Page 2 of Coming Innocent

“Yes,” she replies warmly.

“That’s happening more often. It’s been what? Six times this weekend? Should we call Charles?”

“I’m sure it’s nothing. They just don’t have a lot of room in there anymore. We don’t need to bother Dr. Burnett.”

Logan gazes at her in question but lets it drop as he helps her step from the car.

With her still wrapped in his arms, her belly pressed against his taut abdomen, he leans forward and captures her lips with his own in a chaste kiss.

“I love you, beautiful. I just want to protect you and the precious babies you’re giving me.”

Reaching up and wrapping her arms around his neck Avery presses another kiss against his lips.

“I’m ok and the babies are ok. If anything changes I’ll let you be the superhero and take us to the doctor. Ok?”

“You promise?”

“Absolutely.”

“Alright, well let’s go do this walkthrough. I believe Brooks schedule the inspection for next week so we’re almost done. Luckily, right in time for the babies to get here.

In her thoughts Avery can’t help but tack on, “they can’t get here soon enough.”

***

STANDING ON THE FRONT porch of the reconstructed farmhouse Nikki takes a deep breath of the crisp mountain air before taking a sip of her coffee. The day is well in already, Austin allowing her to sleep in a few extra hours as he finished prepping the baby room for Grace’s arrival.

She had found a picture in a magazine a few weeks prior and Austin had been hell-bent on making that image a reality for her. And it was. It was every little girl’s dream nursery with white paneling, pale pink curtains, and a crib built by hand with a family’s love.

“There you are,” Austin bellows from behind her as his strong arms wrap around her large stomach, encasing them in his hold. Duke, their beagle, hops around merrily around their feet until he catches the wind of a squirrel and takes off.

Her husband brushes aside the hair from her shoulder, exposing her neck, where he bends down to nip at the sensitive skin.

“How are my girls this morning?” he whispers as his right hand travels across her abdomen and across the waistband of her lounging pants.

“Mmm, we’re good. And as much as I would love to keep doing what we did last night, I need to get ready for the baby shower.”

“That’s today?”

Nikki turns around in his arms and rests herself against the porch banister.

“Yes, it’s today. I need to finish wrapping Avery’s gifts.”

“You’re kind of amazing you know that? Suggesting the shared baby shower with my mom is a really nice gesture.”

“Avery’s my best friend and I am really excited our kids are going to be born around the same time. They won’t just be cousins; they’ll be best friends too.”

Leaning forward, Austin kisses the spot right under her earlobe that he knows drives her wild as he whispers, “See? Amazing.”

“I just want her to have something special. I know you do too. Come on, I’m finished so I can help you grab all of the decorations from the guest room.”

Nikki rises onto the tips of her toes and presses a quick kiss against his lips before grasping his hand and leading him through the house and up the stairs.

“I just need your help getting the centerpieces put together. Your mom is handling the rest.”

Austin watches her instruction, taking the small candelabras and gluing silver plastic plates onto the flat round disks used to hold the candles at one time to make something that looks like a stand for food or desserts.

They work together to create eight different stands all painted an antique white color. Amy, Austin’s mother, wouldn’t let her do more than the centerpieces since it was technically her baby shower too, but planning events was something she enjoyed, almost as much as writing.