SANDRA COULD HEAR Lucy laughing hysterically through the open window, and she could also hear the squeals of Lucy’s little sister, Samantha.
She peeked out the front window of her house and saw that Lucy was running around the big picnic blanket that Kody and Samantha were lounging on.
Sandra laughed. She had no idea what was so funny to Samantha, but it was cute all the same. And all she could do was stand there and watch them. Just for a moment.
One year ago, she’d never thought that she would be here.
That she would have this family.
That she would be getting married today. Although, it wasn’t going to be a fancy service. It was just going to be their relatives gathering to see her and Kody married by an officiant in their front yard, with their daughters by their side.
Myrtle and Ted, Sally, Ross and the rest of her and Kody’s family from North Carolina. Even Sandra’s own biological father, John, would be here. Just before she’d given birth to Samantha she had opened her adoption record and reached out. Her biological father had responded and each day they built a relationship.
He’d had no idea that she existed, and he had been alone too.
Sandra had never heard from her biological mother, but that was okay. Maybe one day. For now, she was happy. She’d gone from being completely alone to having what she always wanted. A family.
Her big ranch that she’d bought because it was dilapidated and cheap was now a real family home. The rooms were filled, and she was no longer lonely.
The back meadow was being converted into a landing strip so that Kody could continue his flying lessons. After the sale of his house in Austin, he’d bought himself a small plane. That way, he could get air time, while still being close to the family.
It might not be Alaska, but at least he was still living a part of his original dream.
He was a pilot.
And Sandra was now the director of Rolling Creek’s newest simulation lab, and her course on triaging and surgery in the field for large-scale natural disasters was one of the most renowned in the Southern states.
Other cities and hospitals were sending their doctors and their first responders to learn from her. There were times when she missed the emergency department and the operating room, but with this project there were no more night shifts and she was able to spend more time with her children.
Lucy might not be biologically hers, but she still loved her as her own. Lucy was her daughter but Sandra would never let Jenny’s memory fade.
She stepped outside.
“I hope that you three are keeping clean. The guests will be arriving soon,” she scolded gently.
“We’re keeping clean.” Kody stood up, picking up Samantha and giving her a gentle toss in the air. “Aren’t we?”
Samantha just squealed and Kody set her down in her playpen, pulling the sunshade over it. Lucy had retreated to the blanket to play with her dolls and Kody came over to see Sandra. He wrapped his arms around her and gave her a kiss on the top of her head, as he always did.
“How are you feeling today? Still tired from all the wedding prep?”
“Um, sort of,” she said slyly. “I have something to tell you.”
“Oh, do I want to hear this?”
“You might.” She couldn’t stop smiling, because she’d never thought Samantha would happen and she had been just as shocked when she’d received the call from Jocelyn about her lab results.
“What is it?”
“I’m pregnant again. Jocelyn called me this morning. I’m six weeks gone already.”
Kody’s eyes widened. “You are? So soon?”
“I know. Samantha is almost a year old, and I didn’t think that I would get pregnant again, but I went for my routine checkup and told her I was feeling tired. I thought it had to do with opening up the simulation lab’s new addition and all the work I’ve been doing. I certainly haven’t had the same symptoms I did when I was pregnant with Samantha.”
Kody shook his head. “I’m so...”
“What? Are you happy?”
“Of course I am.” He pulled her close and kissed her. “Of course. I think I can’t quite believe it myself. For so long I thought that Lucy would be my only child. I always wanted a big family, but until I met you, I thought that wasn’t in the cards for me. And then Samantha came along and we were so lucky to have her, I just never expected a third.”
“Well, maybe this time you’ll finally get a boy, so you’re not so outnumbered by all these girls,” Sandra teased.
Kody laughed. “I don’t mind being outnumbered by all these girls. I’m so happy that you’re in my life. I’m so happy that you love Lucy as much as Jenny did.”
“I’m so happy that Jenny gave me such a wonderful daughter.”
He kissed her again.
“Thank you for opening up your heart for me,” she whispered. “I love you.”
“I love you too.” He kissed her one more time. “It’s a good thing you agreed to marry me. It’s about time I made an honest woman out of you.”
She gasped and hit him. “How very sexist of you.”
“Sorry.” He chuckled. “I couldn’t help it.”
“So are we going to wait forever to tell Lucy about the prospect of another baby or are we going to actually tell her when the first trimester is over?”
“Why don’t we tell her now?” Kody offered.
“What if something happens?” Sandra asked.
“We’ll take that one day at a time.” He reached down and touched her belly. “Baby steps, remember?”
She placed her hands over the top of his and nodded. “Baby steps.”
They walked hand in hand to the blanket where Lucy was playing and sat down next to her to tell her that soon there would be two babies.
That their family was growing by two more feet.
If you missed the previous story in the First Response duet, look out for
Firefighter’s Unexpected Fling
by Susan Carlisle
And if you enjoyed this story, check out these other great reads from Amy Ruttan
Royal Doc’s Secret Heir
The Surgeon’s Convenient Husband
Carrying the Surgeon’s Baby
NY Doc Under the Northern Lights
All available now!
Keep reading for an excerpt from The Nurse’s Twin Surprise by Sue MacKay.