Page 137 of Samuel

“Oh no. Please don’t feel like you have to. I know you havethat beautiful blue dress already picked out, and if that’s what you’re most comfortable with th?—”

Evie wrapped Abby up in a hug, careful not to touch her already styled hair.

“This was all so incredibly thoughtful. It means the world to me that you would want to include me in your day. I love the dress and would be honored to walk in with your mom.”

“I’m so glad you’re going to be my sister soon.”

“Me too. I always wanted a little sister to love on.”

“And we skipped all the messy, angst-filled years.”

Evie laughed. “That we did.”

“Alright, we better get back out there. I can’t believe how fast this day is going.”

“Grace! You’re up for hair and makeup.” Daisy smiled as Abby and Evie walked back into the living room.

“I can take the baby for you if you want,” Evie offered. “I’m pretty much on sitting duty all day anyway.”

“I’d love that. If he gets fussy, just holler and I’ll whip out my boob for him.”

The women all laughed. “Totally different kind of wild wedding we’re having here today.” Emma sipped on her mimosa and went back to weaving flowers into Addie’s hair. Her daughter was going to be a flower girl with Katy. Tears flooded Evie’s eyes as she pictured just how precious the moment was going to be.

“You okay?” Grace asked as she placed the baby into Evie’s arms.

“Of gosh, yes. Apparently the end of this pregnancy is just going to turn me into a water fountain. I’m fine though. Honestly.”

“I was the same way when I was pregnant with Sunny. Seriously, Hank was being so sweet one night, rubbing my feet while suffering through my favorite movie, and I burst into tears because I just knew he was going to be the best dad.Then I got laughing hysterically because he thought I was crying because I was going into labor and ran around like a lunatic trying to get me out the door to the hospital.”

“That’s so sweet though. Is Sunny with him today?”

“No, his mom is watching her for us this morning, then she’ll drop her off for the wedding. She has a dress that matches all of ours, and since Hank and I are both in the wedding party, she gets to come down the aisle with me! It’s going to be so sweet.”

Evie smiled, an image of all of her friends’ beautiful families dancing through her head, until her mind drifted to her own. Her heart beat wildly, picturing Sam holding onto Jellybean as she walked down her own wedding aisle one day.

Thirty-Nine

He 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’repregnant?”

“What? God, no! I’ve been drinking champagne all morning!”

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