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But the first peek of autumn is somehow the most magical of them all.

I stand in the circular drive, hypnotized by the rain of leaves. A strong breeze is enough to capture us in its tornado of yellows and oranges, the old oaks shedding them like a skin.

“We should take you out in the boat sometime,” Pace says, and I realize the three of them have come to stand beside me, following my gaze to the landscape. It looks like a painting. “Out there on the water, it looks even less real.”

Catching one of the oak leaves as it flutters past, I stroke it wistfully over the curve of my belly, imagining Justice can hear the slight papery crinkle. “I’d like that.”

“Count me out,” Lex says, pulling a face. “Algae is gross.”

Wicker drawls, “Is it the algae, or is that you can’t swim for shit?”

Lex balks. “I can swim.”

“Doggy-paddling and panic-treading don’t count,” Pace argues.

“I’m not the best swimmer, either,” I say, grabbing Lex’s arm in a loose hug. “Although I do have built-in floatation devices at the moment.”

Wicker barks a delighted laugh that makes a smile spring to my face.

More and more, I’m convinced I made the right choice. The thought of raising our son—maybe even ourchildren—in this place doesn’t feel as nightmarish as it once had. The earth beneath our feet is pure and fertile. The stones that sit on it are strong and solid. And the people who dwell within it…

“We’re better than the man who made us.”

Not questioning the randomness of this thought, Lex gently takes the leaf from my hand, tucking it behind my ear like a flower. “And he’ll be better than the men who made him,” he agrees, brushing his knuckles against my belly.

My fingers itch to loosen his hair, but I don’t.

Not until we’re downstairs in the medical wing.

I hold back until then, and Lex winces when I snag the hair tie, giving a little, “Oof,” as I pull it free. “Leave some hair on my scalp, would you?” Despite this, his cheeks color as he takes his stool. “This won’t be much different than the regular ultrasound for you.”

I’m lying on the exam table, my dress pulled up to reveal my belly. It’s beginning to look weird with the skin pulled so thin, but a part of me can’t imagine not having it there anymore.

“Careful with the joystick!” Lex snaps at Pace. “It took two hours to seat right.”

“Pretty sure I’ve heard that one before.”

All three of us startle at the sound of Wicker’s voice. I’ve had more exams than I can count over the course of my pregnancy,and the only one I remember Wicker attending is the clandestine ultrasound where we discovered the baby’s sex. I haven’t pushed him about it, and Lex stopped pestering him to participate some time in my second trimester.

Now, he’s closing the door behind him, looking reluctant as he shuffles into the room. “So, uh… what goes on at one of these things?”

Lex, still gawking at his brother, visibly shakes himself out of the shock. “I already drew her blood. We’re just going to test out the new ultrasound machine. That is,” he shoots a glare toward Pace, “if someone doesn’t break it.”

“I’m not breaking it,” Pace snaps, and with a series of lightning-fast keystrokes, brings up some fancy interface. “See? I’ve been studying this software for days. I know it like the back of my hand.”

Lex looks slightly stunned again. “Oh, er—good. You can operate the viz panel while I guide the transducer?”

Pace turns to level his brother with a stare. “Obviously.”

Reaching for something on the table, Wick asks, “What should I do?” Realizing he’s holding a pair of forceps, he flinches, setting it back down.

“Wick,” I slowly say, “what’s up?”

“Nothing.” But despite his answer, he’s glancing around the room like a caged animal, the tips of his ears reddening the longer we stare back at him. “Look,” he bursts, “all this medical shit really freaks me out because he’s going to come out of there someday soon, and there’s going to be blood and goop and gross stuff, and honestly, the less I think about it, the better, but the baby has a name now, and like… fingers or whatever, and I want to see him in 4D too, so fucking get on with it.”

Lex takes this in with a slack jaw. “Dude, you’ve watched me meticulously disembowel at least half a dozen men.”

Pace adds, “You’ve cut off more fingers and toes than youhave.”