Chapter 39
Thirty-Nine
H e turned the corner and there she was. His baby sister. Only, not a baby anymore. He could still vividly recall the day his parents brought her home from the hospital. The first time he held her and the way she had looked up at him with her big blue eyes.
Memories from their life together flooded his mind, and tears choked him.
“You look beautiful.”
“Sam. Don’t you dare cry. It took the last two hours to get my makeup right and I can’t be a soggy mess before John sees me.”
He wrapped his arm around her shoulder and pressed a kiss into her hair. “I wouldn’t dream of it.”
Music started from inside the barn, and Sam smiled.
“Are you ready to get out of this heat? To become a wife and a mom all in one swoop?”
“I already am a mom, Sam.”
His eyes drifted to where her flowers were covering her stomach.
“You’re pregnant?”
“What? God, no! I’ve been drinking champagne all morning!”
“Jesus. John was talking about a honeymoon baby earlier. Thought maybe you two celebrated early and I was going to have to beat the shit out of him for turning this into a shotgun wedding.”
“Stop,” she laughed. “I’m already a mom because I adopted Katy.”
Warmth spread through his chest. “It went through?”
“Last week. I’m officially on her birth certificate and everything. We’re going to announce it tonight at the reception.”
“That’s amazing, Abby. Holy shit. You’re about to be a wife, and you’re a mom. I’m officially an uncle!”
“You are. And soon you’ll be a dad. Do you think he’d be proud of us?”
Their dad. Fuck, what he wouldn’t give for him to be there again. To see Abby so happy with John and Katy. To have him meet Evie and Jellybean. But there was no doubt in his mind about how his father would feel about both of his children.
“Yeah, Dove. I think he would be.”
Sitting was doing her no favors as Evie swiped the tears from her eyes at how beautiful everything was in front of her. Seeing Sam walk his sister towards John, being next to Sylvie as she watched her baby girl walk to the man she loved, it had every single one of her emotions running in overdrive. One day, Sam would walk Jellybean down the aisle towards her own partner. The baby wasn’t even in Evie’s arms yet and she could tell how fast time was going to fly by once she was.
A cramp had her wiggling in her seat, praying for the officiant to find his words faster so that she could get up and walk around. She needed a distraction. The pain was just uncomfortable enough to give her an unsettled feeling in her belly, but nothing she felt like calling attention to. So, distraction was her only hope. Her eyes drifted off her swollen stomach and up to Sam, who she expected to find watching John and Abby as they exchanged their vows.
But his eyes were solely focused on her, a worry line creasing between his eyes.
Are you okay? he mouthed.
She smiled and nodded, but she didn’t miss the way his eyes drifted down to where her hand absentmindedly rubbed against the tension in her muscles.
The rest of the ceremony went by in a flash, and before she knew it, Evie was being swept up in the commotion of cocktail hour and pictures with the wedding party. Abby insisted she join them for a few. The hustle and bustle had the pains she was starting to feel quite regularly fade into the background of her mind.
Sam wrapped one arm around his sister’s shoulders, the other grasping her hand as they took off, dancing around as all eyes were on them.
“I know I’m not dad, but I’m honored that I got to walk you down the aisle, and that I get to have this dance with you now.”
“I’m thankful we’ll always have these memories together. Thank you for stepping up in his place.” Abby laid her head on his shoulder. “I saw Evie rubbing her back a few minutes ago. Is she still feeling okay?”
“I think so. She hasn’t said anything to me. Although, I did catch her rubbing her belly during the ceremony.” Worry started that all too familiar ache in his chest .
“I’m sure she’s fine, but we’ll all just keep an eye on her the rest of the night.”
They took a few more turns before Sam felt a hand land on his shoulder. He stopped, looking down at his mom.
“I’d like to have the rest of this dance with my baby girl, if that’s okay.”
“She’s all yours.” He pressed a kiss to his sister’s cheek before doing the same with his mom. Once they were holding onto each other, tears flowing down both of their faces, Sam turned away from the dance floor. His duties for the wedding and the night were over. Now, he could finally be where he wanted. With his girls.
Evie felt restless. She stood and watched as Sam danced with Abby, tears springing to her eyes at how sweet the moment was. Selfishly, she knew she could get away with taking a much needed walk around the barn without his worried gaze following her.
It was starting to take real effort to hide the pains, and no matter how much she tried to tell herself they were just from the heat, or the long day, something in the back of her mind had started sounding the warning bells.
Her back ached as a small cramp started low in her belly. She placed one palm on the table in front of her, the other hand resting on her tight muscles.
Distraction… She desperately needed a distraction.
Her eyes bounced across all the desserts in front of her, and her mouth watered at the chocolate cupcakes. Yup, she’d definitely need to try one of those. Emma really had done an amazing job with the sweet treats. Everything looked beautiful.
“Hey, Evie. How are you feeling? ”
Her body flinched as an arm landed on her shoulder.
“Oh, Jake! You scared me. I thought I could sneak away from the dance floor for a minute to get some air without anyone noticing.”
“Ah. You did a good job. I don’t think anyone else noticed. But doctors have trained eyes.” His gaze dropped to her back, where her hands were rubbing tiny circles into her tight muscles. “What’s going on there?”
“Just some back pain.”
“The baby is due soon, isn’t she?”
“Next week.” Evie winced.
“Braxton Hicks?”
“We like to joke that she’s always wanting to be the center of attention. Only fitting I should have false labor pains all day, right?” Jake’s eyes held oceans of concern, but he still smiled. “Please don’t say anything to Sam. I don’t want him rushing around in a panic and then it turns out to be nothing.”
“Your secret is safe with me. You know, this is reminding me a lot of when Grace was pregnant with Jack. She was sure it was nothing.”
“And it wasn’t?”
“Well, she had Jack the day after, I think. So it was more likely early labor than just plain Braxton Hicks.” Jake sighed. “Just promise if you feel things are getting more intense, you’ll let me know. I can ride into town with you guys no problem.”
“You really are a great friend. How can I repay you? Any single ladies here catch your eye that you want me to chat you up to?”
He laughed. “Nah. I’m very much happy in my marriage to my work. My mom and sisters may not be thrilled, but I’m a big believer in fate stepping in when the timing is right.”
“I guess I am too. Just look at me and Sam.”
“And Jellybean. ”
“Yeah. She’s a lucky little girl.”
“I think Sam’s the lucky one in all this.”
“Oh, I definitely am.” Sam’s arm landed on Jake’s shoulder. “You’re not over here trying to steal my girl, are you, Jake?”
“I’m just after one of Emma’s cupcakes, I promise. I don’t get to stop into the bakery as much as I’d like to.”
“Alright, well, you enjoy your snack while I take my favorite cupcake for a spin.” Evie laughed as he held out his hand. “Can I have this dance?”
“God, I’d love that.”
Evie pressed her head into Sam’s chest, her body angled weirdly with the bulk of her belly moved so that they could be close together.
“I love you. So fucking much. I’m so excited for this next chapter of our lives.”
“I love you, too. Who would have thought taking a job on a ranch would lead to me being the happiest I’ve ever been?”
“Who would have thought I almost didn’t hire you. I owe so much to Daisy.”
“All of your friends are wonderful.”
“I think we can safely say they are your friends now, too. Hell, I know all the girls would pick you over me any day.”
“Yeah, they would.” She laughed as his chest rumbled with a chuckle.
“Do you want to have a wedding like this?” he asked.
“This is beautiful, don’t get me wrong. But I want something small. Sweet and simple. I’d be happy if it was just you and me, and the baby. But I know your family and our friends want to be there too. So, maybe something in between will work.”
A contraction rolled through Evie’s body, aching in her back making way for the squeezing sensation taking over her belly. This particular one was too much. Too strong. She wasn’t going to be able to hide it.
Evie stopped swaying, placing both of her hands to the bottom of her belly. Her head pressed into Sam’s chest, and she felt him move around her so that one of his hands was supporting her back while the other rested on the top of her belly.
“Jesus, Evie. How long has that been happening?”
“All day,” she groaned. “That one was the worst.”
“All day?” She forced herself to look up at Sam, afraid of the anger she was about to see for keeping the contractions to herself. But there wasn’t anger. Only concern. “Do you want to sit down?”
She stared up at him, blinking, while she tried to understand the warm and wet sensation she was feeling between her legs. Did her bladder just lose control? What if she was bleeding again?
“What? Don’t do that, baby. Don’t be silent. You’re scaring me.”
“Can you help me to the bathroom?”
“Of course.”
Sam wrapped his arm around her shoulders and they made their way from the barn back towards John and Abby’s house. Each step was compounding the pain radiating through her back, and by the time they reached the bottom of the steps at the back of the house, Evie was feeling that familiar squeezing sensation take hold again.
“Wait…” she moaned.
“Another one? I think I need to run back to the ranch and get our things.”
“I t-think I need to go with you.”
They started the walk back, their pace slow and steady.
Evie felt a popping sensation low in her belly, and then a rush of warm wetness ran down her legs. She grabbed onto Sam’s arm, her hands shaking with the realization of what just happened. “Oh my god.”
“What?” Sam wasn’t even trying to hide his concern. “What, baby? You’re freaking me out.”
“My water just broke.”
“Shit. Okay. Okay. This is fine. We’re fine. Are you fine? Do you need to sit down? Wait… do you need to change? How are you going to get upstairs? Should I carry you back to the ranch? You’re twelve months pregnant and I don’t know what to do.”
Evie laughed. Right there in her soaked dress, knowing another contraction was building and she was going to have to brave through it, she laughed.
“I’m fine. I’m only nine months pregnant, by the way, although this pregnancy does feel like it’s been a year long.” Sam turned as red as a beet, which only made Evie laugh harder.
“Are you sure you’re okay?”
“I’m fine. But we need to get going.”
Sam placed a kiss on her forehead before they started walking back to the ranch again.
“Hey, guys. Everything okay?” Jake’s voice came from a short ways away when they were halfway down the driveway. “I saw you both take off, thought I’d check in. Evie, are those contractions getting closer together?”
Sam tightened his hand on her arm and pinned her with an accusatory gaze.
“Why the hell did Jake know you were having contractions but I didn’t?”
“Because…” Her teeth ground together. “I knew Jake would help if we needed it, and he wouldn’t be freaked out all night.”
“Give me some credit.”
“Shall I recite back the monologue of epic freak out proportions… you just gave…when you had to… oh,” Evie started to scream, but bit down on her lips before it could escape.
“Breathe, Evie. You’re amazing, baby. We’re going to meet Jellybean soon.”
This couldn’t be happening. She wasn’t supposed to steal the spotlight from John and Abby. Jellybean was meant to wait. She was supposed to…
“I’m trying to get her back across the road.” Sam’s voice drifted in and out of her mind.
“Okay. My car is blocked in. You want me to go ahead and grab a ranch truck?”
Evie shook her head back and forth.
“Bluebell, don’t be stubborn. We need to get you to the hospital.”
“There’s time,” she groaned. “Help me walk back. Jake, I hate to ask, but can you drive us in?”
“I wasn’t going to let you guys take off without me. Keep making your way over while I grab some supplies out of my car.”
Jake must have seen Evie’s eyes go wide because he quickly added, “Just in case, guys. I have every faith we’ll make it to the hospital.”
“Should I carry you?” Sam asked as soon as Jake turned back for his car.
“No. I need to walk. My back is killing me.”
It took what felt like an eternity to get back across the road, although it was probably only ten minutes. They had to stop twice for Evie to ride out contractions, and Jake had caught up with them sometime during that second stop.
Finally, they made it back to the barn. Evie immediately bent over, panting through another contraction.
“Oh, God. I can’t… breathe…” Her belly was like a vice, squeezing until she felt like she’d split in two .
“Shit. Jake?”
Sam’s hand was rubbing her back, providing a little relief to the pain that felt like it could crush her at any moment.
“Yeah, looks like things are really cooking now. I’m going to tell you guys the options we have. We can get in the truck and start driving towards the hospital?—”
Sam spun around to face Jake. “Why is there another option? That sounds exactly like what we need to be doing!”
“Sam,” she hissed, reaching out for him. “Slow dance. Slow dance, please.”
“Here.” Sam wrapped his arms low on Evie’s back, and she let her body sag into his as she felt the baby drop. Oh shit. She’d felt her daughter move down, the pressure nearly unbearable.
Her hands slipped from around Sam’s neck and she wrapped them around her belly.
“I’m not going to make it anywhere. I c-can feel her. Jake. I can feel her coming.”
“Okay. Well, that was easy. Option two it is. Sam, we need to get Evie into the office. Now.”