Epilogue
Four weeks later . . .
Bailey shifted in the uncomfortable hospital bed.
After spending an amazing Thanksgiving with Trevor and his family, she’d followed up with Dr. Collins for her semiweekly visit.
Her blood pressure had started to rise again, despite being on bed rest, so Dr. Collins had insisted she be admitted to the hospital.
Her baby girl would be born six weeks early at thirty-four weeks gestation.
It wasn’t easy not to panic at knowing she’d be delivering a preemie.
The truth was that despite the loving attention she’d received from Trevor and his family, especially Kendra, she hadn’t felt great.
She was so in tune to her body that she’d been able to figure out when her blood pressure was rising.
Even while sitting in bed doing nothing, it would sometimes spike too high.
If delivering a preemie was the best course of action, then she would place Naomi’s future into God’s capable hands.
Griff had kept her and Trevor up to date on the investigation into the Plymouth Properties organization.
Todd White had agreed to testify against his boss for a lighter sentence after Jeff Riley had given up as much information as he knew.
Riley wouldn’t do jail time, but he was stripped of his badge and had been relocated to Florida under a different name.
She didn’t begrudge Jeff the chance to start over, even though she would have preferred he hadn’t kidnapped her in the first place.
Griff and his FBI colleagues had raided the Sweet Water Pub and Grill, grabbing the books and the cash stored on the premises. A similar raid had taken place at the other restaurants owned by Plymouth Properties too. The Sweet Water Pub was closed now, likely permanently.
“Hey, there’re my girls.” Trevor beamed when he entered the hospital room. He kissed her, then kissed her belly. “I got here as fast as I could.”
“Where’s Archie?” She had gotten used to having the K9 at her side. In her opinion, he was a better therapy dog than a tracking K9.
“Kendra has him.” He arched a brow. “Dr. Collins mentioned you might need a C-section as they don’t want you enduring a long labor with your blood pressure so unpredictable. I doubt they’ll let him come into the operating room with us.”
“Yeah, I know.” She tried to hide her nervousness. “It’s fine. I’m going to be fine. Everything is going to be fine.”
“Bailey.” He clasped her hands in his and kissed her again.
“Please don’t worry. You’ve got this. Naomi is going to do great.
She’s four and a half pounds now. Remember what Dr. Collins said?
The same thing the ER doc told you the first time you were diagnosed.
Babies under stress develop faster. Especially their lungs. ”
“I remember.” Her memories had returned over the past few weeks. Probably because she’d gotten plenty of rest, and there had been no reason to press the issue. Being with Trevor was a blessing. She couldn’t imagine how she’d have managed without him.
“I love you.” The words came easily now that they’d spent the past four weeks together. “I’m glad you’re here with me.”
“I love you too.” He glanced at the clock. “What time did Dr. Collins say she’d be in?”
“An hour or so.” She shifted on the bed again. “Why?”
“That means there’s time for this.” He pulled out a ring box. “I spoke with Miles. He was not happy at first, but I told him nobody would love you more than I do. He finally agreed and gave us his blessing.” He held her gaze. “Bailey, will you marry me?”
“Oh, Trevor.” Her eyes pricked with tears.
Not just because of her hormones. She was still mad at her brother, even though Miles had explained he’d thought Clark would provide financial stability for her.
She didn’t appreciate his influence. But life was short, and she wasn’t going to waste another second of it on regrets.
“Yes, Trevor. I’d be honored to marry you. ”
He grinned and slid the ring onto her finger. Then he kissed her again. “I wish we could have been married before Naomi’s birth, but bed rest and weddings don’t exactly go together.”
“We can get married whenever you like.” She blew out a slow breath when she felt her blood pressure rising. “Naomi will know she’s loved by her parents. By us, Trevor. And her new extended family.”
“She will,” he agreed. Then he grinned again. “Maya said it’s not fair that you get to deliver Naomi before she has her baby.”
That made her laugh. “I wish it wasn’t necessary, but our baby girl is in God’s hands now.”
“Good afternoon.” Dr. Collins breezed into the room. “Are you ready to get started?”
She clung to Trevor’s hand. “Yes.”
The next few hours were difficult. After a failed attempt at labor, Dr. Collins prepped her for a C-section. Bailey was given a spinal anesthetic so she could be awake, and when Naomi was born, the baby wailed loud enough to make Bailey cry too.
Naomi’s lungs sounded fairly well developed, and she was humbly grateful.
“Four pounds six ounces and eighteen inches long,” Dr. Collins announced after an all too brief skin-to-skin contact. “She’s going to do just fine.”
Watching as Trevor gazed at Naomi with love, she knew that was true. They were now a family in every way that mattered.
I hope you enjoyed Trevor and Bailey’s story. I hope you’ll stick with me for the last book in the series. If you’re ready to read Kendra and Dominic’s story in Scent of Murder, click here!