That Summer | Aaron Carpenter

sixty

"Okay." I said. "Sierra will be here any minute to get Cooper."

"I've got our overnight bags." Aaron said and sat them on the counter.

"We need the diaper bag." I said and rubbed my hand over the baby bump.

"Right here." He said and lifted it on to the counter.

"I feel like I'm missing something." I said.

Aaron grabbed our phones out of his pocket.

"This?"

"Yes." I smiled and grabbed mine.

"Anything else?" He asked.

"No." I shook my head. I looked at him. "Let's go have a baby."

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I sat on the bed, shoving Chick Fil A nuggets into my mouth. Aaron sat on the couch, watching me do so. That's when the door opened and I saw my dad and Taylor.

"Hey." I smiled.

"Hey." Taylor said. "How are you feeling?"

"Really good." I said.

"We came straight from the airport." My dad said.

"Why? Baby isn't coming yet."

The door opened again and I saw Becky, Candice and Greyson.

"We came straight from the airport." Candice said, shifting Greyson from her right hip to her left.

"The baby isn't coming yet." I said.

Candice walked over to the monitor as the doctor walked in.

"Hey guys." He said.

"Hey." I smiled.

"How are you feeling?"

"Good." I smiled.

"And the contraptions?"

"Since I got the shot I haven't felt them."

"Hallie." Candice said. "I think it's time to have this baby."

"What?" I asked.

She pointed to the monitor as the doctor walked over. He looked at it and then pressed a button.

"She's right." He said. "This baby is ready to go."

I took a deep breath as I looked to Aaron. I smiled as he grabbed my hand.

"Let's do this." Aaron said.

"Let's do this." I repeated.

------------------------------------------

I held the baby girl close to my chest as she was wrapped in a yellow blanket. Aaron stood next to me, smiling down at us. The door opened and I watched everyone walk in. I smiled up at them and showed them her face.

"She's beautiful." My brother said.

"What name did you decide on?" Candice asked.

"We named her..." I started and looked at Aaron.

"Aspyn Lee Carpenter." He finished.

"That's beautiful." My dad stated. "It really fits."

"Can I hold her?" Taylor asked.

"Of course." I smiled and lifted her to his arms.

He moved the blanket and looked down at her.