Strong Enough (Meet Me in Montana 4)

“Oh, I see. You both haven’t worked things out?”

That was a fucking understatement, since Merit hadn’t even told me she was pregnant. “No, we haven’t.”

“Well, I’m sure you will. Even if you don’t, you’re still partners in this, and Merit needs your support, Dirk. This is a very emotional thing for a woman, and her body will be changing, her hormones will make her more sensitive to many things.

All I could do was nod.

“I know things have been pretty rough for you, Dirk, but I do hope that you and Merit can work things out. The last thing either of you needs is more stress.”

This time, I only sat there and stared at the photo. “Thank you, Janice. I mean, Doctor Lewis.”

She laughed. “Call me Janice. And please call me if you or Merit have any questions or concerns. Here’s my card. It has my cell phone number on there, as well. I also gave one to Merit.”

“I will—thank you so much for taking the time to speak with me,” I said as I reached my hand out for hers.

“Of course.”

I moved to go around her when she spoke, stopping me once more.

“Dirk, there is one thing I am worried about with Merit.”

My heart felt like it jumped into my throat.

“She admitted to not eating well. Make sure she gets a good, balanced intake of food. Lots of fruits and veggies.”

The memory of Merit dumping her food in the trash the morning after my father’s celebration of life hit me right in the chest. I couldn’t stop a wave of nausea, and I had to concentrate hard on pushing it away.

With a nod and a forced smile, I replied, “No stress, eat healthy. Got it.”

Janice winked and then turned and walked back over to her desk and began shutting down her computer.

The idea that my entire life had changed in an instant washed over me, and I fought to take deep breaths. I needed a fucking drink.

Chapter Twenty

DIRK

As soon as I walked out of Janice’s office, I walked past the waiting room and went straight to the elevator. I hit the button to go down when I heard Ty start talking from the room next door.

“Well, we have a beautiful little girl. Rose Marie Shaw!”

Stella cried out and ran over to Ty, who caught her in his arms. Soon it was his father’s turn, then Tanner’s. Brock had stayed back at the ranch with Blayze, Morgan, and Hunter.

Then Ty scanned the area and found me. He smiled, and I made my feet walk over to him as I smiled back. I truly was happy for Kaylee and Ty. I reached out my hand to him. “Congratulations, Ty. I’m so happy for you both.”

He laughed, pulled me by the hand, and brought me in for a bear hug. Then he slapped me on the back a few times before stepping away.

Ty had a proud-as-hell expression on his face, and it was evident he’d been crying. He glanced around at everyone. “Kaylee did great. Amazing. I’m so proud of her.”

Stella let out a sob and replied, “Of course she did! She’s had you by her side this entire journey. Love is a powerful tool, especially when two people are growing a child together.”

I felt an instant headache come on, and my stomach rolled once more. Merit didn’t have me around for the last nine weeks. When she’d overheard me make that stupid-ass comment to Brock, she’d been carrying my child at the time.

Jesus. What must she have thought?

“The last thing I want right now is a relationship with Merit.”

The walls felt like they were closing in on me, and I had to fight to keep from throwing up. She hadn’t told me because she didn’t think I would want the baby. That I wouldn’t want her.

Then I remembered holding Kaylee’s stomach and telling her she was the most beautiful pregnant woman I’d ever seen. Merit was there, and she had raced out of the room. All of Timberlynn’s dirty looks made sense to me now. She had known. She must have known.

I shook my head and tried to clear the thoughts away.

“Dirk, did you hear me?” Ty asked, giving me a small push on my shoulder.

I looked at him and forced a laugh. “What did you say?”

“After my folks and Tanner go in and see her, I’m sure Kaylee wants to introduce you to our daughter.”

“Yes, I’d love that.”

He smiled, and I couldn’t help but notice the change in him. I didn’t think I had ever seen Ty look so damn happy before in my entire life. He was walking on cloud nine.

Something inside me shifted right then, and I wasn’t entirely sure what it was.

Clearing my throat, I added, “I’m really happy for you and Kaylee, Ty.”

With his hand on my shoulder now, he squeezed. “Thank you. It’s you or Tanner next.”