Page 40 of This Memory (Moose Village #3)
Brystol
Three Years Later
Lily lay beside me on the blanket as we stared at the night sky. “Do you see those two stars right there, Lily?”
She smiled as she held a Lego in her hand. “Yep! Dat Heaven Momma and Daddy?”
My heart felt like it swelled three times its size in my chest. Lily had started to call Evelyn and Denny her Heaven Momma and Daddy just a few months ago.
“It is. Anytime you want to talk to them, you can, and they’ll hear you.
Those two stars are always there. You can’t see them during the day because of the sun, but at night, they’ll always be there. ”
“Sun’s bright!” Lily giggled.
“It is bright.” I chuckled. “And no matter what, Mommy and Daddy will always help you find your Heaven Momma and Daddy.”
Lily sat up and put her little hand on my face. “You sick, Mommy?”
I shook my head. “Not anymore, sweet pea.”
She leaned down and kissed me on the cheek, then put her head on my swollen belly. “I wuv you and baby.”
“Aww, my sweet girl. I love you too. ”
“I’ve got snacks!” Gavin called out, causing Lily to jump up, let out an excited squeal, and run toward him. He deftly scooped her up with one arm while carrying a tray with the other. Lily giggled, and when Gavin deposited her on a chair, she reached up and cupped his face.
“Wuv you, Daddy.”
He set the tray on the outdoor table and kissed her on the nose. “I love you too, Bean.” He’d been calling her Bean since she was born, and I loved the little nickname.
“You ready to watch PAW Patrol ?” Gavin asked.
Lily jumped and clapped her hands. “Don’t jump on the chair, Lily,” I said, as I attempted to stand.
“Wait, let me help you,” Gavin said. He picked up Lily again and put her next to the giant blow-up bed he’d placed on the lawn.
“Thank you,” I sighed, as he helped me up next.
“Do you need help getting on the blow-up?”
I shook my head. “No, I’ve got that. And thank you for the pillows!”
At one end of the blow-up, Gavin had piled up a bunch of pillows, so my upper half could be elevated and I wouldn’t have to lie flat. He laid a blanket over the bed as well. “You win husband of the year award.”
“Again?” he said with a teasing tone. “We might want to give it to someone else this year.”
“Daddy! Daddy!” Lily said, tugging on Gavin’s hand. “Me! Me!”
He reached down and scooped her up, throwing her over his shoulder—her favorite thing—and she let out a girlish shriek. “Come on, Bean, let’s get you snuggled in with your favorite blanket. ”
After getting Lily settled in the middle, Gavin hovered while I sat down.
“Do you want to put your feet up?” he asked.
I started to say something—when I froze. I’d had Lily two weeks early, during my thirty-eighth week, and I was just about to hit the thirty-nine-week mark.
“Can you help me back up?”
Confused, Gavin reached for my outstretched hands. “Sure, what’s wrong?”
After I stood, I drew in a deep breath and exhaled. “You’d better call Loren.”
He stared at me for a moment before his eyes flew open wide. “You’re kidding, right?”
With a laugh, I went to reply when Lily cried out, “Pee!”
We both looked at the wet spot on the blanket.
When I looked at Gavin, he laughed. “What is it with you giving birth during your thirty-eighth week?”
I shrugged. “At least I’m consistent.”
He laughed as he pulled out his phone. “Loren? Hey, it’s Gavin.
It’s time. Bean is settled in and watching PAW Patrol in the backyard.
Are you busy? Great. No, her water just broke.
That would be awesome. See you in a few.
” After hanging up, he said, “She’ll call down the list after she gets here.
I’ll get our stuff in the car and call Dr. Lark. ”
Reaching up, I kissed him. “I love you. Thank you.”
He placed his hand on the side of my face. “I love you too.”
As he walked toward the house, I called after him. “Did you put the car seat in the car?”
Gavin stopped walking, dropped his head, and I heard him mutter, “ Fuck . ”
I tried not to laugh as I turned toward Lily. “Bean, are you ready to meet your little brother?”
She looked at me and gave me a thumbs-up before focusing back on the large screen playing PAW Patrol .
When I glanced up, a falling star descended in the same line of sight as our two stars. A memory of Evelyn pointing out the stars so long ago came flooding back.
Evelyn pointed up as we lay on the hood of her car, eating ice cream cones. “Those two stars right there, do you see them?”
“Yeah, I see them.”
“They’re special. I don’t know why, but they are.”
Staring at the two stars, I nodded. Then facing her, I smiled. “Yeah, they are special.”
“Mommy?”
Looking at Lily, I smiled. “Yes?”
“Heaven Momma is whiff baby bwother.” She pointed to the two stars, where another falling star streaked by. “See?”
I glanced up and smiled. “I see, Bean. I see.”
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