A smile stretches across my face as warmth spreads in my chest. I don’t know what I’d do without her—without any of them.
Biggie Smalls gets up and stretches, then rests his head right on top of my belly while his big, dopey eyes peer up at me.
“You have a good nap?” I ask, scratching behind his ear. He’s been extra cuddly lately, almost like he can tell something’s up with me. When I first moved in, I was honestly a little worried about this massive dog being around a newborn baby, but that has long since passed. Biggie Smalls is such a gentle giant and the biggest sweetheart, and I swear, the reason he always rests his head on me like this is because he knows there’s a baby in there. I can already picture him getting attached to the baby in the same way he is with Ellie Mae. “Only seven more weeks to go, boy.”
Seven more weeks until I get to meet my little baby.
31
Graham, 36 weeks
“Look what I made you, ladies,” I say, carrying Bertha and Gwen, two of my chickens, over to the tree, where one of the swings I made out of rope and wood boards hangs.
Last week, in one of the chicken forums I follow, somebody posted a video of the swings they made their chickens and, obviously, I had to make some too. They love the coop I made for them before Charley moved in, and I’ve been wanting to find something else I could build for them, so this was perfect. I sit Bertha on one of them before walking over to the other tree and doing the same to Gwen. Bertha couldn’t be less interested; she jumps off and runs away, but Gwen stays put and sways back and forth, looking content as can be. Grabbing my phone, I record a quick video, feeling pretty darn proud of myself, before I head inside to show Charley and Ellie Mae.
The house is quiet when I step through the back door, and I already know where to find them. After I wash my hands in the kitchen, I stroll down the hall, the soft sound of music reaching my ears the closer I get to the bedroom. When I approach, thesight inside makes my heart skip a beat. Resting my shoulder against the doorjamb, I fold my arms over my chest and watch Charley and Ellie Mae with a smile spreading across my face as they sort and fold baby clothes. Except it’s really just Ellie Mae holding each tiny garment up and examining it before handing it to Charley to do all the actual folding. She’s fully in the nesting stage.
“You think Daddy’s going to stand there and watch us all day?” she asks Ellie Mae before her lip ticks up and her gaze lifts, meeting mine across the room. Ellie Mae giggles, which then causes Charley to do the same, her whole face lighting up. “Did you get the swings hung?”
“I did,” I say, remembering the reason I came in here in the first place. Pulling out my phone, I find the video as I walk across the room toward the bed. I hand her the phone with the video pulled up. “Look, Gwen loves it.”
“That’s adorable,” she murmurs, restarting the video and showing Ellie Mae. “Look at what your daddy made for the chickies. They’re swings just like the one you have.”
“Bertha was unamused when I tried putting her on one.”
“Not surprising.” Charley chuckles. “What about the others?”
“I only brought those two over there, but I’m guessing the others will wander over on their own at some point.”
Glancing at the clock on the nightstand, Charley sighs. “I have to take a shower soon, and I really don’t want to.”
“What time is everyone supposed to be here?”
“The party starts at three, but the girls will be here around one-thirty to get everything ready.”
My sisters are throwing us a baby shower today, and we know absolutely nothing about any of it except that it’s at our house, which was a request from me. Charley’s been having trouble sleeping lately because of how uncomfortable she is all the time,so I wanted her to be able to be in the comfort of her own home and not have to worry about going anywhere.
“If you wanna finish what you’re doing here, or relax, I can lay Ellie Mae down for her nap, and then we can take one together, if you want?”
A sweet smile pulls at her lips as she nods. “Sounds good.”
It doesn’t take long for Ellie Mae to fall asleep. Her morning naps are pretty easy for the most part, considering how early she wakes up and how much running around she does with the animals after breakfast. After I grab the monitor from the living room, I set it on the counter in the bathroom before turning the shower on. Back in the room, Charley’s already on her feet, her blue eyes twinkling as she watches me approach her. She raises her arms in the air, letting me tug her shirt over her head before I shove her shorts down and she steps out of them.
Before I get undressed, I allow myself a moment to drink in the sight of her; something I do often. I can’t get enough of her. “You are absolutely breathtaking, Sunny,” I murmur as my arm loops around her waist, and I pull her into me.
“Not these days,” she says, crinkling her nose as she peers up at me. “I’m swollen, and huge, and unattractive. Even my nose is swollen; I didn’t even know that could happen!”
I press my lips to hers. “I think your nose is adorable, swollen or not.”
She giggles, kissing me back. “I doubt that, but it’s sweet of you to say.”
“Sunny, you are hands down the most beautiful woman I’ve ever laid eyes on,” I say as I step back and tug my shirt over my head. Taking her hand, I lead her into the bathroom, and once we’re in the shower, I add, “If I could do nothing but stare at you for the rest of my life, I’d be happy. I wish you could see yourself through my eyes. Watching your body change over the last almost nine months has been a privilege.”
She has no idea the hold she has on me, the way my heart stumbles every single time she’s in the room. I wish she could see how in love I am with the way her belly is stretched tight and cradling a little piece of us. The swell of her hips and her softer, fuller curves make me want to fall to my knees and worship her. Charley isn’t just beautiful; she’s every constellation in the sky in my eyes.
Gazing at me, Charley bites back a smile as she wets her hair. “I don’t know what I did to deserve a man like you. Thank you.”
“You’ve got nothing to thank me for, Sunny. Loving you is one of my greatest blessings.” I grab the shampoo, pouring some in my palm. “Now turn for me,” I say, lathering the product in my hand before bringing it to her long, black hair.
