Page 25 of Over and Above (Mount Hope #4)
Chapter Twenty-Five
Eric
I arrived home from an overnight shift to the sound of female voices in the living room. Maren’s first prenatal appointment of the new year. Not wanting to interrupt but not nearly exhausted enough to attempt sleep, I busied myself cleaning the kitchen from the kids’ breakfast. Rowan was back in LA, while today was the first day of school after the break for John and Wren.
Perhaps if I scrubbed the counter hard enough, the granite would yield answers to the jumble of the questions rattling around in my head, most of which were about Magnus. We’d both worked New Year’s Eve, so it had been a few days since we’d connected, leaving me uneasy for reasons I was trying to figure out. Magnus wanted… something . What, I wasn’t entirely certain, but all December, he’d seemed increasingly unsettled with our arrangement. Providing me with his test results had been a sweet gesture, but it felt far more serious than the fling this was supposed to be. However, I didn’t know many flings that went on this many months either.
As I finished the counters, Maren’s visit with Marissa seemed to be wrapping up, with the sound of the front door closing echoing from the front of the house. Moments later, Maren clomped into the kitchen in a pair of fuzzy socks, an oversized T-shirt for a German metal band that had to be one of Diesel’s, and stretchy yoga maternity pants.
“I need a favor.”
“Anything.” The baby’s arrival inched closer by the day, and the whole household was attuned to Maren’s moods and cravings. Even tired from the long shift, I was happy to do whatever she needed.
“I’m still measuring small on fundal height. Marissa says everything is likely fine by all her other metrics, but I should have another ultrasound for peace of mind to make sure home birth is still the right choice for us. She found me an appointment in an hour, but Diesel’s at work and can’t leave. And Marissa would come with me, but she has another client who needs post-partum help. Will you come? I’m scared.”
“Of course.” I came around the island to offer her a hug. “I’ll drive, and we’ll get you a limeade after. How’s that?”
“I’m not fourteen.” Maren half groaned, half laughed before giving up and rolling her eyes at me.
“You’d rather a coffee? Milkshake?”
“Dad.” Continuing to chuckle, she shook her head at me. “Fine. You’ve got me. Now I’m craving a strawberry shake.”
“See? My plan to distract you is already working.” I grinned at her, making a concerted effort not to reveal my own worries and unease. I’d been feeling a bit left out of the pregnancy. Caleb, Rowan, and Wren had taken over shower planning. Diesel and Maren had wanted to decorate the basement nursery nook themselves. Other friends had offered gently used baby items.
It was nice to be needed, a thought I held on to as we made our way to my SUV a short while later.
“I don’t know what I’m more worried about,” Maren said as she carefully buckled the seat belt around her belly. “I want the baby to be okay, and I also really want to avoid a hospital birth if I can.”
“Sometimes—”
“I know.” She held up a hand. “And I know there are many amazing medical professionals who work in hospitals. I’ve met a lot of them. It’s the hospital itself—the sounds, smells, equipment.”
“It’s triggering for a lot of people, not just you.” I pitched my voice soothing as we drove to the medical complex. Outpatient radiology wasn’t in the hospital per se, but the adjacent building was likely close enough in Maren’s mind. “And if it comes to a hospital birth, we will all do everything we can to make it homey for you—music, blanket and pillow from home, anything else you want. And you’ll have Marissa and Diesel for support. Maybe Wren can teach us about aromatherapy to help with the smell issue too.”
“You’d learn about aromatherapy just for me?” She sounded skeptical but no longer despondent, which I’d take as a win.
“Of course. You’re my kid. If it means buying an essential oil diffuser and some portable speakers, I’m there.”
“Thanks,” she said softly as we arrived at the parking structure. For the first time in my life, I used a Stork Parking spot to minimize the need for Maren to walk.
Once inside, we were shown to a small ultrasound room, but our tech was summoned by another tech for a question, leaving Maren with far too much time to stew while lying on the narrow gurney.
“Distract me,” she ordered, rolling toward where I sat in the visitor’s side chair. “Tell me about that movie you and Magnus watched.”
“Which one?”
“I love that you guys are such good friends now you’ve got a list.”
“You do?” I’d been curious about her reaction to Magnus and me spending time together, and I was surprised at how genuinely upbeat she sounded.
“Of course. You’ve needed more friends for a while. Yours keep partnering up. If you’re going to be single, you might as well have a friend like Magnus, who’s a perma-bachelor.”
“Yeah.” Somehow, I managed to agree in a normal tone, even as each word pricked a different part of my soul. Worst of all, all the words were accurate. My friends did keep finding love while I stayed single, likely a permanent state, not unlike Magnus. “It’s not weird?”
“That you and my father-in-law share the same terrible taste in movies?” Maren snorted, then turned more thoughtful. “No. What’s weird is having a father-in-law. Like Diesel and his dad are forever parts of my life now. That’s wild.”
“Yeah.” I swallowed hard. Forever. That was how long I’d have to keep seeing Magnus, regardless of when our fling ended. He’d be at the wedding and every grandchild-related event from now until graduation. Why make that more awkward? He’d acted like it would be fine if others knew, but our interactions would likely be strained enough eventually. No point in adding others to the equation. And the idea of our easy, comfortable friendship turning stilted and stiff made me slump in the hard plastic chair, heels digging in against the tile floor.
“You okay?” Maren propped herself up on her elbow. “You seem down.”
“Just tired.” I forced a smile. “But here for you.”
Her frown deepened. “I shouldn’t have made that joke about how your friends are all falling in love.”
“It’s true though.” I shrugged. I’d had one happy ending. I was at peace, at least most days, with not getting a second. One only got to touch lightning so many times in a lifetime.
“Well, I doubt you have to worry about Magnus partnering up with someone else.” She reached out to pat my shoulder like I was the nervous one. And hell, the mere thought of Magnus dating someone else made me queasier than Maren had been in July. “He’ll stick around and be your movie buddy.”
“Here’s hoping.” I made my voice cheerful. And maybe that was indeed the best possible outcome, Magnus and I continuing some sort of friendship. Movie buddies. Hoping for anything more would be greedy.
“I’m back.” The fifty-something tech with ash-blonde hair and teal nails closed the exam room door behind her. Maren winced at the click, and I took her hand, squeezing tight as the tech took a seat on her rolling stool. “Okay. Let’s have a look at baby. Gender is a surprise, right?”
“Yep.” Maren was stiffer than a fence post in January, even before the tech started arranging drapes and getting out the ultrasound gel.
“I’m right here,” I reminded Maren. “You’re doing amazing.”
“You’re the dad?” The tech had seemingly just now noticed my presence, and her eyes narrowed with something close to disapproval.
“He’s my dad. Not the baby’s dad. It’s confusing.”
“I’m the grandpa,” I said confidently for the first time. Maybe Magnus was right, and I was mellowing to the idea at last.
“Okay, Grandpa. And Mom.” The tech started the exam, flipping on a monitor in front of us. “Take a look right there.”
“Wow.” Maren wasn’t the only one who gasped. “The baby is so much bigger than at my last ultrasound. Really looks like a baby now.”
“It’s got your nose.” My tone was as awestruck as I felt. I’d been presented with grainy pictures from prior ultrasounds, but seeing the little creature on the screen, swimming and kicking away, was surreal. And the baby truly did appear to have the same regal, elfin features as Maren and Rowan.
“It does.” Maren’s breath was choppy like she kept holding it. “Tell me it’s healthy.”
“Well, we’ve got a bunch more measurements to take here, but I have to say, I have no idea where you’re storing this baby in that small belly because I’m estimating you’ve got a big surprise coming in a few weeks.”
“Oh, thank goodness.” Maren and I exhaled at the same moment and shared a giddy laugh.
“Not too big though?” she asked, a new worry seeming to crop up.
“The perfect size.” The tech continued taking measurements and moving the wand around Maren’s belly. “Compared to your last ultrasound, we’re seeing consistent growth. Your midwife will review all the results with you, but the placenta looks great, good blood flow and all that. You’re doing amazing, Mama.”
Maren gave a small, pleased smile. “I’m trying. It’s hard.”
“You’re doing it though,” I reminded her. “You can do hard things. Incredible things. You’re growing a whole human. And we’re all here for you.”
The little creature on the screen seemed to wave right at me. Hi, Grandpa! This was what was truly important. The baby. Maren. My family, which apparently now included Magnus and Diesel. Questions about our fling seemed so small and insignificant compared with the miracle happening on the monitor.