Page 151 of Samuel

“Are you sure the baby isn’t coming?”

Abby placed her hands on Katy’s face. The two of them were inseparable, and it never stopped being amazing to John. “I’m sure, kiddo. You’ll be the first person I tell, after Dad, if I think anything is going on.”

“Are you sure?—”

“We’re going,” she snapped, cutting John off.

“Alright. Come on, guys. Everyone in the car. Wegotta go over to the ranch first, then we get to go to Uncle Seb and Aunt Emma’s!” John ushered the kids out the door, his eyes bouncing back to his wife every few seconds. He ran around their van to open her door.

“Are you sure about this, Baby? We can drop them off with your brother, or one of mine, and go get you checked out?”

“Stop asking me. I’m NOT messing this up for Emma. We’re going. Get in the car and drive.”

He tried to ignore the way she grimaced and grabbed at her belly. Lord help him if he had to use his emergency baby delivery training. He’d just had the refresher, but had absolutely no interest in trying to deliver his own child.

Thankfully, after stopping at the ranch and finding out Sam and Evie were running behind, it wasn’t too long of a drive to Sebastian and Emma’s place. They’d moved to the country a few years back, wanting more room for Addie to run around and play in. Their home was expansive and beautiful, and they volunteered to host most of the friend get-togethers.

Ten minutes after they left the ranch, John was busy unloading their kids from the car while he watched Abby pretend to not have another contraction.

“Mom, are you sure it’s okay to go play?”

“Katy, it’s fine. I promise someone will let you know if…” she paused, and John was by her side.

“Abby?”

“Nope. I’m good.” He watched her jaw clench. “Go play, Katy.”

Their daughter nodded once, taking off after her brothers. But John didn’t miss the way she looked back, worried about her mom.

“Hey, guys.” Hank clapped John on the back. “I got your paperwork pushed through for paternity leave.”

Hank and John both decided to stay working for ClarenceCounty. Hank was still Sheriff, and John was happy to be working under him as a deputy. The Coopers and the Porters had built a corporation together that oversaw the pumping of crude oil off their land. It provided a comfortable life for their families.

“Thanks, Hank. I think we’ll probably be taking it any day now.” His hand pressed on his wife’s belly, where it was promptly slapped away. God, he forgot how feisty she got at the end. “How’s Daisy doing?”

“Great. Can you believe this has been her easiest one? Madison was a terror, but Henry and this baby seemed to take mercy on her.”

“They say it gets easier…” Abby huffed.

“So. This baby your last one? What do you think?” Hank asked.

“This is it,” Abby responded with a gasp.

“I don’t know, baby. We always talked about having five or six,” John teased. He laughed until her hand latched onto his arm, her fingernails digging into his flesh.

“No. This is it. The baby’s coming.” Her eyes bounced up to his, filled with worry.

“What?”

“I-I… I was wrong. We waited too long. My water just broke.”

“Shit,” John hissed, wrapping his arm around her back.

“Do NOT make a scene,” she groaned through gritted teeth. “Get the kids to one of your brothers and let’s go. She already feels like she’s between my knees.”

“I’ll go get someone for you guys.” Hank smiled as he turned away, jogging towards the front porch where Jackson and Grace were talking to a few of the other shower guests.

“Fuck.” He held his breath as tears filled her eyes. “Hey. It’s fine. I just took my refresher. I can deliver the baby if we need. But that’s not going to happen because we have a plan inplace. Grace and Jackson are going to take the kids. We are going to the hospital. She’s going to wait.”

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