Page 61 of The Homecoming

“I still have a month before my due date, and everyone says the first child is always late.”

“We’ll be fine, Scottie’s ready.”

“What am I going to do lay around for the next month?” she asked with a huff.

“Alright, so cut back to part-time and let Scottie work the rest of the time. That way you can rest and take more naps.”

“I take all the naps I want at work.” She felt Brandon look down at her. “Oh, please, you’re napping right alongside me.”

He laughed. “That’s when I get my best business ideas.” He squeezed her.

She smiled, the adrenaline drained from her body, leaving her with nothing to keep moving. She closed her eyes against Brandon and drifted.

“So,” Brandon said again. “You’re going to work half days and let Scottie take over the rest.”

“I promised Hannah that I’d—”

“If you work Hannah’s wedding, you don’t come in until that night,” he interrupted.

“Jeez, you’re bossy. Now, be quiet and let me sleep.”

“You want me to go?”

“No, I want you to sit there, so I can sleep on your chest.”

“Can I turn on the TV?”

She rolled her eyes, sat up, and shoved him in the shoulder. He laughed, snatching the remote from the coffee table before falling back onto the sofa and pulling Autumn back against his chest.

She closed her eyes. “Do you think we have a weird relationship?”

“What, because I’m your gay boyfriend?” he asked, channel surfing while rubbing her back with his free hand.

She wrinkled her nose. “I prefer best friend,” she mumbled, before nodding off at long last.

Autumn awoke to the smell of fried chicken and more voices in the room, other than the ones on the television. She pushed up and off of Brandon’s chest and found Hannah, Justin, Rebecca, and Ben all in her kitchen. Sure enough, they had a bucket of fried chicken on the table.

“I invited them over,” Brandon said. “Thought you could use the company and the dinner.”

“Sorry, I didn’t have time to cook,” Rebecca said.

Autumn shook her head. “Please don’t apologize. I’m just happy you guys are here.” She was the luckiest person on earth to have such good friends that were willing to show up and deposit a full plate of food in her lap. She didn’t even have to get off the couch.

“Where’s Weasel?” Autumn asked.

“Said he was still working,” Ben replied. “He’ll check in when he can.”

33.

The following day, soreness and exhaustion were her constant companions. Though she’d slept for sixteen hours and arrived at Huntington Farms after lunch that day, her energy was nowhere around. Autumn glanced around the office for the keys, confused that they weren’t in the usual spot in the desk drawer. Maybe Brandon had pocketed them. A twinge grabbed her side again and she rubbed the area, tired of ligament pain.How much further could her stomach stretch?She picked up the walkie-talkie. “Hey, Brandon.”

After a minute his voice came through. “Go for Brandon.”

“Did you pocket the supply shed keys again?”

“I only have my set, there should be another one in the office. Maybe Scottie left them in the shed again. I’ll go check when I’m done.”

“I’ll walk out there. The exercise is supposed to be good for me.” She placed a hand on the small of her back and tried to stretch in her seat in an attempt to relieve the growing pressure.

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