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Luke backed away. “Whoa...”
Matthew took the water bottle from his brother, no longer seeing the humor in this. “Do me a favor.”
“Yeah?”
“Take my truck and go get your stuff. We’ll finish the roof tomorrow.” Matthew threw him his keys.
Luke caught them. “How will you get home?”
“Just do it.” He didn’t think Annie wanted an audience, and since she gripped his hand tighter than a vise, he wasn’t going anywhere soon. Besides, he could walk the couple miles home if he had to.
“Okaaaay.” His brother narrowed his gaze. “So, what’s the deal here?”
“Go, will you?”
Luke nodded. He grabbed his plate on the way.
Matthew ignored the swishing sound of his brother getting a pop from the ice-filled cooler before finally leaving. He handed Annie the water bottle. “Here.”
She shook her head, scattering tears. Her hand trembled in his as she lurched down and dry-heaved one more time.
Helpless, he rubbed her back.
“Ugh! Sorry,” she mumbled and let go of him.
He noticed that her hands shook as she pushed back her hair. He poured water over the napkins and handed them to her.
She wiped her mouth and forehead then took a swig of water from the icy bottle. “Thanks.”
He frowned. “Sorry about lunch.”
“It’s okay.” She teetered a little. “I think I need to go inside. Maybe lie down.”
Without asking, he scooped her up into his arms and headed for the sliding door to the laundry room.
She gasped. “I can walk.”
“No way. You look like you might pass out.”
“It’ll pass.” She burped. “Sorry.”
“Hey, you’re not going to get sick on me, are you?”
She was sipping water again and sort of giggled. “I’m not making any promises.”
He tucked her head over his shoulder. “Point it that way, then.”
She laughed. An awkward, embarrassed kind of laugh. “I’m so sorry.”
“You! I’m the one who messed up. I should have asked you before I grilled fi—”
She quickly placed her fingers against his lips. “It’s okay. Just don’t mention that word again.”
He playfully bit her fingers and then smiled at the surprised look on her face. “I won’t.”
She smiled back as he walked her into the living room and deposited her on the couch.
“Where’s Luke?”
“I sent him home.” He sat on the edge of a chair across from her. “Does your doctor know about you getting sick a lot?”
Annie looked away. “She said it’s a good sign.” Then a shadow fell across her face. She looked so small on the couch by herself.
“What is it?”
She shook her head.
“Talk to me, Annie. What else did the doctor say?”
Her eyes filled with tears. “I’m high-risk. There’s no guarantee I can do this—”
He was out of the chair and next to her in an instant, drawing her into his arms.
She went limp and plunked her forehead against his shoulder. “I can’t lose this baby.”
He held her tighter. “You won’t, Annie. I promise you won’t.”
She pulled away and sniffed. “You can’t make that kind of promise.”
He shushed her. “Yes, I can.”
He didn’t know what else to say. He’d shake the very earth to give her everything she needed. To make sure Jack’s kid grew strong until birth and beyond.
Starting with food. “Did you eat anything today?”
“Some toast.”
He gently pushed back her hair and kissed her forehead. “How about some eggs?”
“Matthew—”
“Look, I said I’d help and I mean it. I’m going to take care of you.”
“But—”
“We’re going to do this together. We’re going to see to it this baby makes a strong appearance come November.”
Her eyes grew wide. “Why?”
Feelings surfaced he couldn’t examine or share. “Because I loved Jack like a brother, and that makes you my family, too.”
Her eyes got all watery again. “I could use some good family.”
That was a good dodge. He couldn’t take more tears so he quickly stood. “Stay put and rest. I’ll be right back.”
* * *
Annie lay against the pillows and closed her eyes, willing the room to stop spinning. The sound of Matthew tinkering in the kitchen soothed. His words had, too, but not nearly as much as his embrace. How could that be? And what kind of woman did that make her?
She rubbed her forehead. She used to be capable of handling things on her own. Plowing through the pain of life, she dealt. It was one of the things Jack said he’d always admired about her. When had she become so needy? So weak?
There were so many things to fear these days, and hoping for the best got a person only so far. God seemed miles away, and yet Matthew was right here as he’d said. Strong and sweet Matthew with his promises. Promises she desperately wanted to cling to and believe.
She smelled melted butter and braced for the swell of nausea that didn’t come. Instead, her stomach rumbled. The teakettle whistle blew and she smiled. He was making her tea again.
Ginger’s words about caring for someone new filtered through the haze of her mind. If Matthew wasn’t careful, he might steal part of her heart. But never the whole. Jack had that and always would.
Jack...
Minutes later, Matthew appeared with a plate of steaming scrambled eggs that had a liberal amount of black pepper and probably salt, too. Plus, a mug of tea. “Here.”
She sat up, suddenly famished, and took the plate, inhaling the spicy, buttery scent.
He set her mug on the coffee table with a soft clunk.
Annie scooped a forkful of the fluffiest eggs into her mouth. “These are good.”
He smiled. “I use water instead of milk. A trick our chef taught me.”
“Oh.” Jack had always said they ate well out on the lakes. Better than he did at home. He’d never bought into her idea of nutrition. She waited to see how that first bite would settle. When nothing happened, she ate more.
“Eggs are good for you. I’m glad you had some in the fridge. I’m thinking you need more protein and not just toast.”
Annie nodded again. He was probably right. She ate eggs. Even some broiled chicken on occasion. And normally seafood, too. She closed her eyes a second. She couldn’t even think about fish without her belly turning. “Can you do me a favor?”
“Sure.”
“Can you take care of the grill before you leave? I don’t think I can handle it.” Annie finished the eggs and set her empty plate on the coffee table then leaned back to sip her tea.
“No problem.”
“Thanks for making lunch, by the way.” Her eyelids felt heavy again. She set down her tea with a tired sigh. Maybe a short nap before the only class she had scheduled today at three. All she did was sleep, it seemed.
She was supposed to feel more energy soon. Her doctor had explained that once she passed the three-month mark, she’d feel better. And stronger. She needed all the strength she could get and was already a week past that fourteen weeks mark.
“You’re welcome.” Matthew’s voice sounded soft and low.
Surely, he’d leave soon.
“When’s your next doctor appointment?”
“Next month.” Matthew might be gone by then. Back on the lakes.
“I want to go with you.”
She shifted and stared. “You’re serious.”
He smiled, standing tall and solid in front of her. “Yup.”
“Do you realize what that might look like? People will talk.”
“I don’t care about that and neither should you. It will look like a friend supporting another friend.” He gave her a wink. “No worries, okay?”
She sighed, too tired to argue. “I guess if you’re still around.”
“I’m glad you see things my way.” He grinned.
His way?
What was he talking about? This wasn’t a debate. But then she’d caved on the heels of him winning the roof argument. How many battles might they have in the name of him helping her? Would she always give in so easily? The possibilities exhausted her but a zip of anticipation shot through her, too.
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