Page 150 of Samuel

There was no way he could know for sure, but he just felt it from the moment Evie had gotten the positive test result. This baby was like her sister. She was going to be in their arms by the end of the year.

They’d been through two rounds of IVF to get to that point. The first retrieval yielded two eggs, and Evie was inconsolable. After both failed to fertilize, she’d wanted to quit. But Sam encouraged her to have faith. And the last time, she’d had one perfect egg that had turned into one perfect three-day embryo. They hadn’t wanted to miss their window for a fresh transfer, so Sam and Evie decided against genetic testing at that stage. Now that she was eight weeks along, she’d be able to do a blood draw sometime in the next month for the screening.

“Yeah. I’ve got a feeling. And Sammy was telling me at breakfast that she’s going to have a little sister named Savannah. Apparently she played with her in a dream last night.”

Tears filled Evie’s eyes. “I would love for her to have a sister. But I just want this baby to make it. I can’t?—”

“Shh. I know. I agreed that this would be our last go of it.” Sam released her and scooped up the medication. “You know, Emma would understand if we didn’t go today. If this ba?—”

“We are not missing this. It’s a huge day for her. It’s a huge day for Daisy, too. My friends deserve to be celebrated.” When he shook his head and sighed, Evie just smiled. “I’ve got this, Cowboy. Now, poke my ass with that needle and let’s get out of here.”

“Never heard you call it a needle before, baby, but you know your cowboy is always ready to poke you.”

She laughed, and for a moment, Sam had his Evie back. The one who had hope for the future. The one who laughed, and was playful. The one whose heart hadn’t been fractured over and over again with the loss of their children.

Sam replaced the cap on the needle once the medication was administered, pressing a kiss to the spot where just a tiny bit of blood escaped through her skin.

He grabbed her dress from the bed and gently tugged it over her head. Once her arms were in the sleeves, Sam wiped away the tears on her cheeks.

“You built this beautiful house for us, Sam. With all these precious bedrooms. I’m sorry I failed you.”

“There has not been one single day since you showed up all those years ago ready to whip my butt into shape that you have failed me, Evie. Not a single day. This is our story, written together. We get to decide the outcome of those rooms. Sammy Jo has one. And this baby will have another. Who’s to say God won’t surprise us with more babies in the future? Who’s to say we won’t pick up hobbies that need space, andthat’s how we’ll use those rooms. Maybe Mom will want to take one of them in the next couple of years when she gets sick of going off to spiritual retreats in the woods? No one knows what the future holds. But there is one thing that is certain. I’ll be standing right here, loving you through each and every moment I get with you. Through all the ups and downs.”

“I love you, Cowboy.”

“I love you too, Bluebell.”

“Boys! Let’s go!” John yelled up the stairs. “Katy, can you make sure your brothers have their shoes on?”

“Yeah, Dad! I’ve got it!”

“Thank god for daughters. Is it really hot out today, or is it just me?” Abby asked, digging her fingers into her back. His poor wife was a week away from her due date and miserable. It felt weird that she’d had such a difficult pregnancy this time around, when her pregnancy with the twins had been so smooth.

Yes, John had gotten Abby pregnant on their honeymoon. With twins. It was the best. She decided not to go back to teaching while their kids were little, and that was perfectly fine with him. He’d support her in her dreams, no matter what they looked like. Luke and Landon were born three weeks early, but came out healthy little tanks and bypassed any time in the NICU, which had been a huge worry for Abby. Now, they were just feral little rascals.

The current baby in her belly had been a surprise to them both. They’d agreed that things felt settled with Katy and the boys. But one day, Katy placed a hand on Abby’s belly and laughed about always wanting a sister, and they knew.

“I think it’s you, sweetheart.” He bent over and pressed a kiss to her forehead, letting his hand fall to where theirdaughter was clearly doing somersaults in her mama’s belly. “Are you feeling okay? I’m sure Emma wouldn’t mind—LUKE STOP THROWING THAT IN THE HOUSE—if we missed today. She understands.”

“I am not going to let a few contractions and a looming due date stop me from celebrating Seb and Emma.”

His heart dropped. “Can we go back to the part about contractions?”

“It’s nothing.”

“How many?”

“A few.”

“Abby,” he growled.

“Fine! Fine. They started an hour ago… maybe two. I think they’re fifteen minutes apart. Probably longer. It’s not a big deal, Deputy.”

“Let’s go.” John laced his fingers through hers and started pulling her into the living room. From the time Abby had her first contraction to when Landon’s head was crowning had been a horrifically short amount of time. He was traumatized from her screaming about his head coming out while they were still in his truck. “Everyone over to Uncle Sam and Aunt Evie’s house! Mom is having the baby!”

“Mom!” Katy’s eyes went wide. “Are you really?”

“No.” Abby shook her head back and forth. “I’m not. Your dad is being silly. Uncle Sam did message a few minutes ago to see if you wanted to help them with Sammy Jo.”

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