by Sarah Adams
“Wow. What’s it feel like to read those words from your parents?” asks Jake after his eyes scan the card.
“I don’t know yet. It’s still hard to trust that they mean it. But I’m trying to let it sink in.” About three months ago, Daddy had a massive heart attack that almost killed him. Since then, his and Mama’s whole life has changed.
He gave up his position at the law firm, and he and Mama have started checking things off of their bucket list with all of their free time. Something happened to my parents after that heart attack. It was a wake-up call for them, and ever since, they have been trying their hardest to mend their relationship with me. I won’t lie; I wish that it hadn’t taken a heart attack to make them see my importance, but I know that beggars can’t be choosers. I’ve been cautious in letting them into my life, but so far, they’ve proven that their motives are pure.
They’ve even been trying to get to know Sam and make sure that she and Jake know we are all a part of their family. Mama is still snooty, but she’s getting better with every passing day. My hope is that, soon, we will have a real relationship and that they will be better with my child than they were with me.
Oh yeah, and this pregnancy has been a miracle in and of itself. I’ve had to grow accustomed to closer monitoring and lots of doctor visits (especially after seizures), but so far, everything has gone smoothly. We are all hopeful that I will carry to term and have a healthy birth. The doctor has assured me that epilepsy patients have safe deliveries all the time.
Jake kisses my temple. “Well, I love you, and I’m proud of you. And you can trust that.”
I smile and meet his gaze. “That I do know.”
“Me too!” says Sam, squeezing my feet. She inches up in the bed to lie down on my pillow beside me and rubs my belly. “How’s my baby brother doing today?”
Jake puts his hand on my belly, too. These days, my stomach seems to be a public attraction. Even a random old lady in the grocery store rubbed it yesterday. Maybe everyone knows something that I don’t, and they are all being granted three wishes. “He kept his mama up all night last night, dancing circles in there, the little booger,” I say.
Sam starts whispering to my belly something about joining forces to annoy me and Jake, but I tune out when I feel Jake’s eyes on my face. I turn to look at him, and he and I stare at each other, lost in the same thought: I can’t believe this is our life.
“I love you,” he mouths.
“I love you more.”
TWO MONTHS LATER
Jonathan Timothy Broaden came into the world this morning around 2 AM. He and I are both perfectly healthy, but pray for Jake because I think he might be losing his mind. The poor man has cried more in the past 24 hours than I thought possible. I allow it, though, because I know he has so much love pumping through his heart that he can’t keep it contained. I love him. I love my daughter. And I love our son. And of course, I love our dogs.
I don’t think this life of mine can get any better.
Except it does when I spot Jake walking into the hospital room with a chocolate-chip muffin.
THE END
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A Note From Sarah:
Hello, darling readers! I am so grateful to you for taking a chance on my book, and I hope that it made you laugh and filled your heart with warm fuzzies! This story is especially close to my heart because my mother-in-law, Lesley Adams, runs a nonprofit called Retrieving Independence that breeds, trains, and places service dogs with people who are living with physical, mental, or emotional disabilities.
The amount of time, energy, and love that Lesley and her volunteers put into these dogs and the recipients they go to is inspiring and life-changing for those living with disabilities. If you are interested in learning more about Retrieving Independence, check them out at: WWW.RetrievingIndependence.org.
Also by Sarah Adams
The Enemy: A Romantic Comedy
Acknowledgments
First, thank YOU, wonderful reader, for making it this far :) Without you, my stories would just be collecting dust in my imagination. Thank you for helping me bring them to life!
Thank you to my sweet beta readers: Ashely, Lesley, Kadi, Kari, Kasey, and Carina. You guys are my heroes for helping me find all the places my story needed to get stronger!
Thank you to my wonderful parents (Mark and Karen) for being absolutely nothing like Evie’s terrible parents and everything like Jake’s sweet southern parents. I’m proud to share your accents and love of sweet tea, and I’m thankful for how much you love me and my girls :) I would never have made it this far without you!
Thank you to Lesley Adams for letting me ask you a million questions about training service dogs and never once telling me to stop bugging you :) Thanks for encouraging me to write this story and helping me make it accurate! Also, thank you (this includes you, Dave) for being amazing in-laws and loving us all so well! I’m so blessed to be a part of your family.
Thank you to my true inspiration, my husband’s six-pack abs :) Oh, also a huge thanks to Chris as well for being the best husband and daddy in the world. I love you!!
Last, but definitely not least, Jenn Lockwood my brilliant editor!! Thank you, thank you, thank you! You are nothing short of fabulous and I’m so impressed by you.
About the Author
Born and raised in Nashville TN, Sarah Adams loves her family, warm days, and making people smile.
Sarah has dreamed of being a writer since she was a girl, but finally wrote her first novel when her daughters were napping and she no longer had any excuses to put it off.
Sarah is a coffee addict, a British history nerd, a mom of two daughters, married to her best friend, and an indecisive introvert. Her hope is to always write stories that make you laugh, maybe even cry; but always leave you happier than when you started reading.