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“Mmhmm. I think we should get married at St. Williams. You’ve been goin’ there your whole life. Seems only right.”
“Okay,” he agreed.
“As for the reception, I know it might sound cliché, but I think we should have it out at Grace Valley Farm. I’ve been to some really pretty weddings out there, and we could invite as many people as we wanted.”
“Okay,” he repeated.
“Babe, say somethin’ other thanokay,” Nora insisted, tugging at his t-shirt.
“Songbird, I already told you—we’ll do whatever you want. From the sounds of it, you want a traditional ceremony and abig party afterwards. Tell me what time, and I’ll meet you there. Simple as that, baby.”
Inching toward him, she touched her nose to his and whispered, “I love you somethin’ fierce, you know that?”
Grinning, Lawson wrapped his arm around her, keeping her close as he muttered, “You’ve got my ring on your finger and my baby in your belly—think that ‘bout says it all.”
Nora snuggled closer, and he could hear the smile in her voice as she replied, “You’re not wrong.”
“For the record? I love you, too. More than you’ll ever know.”
She woke the next morning in bed alone, wearing little more than one of Lawson’s old Marine Corps t-shirts. She allowed herself to crawl out of sleep slowly, appreciative of the opportunity she had to sleep in a little. Stretching from where she lay, she took a moment tofeelwhat was happening inside of her body. There still was no morning sickness. Nora assumed she was too early on in the pregnancy to feel too much of anything—excepthungry.
Remembering it was Saturday morning and Lawson was home but no longer in bed, she knew she’d have no trouble satisfying her hunger with a hot, sweet breakfast. This was enough to get her out of bed. After a quick trip to the bathroom, she slipped into a pair of Lawson’s sweatpants. She tightened the drawstring at her hips as she made her way toward the kitchen, smiling to herself as soon as she heard the voices of the people she loved most in the world.
“Can I stay with you instead of goin’ to the salon with mommy today?”
“That’s the plan, darlin’.”
“Okay,” Evie chirped happily. “Can I have another pancake?”
“I’m almost done. I’ll make you a proper plate and we’ll sit at the table. Deal?”
“Deal.” The first to spot Nora, Evie kicked her suspended feet as she greeted, “Hi, mommy!”
“Mornin’, baby.”
She spoke without thinking, but the moment the wordbabycrossed her lips, her step faltered. Looking into her daughter’s golden-brown eyes, it struck her that before the year was over, Evie wouldn’t be herbabyanymore. She was going to be a big sister and a kindergartner. Nora-Jean’s heart broke a little. Their lives were about to change. Again. She knew she’d never love another child the way she loved her Evie. It wasn’t possible. They’d been through so much together. Of course, the babe inside of her would be loved unconditionally—and in some ways more, given the babe would have both Lawson and Evie to love it, too.
Suddenly awash in emotion—gratitude, excitement, love and just a touch of fear—Nora-Jean made her way into the kitchen, passing Lawson in order to reach for Evie. Her daughter giggled softly but didn’t question Nora as she lifted her from the counter and into her arms. Like she’d never noticed before, Nora felt the weight of her almost five-year-old and the length of her limbs wrapped around her. She was certainly growing far too big to be carried around by the likes of her, but Nora clung to her anyway, kissing her cheek fondly.
“I love you, mini-me,” she murmured, propping her forehead against Evie’s.
“I love you too, mommy,” replied Evie without hesitation. “But I’m gonna stay home with daddy today, okay?”
Nora hummed a laugh as her first born brought her back to the immediate present.
“Okay, baby.”
“Evelyn, how about you help mommy set the table? Breakfast is ready,” suggested Lawson.
Nora’s eyes glanced in his direction, the tone of his voice making her smile. His suggestion might have been for Evie, but his tone was for Nora, and she knew it. He’d known about her pregnancy for hardly twelve hours, and already he was being overprotective. Furthermore, he knew her so well it was as if he was in her head. If not for Evie wiggling out of her grasp, she wouldn’t have let go so soon.
Lawson, cognizant that he’d been made, merely winked at her when their eyes met.
“Come on, mommy. Aren’t you hungry?” asked Evie, hurrying toward the silverware drawer.
“As a matter of fact, I am.”
Not five minutes later, they were all seated at the kitchen table, each with a serving of pancakes in front of them.
