She had sounded like she was on the brink of tears but he hadn’t pushed her for more answers. Maybe, like him, she was a bit overworked. He plumped up the pillow under his head and fell into a deep slumber until the sound of a ringing phone invaded his dreams. He tried to stay asleep but in the end had to give in. He glanced at the clock beside his bed. Two ten a.m. Maybe there was an emergency at the clinic, an accident perhaps.
“Hello.”
“Is this Jon Gunderson… Julie’s son?”
It was a woman with an American accent but he didn’t recognise the voice.
“Yes.”
“I’m Katie Forbes. You don’t know me but I’m Maggie Rogers’ daughter.”
He sat bolt upright. Maggie, she’d been in an accident, something had happened to her.
“Is she okay?”
“She’s fine. Jeez, I just remembered there’s a time difference, no wonder you sound drowsy. I’m so sorry.”
“It’s fine, really it is. What about your mother? This call’s about her, right?”
“Yes, it is. She didn’t want you to know about this until you got here but my sisters and I had a talk and we thought you should know… Mom’s pregnant.”
He was dreaming. He ran his hand over his face a few times, hoping he’d wake up. Maybe he should slap himself too.
“Did you say she’s having a baby?”
“Yes, she is.”
His baby… “My baby.”
“Yes, Jon, your baby.”
It had to be a dream because he’d used condoms each and every time. “Are you sure?”
“Positive. She had her ultrasound today and that’s why I’m calling. She’s had quite the shock and she’s going to need you. I know you’re planning on visiting but I was wondering if you could get here any sooner to be with her.”
“Sure, sure. I’ll get my flight changed first thing in the morning. How’s she feeling?”
“She’s tired most of the time but other than that she looks fantastic. Glowing, in fact.”
“Okay, good, I’ll get there as soon as I can.”
“Let me know what time your flight will arrive in Portland and I’ll pick you up and drive you to Mom’s house.”
* * * *
Jon had fallen asleep as soon as he’d put the phone down. When he woke the next morning, he realised it hadn’t been a dream, Maggie was having his baby. He sat on the side of the bed. He hadn’t planned on parenthood ever and he was sure poor Maggie wasn’t thrilled about having another baby either.
Shit, how had this happened? He’d thought the future would just include him and Maggie. Time to spend with each other. Selfish, yes, but that’s the way he wanted it. That’s why he’d been so attracted to Maggie. She was done with having kids. Hers were grown up and she didn’t want any more. All she’d want was him and all he’d want was her. They’d grow old together…just the two of them.
He threw his pillow across the other side of the room, accidentally knocking a lamp onto the floor.
Fuck.
He hated kids, so what sort of father would that make him? He was a doctor, knew all the medical stuff about babies, but other than that… Shit, what were they going to do? He had to change his flight because obviously Maggie needed him. What had the ultrasound revealed that had Katie and her sisters so shaken?
The baby…Maggie’s age…something had to be wrong with it.
He picked up the phone and dialled the airline, hoping he could get a flight soon, and his mom… He’d have to let her know he was heading to the US earlier than expected.
* * * *
The rain was pouring down in sheets when he arrived at his mom’s house. She and Miguel were sitting on the screened-in porch with their feet up on the two wicker ottomans while reading newspapers.
“No work today?” she asked.
“I’ve started my vacation earlier than I’d planned. In fact, tomorrow I’m leaving for America and I wondered if you or Miguel could drive me to the airport around nine a.m?
“I can do it.” Miguel glanced over the top of his paper.
“Great,” Jon said.
“I suppose you still plan to see Maggie?” Mom asked.
“Of course. Anything you’d like to say to her? Maybe that you’re sorry. Perhaps send her a gift.”
“Jon, you know how I feel about all this.” His mother threw the newspaper to one side and took off her reading glasses.
When would his mother get over her stubbornness and accept that he and Maggie had something special going on here? And now the…
That was it.
He knew this might just win his mom over. This might be the one good thing to come out of their unwanted pregnancy.
“I think you should at least send Maggie a thank-you card.”
“Why would I want to do that?” She put her glasses back on, picked up the newspaper and started reading it again, not bothering to look at him.
“Because next year she’ll be making your number one wish come true.”
She stared at him. He was sure she knew what he was talking about.
Miguel nudged her. “Julie, I think your son is trying to tell you that you’re going to have a grandchild.”
His mother’s lower jaw dropped and the newspaper she was holding slipped to the floor.
Jon smiled. If that didn’t make her happy, nothing ever would.
* * * *
Jon tried to get some shut-eye on the flight from London to New York but it was almost impossible. He was surrounded by people who insisted on getting up and moving around every ten minutes or so. Plus, he seemed to be in the section of the plane with one screaming baby or child after another. He turned to face the window, putting the pillow under his ear and covering his other one with his hand but that still didn’t ease the shrillness of the baby’s wail.
He turned back to see its father walking up and down the aisle with it over his shoulder. Would he be doing that one day?
“Maybe he needs his diaper changed?” Jon heard the mother calling out when the baby screamed louder.
Diapers… Changing those was in his future too.
Another baby joined in the chorus. Jon sank down in his seat. Maybe he’d sue the condom manufacturer.
* * * *
Jon’s flight to Portland arrived twenty minutes ahead of schedule. A young woman who slightly resembled Maggie but was even taller stood near the luggage carousel. As he got closer to her, he realised she had Maggie’s eyes and mouth but in his opinion wasn’t quite as pretty as her mother.
“Katie?” he asked.
She nodded. “You must be Jon.”
He wasn’t sure if he should hug her or kiss her on the cheek, so instead settled for just shaking her hand. “How’s Maggie?”
“She’s feeling good. I told her I’d be stopping by her house later tonight but she’s no idea you’ll be with me.” Grinning, Katie pulled on her gloves.
After retrieving his luggage, they walked out of the terminal and into the parking lot.
“So she’s still doesn’t know you told me about her being pregnant?” Jon realised just how cold this place was when the wind nipped at his ears.
Katie shook her head. “She might kill me but I think it was for the best.”
She opened the trunk of her car and Jon placed his luggage inside along with the surprise he had for Maggie.
Katie opened the passenger door for him and he slid inside, glad to be out of the chill. Maine winter weather was certainly a change from Mallorca and his first order of business would be to buy a warm jacket, some sweaters, a scarf, and definitely some gloves.
“Do you and your sisters hate me?” he asked. He couldn’t blame them if they did and he had to know what their feelings were about this mess. Not that it was any of their business but as they were Maggie’s daughters he preferred that they didn’t consider him Public Enemy Number One.
Katie started the ignition and headed out of the lot. She was taking her time answering, which wa
sn’t a good sign. “Why would we do that? Accidents happen and, as long as you don’t run and leave her and make us hunt you down with guns, I think we’ll all get on fine,” she finally said.
“I wouldn’t be here if I intended to do that.”
Katie hit the brakes when a car pulled out in front of her. He remembered he wasn’t wearing his seatbelt so he turned to pull it out of the strap behind him…and saw a baby carrier in the back of the car. Maggie would need one of those for her car, baby furniture and clothes too. Holy shit, both their lives were about to change drastically.
* * * *
Maggie heard a car heading up the driveway and guessed it was Katie. She’d mentioned dropping off an early Christmas gift. Maggie opened her front door and looked out.
Was that Jon standing by the car with Katie?
It couldn’t be, but…he sure looked like Jon.
This had to be a dream. He wasn’t due to arrive for another ten days so… What was he doing with Katie?
He looked over at Maggie and waved.
He was real.
Jon. Oh, my God. How embarrassing.
She was wearing old sweatpants. Not a drop of makeup brightened her face, and her hair… She’d napped after getting home from work, and bed head was not her best look. Despite travelling for hours on end, Jon looked more gorgeous than he had in Mallorca. But even from this distance, the poor guy was shivering. He clapped his hands together and then ran them up his arms several times. Yes, this really was her guy.
“Here’s your early Christmas present,” Katie shouted.
Jon walked towards her. “Hello, Maggie.” Steam came from his mouth and nose. His cheeks were red. In only a light jacket and jeans, he had to be freezing.
“Jon, what are you doing here?”
“No kiss for me before you ask questions?” He threw his arms around her waist and kissed her, lingering, letting his tongue run over her lower lip.
Damn, she hadn’t cleaned her teeth after she’d eaten supper either. Had there been garlic in the lasagne she’d eaten? Probably.
Katie coughed. “You two mind getting a room or at least doing that inside the house?” She hauled Jon’s luggage to the front door.
Jon pulled away. “Sorry. I got carried away when I saw your mother. Here, let me take those bags for you. And Maggie, this is an early gift for you.”
She smiled when she saw the box from the bakery and knew what was inside.
“I’m going to leave you two lovebirds alone. Jon, great to meet you and I’m sure we’ll see more of you over the holidays.”
“Thanks for the ride here,” Jon said. “Nice meeting you.”
“Mom, enjoy your Christmas gift.” Katie kissed Maggie on the cheek. She headed down the driveway and sounded her horn as she drove away.
Maggie waved and blew a kiss. “I’m sure you’re freezing, so come inside.”
Jon stepped into the hallway. “I am but now I’m with you, you can warm me up.” He pulled her in close again and kissed her on the nose.
She closed the front door. “Come into the living room. I put some logs on the fire about thirty minutes ago thinking Katie would be staying awhile.”
Jon rubbed his hands together and followed her through to the next room. Beautiful, a roaring fire in a brick fireplace. Otherwise, the living room was furnished in neutral colours, with two large couches, photos of what he guessed were all three of her girls and, yes, her granddaughter too.
“I take it my daughter has something to do with you being here earlier than you’d planned.”
“Katie was worried about you,” he said.
Maggie turned to face him, brows raised.
“Maggie, I know about the baby.”
She sat on one of the couches, again tearing up.
Jon rushed to her, cuddling. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean for you to get pregnant.”
Maggie put her hand on top of his. “It’s not your fault. We both have to take responsibility.”
“I take it this didn’t happen during phone sex.” He nuzzled the side of her face.
Maggie laughed.
“You feeling okay?” he whispered in her ear.
“Just very tired, which the doctor said is perfectly normal, especially for a pregnant woman in her forties.”
“Katie said you’d had an ultrasound… That’s why she asked me to come earlier than I’d planned. She said you were upset after it.”
Maggie burst into tears.
“Hey, hey, whatever’s wrong with the baby we can deal with it. We’ll get through this together.” He kissed the top of her head.
“I didn’t think things could get any worse, but they did.”
“So what’s wrong with our baby?”
“I think I should show you.” Maggie stood, walked to the cabinet in the hallway and brought back the ultrasound image and handed it to Jon.
He looked at it and pushed his hand through his hair. Blurry, but…
“Shit, we’re having twins.”
“I’m so sorry,” Maggie sobbed. She collapsed beside him.
Jon immediately wrapped his arm around her.
She set her head on his shoulder. “Please tell me what you’re thinking.”
“I’m not sure right now. I suppose I’m in shock, like you must have been.”
“I know you told me more than once you didn’t want children.”
“That’s true but we’re going to have two of them, and we can’t take it back so it's pointless worrying or being sorry. We’ll just move forward, okay?”
“But—”
He put his index finger over her lips. “I’d be lying if I said I’m overjoyed about what’s happened. I just wanted you all to myself. But things have changed and we’ll be fine. Really, we will, Maggie.”
Chapter Twelve
Maggie looked tired but still wonderful, and he loved her house. Despite looking like a show place, every room was comfortable and inviting. He already felt at home. He was sure his favourite spot would be the couch close to the fire. He still hadn’t warmed up completely since he’d landed in New York.
He’d done his best to keep awake as long as he could but had finally given in two hours after Maggie had made him a cup of hot chocolate, telling him it would ‘take the chill out of his bones’. He’d slept all through the night and woken up to hear the shower running. He glanced at the clock. Almost seven. Maggie probably had to go to work soon. No doubt his unexpected arrival had thrown her off her regular schedule.
He got out of bed, shivering despite the heat whooshing out through the central air system. Maine winter weather would take some getting used to. He headed into the bathroom to ask Maggie if she wanted him to make breakfast. She was just heading out of the shower with a towel wrapped around her, her wet hair piled on top of her head, secured with a clip.
“You sleep okay?” she asked.
“Great. I didn’t even hear you come to bed or get up this morning.”
She looked too sexy and tempting not to at least kiss her. He pulled her in close, pressing his lips to hers. She opened her mouth to him and they kissed just like they had many months ago. It felt so good to be back with her, holding her like this.
“You’re going to make me late for work.”
“Sorry, couldn’t resist you.”
They held one another for a few minutes, neither of them saying a word.
“Feels like there’s a tummy coming between us now. Can I take a look?” Jon finally asked.
Maggie stepped away and parted the towel.
Yeah, she was pregnant all right. He ran his hands over her belly, noticing its button was already starting to push outwards. He still couldn’t believe that he’d got her pregnant and was going to be a father.
“You felt them move yet?” he asked.
“I think so. It was before I knew I was pregnant and I just put it down to gas passing through but I guess as a mother of three I should have recognised baby flutters.”
He ran his hands over her belly again. If an unplanned pregnancy was going to happen to him, Maggie would be the only person he’d want to have his baby…babies. Any other woman, he’d offer child support and leave it at that. But not Maggie. They were in this thing together and for the long haul.
“How about I make some coffee and you can eat the ensaimades I brought for you?”
“Make it orange juice because I’m trying to cut down on caffeine. And I suppose you’ll be expecting two blowjobs now.”
They both burst out laughing.
* * * *
Maggie couldn’t concentrate on much at work that day. She kept thinking about the tempting man who was now staying at her house. He always sent her temperature rising and her libido into overdrive and she couldn’t wait to get home to him.
She pulled out some swatches and flicked through them. They were going shopping as soon as she got home. Jon wanted to buy sweaters and a pair of gloves. She needed new bras. If her previous pregnancies were anything to go by, she’d gain four bra sizes by the time she had the twins.
She leant back in the chair and rubbed her belly. Jon seemed to be taking the news about impending fatherhood just fine. For now. When the two little ones arrived, he might feel differently. Two in one shot was a lot to ask anyone to deal with, let alone someone who didn’t want even one. Once he got to the changing, the crying in the middle of the night, the colic part of fatherhood, he might make a beeline for the door. She hoped not because she couldn’t raise one baby let alone two by herself. Not at this stage of her life.
* * * *
Jon flipped through the photo albums he’d found on the bookcase in the family room. He was sure Maggie wouldn’t mind him peeking. The first photo was an old family shot of Maggie, her ex, and her daughters when they were children. The next one was Maggie holding one of her babies.
Shit, he hadn’t admitted it to her but he was scared of what was happening. This whole fatherhood thing. When he’d seen the ultrasound image of two babies he’d almost passed out. But he had to be strong for Maggie. Truth was she concerned him. Working long hours, carrying twins… Worse, he’d have to go back to Mallorca after the holidays to finish out his contract at the clinic. She’d be all alone until he could get back to her.
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