Just Around the Corner

He backed up, didn’t meet her eyes. “Yeah, well, mine wouldn’t sit well with a kid.”

“So why are you here?”

“Because I made you pregnant,” he said, leaning on the desk again. “I have a proposition of sorts to run by you.”

“What?” She picked up her pen,

“We both need something.”

“We do.” It wasn’t a question, and yet the words were filled with challenge.

“You need that baby.”

“Yeeaahhh.”

“And I need to feel like I’m doing something to take responsibility, to be accountable, for my part in this whole thing.”

“Okay.” The word was far too hesitant to be the agreement it implied.

“So I propose that we team up, just for the duration of the pregnancy. I’ll be your assistant—be there to do things for you. Not just the heavy things, but whatever needs to be done so you don’t get worn-out to the point of needing hospitalization. Dr. Mac said this morning sickness might continue throughout the pregnancy, you work full-time—something’s got to give.”

“But I’m—”

“Most woman have a man at home to step in and tend to the little things while they’re pregnant.”

“Yes, but—”

“So, you let me do that—do my part—and in the end, you get the healthy baby you want so badly.”

“And what makes you think we can have an arrangement like this without getting involved in each other’s lives?”

“Because neither of us wants involvement. We’re immune.”

She frowned. “I’m a psychologist, Matt. Things don’t work that way.”

“Okay, try this, Doc. Because I’m incapable of involvement.”

It shouldn’t have hurt when she nodded. Her agreement was exactly what he wanted. And yet, in a small sense, it did hurt. So a woman trained to know about people, their minds and emotions, believed him when he said he was incapable of having a close relationship. It wasn’t anything he hadn’t already known.

“I can’t believe I’m doing this,” she said, “but I’m agreeing to your proposition.”

“Good.”

“There are going to be problems here, I just know it.”

“Maybe not.”

“There will be.”

“So why are you agreeing to it?”

“Because it’s the best option. No one but Cassie knows I’m pregnant, and I think I want to keep it that way for as long as I can. At least

until I’m sure everything’s really okay with this bleeding. It’ll just be easier not to have everyone worrying over me. I’m doing enough of that myself.”

“I’m not a worrier,” he said with a half grin, trying to reassure her the best he could.

“Somehow I knew that about you.” She grinned back, her head lowered slightly as she looked at him.