She tipped her head to the side. "I'm not carrying anything on moving day."
"You're supposed to be taking it easy. You're cooking our baby in there." I covered her stomach with my hand and was surprised that it was no longer flat. She had a slight swell. "When did this happen?"
"Sometime over the last week, I popped."
I felt a little awed by the proof that our baby was growing inside her belly. "The baby supposedly can hear us talking."
"You'd better be nice to me then," Ivy chided.
I smiled, unable to remove my hand from the evidence of our baby. "I always am. But seriously, you're not to lift anything today. I don't want you to do anything that could put this little guy at risk."
She sobered. "I wouldn't."
"I know." She struggled with feeling productive and useful. It was hard for her to sit back and let someone else do a job that she could do herself. The next few months would be a challenge for her, but I'd be with her every step of the way.
She wouldn't be able to put physical distance between us anymore. Not with us living in the same house. I'd ensure that she was eating and getting enough rest.
A knock sounded on the door which was partially ajar. "Are you decent?"
I rolled my eyes, taking a step back from Ivy. "Yes."
Shep walked in and wiped his hand over his forehead. "Whew. I wasn't sure what I was going to walk into."
"Thanks for helping out today," Ivy said, ignoring his teasing.
Shep crossed the room and hugged her.
Ivy's stiff shoulders eventually relaxed into his hold. She'd have to get used to the fact that our family was touchy-feely.
When he pulled back, he scrutinized her. "Are you sure you want to move in with this guy?" He threw a hand over his shoulder at me. "He stinks."
Ivy laughed. "Does he now?"
His nose wrinkled. "Yeah, and he's really messy."
I rested a hand on Shep's shoulder. "I think you're talking about yourself."
"Nah. I'm very organized and clean."
I snorted because that had never been the case.
Hudson appeared in the doorway, his hands rubbing together. "Are we ready to move?"
Ivy stepped close to greet him. "I'm all packed up."
"Perfect. Less work for me then." Hudson pulled Ivy in for a one-armed hug, then turned his attention toward me. "Tell me where to start."
"You can start carrying boxes out." I glanced around the room, noting that she'd written in black marker on the sides. "They're labeled for the room they go in."
Hudson nodded in appreciation. "Someone's organized. That will make the unpacking job go more quickly."
Ivy's lower lip protruded. "It was the one thing I was allowed to do. Cooper won't let me lift anything."
Hudson nodded. "He's a good man."
We got to work, used to not having Dalton at events like these anymore. He was preoccupied with getting his new house ready for the baby.
When I first volunteered to help Dalton renovate, I didn't think I'd be having a baby too. But I'd made promises I wouldn't break.
