were born. Nine pounds. I’m completely overwhelmed. This baby is going to keep growing and growing. What if I just ask to keep him or her in there until it’s time for college? I can’t imagine pushing a baby out. What if the baby gets hurt? What if I’m not big enough to carry them all the way? I don’t… I’m not ready for this. I’m more than a little scared.” Her words trailed off and she tried to pull her hands from Brock.
But he wasn’t having it. He tugged her hands closer to his chest, placing her fingers just above his heart. “Lil, I would be scared if that was me. You’re doing the brunt of the hard work, here. I’m just along for the ride and the crazy cravings and to see if I can eat any of the cravings with you. Passing on the pickles and frosting, though.” He winked, even though she couldn’t see him.
His words softened. “But honestly, millions and millions of moms have done this. If anyone can do it, you can. I know this. You want a baby more than you’re bugged by how it’s getting out. This is just something to focus on. Now, let’s agree not to fixate on anything that will take the fun out of being pregnant. I’m sure we can come up with some fun things to try.”
He really was bothered by her weird cravings lately. Why couldn’t she want something that he would like? Like steak and potatoes? Or fries and chili? He’d even go for tater tots and a milkshake. But no. Lily craved pickles and frosting, hamburgers and syrup, pizza and chocolate – together, not apart, and he didn’t want to talk about the omelet filled with peanut butter and jelly. That was just wrong and he’d been unable to look at her while she ate it – with gusto.
“You think it will be okay? Do you really think it will be?” She tightened her grip on his fingers and Brock grinned into the night.
She was coming to him for comfort. That made him feel more like her man and protector than anything else could. “I know it. You’re going to do great. Everything will turn out the way it’s supposed to. You have nothing to worry about.”
But even as he said the words, he couldn’t help being a little worried that he might be wrong.
And that left him more terrified than anything else could. Because if something was wrong with Lily or if something was wrong with the baby and she was horrified, then Brock’s heart would be crushed. He couldn’t have anything happen to his wife. She was his everything.
She had to know that.
Brock clutched her hands in his and spoke with a slight desperation. “You have to promise me you’ll do everything you can to stay healthy and safe this pregnancy, okay? I can’t have anything happen to you, Lily. I’m serious.”
Lily slowly pulled her right hand from his grasp and rested her fingers against his stubbly jawline. “Brock, everything is going to be fine.”
And the tables turned to his wife consoling him. Brock and Lily fell asleep in each other’s arms, seeking comfort from the other.
Chapter 11
Tommy
As soon as Elizabeth Wilson stood from the stool, Tommy ducked down in his truck, setting the long-range camera on the seat beside him. He was at the end of the drive but the large sized windows along the outside of the Dean home made it easy to see inside.
Most of Montana left their curtains open and their doors unlocked. Tommy was banking on that level of unadulterated trust to help him gather the information Ms. Halliwell wanted so badly.
He started the truck, shifting into drive and tearing off down the road before she could leave the home.
Back at the bed and breakfast, Tommy uploaded the images from the DSLR camera and studied each one. He wouldn’t send all of them to the client, certainly not until he got the deposit, but that didn’t mean he didn’t need to inspect them.
Amanda was in most of the images he’d captured. While he told himself he was only studying her to see which pictures he should send to his client, he could recognize a bald-faced lie when he heard and told one.
He just wanted to stare at her.
Through the lens of the camera, Amanda had a suspicious look on her face at first as she stood at the bottom of the steps. Then that expression changed, altering