“I’ll get that blood test ordered and check back in on you in a bit. Be sure to eat at least a little,” Dr. Birch said.
“I’ll try,” I told the doctor. He nodded and left, leaving me and Clay alone. Clay sat down beside me, and I smiled at my mate. “I love you too,” I told him. “I just didn’t want to say it for the first time in front of the doctor.” I bit my lower lip. I didn’t know if he believed me or not, and I honestly wasn’t exactly sure what love was, but I felt such overwhelming emotions for the man beside me.
Clay leaned close and kissed me again. “I love you too, sweetie. So very much.” Clay leaned his forehead against mine, and I closed my eyes, feeling at peace for the first time…ever.
Chapter Seventeen
Clay
“Here’s some water,” I said as I handed Duncan a cup.
“Thank you.”
The doorbell rang, and I didn’t even have to answer to know it was someone from the family. They’d all been kept updated while Duncan was sick, and news of his visit to the hospital of course made it into the family group chat. I actually wasn’t expecting to see my parents on the other side of the door when I answered though.
“Ma? Dad? I thought you two were leaving for your cruise.” I hugged Ma, and after letting her go, Dad gave me a tight hug as well.
“We are. We need to leave within a couple of hours,” Ma said. “But I wanted to stop by and check on Duncan.”
I smiled. “He’s on the couch, trying not to be bored. He’s feeling better though.” I moved farther back to let Dad in. “Come in and visit for a bit.”
Ma took off, and Dad and I followed at a slower pace. “How is he really doing?” Dad asked quietly. Ever perceptive, he was.
“Good, but he’s struggling with not working. He’s had to work hard since his eighteenth birthday, when he was suddenly on the streets, and he’s struggled just about every day since. All of this is still setting in, and even I admit that everything was a whole lot of changes all at once. But hopefully, he’ll get there soon enough.”
We made it to the living room and found Ma with Duncan. She was giving him a tight hug. One that reminded me of the hugs she used to give us when we were little and had been fighting with our brothers. They were the best hugs and always made all of us feel so much better about things.
“Let’s go make tea,” Dad said.
I nodded, following Dad into the kitchen. Without a thought, I pulled down a paper plate and placed several crackers on it.
“Is his pregnancy sickness still bothering him?”
“A little. He has a prescription that helps with the nausea. He takes it twice a day, and it’s honestly helped a lot. He still has to be careful with what he eats. Nothing too acidic or heavy.” I opened the fridge and pulled out the bowl of fruit. It was his absolute favorite, but he had to limit himself to eating just a few pieces at a time because too much at once and his stomach would say nope.
Dad looked toward Ma and Duncan. “Your mother has been incredibly worried about him. Especially after we heard about him being admitted to the hospital.”
I nodded absently. “I understand. I wasn’t exactly in a good mood then. Thankfully, he was only there overnight. I’ve already told Duncan that I will absolutely overrule him if there is a next time. I wasn’t too worried because he was still eating a bit and drinking. When I realized he was drinking less and getting sick more, I called Dr. Birch.”
“I’m glad you did.” Dad placed his hand on my shoulder. “Your mother is quite taken with both him and Charlie. She’s excited about the newest little ones as well.” Immediately, I was hesitant about what Dad might say next. He seemed to catch on because he laughed. “The reason for all of the cruises and vacations is to not only finally get out there and enjoy other places again, but also to keep your mother a bit more preoccupied. When she’s away, she can’t bother you boys and your mates so much.”
I stared at Dad for several moments before shaking my head. “You can’t keep her away just so she doesn’t bother us. That’s not how things are dealt with, Dad.”
Dad smiled at me. “I know that, son. I’m helping her deal with the desire to interfere all of the time. We’re working on things still though.”
I shook my head. “It’s not that difficult, Dad. She just has to respect boundaries. That means no asking intrusive questions, not expecting to be the first to know things, the first to be invited to things. It’s that simple.”
I picked up the plate and started toward my mate. I heard him and Ma talking as I approached. When he heard me, he turned and offered a huge smile. I held out the snack, and Duncan happily accepted it. “Thank you.”
“You’re most welcome.” I smiled and sat on the coffee table near Duncan.
“Your mom was just telling me about what it was like when she and your dad first mated. How they were super excited to learn that she was pregnant with Silver.”
I smiled over at my mother.
“It’s hard to believe that was over forty years ago now,” Ma said. She smiled, then looked right at me. “And now he and Charlie are about to become parents themselves. And you and Duncan not far behind. The family is growing again, finally.”
“Ma…”
