And he’s right. With Lyle is absolutely where I belong. It’s where I want to be. I can’t keep letting residual fear from Daddy’s health scare keep me from living life.

I’m already halfway through this pregnancy at nearly twenty weeks, and Lyle deserves to share in this experience. I want him there to feel the first kicks right alongside me and to watch my belly swell.

It’s time.

“Don’t forget this,” my brother says, holding Maui’s carrier away from his body as if the bird could bite through the hard plastic.

“I was coming back inside for that.” I glare at Dane, taking my baby from him. “It’s okay, Maui.” I smooch at his cowered form through the see-through panel. “Don’t be scared.”

Poor little thing is petrified. He’s not made a sound since I put him in there. It’s unlike him to be so quiet, but he also hasn’t ridden in one of these things in nearly eight years, when we first brought him home. So, it makes sense that he’d be unsure about the whole thing.

I set his travel cage on the back seat so I can run back into the house and give my dad a proper goodbye.

“Hey, Sweet Pea.” He rocks forward, lowering the footrest on the recliner where he’s been dozing. “You all set?”

“Think so.” My lip trembles while I try like hell to maintain my composure. I move to lean in and hug him, but he stops me.

“I’m gonna get up and give you and my grandbaby a real send-off.” It takes him a solid minute to peel himself out of that chair. Then he slips his arm through mine, just like he did on my wedding day, a gesture that tugs at my heartstrings. “Off we go.”

He escorts me to the car, where my mom and brother are still waiting to say their goodbyes.

One by one, they wrap me up tight, offering words of encouragement. Telling me how proud they are. And how much they’ll miss me.

“Why does it feel like I’ll never see you guys again?” I ask once I’m situated in the backseat with the window down. My heart feels as if it’s being split in two.

“It’s a new chapter, Sammi-girl.” Momma reaches in to squeeze my hand. “Change is always hard at first, but you’re gonna rock it!”

“You call me any time day or night if my buddy ever needs to be put in his place. I’ll be on the next plane out to whoop his ass into shape.”

Oh, Dane.

“I’ll remember.”

“Ain’t gonna be necessary,” Daddy says, shaking his head. The man has quickly become my husband’s biggest champion. “Never seen a man look at his girl the way that one looks at you.”