Page 8 of New Tradition

Peter grinned. “Good. And what about my job offer?”

Samuel laughed. “I have a job. But I’ve given it some thought and I wouldn’t mind working for you on a case-by-case basis.”

Peter clapped him on the shoulder. “Good man. I’ll loop you in on some stuff and let you pick what you’re interested in.”

Samuel had billions in the bank and ran his father’s successful investment firm, but everyone seemed intent on keeping him busy since his black-ops team in the military had been disbanded and his honorable discharge that had just been on paper became a reality.

As Samuel nodded to acknowledge Peter, there was a loud commotion in the house and Peter rolled his eyes. “My wife is getting excited about something it sounds like.”

Samuel listened as several women shrieked. Something was going on. As he and Peter and Bradley moved to go investigate, Erin stepped outside and very calmly said, “Bradley, your wife’s water broke. We should probably put a pin in lunch.”

Carrie appeared beside her, looking a bit frazzled. “How is she so calm? That literally just happened in front of us and she just goes and gets a towel and comes to get you guys.”

Samuel laughed and held his hand out to Erin as Bradley rushed into the house to check on his wife.

Secret service had already jumped into action to get a car ready to transfer her to the hospital. Darci just lay on the sofa and smiled when Samuel and Erin stepped into the livingroom.

“Thank you, Erin, for being so calm amidst all these shrieking women. I’m just so glad this happened after most of the guests left. I could not imagine having my water break in front of the Treasury secretary or your boss,” she said with a giggle.

“Up you go, pet,” Bradley said, as he bent to help her off the sofa.

“Can I count on one of you to kick everyone out and make sure the place gets locked up?”

Erin gave Darci a little wave as she waddled to the car, soothing her only mildly freaking out husband as she went.

Samuel wrapped Erin in a hug and kissed her forehead.

While they waited for the last few guests to leave, Samuel sat perched on a barstool holding Erin who stood against him between his knees.

"What do you think of this house?" he asked.

"I think it's incredible. I love that it's not a cookie cutter house. They really put some personal touches on it."

Samuel was about to ask her how she felt about them designing their own house when Carrie and Peter stepped into the kitchen. "Pretty sure we've got everyone out of here. I'm going to get this one to the hospital before she loses her shit about not being with Darci."

Carrie scowled at her husband but opened her arms to hug Erin. "It was good to see you again, sweetie. Want me to text you when the baby gets here?"

Erin nodded. "Yes, please. Give her a hug for me."

Carrie promised she would, and the two couples left the Givens house.

“You’re very loved around here, I hope you know that,” Samuel said as he pulled out of the driveway.

Erin smiled. “I feel it. It’s nice. Maybe after the swearing in we can go check out Exposure.”

That made him grin. “Any time, baby girl.”

That night, they went to his house, soon to be their house, where he showed her exactly how much he loved her with his hands and mouth.

6

Thursday, December 13th

Erin

“Trinity wants to spend Christmas with us. How do you feel about that?” Erin asked Samuel as they both quietly worked in his bedroom. Their bedroom. It was going to take her some time to get used to calling it that, but the move was complete two days earlier than planned and she officially lived here now, so she might as well get in the habit.

He looked up from his laptop and frowned. “I thought since we were going to be back in town, we would go to my dad’s house.”

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