Chapter 27
Twenty-Seven
E vie pushed back from the desk, standing up to stretch her back for the millionth time that day. Thank goodness she was about to be on her way for some girl time with Sylvie, Abby, and Katy. Since the revelation about Garrett, things had been more tense than ever. It felt so important that she not waste a single second on anything other than tying Garrett to the missing money, or the dead cattle.
They’d had several video conference calls with Sebastian’s accountant in Virginia, but without all the records digitized, it was an uphill battle.
Evie was also only six weeks out from her due date. It was getting harder to not feel the effects of carrying Jellybean. So, she was giving herself some grace that afternoon. A little time off to enjoy some of Sylvie’s whimsy.
“You’re leaving early? Everything okay?” Sam asked as she grabbed her purse off the shelf.
“You don’t remember? Sylvie invited me to celebrate the Summer Solstice.”
“Are you sure you’re up for it? ”
“Of course I am. I can’t stay hidden away either here in the office working on chasing down numbers or up in the apartment. I’m going stir crazy.”
“Just in case you weren’t aware, she’s going to make you dance out in the field.”
“Oh, I’m aware. I kind of can’t wait,” she laughed. “Sylvie has this infectious energy that I just can’t get enough of. She told me to wear a dress and be ready to help her ‘ charge all her crystals’ . I’m very interested to see how we are going to do that.”
“Have fun. If she gets too eccentric, just tell her I need you back here.”
“Stop, Sam. I love your mom. It’s going to be so much fun! Do you want me to bring Shep up to the house with me?”
“Nah, leave him here. I have to head out and help Derrick and Zeke. He can come with us.”
Evie turned, grabbing her water bottle before heading out.
“Wait!” Sam stood up from his desk, walking over to her. He cupped her cheeks in his hands and brought his lips down to hers. She gasped, allowing his tongue to press into her mouth.
“God. Keep kissing me like that and I’ll need to celebrate the solstice with a different kind of dancing,” she teased when he finally let her go.
“I’m not opposed to celebrating that way later.” He brushed his finger over her flushed cheek. “Only if you’re ready though. I know we’ve been working back towards?—”
“Is that why you’ve only been cuddling me at night? Sam, I let you back into my bed.”
“But that was for comfort after you were attacked.”
“And yet, I haven’t asked you to leave.”
Evie laughed as his eyes sparkled with excitement.
“You haven’t said anything before now, though. ”
“I was enjoying the back rubs and the cuddles too much. I don’t want them to stop.” She bit her bottom lip before it could pop out and pout. “But I think there’s a different ache I need you to take care of tonight.”
“Fuck me,” he groaned.
“Oh, I plan to, Cowboy. Make sure you bring your hat to bed tonight.”
Sam pressed a kiss to the end of her nose before she turned, yipping at the pat he landed on her behind before she made it out of the office.
“Oh, Evie. You look beautiful, honey.”
She’d gone up to the apartment to change into a long, loose skirt and matching top. It felt so nice not to have the pressure of maternity pants pressing against her belly for once. She’d also let down her hair, leaving it in waves that flowed over her shoulders and down her back. The combination of everything made her feel incredibly feminine, and powerful.
“Thanks, Sylvie. And thank you for the invite. I’ve never celebrated the solstice before.”
“Well, you’re in for a treat! This is a great one. Don’t be surprised if the baby starts kicking up a storm on you. Abby was always quiet, but Sam loved when I’d dance. And I think their little spirits are closely tuned to nature.”
“I’m sure she’ll love it just as much as I will.”
Sylvie reached out and squeezed her arm. “You are a gem, Evie. Will you grab those two selenite towers for me?”
“Sure.” She eyed the large white crystals, picking one up in each hand as she walked behind Sylvie into the kitchen. “Where do you want them?”
“Oh, just on the back porch in the sunlight.” Sylvie walked towards her with a smile. “I made this for you, if you want to wear it.”
Evie set down the crystals on the kitchen counter and smiled as Sylvie handed her an intricate floral crown.
“I made it with yellow flowers for you, which match your aura, and white for the baby.”
“It’s beautiful.” She couldn’t get more than that past the lump of emotions in her throat.
“Mom?” Abby’s voice filtered in from the front room.
“Kitchen, Honey!” Sylvie called out.
Little feet stomped through the house and in barreled Katy, sporting the most precious princess dress and fairy wings.
“I’m a goddess like you, Goddess!” Katy launched herself into Sylvie’s arms.
“I see that, little sprite. Here, every good goddess needs her flower crown.” Katy’s eyes went wide with excitement.
“Look, Aunt Evie! I’m just like you!”
Aunt Evie. Abby patted her arm, giving her a knowing smile.
“I wasn’t sure if you’d want to participate, Abby, but I made a crown for you too.”
Sam had told her a few times that Abby had a hard time dealing with their mom’s eccentricities. But something seemed different with her now.
“I want to participate, Mom. I’d love to wear the crown.”
Sylvie placed the last floral crown, this one with beautiful blue and purple flowers woven through it, on Abby’s head.
“Mommy, you are so beautiful!” Katy giggled as Abby scooped her up.
“We are a gorgeous group of goddesses, that’s for sure.” Sylvie laughed. “Alright, Solstice Sisters, it’s time to get out into nature!”
The women all made their way outside, where Sylvie had set up a circle with bowls of flower petals and various crystals placed sporadically around. Katy began twirling, grabbing a handful of dried flowers and sprinkling it around like fairy dust as she weaved around the circle.
“Very good, little sprite. See? They already come to Earth knowing just how to celebrate!”
Evie and Abby shared a smile.
“Evie, if you’re comfortable with it, I’d love to say a little blessing over the baby, since this is the season where she will come into the world.”
“I’d love that so much, Sylvie.”
“Wonderful. You pull your shirt up over your belly and make sure your skirt band is low. I’ll get the paint ready.”
“Paint?”
“Don’t worry. I made it myself from some red clay I had stored in my holistic remedies cabinet. Nothing bad in it that could hurt you or the baby.”
“Okay.” Evie worked to situate her clothes just how Sylvie had asked.
“Evelyn came into our lives when everything began to bloom. And she herself blossomed with new life. As we head into summer, we watch our crops grow, full of the promise of a bountiful harvest. And that is what we pray over Evie and her sweet baby today. That they will continue to grow in harmony. The baby, growing strong to make her appearance in this world, and Evie, staying strong as she grows closer to bringing her daughter into the world.”
Sylvie dipped a paintbrush into the bowl of wet clay and painted it over her palm. “It’s a beautiful thing to be a part of, and we thank you, Mother Earth, for bringing Evie and her baby into our family. Blessings from the Mother, to the mother and babe.” Sylvie pressed her painted hand on Evie’s belly. “Blessings, to you, Evie, and your beautiful baby girl.”
Evie’s eyes filled with tears as she thanked Sylvie.
Abby was next, painting her hand and then pressing it against Evie’s skin. “Blessings, Evie. I can’t wait to meet my niece.”
“Oh, but?—”
“No buts. Even if I didn’t know exactly how my brother feels about you, she’d still be my niece because you are a part of this family no matter what.”
“Thank you.”
“My turn! My turn!” Katy rushed towards Evie, both her hands painted with the bright red clay. They landed on either side of Evie’s belly button, and she laughed. “Hello in there, baby. I can’t wait for you to come out so I can play with you!”
The women all joined hands, red paint connecting them to one another as they danced around the field, their laughter filling the air.
It had to be a mirage. There was no way someone looked so goddamn beautiful. So ethereal. So perfect. But he knew it was true. Evie was wearing a tan skirt that was so long it swept up dirt that sparkled in the sunlight as she twirled in a circle. The waist band was slung low under her belly, which was on full display. She’d knotted her shirt so that it sat at the top of her bump, and it was the single fucking sexiest thing Sam had ever seen.
He watched as Evie took his mother’s hands in hers and they spun around together, laughing. A head popped up out of the grass and Sam was shocked to see his sister and Katy join in. Evie mentioned Abby was invited, but usually she wouldn’t be caught dead supporting their mother’s eccentricities.
The women in his family all looked so happy. Carefree. His niece giggled as Evie let her feel her belly. God, his face ached from smiling so hard.
“Well now. That’s a nice sight, isn’t it Boss Man? Haven’t seen Ms. Sylvie that happy in a long time.” Derrick’s hand landed on Sam’s shoulder.
“Yeah.”
“And Abby’s out there with her. Shit. Never thought I’d see that little spitfire indulging your mom.” Zeke halted Jasper.
“I think maybe Evie had some influence on her.”
“She sure is beautiful.”
Sam growled.
“Don’t worry, Boss.” Zeke held up his hands and chuckled. “I’m too old for all that. Besides, it’s been clear since the day she showed up that you’d be claiming her for yourself. Even if she’s not branded in your hat yet. I’ve got a bet going with Derrick though on when it’ll happen.”
“Oh yeah?”
“Yep. As long as you do it in the next two weeks, I win.”
Sam chuckled. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
“Good man.” Zeke slapped his hand against Sam’s shoulder. “Go get your woman and make sure you keep that dopey, lovesick look on your face. Women eat that shit up.”
“Shut up, Zeke.”
“Sure thing, Boss.”
“I can’t believe you were out there dancing with Mom and Evie,” Sam laughed, pointing his fork right at his sister.
“I loved it!” Katy said as she shoveled more watermelon into her mouth.
“Surprisingly, I did too. I don’t know. There was just something about having all the Cooper women there, together. It felt powerful .
He felt it. The minute Abby counted Evie as a Cooper, she went still. He tightened his grip on her leg and leaned in.
“I like the sound of that. All the Cooper women.”
“Sam…”
“Evie, honey, is there something else you’d rather have for dinner?”
Her cheeks flushed. “No, this is all delicious. I just have to take it slow because I get full faster now that the baby is getting to be so big, and she gives me terrible heartburn no matter what I have.”
Sam’s hand moved from Evie’s leg up to her belly. He could tell Jellybean was being rambunctious from the way Evie kept shifting in her seat.
“Settle down, little one. Let your mama eat her meal in peace.”
Her hand settled over his. “Thank you. Your voice seems to be the only one she listens to lately.”
Sam’s cheeks flushed when he looked up, his mother and sister not hiding the way they were staring at him.
“It’s probably because I’ve been reading to her.”
“What? When?”
“Usually right after you swear you’ll stay awake for whatever movie you put on the TV and then promptly fall asleep against my shoulder,” he teased. “I’m starting Jellybean out early on all my favorite books from when I was a kid.”
“I didn’t know that’s what you wanted the books for,” Sylvie smiled at her son.
“You’ve been reading her actual books from your childhood while I’ve been completely oblivious and passed out at night?”
“Passed out and drooling on me,” Sam chuckled. A sharp elbow dug into his side.
“I do not drool.”
“Whatever you say, Bluebell. Now, eat your solstice salad before it gets warm.” Sam picked up his fork in his left hand, clumsily maneuvering the food to his mouth, while his other hand stayed right on Evie’s belly. His little girl was finally settling down, and an itch of emotion in the back of his throat had the quinoa going down rougher than it normally did all on its own.
“Mom, you have to stop making this. It’s gross.”
“Sam!”
“What? Don’t eat it, Evie. You’ll never survive the heartburn.”
“I’ll have you know that quinoa is wonderful for you and after?—”
“I’m fine, Mom. You know the doctor has reassured me of that a million times over the last few months. There’s no reason why we can’t go back to having steak and potatoes, like God intended.”
“Good luck convincing any of the women here at this table to let you go back to eating like that, Cowboy. You’re too important to us all.” Evie smiled as she threaded her fingers through the hand resting on her belly. She leaned over, her lips almost brushing his cheek. “She’s asleep. You don’t have to keep struggling with your fork in the wrong hand.”
He loved the way her skin flushed as she pulled away from him. She was sun kissed from the afternoon spent outside .
“Don’t care, Bluebell. I never want to let my girls go.”
“So, how was your first summer solstice with Sylvie experience?” Sam handed Evie a glass of water across the counter. They’d finished up the night with a quick walk around the closest field before heading back up to her apartment.
She laughed, rolling her shirt up over her belly and gesturing to the handprints painted on her skin. “It’s certainly something I’ll never forget. Abby and Katy were so cute together. Gives me a glimpse into what life with Jellybean is going to be like one day. I’m sure we all looked silly out there, but it was so much fun.”
“You didn’t look silly.” He took her hand and walked with her into the bedroom, helping her sit at the bottom of the bed. Sam reached up and tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “You looked fucking beautiful. It was like the goddess of fertility herself was dancing in my fields. The way the sunlight came through your hair and sparkled through the dust you spun up with your twirls is something I’ll never forget, Bluebell. I was a second away from losing all control before Derrick and Zeke came up and interrupted my thoughts.”
Her tongue darted out as she licked her lips.
“Oh, I forgot my water. Can you grab it for me before we get busy?” she winked before pulling her shirt over her head.
“No problem.”
Sam walked to the kitchen, spotting the glass of water right next to his hat. He leaned back, peeking into the bedroom. Evie was already laying down on the bed, tucked on her side. He had a sneaking suspicion that by the time he made it back, she’d be fast asleep.
It had been setting in for a while, but there was no doubt in his mind Evie and her baby were meant to be his. Forever.
He felt peaceful knowing what he was about to do. Sam snatched his hat off the counter and made his way to the stove. Grabbing a knife, he turned on the gas burner. And in that small kitchen, he branded the two most precious names he knew into his hat.
Setting his hat next to the door, Sam made his way back into the bedroom with Evie’s water. He put the glass down on her nightstand and made his way over to the dresser to change. Sam slid into bed only a minute later, smiling as Evie’s soft snores filled the room.
He watched as a little foot pressed out against her skin.
“Hi, Jellybean,” he whispered. “I’m keeping you and your mama forever. Is that okay?”
An enthusiastic thump landed against his hand. “I knew I could count on you to be excited. Okay, what book should we read tonight?”