Page 28 of Chasing Christmas

"Hey,Max?"Ipeekmy head into the cramped break room, searching for Max Sawyer, our set medic, pulling my robe tight around me. I feel ridiculous running around in my costume, but our sex scene starts filming in a few minutes, and I don't know if I'll get a chance to talk to her again before we wrap.

She lifts her gaze from the array of medical equipment spread across the tabletop, her blue eyes running over me. "If you're here to proposition me, the answer is no," she says in her firm British accent, brushing her dark hair off her shoulder. "I've already chased the set double out of here."

I blink at her, not sure if she's serious or not. Max is a tough cookie to crack, a little grumpy, but she knows her stuff. "Um, I came to ask a question."

"Does it involve dates?"

"No?"

"Oh." Relief steals across her face, softening her expression. "You can come in then."

I hesitate for a moment, rabidly curious about what the set double, Andrew Briggs, did to stress her out, but quickly decide the less I know, the better. Other people's business is not mine for a reason. I slip into the break room, closing the door behind me. And then I hesitate again.

"Is anything I say to you confidential?" Max isn't one to gossip, but the question slips out anyway.

"It can be." She cocks her head to the side, her gaze growing concerned. "What's up, Laura?"

"I'm pregnant," I blurt, feeling a little like I'm revealing a state secret. Kaiden and I haven't discussed when we would tell people yet. We didn't have time. We barely had time to process the news ourselves before we had to rush to set to make my call time.

"Well, now you've got me gobsmacked. I did not see that coming," Max says, her accent deepening.

"Me either." I place my hand over my belly, awed all over again. Will it be this way the whole time? Probably, I quickly decide.

Max watches me intently. "Judging by the look on your face, you aren't here to talk about your options, are you?"

I quickly shake my head. There are no options as far as I'm concerned. Kaiden and I are having this baby. We're going to love him or her with our whole hearts. I never even considered anything else, and I wouldn't. I would have kept the baby even if he hadn't been happy. I would have raised our child on my own. He or she is a part of Kaiden. How could I ever give up or regret something that's part of him?

"What can I help you with then?" Max asks.

"I'm up for a role in an action movie," I explain quietly. "It starts filming in February. I'm just wondering if it's safe for the baby for me to take a role like that."

"Women take roles all the time while pregnant," Max says carefully, rearranging a row of bandages on the table. "But I won't lie and say it'll be easy because it won't be. There are risks. Action roles are physically demanding. They put your body through a lot, and so does pregnancy. Trying to do both at the same time can really take a toll. Obviously, there are risks, especially if you'll be doing any sort of stunt work yourself. Accidents happen." Her gaze flits across my face. "But I think you probably know that better than anyone."

It takes me a minute to realize what she means.Kaiden.Of course. The whole world still thinks he was injured in a stunt gone wrong. They still don't know the truth. I doubt they ever will. He'll take the truth to his grave to protect his friend, and I would never do anything to undermine his decision. But I wish everyone knew the incredible, selfless man I know.

Maybe then they wouldn't see the scar across his face when they look at him or a reminder of what could have been. They'd see his heart, his courage, and maybe, just maybe, this town would be a little bit better for it. Maybe, just maybe, we'd all learn that true beauty is found within.

"Thanks, Max," I say, giving her a tiny smile.

She returns my smile and then hesitates. "It's not really my business, but how are you doing otherwise? With the pregnancy, I mean. Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I think so. I've had a little morning sickness, but that's it."

"How far along are you?"

"Just a few weeks, I think."

She nods. "It'll probably get worse before it gets better. Try ginger ale and crackers as soon as you wake up. They might help. If it gets really bad, your doctor can prescribe you something, but they try not to do that unless it's absolutely necessary."

"Mine can't see me until after the holidays."

"That's okay." She gives me a calm, reassuring smile. "It's perfectly normal to wait a few weeks before you're seen. Unless you start having problems, it'll be okay."

"Thanks," I whisper. I've been nervous about it. I know Kaiden is too. The odds of him passing on his heart condition are non-existent as it's not hereditary, but I think we'll both probably worry until we see the doctor and he reassures us that the baby is healthy and we have nothing to worry about.

"Good luck."

"Um, you too."