Duncan laughed. “Is that a problem? Do you not want me to have a good relationship with her?”
“I do. I love that you get along with my family so well.”
“I do too. She’s been really helpful at making me see and realize that it’s okay that you pay for all the things. I’m going to do my part, which she’s said is not going to be easy, when it comes to giving birth and doing the majority of childcare. It’s a partnership that isn’t always equal, but both sides are incredibly important.”
I blinked at Duncan several times. “Ma said that?”
Duncan held out his phone. “Yeah. Here.” He handed me his phone. “There was more, but that was basically what it was. I started the conversation because I was worried your family would think I was just after an easy ride in life. I apologized to her for ending up unemployed so soon after us claiming each other and told her I would be getting a new job just as soon as I could.”
“What? Sweetie, why would you do that?”
“Because I’ve never had a family, Clay. And I didn’t want yours to think bad about me. I will get another job. I just have to be able to stand up for longer than a few minutes. I’m not sure where I can get a server job though. I think most places, their kitchens are going to cause issues for me. At least at the moment.”
I shook my head. I’d failed my mate completely. “Sweetheart…” I moved enough to pick him up and pull him into my lap. The need to hug and hold him was overwhelming. “I love you,” I said once he was in my arms. “More than anything else, I love you. I’m sorry you feel this way. I never wanted you to think this way. Ever. You are my mate, and I’m so incredibly happy to have you in my life. I don’t want you to ever feel that way.”
Duncan reached up and cupped my face. It was something that I normally did to him, and it was so very different to be on this side of things. “I’m coming to terms with it, Clay. And your mom is the one that has helped the most. Did you know that she’s not had a job since she and your dad claimed each other?”
I smiled at him. “Yes, I did. Even after we all moved out, Ma still hasn’t gone back to work. She takes care of the house. And Dad.” And she was an absolutely amazing cook. And the things she could bake. So good.
“Yeah. And she said the same thing to me and Charlie in our chat. That we need to let our mates take care of us. That we’re carrying the babies, the alphas can do the other things.” Duncan shrugged. “She’s not wrong. You can’t carry the baby. And it’s not like I can’t go back to work later after this little one is in school.”
I leaned in and kissed Duncan. I kept it quick because he still wasn’t feeling great, and I didn’t want him to believe that I was wanting more. I would always desire him, but I knew that now absolutely was not the time.
“You have a chat? With Ma and Charlie?”
Duncan snorted. “Charlie and Joyce had a chat. They added me. And no, I won’t show it to you. There are things that we are allowed to have that’s just us.”
I kissed him again. “I wouldn’t dream of asking you to share your chat with me. I can’t tell you how happy I am that you are so close to them. Sincerely.”
Duncan sighed before he laid his head on my shoulder. “Do you think I can go to work with you tomorrow?”
I rubbed up and down his back. “You’re welcome to go to work with me anytime you wish, but I won’t be going back until next week. You were just released from the hospital a couple days ago, and I’m taking more time off, at Silver’s insistence, in order to take care of you. He’s going to be taking an extended leave once the twins arrive, and I’m going to have to be the one to step up. Flint isn’t yet to the point of being able to handle a lot of the things that Silver and I do, and that means it’s going to fall on me.”
“I don’t mind. And I’m sure you will feel better if I’m at work with you instead of here alone.”
He was absolutely correct. I knew that eventually he would be left here. But right now, my gorilla and I were both thrilled that he was willing to come to the office with us.
“If you’re sure that’s what you want, then yes, I would very much like for you to come to the office with me. My gorilla will be much more at peace. I understand it’s not a permanent solution, but it will take me some time to get here to you if you happen to get really sick again.” I had talked to Silver, but Charlie didn’t have nearly the amount of pregnancy sickness that Duncan was experiencing. Ma had next to none with all of us, so I was learning about all of this as we went.
The phone ringing pulled us out of our conversation.
“Expecting someone?” I asked.
“No. I know very few people, and you’re here, and they’re all at work or home. It’s not Charlie’s ringtone either.”
I wrapped one arm around Duncan and leaned to the right, snatching his phone off the end table.
“Hello?” Duncan said after he answered the call and put it on speakerphone.
“Duncan Smith?”
Duncan glanced at me. “Yes.”
“Hi. This is Dr. Birch.”
“Oh, hi, Dr. Birch,” Duncan said, immediately relaxed. “I’m feeling so much better,” he added.
“That’s excellent to hear. I’m calling because I have the results from your bloodwork back. You had indicated that you wished to know…all the things, according to my notes in the chart.”
