Page 126 of Samuel

“They’re just fine. And your daughter seems to be staying put for the time being.” Dr. Hayes clicked around in his laptop. “She is still measuring in the twentieth percentile on the ultrasound, so ideally we’d keep her in there for as long as possible, but she might just be a petite baby, and that’s okay too.”

“Thank you, Dr. Hayes.” Evie smoothed the blanked down over her legs and turned to Sam. He was clearly still worried, but leaned down and gave her a kiss right on her forehead.

“It’s never a problem. I’d rather have you guys come in and get checked out a hundred times before it’s showtime and have nothing be wrong than you not come in and have there be a problem. Let me get your discharge paperwork in and I’ll have you two out of here as soon as Evie finishes off that IV.”

Thirty-Five

“Let me see the ring!!” Daisy squealed as Sam helped Evie out of the truck. She held her hand up and Daisy’s eyes went wide. “Oh, it’s stunning!”

“I love it so much. But I love the cowboy I get to spend the rest of forever with so much more.”

“How did your mom and sister take the news?”

Sam smiled. “They were over the moon. Abby was more than happy to point out that she always wanted a sister and is thrilled with Evie now becoming hers.”

“That seems like something Abby would say. Okay, let’s go in! I’ve got brownies waiting to celebrate.”

“How are you feeling?” Daisy set the plate of brownies down on the coffee table and Evie waited for Sam to pass her one.

“Good. Aside from the scare we had last week, I’m honestly fine. A few Braxton Hicks contractions every now and then, but nothing concerning.”

Hank walked into the room with their drinks. “Congratulations, you two.” He shook Sam’s hand and smiled at Evie.

“Thanks, Hank.”

“So, what are the plans? Are you going to get hitched before the baby comes?”

Evie looked at Sam, ready to hear his answer.

“I’d like to,” he said. “But Evie and I don’t want to take away from John and Abby. They deserve to celebrate their special day and just have the focus be on them. Especially after everything they went through last year.”

“That’s really sweet of you guys.” Daisy handed Evie a glass of water.

“I think we might do something quiet down at the courthouse a few days after. I’m due that week, but most first time moms go past their due date, and with Jellybean still measuring a bit small, I’m thinking she might give us a few extra days before she comes.”

“We’d really love to be there,” Daisy looked at the both of them with such hope in her eyes. “Even if it is just something small, and you’re planning to celebrate later. We’d like to be there to celebrate you both. Right, Hank?”

“Absolutely.”

“I’d love that.” Evie reached over and squeezed Daisy’s hand. “Can’t get married without the woman who is responsible for me coming to Bell Ridge in the first place.”

“I just had a feeling in my gut that you were the right woman for Sam. It worked out better than I ever imagined.”

“Alright,” Hank cleared his throat. “I think we should probably go over some of the proposals we’ve gotten from drilling companies to see if anything is remotely interesting to us, before Daisy pulls you both into planning out your entire wedding by lunch.”

“Are you sure you want to do this with me?”

There hadn’t been a proposal that either couple felt was right for their land and families, so with hugs and handshakes, and a plate full of Daisy’s brownies, Sam brought Evie back to the apartment. Their afternoon plans were to sit down and go through the online birthing course, but for some reason, Evie didn’t seem to believe that he wanted to be there.

“I’m going to be there when she’s born. I want to be able to support you however you need me to.”

“I wasn’t even going to do a class. What more do I need to know than I want them to inject me with drugs to take away the pain the second I get there?”

Sam bent down and placed a kiss on the top of her head. “Then that’s exactly what I want for you, too. But I still think this will help.”

“Sylvie sure seemed to think so, too. I guess I should trust the woman who birthed two humans to know a thing or two about what’s needed.”

The first hour of the birthing class had lulled Sam into a false sense of control. They’d practiced some breathing techniques, and learned about the signs of early labor, which was everything that had been listed off to them when they’d arrived at the hospital the week before. Sam was feeling more confident about the whole process and being a good partner to Evie when the time came.

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