Chapter 38
Thirty-Eight
“ I love you so much.”
I love you too, Evie thought as she drifted to the surface after a dreamless night. A heavy, warm hand roamed over her belly before she felt a light kiss on her tight skin.
“You have to be a good girl for your mama today,” Sam whispered. “It’s a special day for our family and I want her to be able to relax and enjoy it. She’s been so worried about missing it. So, here’s the deal, Jellybean. You let your mama laugh with her friends, eat some of the really yummy dinner, dance a couple times with daddy, and then you can come whenever you want. Okay?”
Evie forced herself to hide her laugh when Jellybean thumped her little feet against his hand.
“You’re going to be a daddy’s girl, aren’t you? I think I’ve known from the first time I felt you move. That’s why I’ve already got a pony picked out for you if you behave today. Now, I’m gonna go get you and your mama breakfast. Love you, baby girl.” Another kiss landed right over where the baby’s feet had been stretching against the cramped space .
Evie laid still until she heard the bedroom door shut. And then she let the laughter she’d been holding in loose. A few tears had to be brushed away, but they were soaked in happiness.
An hour later, she’d showered and laughed as Sam fed her an over-the-top breakfast. She’d been absolutely stuffed, but he mumbled something about not trusting her to eat anything once she got gabbing with the girls.
Now, he had her dress and his outfit slung over his shoulder as they walked over to John and Abby’s house.
“How are you feeling? Are you sure we should walk over there? I don’t want you getting wiped out before the day even starts.”
“I’m fine. I need to walk off that breakfast or I’m going to be in a food coma all day. Besides, I’m so excited for your sister that I barely even remember I’m pregnant.”
She sucked in a big breath and laughed, her easily winded body proving her last statement completely false.
“I guess it does make sense to not get the truck stuck in behind everyone’s vehicles. You promise you’ll let me know if you feel any contractions? I don’t want you to wait if you think something is up just because you don’t want to take the spotlight away from Abby.”
“First, I could never take the spotlight off of her. It’s her big day. So even if I did go into labor, it would never take away from this day being all about her. Second, I’m not going into labor today. I heard you make Jellybean promise.”
Sam laughed. “Mm, we both know she’s a bit prone for hysterics, though. Our little lady is going to be a barrel racer when she’s bigger. I’d bet the ranch on it.”
As if she could hear Sam, the baby rolled and kicked Evie’s side. She couldn’t help the moan that escaped as she rubbed her hand into the tender spot.
“Hey, little miss.” Sam stopped walking as his hand slid over her belly. “You be nice to your mama. We’ll see you soon enough. Give her this day, okay?”
“I’m going to have so much fun with the girls today, and then I’m properly going to bawl my eyes out watching you walk Abby down the aisle.”
“And you’ll save a dance for me?”
“The only dancing I want to do is with you, Cowboy.”
“Good.” He leaned in and placed a chaste kiss on her lips. “I love you . ”
“I love you too ,” she whispered. “ Now go. You better get out to the barn before the guys think something is wrong.”
“I will. I just want to say hi to Abby and make sure she knows you’re on strict orders to rest.”
They made it to the front door, which was wide open, allowing the morning breeze to billow through the house. That would feel so nice once she had to slip into her dress. She was already dreading the amount of sweat that would be pouring off of her by the time the ceremony rolled around.
“Your sister loves that you want to say hi,” Abby smiled as she walked into his arms for an embrace. “And of course I’ll keep an eye on my sister-to-be and niece. But I also need you to scoot along and bring this to John.”
She grabbed a wrapped box off the table next to the door.
“Yeah, I can do that for you.”
“Alright. Well, we’ll see you back here in four hours. The boys are already digging into the whiskey. Don’t let them pressure you into drinking. Someone needs to make sure we get married on time!”
“It’ll be fine, don’t worry. Give me one sec with Evie and I’ll be on my way.”
“Mhm. No funny business though, you two. Can’t have Evie having the baby and missing out on Emma’s cake!”
“Abby. Leave me to say goodbye to my girls, would you? ”
“Going, going.” She waved over her shoulder as she made her way back into the house.
“I can’t wait to see you walk her down the aisle.” Evie smiled as Sam pulled her into his chest.
“You call me if anything happens before the ceremony. Got it?”
“Relax, Cowboy. Everything is going to be fine. I’ll see you at the ceremony. I’ll be the one really embracing the ranch theme.”
His eyebrows furrowed.
“You know? Big as a cow, sweating like a pig…”
“Don’t talk about my beautiful wife-to-be like that.”
“I know I kind of kicked the bucket on you and Abby when you told me about your relationship, but I promise I’m not going to do anything like that today.” Sam slapped his hand against John’s shoulder as Jackson fixed his brother’s tie.
The room was filled with their friends, plus John’s dad, Tom, and his youngest brother, Jordan.
“I wasn’t worried about it. I know to trust you when you say you’re fine.”
“I don’t know why I haven’t said this before now, but I need to get it off my chest before the wedding.”
“Should we leave?” Hank asked as he finished pouring more whiskey into a line of glasses on the table in front of him.
“I don’t mind if you guys hear what I have to say.”
“I don’t either,” John added. “Lay it on me.”
“I’m glad it’s you.” Sam cleared his throat, trying to choke back the emotion surrounding his sister’s big day. “I never in a million years would have thought one of my best friends would marry my sister, but I am glad it’s you. I know she’ll be safe. I know she’ll be loved. And I know that along with Katy, and however many other kids come in the future, you’ll always put her first. I couldn’t ask for anything more for her.”
Hank slid a glass into each of their hands, and Sam held him up to John. “Welcome to the family, brother.”
Evie sat, watching the room buzz with excitement. She’d met John’s mom, Nellie, who had promptly given her a giant hug and welcomed her to the family. When Evie’s brows furrowed, Nellie simply laughed and said, “You’re going to be Abby’s sister, which makes you like a daughter to me. And you don’t have a choice because my sons all drive me nuts and I need more girls in my life!”
Now, Nellie was walking towards Abby and Sylvie with a little box that had an adorable white bow on top.
“Nel? I told you, you didn’t have to get anything for me today.”
“I know. It’s just… Well, open it first. Then I’ll explain.”
Evie watched as Abby opened the box, her eyes going wide as she lifted what looked like an ornamental brooch.
“A dove,” Abby whispered.
“Oh, Nell.” Sylvie placed her hand on Nellie’s arm.
“I think this was meant to be, Abby. You and John. I wore that brooch at my wedding. It was on the bag I brought with me to the hospital the day Johnathan was born. And I know it’s the nickname your dad gave you when you were little. I thought, well, I don’t know. I just thought if you wanted to pin it to your bouquet, it might just feel like your dad was with you, walking you down the aisle with Sam.”
Evie’s eyes filled with tears as she watched Abby wrap her arms around her mother-in-law.
“I don’t know how I got so lucky to have you as a second mom, Nellie, but I’m thankful I did. It’s beautiful, and I’d be honored to use it today.”
Evie wiped the tear from her cheek and chuckled as Abby looked over Nellie’s shoulder.
“Are you okay?”
“Don’t mind me. It’s the hormones and the sweet moments. I’m pretty sure I’ll be blubbering all day.”
“Well, I’ll tell the makeup artist you need waterproof everything!”
“Oh, no. I’m just going to do my own?—”
“Nope. I’ve got you down for hair and makeup. My entire bridal party is included.”
“But I’m not in the bridal party.”
“Only because Sam begged me to not ask.” She must have seen the way Evie’s face fell because she ran over, grabbing her hands as she sat down. “No, no! He knew that no matter what I said, you’d feel obligated to stand up next to me, and we both didn’t want you having to do that so close to Jellybean’s due date. Here, come with me.”
Abby stood and pulled Evie to her feet. They walked hand in hand down a long hallway, towards the bedrooms. Inside, Evie saw all the bridesmaid dresses lined up.
“I went ahead and got this for you.” Abby walked over to the wall of dresses and plucked one off its hanger. “It’s a wrap dress, so we can style it over your belly and it won’t be tight or uncomfortable. Grace got this style too, so you’ll match her. I want you to know that you absolutely are important enough to me that I want you to stand by my side as I marry John, but I just can’t put you through that kind of stress. I was hoping you’d wear the dress and walk into the wedding with my mom. Your seats are reserved right next to each other.”
Evie bit the inside of her cheek trying to stop the rush of emotions flying at the speed of light to the surface.
“Oh no. Please don’t feel like you have to. I know you have that beautiful blue dress already picked out, and if that’s what you’re most comfortable with th?—”
Evie wrapped Abby up in a hug, careful not to touch her already styled hair.
“This was all so incredibly thoughtful. It means the world to me that you would want to include me in your day. I love the dress and would be honored to walk in with your mom.”
“I’m so glad you’re going to be my sister soon.”
“Me too. I always wanted a little sister to love on.”
“And we skipped all the messy, angst-filled years.”
Evie laughed. “That we did.”
“Alright, we better get back out there. I can’t believe how fast this day is going.”
“Grace! You’re up for hair and makeup.” Daisy smiled as Abby and Evie walked back into the living room.
“I can take the baby for you if you want,” Evie offered. “I’m pretty much on sitting duty all day anyway.”
“I’d love that. If he gets fussy, just holler and I’ll whip out my boob for him.”
The women all laughed. “Totally different kind of wild wedding we’re having here today.” Emma sipped on her mimosa and went back to weaving flowers into Addie’s hair. Her daughter was going to be a flower girl with Katy. Tears flooded Evie’s eyes as she pictured just how precious the moment was going to be.
“You okay?” Grace asked as she placed the baby into Evie’s arms.
“Of gosh, yes. Apparently the end of this pregnancy is just going to turn me into a water fountain. I’m fine though. Honestly.”
“I was the same way when I was pregnant with Sunny. Seriously, Hank was being so sweet one night, rubbing my feet while suffering through my favorite movie, and I burst into tears because I just knew he was going to be the best dad. Then I got laughing hysterically because he thought I was crying because I was going into labor and ran around like a lunatic trying to get me out the door to the hospital.”
“That’s so sweet though. Is Sunny with him today?”
“No, his mom is watching her for us this morning, then she’ll drop her off for the wedding. She has a dress that matches all of ours, and since Hank and I are both in the wedding party, she gets to come down the aisle with me! It’s going to be so sweet.”
Evie smiled, an image of all of her friends’ beautiful families dancing through her head, until her mind drifted to her own. Her heart beat wildly, picturing Sam holding onto Jellybean as she walked down her own wedding aisle one day.