One Last Objection_A Small-Town Romance

by Nancy Stopper

  Why had she let that rule her life for so long? She rubbed her belly. “Yeah, I am. Counting down the days, but before that, I expect to be off bedrest in time for Lucas and Sarah’s wedding, and I can’t wait.”

  Sarah’s head snapped up and she smiled. “That’s great. Michael said you wouldn’t be able to come.”

  What was Michael up to? Her thirty-seven week appointment was scheduled for next Tuesday and the doctor had said, after that point, whenever she went into labor was fine. Her blood pressure was under control, and as long as she didn’t stay on her feet too long, the swelling was manageable. There was no way she was staying home while Michael’s entire family celebrated Lucas and Sarah’s marriage. “Oh, I’ll be there. I promise you.”

  Rachel extended her glass to toast. “Boy, what I wouldn’t give to be a fly on the wall during that conversation. Two of the most stubborn people I’ve ever met, in the best possible way, of course.” A blush crept up Rachel’s cheeks.

  She was right, though. Maggie was stubborn. And she’d put up with a lot during her bedrest, but the minute her doctor gave her the all clear, she was going to get out of this house and enjoy a few days of freedom before the baby came along.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  “ARE YOU IN, Mikey?” Joey nudged Michael’s shoulder. Michael had tried but he couldn’t focus on the game, his mind a few miles down the road.

  He mucked his cards. “I’m out. Too rich for my blood.”

  Three of Lucas’s friends from the station hollered at the video game they played on Michael’s television. A half-dozen more chugged beers and laughed in the kitchen. Lucas sat on the couch like he was holding court, an unlit cigar in one hand and a glass of whiskey in the other. His brother looked… happy. There was just no other way to describe the huge smile on his face and the comfortable way he crossed his ankle over his knee while he waved his hand in the air, recounting a recent call-out with Sawyer. Smiles filled the room, but Michael couldn’t find one for himself.

  Instead his thoughts strayed to Maggie. Their entire relationship was up in the air. He’d hoped to at least be engaged before the baby was born. But it wouldn’t be long before their daughter arrived, and they were no closer to getting married than the day he’d proposed. There were times that he caught a glimpse of something he thought was love, but as soon as he’d study her, she’d school her features into her counselor face, and that would be the end of it.

  She was so freaking stubborn. He loved her, and he told her every day after that first ill-timed declaration. He poured it into every kiss, every touch, but she still resisted. How many more objections would he have to overcome before she agreed?

  How had she reacted to the girls’ impromptu baby shower? He’d tried to dissuade Rachel and Brittany from springing the party on Maggie, but there was no stopping the two of them when they built a head of steam. With that many people invading Maggie’s space, he’d be surprised if she didn’t lock herself in the bathroom. But she deserved to feel special.

  He should have stayed with Maggie tonight. He loved his family and his future sisters-in-law, but let’s face it, they could be overwhelming. If he were at the shower, he could buffer the impact of the Bennett ladies.

  “What’s going on with you?” Lucas handed Michael a beer and plopped into the chair beside him.

  “Nothin’. Just got a lot on my mind.”

  “Maggie?”

  He nodded and drank a huge gulp of beer. “All these months and I’m no closer to having my ring on her finger.”

  “Yep, women are like that.”

  “But not Sarah, right? You two get along so well.” Sarah and Lucas were so perfectly suited that Michael couldn’t imagine them butting heads nearly as much as he and Maggie did. Sure, they’d been getting along recently but their relationship would always be explosive.

  “It wasn’t always that way, little brother. When she moved to town, she was still mourning her husband. For a long time, no matter what I did, she compared me to Alex. It’s tough to live up to a ghost.”

  “So how’d you convince her to marry you?”

  “It wasn’t one thing, man. We had a big blow up and I accused her of not being over Alex. This hurt look came over her face and I knew I’d gone too far. I thought right then we were through.”

  “What’d you do?”

  “I got drunk.” He laughed and gestured to Joey. “And that big lug smacked me upside the head and showed me how I’d screwed up. After I sobered up and pulled my head out of my ass, we were able to talk and work through everything. We’re both stubborn, but we’re careful to talk about things before we overreact and say something one of us will regret later.”

  Now that Michael thought about it, since he’d stopped bugging Maggie about getting married and had just enjoyed the time they spent together, their relationship had grown and deepened. More than he’d ever expected when they’d started their friends-with-benefits agreement all those months ago. Was a healthy, trusting relationship between the two of them as they parented their new baby enough?

  Before long, Lucas’s friends said their goodbyes and it was just Sawyer and the Bennett brothers. Michael carried the last of the empty bottles to the kitchen, and the four of them worked together to reset the house.

  Michael’s mind raced with how he’d approach Maggie once he got home. Home. After all of this time, her condo had become his home. Correction, not her condo. Maggie herself. When he wasn’t looking, he’d found the happiness that his brothers and sister had.

  Joey clapped him on the shoulder. “Come on, man, let’s go crash the shower.”

  He checked his watch. The party had likely finished hours ago. “I don’t know. It’s pretty late. The girls have probably already left.”

  Joey shook his head. “No way. Brittany carried a stack of movies over with her. The girls weren’t leaving until you got back.”

  They piled into cars for the short drive to the condo. Michael wasn’t sure it was smart for them to burst into Maggie’s place, but when the Bennett men had an idea, you went along for the ride or you got left behind.

  LAUGHTER ECHOED THROUGH the door into the hallway when Michael reached the condo. He opened the door to discover exactly what Joey had predicted—Rachel, Brittany, and Sarah circled around Maggie. Pink and blue streamers hung from the walls, and a brightly colored crown rested on Maggie’s head. Two empty bottles of wine explained the volume of laughter from the other women in the room, but one look at Maggie’s face told him that she was happy, too. It had been months since her smile had been that easy.

  His mother crossed the room and kissed him on the cheek. “She’s a lovely woman, Michael. Thank you for this chance to get to know her better.”

  “Thanks, Ma. Are you sure you guys didn’t wear her out too much?”

  “She didn’t move a muscle. She’s been on the couch this whole time, opening presents and laughing with the girls. My heart… it’s just so full with all of the wonderful women you boys have added to our family.”

  Michael hugged Ma and then crossed the room. When Maggie’s eyes found his, they widened and the smile on her face grew. “I can’t believe you brought everyone over here.”

  “Is that okay?” He slid onto the couch and pulled her to him, snuggling her under his arm. Her hand skimmed his chest before landing on his hip as she hugged him as best she could with her protruding belly.

  “So, Lucas, how was the bachelor party?” Maggie asked his brother, who had his arms slung over Sarah’s shoulders on the other end of the couch.

  Lucas pressed a kiss to Sarah’s lips and then turned his attention to Maggie. “It was good. Guys from the station came over. Beer and poker and video games—what else could I ask for? Except maybe to marry this beautiful woman.”

  Michael squeezed Maggie a bit tighter. If only they were in the place Lucas was, ready to walk down the aisle. Michael studied her while she interacted with his family. She smiled at Rachel, who sat slung across Sawyer’s lap i
n the armchair. Rachel and Maggie’s relationship had easily transitioned from counselor and patient to a new friendship.

  He leaned his head in so his mouth was right over her ear. “How was your party?”

  “Did you do all this?”

  He raised his hands. “Oh, no, that was all them. Unless it was fantastic, in which case, yes, it was all me.”

  Maggie chuckled and his heart grew.

  It had been so hard to watch her depressed and miserable during her bedrest. To see her smiling showed him this party had been a good idea, even if it wasn’t his. “They’ve been bugging me to throw you a shower for a while, but I thought it was best to wait until… you know, we got closer.”

  “We’re really close now. No matter what happens, she’s going to be okay. And hopefully, next week, Dr. Alexander will clear me and I can go to Lucas and Sarah’s wedding.”

  “Are you sure that’s such a good idea? Even when you’re cleared, shouldn’t you take it easy?” After all this time, just when he thought they were on the same page, she goes and decides this.

  “After all of these months stuck doing nothing, I am not missing their wedding.”

  But what about their baby? Didn’t she care about that? What if something happened to their daughter… or to Maggie. “I’m just worried something’s going to happen to the baby.”

  “Do you honestly think I would do anything that would jeopardize this baby, after everything we’ve done to get to this point?”

  “Well, no, I guess not.” But neither of them knew what would happen if she overdid it. The doctor said every day longer was a day healthier for their daughter. But right now, Michael was having a hard time believing that Maggie understood that.

  “You guess not?”

  The other voices in the room grew quiet. Crap, they’d been too loud. This was not the right time to discuss this with Maggie. After everyone else left, he’d convince her why she shouldn’t attend the wedding. He’d stay home, too, if it meant keeping her safe. He’d already discussed it with Lucas. Maggie’s health and that of his baby came first.

  Michael whispered in her ear. “I’m sorry I brought this up now. We’ll talk about it later.”

  “You’re damn right we’ll talk about it later,” she hissed.

  After Maggie’s outburst, the mood was completely shot. Before long, the girls scooped up the mess on the table and tucked all the gifts away.

  “Thanks for everything, Ma, Rachel. Sounds like Maggie had a great time.”

  Rachel snaked her arms around Michael’s waist and he kissed the top of her head. “We had fun… and Michael?”

  “Yeah?”

  “Take it easy on her. It’s been hard on her, being stuck in the house.” She winked at him, the little stinker. “I can’t imagine how much harder it was, being saddled with you, too.”

  “Thanks, brat. I appreciate that.”

  She stuck her tongue out at him. “I aim to please.”

  Leave it to his sister to defend Maggie. But maybe Rachel was right. He’d probably overreacted… again. But he couldn’t stop the fear that seized his nerves when he thought of losing the baby… or Maggie.

  Michael shut the door behind the last of them and turned to see Maggie hefting herself off the couch. “Wait, I’ll help you.”

  She shot daggers at him. “I can do it.”

  Great, they were back to this. Maggie insisting on doing everything herself. A few words and he’d ruined all the progress he’d made in their relationship. “I know you can, but I want to help.”

  “Don’t you think you’ve helped enough?”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” All he wanted to do was ensure that Maggie and their daughter were safe. Was that so wrong?

  “Do you really think I shouldn’t go to Lucas and Sarah’s wedding?

  “I didn’t say that. I just asked if it was a good idea.”

  “Come on, Michael. I know you better than that. You can’t work your lawyer tricks on me. That was a statement disguised as a question. What, did you want me to come to the conclusion that it is best for me to stay home because you think it is?”

  Well, kinda. Was it so wrong to care about her and the baby?

  Maggie threw up her hands. “I knew it. Really, Michael, I’ve done everything the doctor has said to do. I’ve put up with you in my space for months. When you know I like my alone time—I haven’t had any. You’re always there, hovering over me, doing things for me.”

  “I like doing things for you. I thought we resolved this a long time ago.”

  “Maybe for you, I’ve been the one stuck here all this time doing nothing.”

  Okay, he could handle this. He just happened to be the nearest target of her frustration. He crossed the room and wrapped his arms around her. Her huge belly pressed into him, and his fingers barely linked behind her. “I know you’re aggravated. It’s not much longer now and we’ll meet our baby.”

  She huffed out a breath. “I know. I just can’t stand it anymore. But when the doctor says I’m cleared next week, and she will say that, I’m going to Lucas’s wedding. Got it?”

  Michael tucked her head against his chest. Now was not the time to discuss it. He’d bring it up with Dr. Alexander at their appointment next week. Surely she’ll agree with him that Maggie has no business going to a wedding.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  “WELL, MAGGIE, EVERYTHING looks great.”

  Thank God. The past few months had been brutal, always worrying over every twinge and ache. After hearing those words from the doctor, Maggie let out a huge sigh of relief.

  Dr. Alexander pulled Maggie to a sitting position and adjusted the drape over her lap. “You made it to thirty-seven weeks. I see about one centimeter dilation and a little thinning of your membranes.”

  “Does that mean she’s going into labor?” Michael’s hand squeezed Maggie’s even tighter.

  In the past few days, since their argument after her baby shower, they’d reached a tentative truce. He hadn’t brought up Lucas’s wedding again, and she hadn’t agreed to stay home. Sounded like a truce to her. They’d taken all the gifts from her shower and the nursery items Michael had been bringing home every day and filled the baby’s room. Just this morning, she’d sat in the cushioned glider rocker in her daughter’s nursery, the swooshing chair comforting her. She ran her fingers over the pink and white gingham bedding set that the girls had chipped in and bought her. Perfect for her little princess.

  When had she gone back to thinking of the baby as hers and not theirs? Probably about the moment Michael had tried to tell her what to do. How had he not realized that she responded to strong-arm tactics by doing the opposite. Sure, it was stubborn and a bit childish, but she’d earned that right. Just because she’d been stuck in her condo on bedrest didn’t mean he had a right to take over her life.

  He hadn’t brought up his proposal again, either, but she’d seen the wistful look in his eyes when his siblings had barged in after the shower. Michael wanted them to be one big happy family.

  What if something went wrong… what if they argued like they had the other night, and he bolted? Sure, he didn’t go home the other night, but that was more because of the baby than her. If they didn’t work out, would he leave and try to take the baby with him?

  What in the hell was going on with her? She knew Michael. No matter what, he was an honorable, traditional man. He’d never do that to her. But she couldn’t stop the anxiety that crept into her mind. She’d had nothing better to do than worry with all the hours she’d spent on the couch or in the bed. She’d written a few articles for medical journals early on, but as her pregnancy progressed, even those lost their luster.

  She’d almost forgotten the question he’d asked until she heard the doctor’s voice. “No, Michael, she’s not going into labor… yet. A woman’s body prepares itself for labor for several weeks leading up to the actual event. But now that Maggie’s at thirty-seven weeks and her blood pressure has stabilized, it co
uld be anytime. Maggie can start moving around a bit more and let nature take its course.”

  “A bit more, but you don’t think she should do anything especially strenuous, right?”

  Maggie gritted her teeth. “Michael.”

  “It’s just that Lucas and Sarah are getting married this weekend. Maggie wants to go and I think it’ll be too much for her.”

  The doctor scribbled a few notes on the chart. “I think as long as she takes it easy and listens to her body and rests when she needs to, she’ll be fine.”

  Maggie did a little mental fist pump, but her pleasure was short-lived when her gaze fell on Michael. His jaw was clenched and frustration filled his eyes. “Don’t you think it’ll be better if she rests until she goes into labor?”

  “Actually, it’ll be healthy for her to move around. She’ll need her strength for labor. I know it doesn’t make sense, but being on bedrest and not getting regular exercise actually makes you more tired. Short walks would be especially good for her.” Dr. Alexander directed her attention back to Maggie. “However, if you get tired or the swelling worsens, you rest. How does that sound, Maggie?”

  Wonderful. Fantastic. Like a dream come true. Who knew that something as simple as taking a walk in the fresh air would sound so heavenly? “Sounds great to me.”

  Michael mumbled under his breath. She didn’t need to hear him to know what he thought about the idea.

  “If I don’t get a call earlier, Maggie, I’ll see you next week. Michael, take her home, go for a walk and pamper her a little. She’ll be fine. I hope you guys have a wonderful time at Lucas’s wedding.”

  The doctor left the room and Michael still hadn’t said anything. He offered his hand for Maggie to climb off the table, his jaw set and his lips pursed in a straight line.