Stay With Me

Chapter 19

"Thank you Colleen. I'll be back before you know it and I'll make sure to read the rough drafts of these new books that I know are going to be best sellers. I'm so happy to have you as my client." I stand up to hug Colleen after she hands me a gift for the baby.

"I can't wait to hear what you think about them! And you take it easy, get lots of rest before the baby comes. My three boys don't let me rest at all anymore. Probably why I stay up so late writing." She smiles.

"Oh trust me, Ian makes me go to bed super early now cause he wants to make sure I'm not tired when the baby comes." I run my hand over my belly that is about to pop.

"Any day now." Colleen puts her hand on my belly and pats it.

"I can't believe you guys decided not to know the sex till you deliver." She shakes her head and I laugh.

"I can't believe we did either. Crazy aren't we? But that makes it more exciting. Once it's born we are going to keep it in our room till we get the nursery done. We didn't want to do anything till we know for sure but I have my ideas for a girls room and a boys room." I tell her. I grab my papers and folders from my desk and stick them in my bag. We walk out of my office and I lock the door. Last time I'll be in here for two months.

"We'll send me pictures of the baby when it comes, and the room. I'm excited for you Nina. Give Ian my congrats as well." She hugs me once more as we head our separate ways.

I get back to the house and Candice is waiting in her car with Ellie Kate. She climbs out as I park the car and I notice her belly is popping today.

"Looks like you might pop any day too." I joke with her and she flips me off before grabbing Ellie Kate out of her car seat.

"I woke up this morning and couldn't breathe because it magically grew two sizes over night. This baby is going to weigh a ton." She sighs as we climb up the steps on the porch.

"Mommy I go play in there?" Ellie Kate points to the play room Ian and I set up for her and Ezra and for when the new babies arrive.

"Go on ahead. Mommy will keep an eye on you." Candice tells her. We walk into the kitchen and I pour us some juice and we sit down.

"How you feeling today?" She asks.

"Fine. My ribs hurt though cause it's literally laying against them. I've tried moving it but there's not much you can do when it has no where to move to." I look down at my belly.

"I can't believe you haven't popped it out yet. And the fact that you just now took maternity leave. I would have done that a month ago, not two weeks before your due date." She argues and I laugh.

"I like working okay?" I shrug my shoulders.

"Well slow down. You need to take it easy these last few weeks. Take it from me, you'll regret it if you don't. I don't want you to have a stressful delivery okay?" Candice places her hand on my shoulder and I nod.

"So are you going to tell me the names you have picked out?" She asks.

"We have a few. For girls we have Tate, Holland, Joud, and Cleo. For boys we have picked out Rowan, Leighton, Arlo, and Grey. But those could change." I take my glass to the sink and open the dish washer.

"I love those. They're cute and unique." Candice brings her glass over.

"Mommy!" Ellie Kate shouts from the play room and we run in to the room.

"What is it Ellie Kate? Are you okay?" Candice walks over to her and bends down.

"Read me book." Ellie Kate holds up a book to her and she smiles.