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“I can’t wait for the weather to warm up.” Blindfolded, Lennon draws her sweater tighter as I lead her onto the deck and covered porch I finally finished this past weekend.

And just in time since her due date was three days ago.

“I know, but in the meantime, we have this to keep you warm.” I remove the blindfold and watch her blink until the setup to her right comes into focus.

“Easton…” she gasps, clutching her sweater near the center of her chest.

“Is it what you imagined?”

Her eyes move all over the space. “It’s even better.”

Two custom-built rocking chairs with cushions sit beneath the covered porch Owen helped me extend while the guys from the firehouse finished the deck. Between work and the brutal winter weather, it took longer than I wanted, but we got it done.

Potted plants with pink and purple flowers flank the pillars supporting the porch roof, and a portable propane heater sits between the chairs.

I also hung yellow and pink wind chimes and bird feeders from the eaves, adding color and life, and wrapped the pillars in twinkling lights that resemble fireflies.

Lennon waddles over to one of the rocking chairs, taking a seat slowly. “These cushions are heavenly.”

Crossing my arms over my chest, I grin. “You know I like my cushions.”

She leans her head against the back of the chair, smiling up at me. “Thank you for this. Now if only this little girl would exit the womb, this picture would be perfect.”

I lean down and press a kiss to the top of her head. “She’ll come out when she’s ready.”

“She’d better not be late for everything in her life because of this,” Lennon jokes, rubbing her stomach. “That won’t bode well for her.”

“I think she’ll be fine.”

Her exhaustion is palpable as she rocks. “Thank God I finished my work experience hours a few weeks ago, though. Otherwise, I’d be even more stressed and tired.”

In true Lennon fashion, she accomplished most of what she set out to do, finishing the program’s work-experience requirement ahead of schedule. Her professors agreed to let her take her final exams after the baby is born as long as she kept up with her coursework. I plan to give her that time so she can focus on herself and the baby until graduation.

I’ve never been so fucking proud of her—of us.

The past nine months have proven that some people enter your life for a reason, connected to you by a force stronger than anything you can name.

Fate.

Love.

Timing.

It all plays a part in who you choose to build a life with.

I’m just fucking happy that Lennon chose me.

“As soon as Presley is here, you’ll forget all about that program and how tired you feel right now. We’ll just be tired because she probably won’t sleep for those first few months.”

Lennon groans. “Don’t remind me. But…” She gestures toward the chairs. “That’s what these will help with, right?”

“Right.”

She lets out a yawn that sparks my own. “Okay, I’m exhausted. Can you help me up, please?”

I move toward her and take both her hands as she rises from the rocking chair. Then her eyes widen as she stares at me. “What?”

“Uh…I think my water just broke.”