The first half of the summer came and went without a hitch. In fact, it was so smooth, something almost didn't seem right to Stevie, who had been kind of accustom to chaos in the last couple of years of her life.
So to have slow, easy days was odd but really good. The only time things seemed hectic was when everyone had come into town for a baby shower, which Stevie thought was silly at her age but her best friends insisted on it.
They wanted to have something meaningful- something for her cherish, so they threw her a really elaborate party right in the event room at the Inn. They had decorated with little doves and white lace, and even ordered in a cake from the bakery down the street that was just as gorgeous.
It was special, but not because of the gifts and the decor, but because of all the people that came to celebrate her and her new baby.
It meant the world to Stevie to have all of their kids together for the first time. Mallory, Laura and Drew all come in from out West the same day Brooklynn, Sam, Courtney and their baby come in from Boston, and at first Stevie was nervous to blend their families... What if they didn't get along? But luckily, all her fears vanished quick, because within just a few hours, it was like nothing out of the ordinary.
They were all talking and laughing right off the bat and it didn't end until they were headed their separate ways at the end of the week.
It was a huge sigh of relief to know it would all work out.... that and while they were there, the kids insisted on helping them switch the spare bedroom into a nursery, which was another weight lifted off her shoulders.
They did it all and thankful might have even been an understatement... Stevie was over the moon to have such wonderful children- all of them.
Anyway, by the time August rolled around, Stevie was very pregnant, but also very enticed by it all.
She wasn't really comfortable anymore, but she took in every single moment. She soaked it all up and loved all the memories that came with carrying her baby, because she knew that she'd never experience it again...
~~
"Alright..." Lindsey raised a brow lightly, a soft smirk on his face as he started to twist the top back on the red nail polish that he'd used to paint her toes. "They look..." he shook his head playfully as he lifted her foot very carefully to show her.
She was sitting up on the other end of the sofa with her feet on a pillow in his lap and a cup of tea in one hand as the the other stayed plastered to her tummy. "They look so great, baby." She assured, having already thanked him ten times over for even doing that for her.
She was going to go to the salon, but she'd been in a little bit of pain all afternoon, so instead of venturing out, she decided to stay in and he offered to do them for her... He wasn't the greatest at keeping it in the lines but he was still the sweetest man and that made up for the botched paint job.
"You did very good." She added with a soft smile as she tilted her head to the side to look at them a little better.
He chuckled a tad, running one hand up her calf. "You're just being cute now." He teased, knowing full and well that they didn't look that good.
Stevie smirked softly as she slowly brought her teacup up to her lips to take a sip.
"My girl," he patted her leg lightly, eyes still locked with those deep brown orbs that he was so in love with.
In all honesty, finding out the woman you're dating is pregnant just a few months into the relationship isn't all that ideal and he would have been lying if he had said that he wasn't nervous at first... It could have been a really rough situation, but it had been the exact opposite. They were actually having a lot of fun.
They were going to all the baby boutiques in town- Stevie holding up all the little outfits and gushing over them, while Lindsey nodded in agreement and carried the bags. And most nights, once they were tucked away in bed, Stevie would read from a baby name book, rattling off ideas for their baby until she couldn't keep her eyes open... He loved it all just as much as she did.
"Lindsey...?" She lingered in a playfully quiet tone of voice as she batted her eyelashes.
He cracked another grin, letting go of her leg so he could reach out and take the hand that was resting on her tummy. "Hm?" Lindsey tangled his fingers in hers, but left his thumb out so he could run the pad of it back and forth across her baby bump.
Many nights, right before they shut off their bedroom lights, Lindsey would chit chat with the baby... ever since the doctor told them that the baby could hear in the womb, he was talking about anything and everything.
Stevie found it hard to believe that their baby cared much about his work, the weather, what he had for dessert, or especially the group of people that he met downstairs in the lobby, but she did love that he cared that much.
He was beyond excited.
"Can we dance...?" She wondered, a little shy but also not at the same time. "I like this song." She added a second later as her cheeks grew a soft shade of pink.
"Of course, we can." He didn't hesitate to carefully slip off the couch and stand up, a handsome smile on his face.
She giggled lightly as she first gave him her cup to set on the stand and then held out her hand for him to help her off the couch. "Oh," she tossed her head back the second he pulled her in, letting a laugh fill the air around them as he held her close.
Lindsey's eyes scanned over her face as he gently began to sway her back and forth.
They had been listening to records for most of the evening, but they had been so preoccupied chatting, they hadn't really paid too much attention to the music until then.
"You look wonderful tonight..." he sang along in a soft tone, patting her hip lightly as he carefully let her go to do a spin.
Little butterflies formed in the pit of her stomach, almost certain that she'd fallen in love all over again when she came back in.
"You're so pretty." He told her, lips meeting her forehead the moment he had her back in his arms.
And right as he did that, she let out a very quiet giggle. "Lindsey?" Her heart started pounding, even though she was still smiling.
Creasing a brow, he couldn't help but grin as well, even though he was a little confused. "Yeah?" He wondered as he continued to slowly sway.
"My water just broke."
