Mary Catherine fixed those lovely blue eyes on me. She said in a low voice, “Did you love her, Michael?”
I didn’t have to think about my answer. I looked at Mary Catherine and said, “I love you.” She didn’t smile, but her eyes twinkled. I ran my hand across the smooth skin of her cheek. She was a work of art. Finally, I got around to asking what I wanted to ask. “Are you feeling okay? I tried not to be too intrusive. But you said you’ve been tired. You were nauseated a few times last week. Is there anything you want to tell me?”
Mary Catherine took a moment to gather her thoughts. I could tell there was something important she wanted to say. I kept my mouth shut and gave her my full attention.
Mary Catherine said, “I’ve been to see Dr. Jackson a couple of times recently.”
My heart started to beat faster hearing that she had visited her ob-gyn.
Mary Catherine sat up in the bed. She turned and looked into my eyes. “Michael, I’m not pregnant. I know you’ve been thinking I am. I’m not. Dr. Jackson thinks it’s unlikely I could ever get pregnant.” Mary Catherine looked at me for my response.
I sat up and hugged her. She started to sniffle. I cooed, “It’s okay, it’s okay.” I held her. After a moment, I added, “As long as you’re healthy, that’s all that matters.”
Mary Catherine said, “I’m fine. Well, except for the ability to have a child.” She tried to smile. Then she said, “Michael, cheer me up. Take my mind off it.”
I tried to think what to say. Finally, I came up with “I wish we had something to take our minds off babies. Maybe something like, I don’t know, ten kids.”
She smiled. She sniffled and wiped a tear from her eye and then smiled again. “So you’re okay with it?”
“Sweetheart, I have you. I’m okay with anything.”
She kissed me.
I kissed her.
We fell asleep in each other’s arms.
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About the Authors
James Patterson is the world’s bestselling author. His enduring fictional characters and series include Alex Cross, the Women’s Murder Club, Michael Bennett, Maximum Ride, Middle School, and Ali Cross, along with such acclaimed works of narrative nonfiction as Walk in My Combat Boots, E.R. Nurses, and his autobiography, James Patterson by James Patterson. Bill Clinton （The President Is Missing） and Dolly Parton （Run, Rose, Run） are among his notable literary collaborators. For his prodigious imagination and championship of literacy in America, Patterson was awarded the 2019 National Humanities Medal. The National Book Foundation presented him with the Literarian Award for Outstanding Service to the American Literary Community, and he is also the recipient of an Edgar Award and nine Emmy Awards. He lives in Florida with his family.
James O. Born is an award-winning crime and science-fiction novelist as well as a career law-enforcement agent. A native Floridian, he still lives across the Indian River from NASA.
Books by James Patterson Featuring Michael Bennett
The Russian （with James O. Born） Blindside （with James O. Born） Ambush （with James O. Born）
Haunted （with James O. Born）
Bullseye （with Michael Ledwidge） Alert （with Michael Ledwidge） Burn （with Michael Ledwidge） Gone （with Michael Ledwidge） I, Michael Bennett （with Michael Ledwidge） Tick Tock （with Michael Ledwidge） Worst Case （with Michael Ledwidge） Run for Your Life （with Michael Ledwidge） Step on a Crack （with Michael Ledwidge）
For a preview of upcoming books and information about the author, visit JamesPatterson.com or find him on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.
Turn the page for a sneak peek at James Patterson's explosive new thriller, Blowback…
On the second floor of the White House, where the private family quarters are located, thirty-three-year-old Liam Grey of the Central Intelligence Agency is sitting on an antique couch waiting to see the president. It’s nearly seven a.m. as he looks around at the priceless furniture and framed paintings and feels the quiet of the place. These walls have seen the romping and playing of presidential children from Theodore Roosevelt’s to JFK’s, Jimmy Carter’s, and Bill Clinton’s, as well as the attentions of numerous first ladies, but not now. This president is the first bachelor chief executive to assume office since James Buchanan—more than a century and a half ago.
As he waits, Liam spends a few moments reflecting on the odd circumstances of his life that led him here. He knows DC well, having grown up in the Southwest & The Wharf neighborhood of the district, and definitely not in the tony Georgetown part. He barely made it through the lousy local schools and luckily caught a track scholarship to BU, where he thrived and joined the Army ROTC, following in the sad footsteps of his older brother, Brian, a captain in the famed 10th Mountain Division who had been killed during his second tour of Afghanistan.