After my shower, I came out of the bathroom in shorts and a T-shirt to find Evan sitting on the end of the bed. “You look as nervous as a virgin on her wedding night,” he said immediately, making me giggle.

Pointing at my pregnant belly with both hands, I quipped, “I think that ship has sailed.”

“There’s nothing to worry about, Blaire. This bed is so big, we could fit two more people in here without any of us touching.”

I let out the breath I had been unwittingly holding and nodded, relieved that Evan was wearing pajama pants and a T-shirt. I guess I had assumed he would be like Axel, who slept only in his boxer briefs, and that’s when he wore anything at all.

“I didn’t know which side you liked to sleep on,” he said. “I don’t have a preference. I can pretty much sleep anywhere,” he said with a chuckle.

“Then do you mind if I take the side closest to my bathroom?” I asked, patting my belly and the little darling who liked to play soccer with my bladder every time I lay down, and Evan easily agreed. I climbed into my newly claimed side of the bed, and Evan came to sit beside me.

“Do you mind if I read to Carrie?” he asked, holding up Goodnight Moon, which I had noticed on the bookshelf in the nursery earlier.

“Of course. That would be really sweet, Evan.”

He read the book with his hand on my stomach so he could feel Carrie moving as he spoke softly. She loved the sound of his voice and became very active when she heard the soothing tone he always used when speaking to her.

When he was done, Evan kissed my forehead and said, “Goodnight, Blaire,” before indicating my burgeoning stomach. “May I?” he asked, and I nodded. He pressed a kiss to my tummy and said, “Goodnight, little one. You are so loved.”

Then he climbed onto the other side of the bed and faced away from me. And so began our nightly routine.

18. Blaire

Blaire

Five Years Ago, December

I had just finished my first semester of med school, and my grades were pretty damned phenomenal, despite the pregnancy, nausea, and swollen feet.

Now it was December, and Carrie would be arriving any day now… I hoped. I was already four days past my due date, and my feet were on permanent swole status. I had resorted to taking showers, even though I loved baths, because I had trouble getting in and out of my deep bathtub with my big belly. Evan had kindly offered to help me, but I could tell that he was a little uncomfortable with seeing me totally naked, so I had settled for showers until after the baby was born.