Prints on our hearts

Chapter Twenty- Six

          Once they all met back up, the children surrounded the young pup. It wagged and yapped excited about the new attention. As Alex watched it, a thought dawned her, it needed dog food. She sighed. "Dakota, James. Unload the truck. I will be back.",Alex ordered as she grabbed her phone and headed up the short road to town. It was a short walk and would give her time to think. She had no plans for this baby. She would have to sit down with Alma and talk plans. The baby would need a room too. So many thoughts raced through Alex's mind. She strolled through the local pet shop as she picked up some stuff for the puppy. A collar, food, potty pads, a leash, and some treats. She decided she would get a tag once Alma had decided a name. She checked out quickly. The young woman behind the counter batted her eyes at Alex and smiled widely. Alex simply smiled and went on her way. She would have to bring Alma in here. When she reached the docks again, everyone had finally unloaded the vehicles and were sitting around waiting. Alma sat on the boat playing with the puppy. Alex smiled and greeted her with a kiss. "I got the pup some things. Once you decide on a name we can go get a tag for it.", Alex smiled. Alma nodded and happily put the new collar on her puppy. It was a red collar with black designs on it. The puppy licked at Alma's hands as she played with him. Alex smiled. "Alright everyone let's go home.", Alex announces. Everyone gets onto one boat or the other. All the groceries and everything that was bought were in the boats. Alma seemed focused on the puppy hard enough for Alex to go at a normal speed. Every once in awhile she glances down to make sure Alma wasn't getting sick. Her dark haired fiance was playing happily with her puppy. Alex smiled. Her life had never been happier. She had her parents. She had her children. She had the most incredible fiance the world could imagine. She also had a new baby on the way. Life was almost too good to be true. A small part of her feared this could just be a dream, but then Alma would smile up at her and all of her fears would suddenly disappear. The boat off to her right had her parents on the bow. They were wrapped in each other. It made Alex smile. She had hoped they would get back together. They were virtually perfect. Their island was coming into view now as they raced across the water. It was such a beautiful day that she had considered going swimming. The water would be a nice cool down. As she pulled up to the dock, she wondered if the puppy liked water. If not it would have to get used to it. It was surrounded by water on all sides. She would have to test all of these things herself so Alma didn't risk getting hurt in any way. The children happily unloaded the boats and put everything away. Alex helped Alma up to the house. "I made an appointment with Dr. Aston for an ultrasound.", Alma said cheerfully. Alex smiled at her. "Excellent! When are we going?", Alex asked. Alma smiled, happy that Alex was as excited about this as she was. "In two days.", Alma said. Alex kissed her softly. She was excited to get to see the first photo of their daughter. She had to be gentle and control herself but she was bursting with joy. It was almost too much too handle. "We will have to sit down and talk to the children about the new baby.", Alma whispered. Her voice was tinged with worry. Alex nodded. "Don't worry. They will understand.", She comforted. Alma nodded. Alex was typically right and she knew it. Despite the fears that both women held, they were excited about the new life that was to be brought to the family. Alex looked down to see the new puppy jumping and running around them. That thing would need training soon. It could make a good guard dog. Not like they really needed one though. That dog was there for Alma's happiness. Not protection. Alex was the protection that Alma needed. Alex wondered how good of a companion the dog would make Alma when she had morning sickness. Alex sat Alma on the bed carefully. "I'm pregnant not fragile.", Alma joked. Alex smiled. "You are fragile too.", Alex joked back. Alma pouted her lip and fought a smile. Alex poked her lip and they both laughed. The puppy jumped onto the bed and yapped. "I think she needs a name.", Alex said scratching her head. Alma smiled. "I like Roxie.", Alma smiled. Alex smiled. "Well hello there Roxie.", Alex said playing with the pup. It licked happily at her hands. Alma darted to the bathroom and began to throw up. The pup was at her side before Alex could get off the bed. Alex pulled back Alma's hair and rubbed her back. "Why is it called morning sickness if it's all the time?", Alma whined. Alex smiled. "I don't know darling.", Alex soothed. Alex grabbed a towel and wiped Alma's face. "Do you want to go lay down?", Alex asked. Alma shook her head. "I want to work on her room.", Alma whimpered. Alex smiled. "Okay. I figured we could make this her room. Since my old one is bigger and has the gun safe.", Alex suggested. Alma nodded in agreement. "Sit down. I will go get them and what they bought.", Alex said as she kissed Alma's head and left to get her parents. Alex found the in the living room looking at a bunch of boxes they had bought. Lillian smiled as she saw Alex. "Look at all of the baby furniture we bought!", Lillian exclaimed. Alex laughed. "I see. Alma wants to work on the room. I figured we would make our room for her and take back my old room.", Alex explained. Everyone nodded and headed up to the room. First thing's first. Moving everything to the other room. Alma mostly sat in the other room and showed where to put everything and looked at everything that had been bought. As Alex put the last few things away, she looked over at Alma to notice her laying back on the bed. The photo album was in her lap. One had rubbed Roxie while the other rested on her stomach. Alex smiled at the perfect view. She glanced around to find her camera and snapped a picture before Alma moved. Alma noticed and giggled. "More photos for the book?", Alma laughed. Alex nodded and took another of her laughing. "Absolutely.", Alex laughed back. Lillian came to the doorway. "Is the color on the walls okay or do we need to paint?", she asked. Alex looked at Alma who appeared to consider it for a second. "I think we can leave it. Are we ready to decorate?", Alma asked excitedly. Lillian nodded and Alma quickly climbed out of bed. Alex followed closely behind. Raoul and Dakota had pulled the pieces for the crib out of the box and were looking over the directions when they walked in. Alex laughed at the puzzled look on their faces. "Don't send boys to do a woman's job.", Alex snickered. Lillian and Alma laughed. Alex glanced at the directions and began to put the crib together. Raoul and Dakota watched in awe. In around twenty minutes, Alex had the crib put together correctly. They guys looked defeated. Lillian and Alma dug through some bag for some sticker designs Lillian had bought. Alex began to piece together the other pieces of furniture as Lillian and Alma excitedly decorated the walls and the crib. Raoul and Dakota assisted here and there with piecing some things together but they mostly moved them into the right places. Alex was beaming with pride at the furniture she was building for her child. For their child.