to say how happy your mother and I are to have all of our family here together. A year ago, Lucas had just met Sarah, and now she and Lily are about to become a part of our family. Now we’ve welcomed Brittany and Sawyer, and Rachel has found her way back to us. And best of all, Michael has moved home and brought Maggie along with him. Despite all of the challenges we’ve had as a family, there is a lot of love in this room, and we can’t be more pleased with the men and women our kids have chosen to bring into their lives.”