Renata hugged her stepmother. “Seems like you’ve been a part of the family for longer.”
“It does.” Clara smiled.
Josie bounced her and Hunter’s daughter, Ana, on her hip. “Here’s to many more.”
Hunter nodded, slipping his arm around his wife and kissing his daughter’s head. “Many.”
Kylee patted the back of her newborn. “Fisher tells me you two are taking an actual vacation?”
Fisher shrugged. “It’s possible I dreamed that. I don’t think Dad’s ever taken a vacation—unless it had something to do with a rodeo or stock show.”
“You didn’t dream it.” Clara laughed.
“I’m impressed, Clara. I think Fisher’s right. Dad’s never ventured very far. Glad to see him have an adventure.” Renata’s stomach tightened, but she ignored it. This was Clara and her father’s day. She’d already had two false alarms—she didn’t want to ruin the party with another one.
“Clara’s taking him to meet her sisters,” Eden said, keeping one eye on her girls. “In Austria.”
“You own a passport?” Archer asked his father, taking the hand that Eden offered him.
“He does now.” Clara laughed.
“I’m impressed, Dad.” Ryder had his arms wrapped around Annabeth. “I never thought you’d leave all your grandkids.”
Her father frowned. “We won’t be gone that long.”
“He’s teasing you.” Renata shot her brother a look. “You two deserve time, just the two of you.” Her stomach clamped down so hard
she didn’t have time to swallow down her groan.
All eyes turned her way.
“Renata?” Ash turned her to face him.
“It’s just another false alarm,” she assured him. “It has to be.” But her stomach contracted again, harder this time.
“Load up,” Fisher called out.
“No, don’t load up,” she argued. “Ash will call you if this is real. Stay, have cake.” She winked at her father.
“She’s right,” Ash agreed. But she didn’t miss the wink he gave Fisher.
“You two are terrible,” she said, clinging to Ash’s hand.
“Ash, you two head out. We’ll be there soon.” Her father patted her cheek. “You got this.”
It took a good five minutes to make their goodbyes. Her water broke on the way to Ash’s truck. “Curtis? I don’t want him waking up and we’re both gone.”
“I’ll call my mom and Betty when we get to the hospital.” He kissed her hand as he backed the truck up. “They’ll bring him up after his nap. You don’t need to worry about a thing.”
She nodded, squeezing his hand. He was acting calm, cool and collected, but she saw the concern in his eyes. “I love you.”
“And I love you,” he said, picking up speed as they neared the hospital.
Dr. Farriday said it was one of the fastest twin deliveries she’d ever seen. Eleven hours was quite enough for her—and Ash.
John Theodore and Sara Jean were born eight minutes apart.
And when they were wheeled into her room from the nursery, there was no shortage of arms ready and willing to pass the babies around. Her father was beaming with pride. Her brothers fought over who looked most like who. And Fisher told her it was only fair that JT was a big brother—since she’d always be his big sister.