Chapter 29
"PREGNANT!" AJ exclaimed. "How far along are you?"
"I know you're thinking that this might be Clay's child, the problem is I don't know if you're aware that Clay had a vasectomy just after Neville was born."
Putting his coffee down, AJ covered her hand with his and said, "Have you made any decision about what you want to do?"
"No, I wanted to talk with you first," replied Mac.
"I guess then the question is, then do you want to have the child?"
"I think the child I'm carrying is a gift and couldn't think of aborting it. It came from a night that gave me such comfort and joy from my best friend."
AJ sat there for a moment without saying a word. Mac was concerned that he didn't feel the same way, and that he was going to try to convince her to abort their child. "AJ?" she asked.
"Mac, you're sure you want to keep the baby?"
"I do, but what about you?"
"I really didn't want to have another child at this stage of my life because I was afraid that I would not live to see it grow up, but if you want to keep our child, then I don't want it raised without a father." He surprised her by sliding off the couch and falling to one knee in front of her, he took her hand in his and asked, "Mac, would you do me the honor of marrying me so we can raise our child together?"
"You don't have to marry me to be a part of your child's life. I would never keep you away from the baby."
"I know that, but I want to be a full time father and if you want to continue to work than it would be a perfect solution for me to care for all our children."
"But what if you were to meet someone and fall in love again?"
"Mac, when Thea came back after seven years I still hadn't remarried, do you really think that I would find someone so easily? And even if I did, if I made a commitment to you and our child I would never leave you."
"What will other people say?" asked Mac, with a frown on her face.
"I'm sure most of our friends can count to nine and will know that the baby was conceived before we married. However, our true friends will love and support us and if you have any doubts about that we could call Harriett right now and ask her what she thinks."
"No, if we are going to do this, let's just wait and tell everyone after the fact."
"So then you still haven't answered my question. Mrs. Webb, will you marry me?"
"What about the children, what will we tell them?"
"Remember what I told Mackenzie the day of the Star Ceremony? I told her that if you ever remarried again it would be to someone that could love them almost as much as their real father, and I think you know that I do love your children and I'm sure that I could help you raise them just as if they were my own and you know that Mackenzie and Allison would be thrilled to be sisters."
"Yes they probably would, but where would we live?"
"While I love living in McLean, your house is bigger and," he said, gently placing his hand on her tummy before continuing, "With this one on the way we'll need all the room we can get."
"I love McLean too, why don't we sell both houses and buy a larger one there?"
"So you have decided to marry me?" he asked with a half smile at her continued hedging.
"Are we two friends marrying or are you expecting me to share your bed?"
"Mac, I would never expect something from you that you didn't want. So it is completely up to you whether we need one or two bedrooms in the new house for us."
To be continued…
