“Carolina,” I say.
She glances over at me. “Yes?”
“I love you,” I tell her, wondering when I last said those words to her.
I pull her into a hug, holding her to me, and she clings, pressing her lips to my cheek in a soft, sweet kiss. “I love you too.”
We load up into sleek black limousines, Spencer and I sharing one with Whit and Summer. The moment we’re inside, Summer is hunched over, her hand on her stomach, her eyes closed as she takes a deep breath.
“Summer,” Spencer says, his voice full of alarm, “are you in labor?”
“Of course not.” She tosses her head back, her long brown hair falling past her shoulders, her eyes still closed. “It’s my mother-in-law’s funeral. I can’t have the baby.”
“Jesus, Summer. What if you’re having the baby?” Whit gently shoves her hand away from her stomach, pressing his against the side of it. He holds it there, his head tilted as if he’s concentrating on what’s happening. Like he’s some sort of doctor. “I can actually feel your contraction.”
Panic races through me. “We should get her to the hospital.”
“Whit can’t go to the hospital. We have to go to the gathering.” Summer puffs out a breath, her cheeks turning red. “Oh God, it hurts.”
“We’re going to the hospital,” Whit says firmly, reaching out to hit a button to lower the window that separates the driver from us. He instructs him to take us to the closest hospital, and the driver shifts into racecar driver mode, wielding the limousine through the crowded streets with surprising agility.
And at breakneck speed.
I’m clutching Spencer’s arm, my heart racing with a mixture of excitement and fear. Whit is the epitome of calm, speaking to Summer in soothing, calm tones, saying all of the right things, and I realize he’s an expert at this. He’s had a baby before, been there to support her while she labored with sweet little Augie.
Now they’re adding another member to their family, and it makes my heart swell with love.
We pull up to the emergency room entrance minutes later, and Spencer and Whit both get out of the car first to help Summer exit the limo. I give her a hug, and then Spencer and I stand by the limo as we watch them walk into the hospital. The moment they disappear from sight, I turn to Spencer, my eyes filling with tears.
“Baby.” He reaches for my face, his thumb streaking across my cheek, catching a tear. “Why are you crying?”
“Life is just full circle, you know?” I try to laugh, but it turns into a sob instead. “We’ve lost my mother and we’re going to gain a baby girl today.”
“You’re right,” he says softly, his eyes glowing as he studies me. “It has come full circle.”
“My mother would’ve loved to meet her.” My laugh is watery, and I cover my mouth with my hand, my eyes closing tight for a moment. “I wish she wasn’t who she was.”
“You couldn’t change her, no matter how hard you tried.” He cups my face with both of his hands, tilting it up, and I open my eyes to find him looking at me with unmistakable love. “But now you have a sweet little niece coming, and we need to make sure she knows she’s loved by her family.”
“I can’t wait.” I frown. “They never did tell me what they want to name her.”
“I’m not sure they know themselves.” Spencer leans in, brushing his mouth with mine. “I’m proud of you.”
“Why?” I whisper.
“You’ve been so strong. I know this hasn’t been easy.”
“Is it wrong to admit I’m a little bit…relieved?” I say that last word in the barest whisper.
“No.” He shakes his head. “You can admit all of your truths to me.”
“All of them?”
He nods.
“Like how I love you more than anyone else on this planet?”
His lips curl into a small smile. “I feel the same way.”