Page 65 of Second Chance Fate (Hope Falls: Brewed Awakenings #5)

“No. I think I just pissed my pants. I haven’t done that since college. Not when I was in college. I was a sophomore in high school at a college party, and I pissed my jean skirt, not pants, but still, you know what I mean.”

“Were you laughing?” When Taylor was pregnant, right before she gave birth, she was at the doctor's office, and one of the nurses made her laugh so hard she peed. It was known to happen.

“No, I was standing in line for the bathroom, but there were people doing coke in there, and I couldn’t?—”

“There are people doing coke here?” Taylor was surprised at how casually she said that.

“No, in college,” Viv clarified. “Were you asking about now?”

Taylor smiled. “Yeah.”

“Oh, no. I didn’t even feel like I had to go. I did jump up in the air, though, because I was celebrating; I just closed a huge event. When I landed, I felt moisture on my leg.” The toilet paper roll spun on the holder. “Ugh, why isn’t it stopping?”

“Um, Viv?” Taylor stepped toward the door.

“What?”

“Is it clear?”

“Yes, Mom , it is clear. I’ve been drinking plenty of water. Have you been talking to Grace?”

Grace was the eldest Wells sister. She’d stepped up and raised her three younger sisters after their mother died when the girls were in their teens.

She lived in Hope Falls as well and was a silent partner in Brewed Awakenings.

Taylor had met her a few times, and she definitely gave off oldest sibling vibes.

“Does it have any odor?” Taylor asked.

“Ew, what?”

Taylor waited.

“Oh…” Viv made a surprised sound. “It smells sort of sweet.”

“You didn’t pee your pants. Your water broke,” Taylor explained.

“My water broke?!”

“Yes.”

Frankie’s eyes widened.

“Oh, shit! My water broke! What do I do?”

“Do you want me to stay with you or go get Glenn?” Taylor asked.

“Get my sisters and Glenn.”

Taylor thought it was sweet that she asked for her sisters and then Glenn. Even if it was just a subconscious thing, she’d seen how close the bond was between the four of them. She never wanted to be an only child, and Caleb said he hadn’t enjoyed it either.

“I’ll stay with her,” Frankie assured Taylor as she walked past her out of the restroom.

“Thanks.”

The first person Taylor ran into on the way back down to the river was Mario, which was kismet.

“Hello, beautiful! I was about to send out a search party.”

Yeah, she knew she was pushing her luck being in there so long.

“Viv’s water just broke.”

It hadn’t surprised Taylor that Mario and Viv hit it off during the reception the day before at Caleb’s parents’ house.

They had the same dry, irreverent sense of humor and instantly bonded over their shared love of the “ultimate Zaddy,” Pedro Pascal.

They spent at least seventy percent of the night, and that was no exaggeration, showing each other clips of either movies he’d been in or montages fans had made; they’d even discussed starting a podcast together.

His entire demeanor changed in one second from Party Mario to Nurse Mario. “Where is she?”

Taylor motioned behind her to the restrooms. “Women’s bathroom. I’m going to get her sisters and Glenn.”

He nodded and handed his drink to Roman, then headed the way she’d just come from. She quickly scanned the sea of faces and was able to locate Gabe, who was Owen’s friend’s dad and Glenn’s brother. She beelined it to him. “Hey, do you know where your brother is?”

“No.” He shook his head. “Why?”

"Viv’s water just broke; she’s in the bathroom.”

“I’ll find him.”

“I’m going to find her sisters,” she relayed as she continued toward the biggest crowd, which was gathered around the dance floor. She was halfway there when she was intercepted. Arms wrapped around her from behind, and her body instantly relaxed.

“Where have you been hiding?” Caleb whispered against her ear as his arms enveloped her waist.

She melted against him, and as much as she’d love to allow herself to get sidetracked, this mission was too important. “I was in the bathroom, and Viv came in; her water broke.”

“Oh.” He instantly released his hold but kept one hand on her lower back. “What can I do?”

She looked up at him. “Mario is with Viv. Gabe’s finding Glenn. I’m going to tell Audrey so she can get her sisters.”

“Okay, you’ve got this handled.” He looked impressed, and Taylor felt a completely unearned sense of pride.

He walked with her, his hand still pressed against her lower back. When Audrey noticed her approaching, she began to smile, but then it dropped. “What’s wrong?”

Taylor realized she must have appeared stressed, which was not on purpose. “Nothing, I mean, nothing bad. Viv’s water broke. Mario is with her in the bathroom. Gabe is getting Glenn.”

“Do Grace and Ava know?” Audrey immediately shot back.

“I haven’t told them.” Taylor shook her head. “I don’t know if anyone else has.”

Audrey glanced up at Josh, who gave her a quick chin nod and then walked toward the downtown area.

Taylor watched as Audrey rushed back the way she’d just been toward the restrooms. As she stood there, Caleb beside her, she felt like there was more she should have done, or still be doing, but she wasn’t sure what that looked like.

“Have you ever thought about having more kids?” Caleb’s palm was pressed firmly to her lower back as his thumb made lazy circles on her bare skin.

Taylor realized then that she had never discussed this topic with him before.

The question caught her off guard, momentarily distracting her from the commotion around them.

She’d just been thinking about the Wells sisters having each other and how she always wanted a sibling.

Caleb said he’d always wanted a sibling.

Her mind wandered, imagining the possibility of expanding their family.

She turned to Caleb, meeting his eyes with a mix of surprise and curiosity.

The chaos of the moment seemed to fade into the background as their conversation took on a more intimate tone.

Taking a deep breath, she considered Caleb's question carefully. She could sense a shift in the air, a moment pregnant, pun intended, with unspoken hopes and dreams. As she opened her mouth to respond, a sudden shout from across the way burst the bubble they’d been floating in, reminding her of the urgency of their current situation.

“Caleb!” his mom shouted. Clearly, she’d been alerted that Viv was in labor.

With a lingering glance, Caleb bent down and pressed a kiss to her forehead, silently acknowledging the question that hung between them. There would be time to explore that possibility later, she decided. For now, they both had a job to do, probably. She wasn’t actually sure.

Turning back to the unfolding scene before them, Taylor and Caleb moved forward, united in purpose and resolve.

As they walked toward his mom, who was standing with his dad and the chief of police, Eric Maguire, she felt a sense of peace settle over her.

Each step they took together up the small incline of the riverbank, she knew, was symbolic, and whatever the future held, whatever challenges or uphill battles life threw at them, they would face it together. Hand in hand and heart in heart.