Page 33 of A Very Grumpy Doctor

As if she heard me thinking about her, our daughter gives a firm little jab beneath Hugh’s palm, and I watch as his entire face changes.

Every grumpy line softens.Every bit of stern doctor disappears.He stares down at my stomach like he’s witnessing a miracle for the first time, even though she’s been kicking up a storm for weeks.

“There she is,” he murmurs.

My chest squeezes.Hugh Mercer, the grumpiest doctor in Wolf Valley, turns into absolute mush for two people.Me and the tiny girl currently using my ribs for target practice.

“She’s active today,” he says, his thumb sweeping gently over my belly.

“She gets that from you.”

His eyebrows rise.“Me?”

“Yes, you.Always moving.Always fussing.Always checking on things.”

“I’m attentive.”

“You’re bossy.”

“I’m a doctor.”

“You’re proving my point.”

Before he can answer, the door opens, and Daisy sweeps in like she owns the place.

“Sorry I’m late,” she announces, dropping her purse into the chair by the wall.“Ledger called right as I was parking, then Mrs.Hanley stopped me in the hall to ask if Alexi had gone into labor yet.”

I groan.“I’m not due for three more weeks.”

Daisy waves that away.“This town has never cared about facts when gossip is available.”

“True,” Hugh grunts.

Daisy points at him.“You don’t get to judge.Half the gossip in this town is about how obsessed you are with your wife.”

He doesn’t even look ashamed.“Good.”

I sigh.“You’re both impossible.”

Daisy grins at me, then her expression softens as she looks me over.“How are you feeling?”

“Good,” I say honestly.

And I am.

Tired?Yes.

Hungry?Constantly.

A little emotional because my due date is close and Hugh has reorganized the nursery three times this week?Also, yes.

But good.I’m not scared.That’s the part that still surprises me sometimes.

Years ago, stepping into Wolf Valley Medical would have made my whole body tense.I would have looked for exits.I would have argued, snapped, complained, and maybe attempted a dramatic escape.

Okay, I still complain, but I don’t want to run anymore.

I don’t like doctors’ offices.I probably never will.The rooms are too cold, the paper is too loud, and no one needs to know my weight that badly, but I’m not afraid.