“Hey,” she said, smiling when his arms came around her.
“Hey,” he replied, backing her into the bathroom and closing the door behind him. He needed her. Or at least a taste.
He turned her to face the mirror and stood behind her. He loved her body, the curves of her breasts, the baby inside her. And he loved this dress with its very enticing buttons at the top. “Did I ever tell you I had a thing for buttons?”
“Do you?”
After three buttons, she sighed heavily and let her head drop back. He let his fingers roam. “I love looking at you.”
“I have a hard time believing you’re attracted to this.”
“Believe it,” he said, nuzzling her neck with his lips.
“I’m huge.”
“You’re beautiful.” And she wasn’t huge by any pregnant standards. Not that he cared. He raised his head so that his cheek was against hers and looked at them together in the mirror for a long moment. He loved her so much, for a second he could understand her fear at the enormity of what they had. It was awesome—as in, he was in awe of it. Of her. And one word came to mind.
Irreplaceable.
That’s what she was. Reluctantly he buttoned her back up. “What were you thinking about earlier? At lunch?” She scowled at him and he knew it wasn’t so much because he’d asked but because he’d noticed. Still trying to hide. “You okay?”
“Yeah. I just…smelled something and for a second…” Their eyes met in the mirror. “I couldn’t tell if it was a memory or not. Of my mom cooking. I’m sure she did, but I don’t…” She shook her head.
He’d thought a lot about Abby’s memories of being left, being hurt. He hadn’t thought much about the lack of happy ones. He would help her make a million.
He kissed her cheek. “My parents love you, by the way,” he said against her neck. “I told you they would. You didn’t have anything to worry about.”
Abby covered his hands with hers. “I was more worried they wouldn’t love me with you.”
“Abby.”
“Well, it’s not every day your son brings home a woman already pregnant.”
“At least my mom doesn’t have to worry I’ll knock you up.”
“Ha-ha.”
He moved her hair out of the way so he could find skin. “I’m not at all worried, but it doesn’t matter. It’s you and me, babe, all the way. Nothing will change that.”
She wanted to believe him.
“Stop it.” Matt’s voice was soft but firm. “Stop thinking about what could happen and hear me. I love you, and nothing and no one could keep me from you.” He kissed the side of her head, then her neck until she shooed him out. She didn’t want his mom walking in on a kissing session with her son. And she needed to go to the bathroom. Again.
—
Abby dried her hands on a small towel appliquéd with a turkey. Her hand was on the doorknob, already turning it, when she heard Marge’s voice and it was too late to stop the motion of her exit. Did his mother know Matt had been in here with her?
“I just wanted Matt to have his own family, to be happy,” Marge said.
“I know, Mom,” Lizzy was saying. “I wanted the same thing.”
Abby froze in the half-open doorway and stared. Matt’s mom and sister stared back. Oh, God. His mom was…crying? This was worse than she thought. So much worse.
Lizzy gave Abby a warm smile and squeezed her arm before returning to the family room.
Speechless, Abby watched Marge dab at her eyes. Matt’s mother didn’t want her. She’d made his mother cry. But she wouldn’t give him up without a fight. She couldn’t.
Marge regained her voice first. “Oh, Abby.”
Abby lifted her trembling chin. “I know you love your son, and you want the best for him. I do too. I know you think he could do better than a girl nobody wanted. Trust me. I’ve thought the same thing a hundred times.”
Don’t cry. She trusted Matt and he loved her. “But Matt’s smart. He makes good decisions, good choices. I know he could have anyone he wanted, but he chose me. And I’m not going to walk away unless he tells me to.” She felt a hot tear roll down her cheek. She couldn’t help it. She did want Matt’s mother to want her.
Marge pressed a clean tissue into Abby’s hand. “Are you finished?”
Abby wiped her eyes, her lips pressed together so tightly she could only nod.
“There’s a light in Matt’s eyes that I’ve never seen. And you put it there. I knew right away his feelings for you were different from any he’d ever had before. He fell in love with you before I even met you, and…” Marge dropped her eyes to the mutilated tissue in her hands. “Well, I knew he would walk away from his family if you asked him to.”