Over the next few hours, Emma kept a watchful eye on the baby monitor and took several trips upstairs to check on Simone, who hadn’t moved. Emma ate a sandwich that Grayson encouraged her to have after reminding her she hadn’t eaten since breakfast. They’d been far too busy to think about food, and the shock of returning home to find Simone injured had soured her appetite earlier.

At around eleven, Hannah stood to stretch. “Take me home, Nolan. I’ve had enough of this day and these people.”

Before anyone could object to her comment, she let out an odd sound that was followed by a rush of fluid that formed a puddle around her feet.

“Uh-oh,” she said, looking up at her husband with great big eyes.

“Ewww, gross,” Colton said. “She’s leaking!”

“Her water broke, you asshat,” Landon said.

Hannah seemed frozen in place by the unexpected turn of events. Next to her, Nolan seemed equally frozen.

“It’s too soon,” Hannah said frantically. “I’m only thirty-two weeks. It’s way too soon.”

“Hannah,” Molly said, her hands on Hannah’s shoulders. “Breathe. Take a deep breath. Now do it again.”

Hannah breathed the way her mother told her to, but she was ghostly pale and her big brown eyes were wide with fear. Her expression matched Nolan’s.

Everyone talked at once.

“Will the baby be all right?”

“Is Nolan going to faint?”

“He looks like he’s going to faint.”

“Game night causes labor. Good to know for the future.”

Molly pushed Nolan down to the sofa he’d only recently abandoned. “Put your head between your knees and breathe. Ella, get me some towels. Will, go warm up the Range Rover.”

“Um,” Linc said. “They have their own car… Just saying.”

“Does he look to be in any condition to drive?” Molly asked her husband while gesturing to her son-in-law, who had his head between his knees.

“Maybe we could take their car?” Linc asked hopefully.

“The Range Rover,” Molly said to Will. “Now. Charley, get their coats. Emma, you’re in charge of the dogs, if that’s all right.”

“Of course. Whatever I can do.”

“That would be a huge help. Thank you. Don’t anyone who’s been drinking even think about driving.”

“Yes, mother,” Lucas said.

Charley returned with the coats.

Molly got Hannah’s on her and told Will to help Nolan. “Let’s get them to the car. Can you walk, honey?”

Hannah clung to her mother. “I think so. It’s early. It’s okay if it’s early, right?”

“I had you and Hunter at thirty-five weeks, and you turned out fine.”

“Depends on how you define ‘fine,’” Lucas said.

“I had them at thirty-four weeks,” Molly said. “You can see the difference.”

“Hey,” Lucas and Landon said together.

“That’s not nice,” Landon said.

“Truth hurts,” Molly said, obviously making light to keep Hannah from freaking out.