I kiss him quickly on the lips. "It will be fine, Levi. Just have faith."
He pulls me close just as I step away. "Hey, where are you going?"
His lips are on mine again. "Now, that's better."
“It is, isn’t it.” I kiss him again.
“Okay. We ought to get back in there before we have to put out another fire. Did y’all catch that look Trisha gave Turner?”
“I’m glad I have someone to back me now.” I wink.
“Yep. That’s right. We’re on our way.” Levi says, as he slides his jeans on, on a call. I put the last of my camera equipment away and toss his mail on his placemat at the table, so he can pay the last of his daddy’s bill once we get back.
He hangs up. “You got everything? Need a hand?”
“No. I’ve got everything in your truck. Let’s just hope that Crystal doesn’t go into labor before I’m done taking the photographs.”
“Well, she’s due anytime. Goodness, y’all would think that she would have been on the ball with that sooner than her actual due date.”
“She would have, but this free photo shoot is in thanks for Cassidy helping y’all move in here, remember?”
“How could I forget.” He murmurs, pulling me close.
“Come on. Let’s go before she really does go into labor.”
“So, you’ll catch the next kid.”
I chuckle, pulling him towards the door. His drafting table sits happily by the window, where he is working on his final project before he writes his exam and finally gets his diploma. I'm so excited. I haven't done a photo shoot in a long time, especially a maternity one. I'd love to the do baby's first pictures, too, and a family photo shoot, but we'll wait until a little bit later for that. His hand is in mine the whole way to the ranch. Piper, Jade and I have set up a spot where pictures will be taken inside the old ranch house. We've got soft lighting, a couple of outfits, somepicture frames with dates, and an antique baby crib specially finished by Buddy.
Crystal is already in position when we arrive. How she's still carrying that baby is beyond me. Luckily, her skin is still clear, and very little touchups will be required. "Okay, now, stand facing the window and I'll adjust this umbrella." I explain, trying to filter out some of the natural light, so that her eyes are accentuated in the shot. We've already taken a bunch of pictures, even some with Cassidy, who was more than willing to model with the love of his life. "There. That's perfect." I tell her, before heading back to the camera on the stand. She's in a white gauzy dress that's tasteful but shows her very pregnant belly beautifully. Jade helped do her hair in soft, natural curls, and very little makeup.
"God, you are so beautiful, darlin'." Cassidy comments, admiring the mother-to-be.
I take the shot, and everyone glances at each other. "What's wrong?" I ask.
"Y'all got a bottle of wine stashed somewhere?" Levi asks. "I could swear I just heard a cork pop open."
"Uh, no." Crystal chuckles. "That would be my water that just broke."
My hands go to my cheeks as I smile. "Are you sure?"
She steps out of the way, and I see the puddle of water on the floor. "Well, yeah. How else do y'all explain that?"
"My word! It's time!" Cassidy says, with a huge smile erupting from his face. "Let's get you to the hospital!"
"Well, just wait now." Crystal mutters. "Let's let Lennie here finish taking the pictures. Lord knows I ain't getting myself into this predicament a second time. No one's going to see my gut sticking this far out ever again."
I laugh out loud. "I'm done. You go on now and have that baby!"
Jade is prepared. She's got a spare pair of pants in hand that she had tucked away in a bag in the office. There is already a screen in the room both for the photos and to use for changing clothes. Crystal and Jade disappear behind the screen.
"Alright, so who's coming to the hospital?" Cassidy says.
Wyatt is dumbfounded. "You mean y'all don't have that figured out yet?"
Crystal sticks her head out from behind the screen. I'm guessing it's for my benefit, so that I can see what she's saying. "I wanted to choose on the fly, because y'all irritate me. Just wanted to figure out who's irritating me the most before I go and shit this kid out." I see her wince. "Fuck, I think those cramps I had earlier were goddamn contractions. These are way stronger."
"Shit, darlin'. We ought to go then." Cassidy urges.
