Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 86632 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 433(@200wpm)___ 347(@250wpm)___ 289(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86632 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 433(@200wpm)___ 347(@250wpm)___ 289(@300wpm)
“Thank you,” I sighed, as he helped me up next.
“Do you need help getting on the blow-up?”
I shook my head. “No, I’ve got that. And thank you for the pillows!”
At one end of the blow-up, Gavin had piled up a bunch of pillows, so my upper half could be elevated and I wouldn’t have to lie flat. He laid a blanket over the bed as well. “You win husband of the year award.”
“Again?” he said with a teasing tone. “We might want to give it to someone else this year.”
“Daddy! Daddy!” Lily said, tugging on Gavin’s hand. “Me! Me!”
He reached down and scooped her up, throwing her over his shoulder—her favorite thing—and she let out a girlish shriek. “Come on, Bean, let’s get you snuggled in with your favorite blanket.”
After getting Lily settled in the middle, Gavin hovered while I sat down.
“Do you want to put your feet up?” he asked.
I started to say something—when I froze. I’d had Lily two weeks early, during my thirty-eighth week, and I was just about to hit the thirty-nine-week mark.
“Can you help me back up?”
Confused, Gavin reached for my outstretched hands. “Sure, what’s wrong?”
After I stood, I drew in a deep breath and exhaled. “You’d better call Loren.”
He stared at me for a moment before his eyes flew open wide. “You’re kidding, right?”
With a laugh, I went to reply when Lily cried out, “Pee!”
We both looked at the wet spot on the blanket.
When I looked at Gavin, he laughed. “What is it with you giving birth during your thirty-eighth week?”
I shrugged. “At least I’m consistent.”
He laughed as he pulled out his phone. “Loren? Hey, it’s Gavin. It’s time. Bean is settled in and watching PAW Patrol in the backyard. Are you busy? Great. No, her water just broke. That would be awesome. See you in a few.” After hanging up, he said, “She’ll call down the list after she gets here. I’ll get our stuff in the car and call Dr. Lark.”
Reaching up, I kissed him. “I love you. Thank you.”
He placed his hand on the side of my face. “I love you too.”
As he walked toward the house, I called after him. “Did you put the car seat in the car?”
Gavin stopped walking, dropped his head, and I heard him mutter, “Fuck.”
I tried not to laugh as I turned toward Lily. “Bean, are you ready to meet your little brother?”
She looked at me and gave me a thumbs-up before focusing back on the large screen playing PAW Patrol.
When I glanced up, a falling star descended in the same line of sight as our two stars. A memory of Evelyn pointing out the stars so long ago came flooding back.
Evelyn pointed up as we lay on the hood of her car, eating ice cream cones. “Those two stars right there, do you see them?”
“Yeah, I see them.”
“They’re special. I don’t know why, but they are.”
Staring at the two stars, I nodded. Then facing her, I smiled. “Yeah, they are special.”
“Mommy?”
Looking at Lily, I smiled. “Yes?”
“Heaven Momma is whiff baby bwother.” She pointed to the two stars, where another falling star streaked by. “See?”
I glanced up and smiled. “I see, Bean. I see.”