*
Michael prayed for patience, tried to remember Maggie’s intense aversion to practically everyone in the medical profession. It had taken days of cajoling to get her to agree to go a month ago. Why he ever thought she would continue to go on her own was beside him. He should have known better. He should have insisted on driving her to each and every appointment personally.
“He’s an OB, Maggie. That’s his job.”
“No, Michael. Touching me there is your job, not his. And I can’t believe you actually want another man to be doing that sort of thing to your wife-to-be.”
For a modern, independent woman, Maggie could be terribly old-fashioned. “That sort of thing is ensuring your health and that of our baby’s. He’s a doctor, Maggie.”
“So are you. You can do it.”
“I’m not an OB. I’m not qualified.”
“You delivered Taryn’s baby.”
“That was different. There were extenuating circumstances and - ”
“And you were there for Lexi - ”
“Now that was totally - ”
“I don’t care.”
“Maggie.”
She crossed her arms and glared back at him, her green eyes just as fierce. “Michael.”
“Regular prenatal check-ups are important.”
“They’re a waste of time, that’s what they are. Taryn says all they do is weigh you – and believe me, I don’t need anyone telling me how heavy I’m getting, thank you very much. And they measure your belly – again, not necessary - listen for a heartbeat, and feel me up. You can do all those things, and it feels much better when you do it.”
“Maggie –“
But Maggie was on a roll, gaining steam, and there was no stopping her. Her words came faster, spoken with the near desperation of impending panic. “I swear I will see Lexi’s doctor at the very first sign of a problem. And, because I love you so much, I might even agree to see Foster’s assistant once in a while. I like her, plus she’s a woman who has a few kids of her own and Taryn says she is not into unnecessary groping. Until then, I will continue to do what women have been doing quite naturally for centuries, without some pervert sticking his hands up my cooch for a freebie.”
“Maggie!”
Her voice rose even higher, louder, until it became a full-fledged shriek: “Michael Patrick Callaghan, you put this baby into me and you damn sure better be the one to get it out!”
Stunned silence filled the room for several moments, but then Michael couldn’t help it. He laughed. And laughed. Until Maggie started laughing too, and neither of them stopped for quite some time.
Michael wrapped his arms around her and wiped away the tears streaming down her cheeks. “Ah, Maggie, love, I don’t know what I am going to do with you.”
“Well, my suggestion is for you to make use of all those fancy letters after your name to take care of your woman and child.”
And unfortunately, Michael could not think of a good enough argument at that moment against it.
––––––––
“Is she always like this?” Sean asked Michael as he took yet another roll from the plate Maggie just placed on the table, slathering it with homemade preserves. Maggie was already back at the oven, sliding in a fresh tray and rolling out more dough.
“Only when she’s anxious,” he answered, his watchful eyes following her every movement. It had been a mistake to tell her they would be dropping by this morning with important news. She’d been up since the crack of dawn, baking. “It’s how she handles stress.”
He’d long since given up trying to convince her to sit down and rest. After Maggie refilled everyone’s coffee cups and murmured something about making more, he simply reached out with one of his long arms and snagged her, pulling her down onto his lap.
“Enough, woman. If you keep feeding them, they’ll never leave,” he said.
“Michael!”
Kieran laughed and winked at Maggie as he held up a roll. “No, he’s right. But it’s too late, Mick. We’re already hooked. These things are addicting.”
Michael groaned, but Maggie’s eyes sparkled. She had confided to him that she loved their banter and teasing, and was only too happy to indulge their massive appetites. She made a move to get up, but Michael held her to him quite easily.
“So,” Ian said finally, after everyone had had their fill and it was time to get down to it. “Here’s what it looks like.” Everyone quieted down and turned their attention to him. “Dumas is definitely trying to get his hands on Maggie’s land.”
“That’s nothing new,” Maggie muttered. “He’s been trying to do that for years.”
“No, but what is new is the fact that the Celtic Goddess is actively pursuing a contractual agreement with you for use of the land, not to mention exclusive rights to any of the organic produce and secret family recipes.”
“So?”