“I look ridiculous,” Landon grumbled, his comically perturbed scowl making me giggle.
 

“Hey, I'm the one dressed like an avocado here.” I pushed out my rounded belly covered in brown spandex for emphasis. The corner of his lips twitched as he lifted his gaze from my ever growing stomach to my face where my head was shrouded in green polyester.

“You have a point,” he quipped, and I playfully smacked his chest, indenting the toast shaped foam of his costume.

“Get out of here,” I demanded with a faux pout.
 

“No can do. Someone’s gotta help you into your shoes.”
 

He was right. I could no longer see my feet, nor could I bend forward far enough to tie my own shoes. We only had two weeks left before we would meet our sweet baby girl. So naturally, I was as big as a beach ball. Walking up a flight of stairs proved challenging and knocking over mixing bowls at the bakery was becoming an everyday occurrence. To say I was ready to have this baby would be an understatement.
 

“Oof,” I groaned and rubbed my stomach before sinking onto the edge of the bed. 
 

“What's wrong? Is the baby coming?” Landon’s worried face filled my vision as he knelt in front of me.
 

“I’m fine,” I gritted out through clenched teeth. “I think it’s just Braxton-Hicks contractions.” It had been happening all day. Surely that was all this was. She wasn’t ready yet. We still had two more weeks. 
 

I breathed through the pain, drawing in deep lungfuls of air and expelling them slowly. After a moment, the cramp began to subside.
 

“Okay,” I assured my husband who eyed me warily, “it’s passed.” His features relaxed infinitesimally, and he proceeded to slip my sneakers onto my swollen, aching feet. Any other type of shoe was out of the question. All fashion sense had gone out the window weeks ago, and now my main focus was comfort. 
 

I watched as he grabbed his shoes from the closet and sank down next to me. Even dressed as a slice of toast, he still made my pulse race and my panties damp. His broad shoulders looked even wider in the costume and his forearms flexed deliciously as he tied his shoelaces. He began to stand, but I stopped him with a hand on his arm.
 

“Wait,” I said in a sultry voice. “Do we have enough time to…” I let my voice trail off as my gaze raked over him. His eyes heated and dropped to my mouth.
 

“I always have time for you,” he proclaimed and gripped my hips. He helped me straddle his lap and laid back on the bed. “Hard and fast or slow and dirty?” he asked, curling a hand around my neck. Rising onto his elbow, he brought his lips to mine. No matter how he gave it to me, he always left me satisfied.
 

“You pick,” I breathed. He glanced at his watch and a sly grin tugged at the corners of his lips. Since we needed to be at the Halloween party soon, I had a feeling which he would choose.
 

“Hard and fast, it is.” He crushed his lips to mine and I moaned into his kiss. The moan turned to a groan, then the groan turned into a cry as another intense cramp tightened my belly.
 

“Olivia,” Landon said, his worried gaze searching mine. “Are you okay?” I couldn't answer. The pain stole my breath along with my voice.
 

“Agh,” I cried and clutched my stomach, curling inward on myself in a feudal attempt to ease the pain. Landon cupped my face as I rocked back and forth, but not in the fun way. All thoughts of seduction flew out the window as I fought back tears.
 

“Olivia, talk to me baby. Please,” he pleaded, his voice strained. I panted, trying to catch my breath.
 

“I think… I think…”
 

My voice fell away as a gush of warmth burst forth from between my legs, soaking Landon’s lap. My lids popped open, and I met Landon’s shocked, wide-eyed gaze. 
 

“Did- did your–”
 

“Yep,” I answered before he could finish his question.
 

“Let’s go.” Landon lifted me from his soaking wet lap and placed me gently on my feet. He scrambled around the room, collecting our bags and ushered me to the front door. 
 

“Wait,” I called out and Landon halted in his tracks. “We need to grab some towels, so we don’t get your seats wet.
 

“I don’t care about my seats. I just want to get you to the hospital.” Anxiety rolled off him in waves and I did my best not to roll my eyes.
 

“She’s not going to come in the next few minutes. We have time to grab some towels,” I assured him. Before he could protest, I waddled to the laundry room and grabbed a few fluffy towels from the dryer, thanking my lucky stars I ran a load this morning but was too lazy to take them upstairs.
 

Clutching the towels to my chest, I waddled all the way to our new SUV. Landon has insisted on purchasing a “family” vehicle. I still had my sporty, little red car, but this would be my new day-to-day vehicle. It was equipped with all the bells and whistles and Landon had already installed the car seat. He tossed out bags into the back while I spread towels over our seats. When he settled behind the wheel, a burst of laughter rumbled up my chest.
 

“What? What’s so funny?” he asked, his near panicked gaze settling on me as I tried to suppress my mirth. 
 

“We look absurd going to the hospital dressed as avocado toast.” Finally, the tension bracketing his features cracked and he chuckled. 
 

“You’re right, but we don’t have time to change.” We probably did have time, but I wouldn’t argue. We had clothes in our bag, the one we thankfully packed last weekend “just in case.”  
 

Landon held my hand as we drove to the hospital. He let me squeeze it as tightly as I needed to as another contraction hit, leaving me with sweat dampening my brow. His fingers turned white from lack of circulation, but he never complained or let go. It wasn’t long before he pulled up to the front entrance and hopped out. 
 

“My wife’s having a baby!” he yelled, and the valet attendant rushed to retrieve a wheelchair. Shaking my head, I opened my door and planted my feet on the ground. I tried to stand but that was proving to be more of a challenge that it had been only a few short weeks ago.
 

“What are you doing?” Landon rushed to my side and crouched to help me. I took a few steps forward and panic filled his eyes. “You can’t walk!”
 

“Watch me,” I said, rolling my eyes. I’d only taken two steps before another wave of pain crashed over me. I doubled over, curling an arm around my middle as another contraction took hold. They were getting closer together. Landon’s arms went around my waist, and I gripped his shoulder with my free hand. The attendant appeared with a wheelchair and Landon lowered me into it. He tossed his keys to the valet attendant and wheeled me to the maternity ward. 
 

Once we were checked in, a nurse breezed into the triage room and stopped in her tracks. A smile curved her lips even though she tried to suppress it. 
 

“I love Halloween,” she muttered wistfully as she grabbed the chart from the foot of my bed.
                                                          🥑🥑🥑

“January Odette Crawford.” My mother’s eyes misted as she read the placard on my newborn daughter’s bassinet. She snuggled my baby closer, sniffing her head before placing a soft kiss at her crown. “You named her after Mom.” I nodded, tears stinging the backs of my eyes as emotion clogged my throat.
 

“That’s beautiful, Livy,” Honey crooned as she gently ran a hand over the downy hair covering my baby girl’s head. “But why January? Is that a family name?” Her gaze shifted to Landon, and he smirked. 
 

“What month was nine months ago?” JD asked, reading the mischief in my husband’s expression. A contemplative look passed over Honey’s face as she mulled it over.
 

“January,” she replied then winced. “Ugh, I didn’t need to know that.” 
 

I giggled then instantly regretted it. January entered this world via my nether regions late last night and I was hella sore from giving birth. At least everything went fairly quickly. Since she was my first, I expected to labor most of the night, but she came within a few hours of arriving at the hospital. 
 

“Neither did I,” my mom said, lifting her gaze from the sleeping baby nestled in her arms to pin JD with a glare.
 

“Sorry Mrs. Wilkenson,” JD replied, his cheeks flushing. Honey snorted from her perch at the end of my bed.
 

Soon Landon’s father joined us and his reaction to seeing his new granddaughter brought tears to my eyes. Joy lit up his face like the brightest rays of the sun. He wiped the dampness from his cheeks as he sat rocking her. Watching our family fall in love with my baby was a sight to behold. I couldn’t wait to see her with her cousins when Lyle and Kara came to visit.
 

It wasn’t long before everyone began to disperse. Landon wrapped me in his arms while I held our baby. 
 

“I can’t believe she’s really here. I’m a dad.” His voice was full of wonder and appreciation. I turned to him, and he pressed a kiss to the side of my face. “Thank you.”
 

“For what?”
 

“For everything, he began, his throat bobbing with a heavy swallow. “For not giving up on us. For coming back to Magnolia Grove and giving me another chance even though I didn’t deserve it. For agreeing to spend the rest of your life with me, and for,” he said, his voice cracking with emotion, “giving me the most beautiful, perfect daughter anyone could ask for.” Tears streamed down my face. He kissed them away before pressing his lips to mine.
 

“I love you so much. I can’t believe I ever thought I could live without you.” I gave him a watery smile.
 

“I guess it’s a good thing you came to your senses.” He chuckled and all the tension melted from his body. I laid there, cradled against his chest as our baby slept in my arms. Holding her close, I thought back to the moment I fell in love with her father. 
 

Nothing could’ve prepared me for the amazing, wild ride our relationship would take us on. I always knew life with Landon would be full of love and adventure, but I never realized it could be so sweet.