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“I don’t know about that,” she said, snickering. “You might be the exception. Katrina had to drag Steve in, promising he could stand at the head and not see any of the gore.”
“You know how I feel about Steve,” Justin said, frowning. “He needs to grow the hell up.”
Back inside the cottage, Maggie bent down to pet Brulee. “I’m scared.”
“Of giving birth?”
“Of change. Everything is creeping up so fast. I haven’t even been here a year yet, and I’m living with a serious boyfriend, a business growing in my yard, and a baby on the way. I thought I’d be here alone with Brulee.”
“You’re doing great adjusting, just saying.”
“Am I? If you had seen me and Kat in that delivery room, you wouldn’t think so. Thank god we had masks on because my nostrils were flared the whole time. It was a little bit too much reality.”
Justin laughed, but he understood and hugged her. “Cut yourself a break. It’s not every day you see a baby being born.”
“I’m ready to get in the shower.”
“Go up. I’ll lock up and be right behind you.”
He walked into their bedroom just as Maggie was taking off her underpants. Stopping, he couldn’t believe how beautiful she was.
“I wasn’t fast enough,” she muttered. “I don’t want you to see me naked in the bright light.”
“Maggie, you’re beautiful.” He reached for her, smoothing his hands over her belly that had grown in size over the past week. “Please don’t hide from me.”
“I’ll try not to,” she said, taking a deep breath, so emotional after seeing Annie give birth and then finding Raven had come into the yard to deliver. “I wonder if the horse will still come to me.”
“She saw you in the yard tonight. In the morning, we’ll go out to see her.”
He held her close, kissing her, not wanting her to go. “I want to get into the shower,” she said when he seemed reluctant to let go of her. “Come with me if you want.”
“Really?”
“Of course. Justin, you’re acting like it’s been forever. It hasn’t been that long since we showered together.”
“Yes, it has,” he said, laughing. “It’s been way too long.”
Chapter 13
In late spring, Austin Macon took a temporary position up in Ketchikan, Alaska. He drove up in the RV after apologizing to everyone he’d hurt, especially Calista and Alphé. Being away for the summer would give them all a chance to recover from Austin’s interference.
In the meantime, Calista decided to move back to her own house with Porter and Davina, and within a week, Emily from Café Delphine moved into Alphé’s house. Things were getting back to normal. Or, the new norm. Alphé’s kids were still a constant presence in Calista’s and Katrina’s lives, and they loved Emily, who brought day-old pastry to the house every day.
On Sunday, Alphé and Emily had taken the children out on the boat for the day. Calista could barely move she was so uncomfortable. The heat was penetrating. She’d walked around with a baggie of ice on top of her head. Looking through her closet for the coolest sundress, she pulled out a white one with spaghetti straps, about as close to naked she was going to get, no bra and a thong. With her hair up in a messy bun and a straw hat plastered on her head, sunglasses and flip-flops, the only thing cooler was naked.
Pulling on her gardening gloves, she went out into the garden with a large basket to harvest whatever was ripe. The tomatoes were gorgeous, big melons, squashes, and gallons of beans. The basket was full for the second time, and she had just opened the side door to go inside when a Jeep pulled into her driveway. A man with a bushy beard was driving, although she didn’t recognize him. They made eye contact. Placing the basket on the ground, she let the screen door close, waiting for him to say something. The door opened, and he got out, a big guy, with shoulder-length hair pulled back with a rubber band and that beard.
“Hello! Is Calista home?”
It was Austin. She hadn’t recognized him with his new, scruffy look, and then she realized he didn’t recognize her with her giant belly. Grinning, she walked toward him.
“You say you want Calista, is that right?”
“Yes, Calista Beaumont. We’re old friends. I’m surprising her a couple of days early.”
She pulled off the hat and then the sunglasses. “About a week early, I’d say.”
He stumbled back, letting the car door slam shut, his hand to his mouth. He looked at her face and then her huge belly pregnant with twins.
