“Happy birthday, sweetheart.” Katie’s father handed her a small white box.

Since Sage had taken her mom into the bed and breakfast for a tour, they had a minute to themselves. At the end of the dock of Bowie’s childhood home, she opened her gift. On a bed of velvet sat a broken gold heart stitched together with the word “love”.

“It’s perfect.”

She removed the necklace and turned around so her father could put it on her. It hung past the jagged scar that marred her chest—a scar she proudly wore now that she’d given her heart to Bowie.

“Where’s the birthday girl?” Doc hollered from the end of the dock. He held a box in the air. “I brought gifts.”

She looked at her dad.

“Go get your gift. It’s your birthday.” Katie raced to the end, where Doc stood waiting.

“Don’t open this in front of your father.”

“Why?” She peeled back the corner and knew immediately. “Really, Doc? Condoms?”

“What do you get a girl who has everything?”

She threaded her arm through his and walked him to Sage’s deck, where Cannon was barbecuing burgers and brats.

“Hey, birthday girl. Where’s my brother?”

Katie looked around her. “He disappeared with your father a few minutes ago.” She looked at the jumbo box of condoms. “Can you hide these for me?”

Cannon looked to where she had opened the end. “Ahhh. I’ll put these away for later.” He handed the barbecue tongs to Doc. “You’re the new grill master.”

Katie walked down the steps and looked at the water. Its surface rippled with the slight breeze. The aspens and pines shot up around the shore enclosing the lake in a green hug. She’d been all over the world, but no place was as peaceful and homey as Aspen Cove.

“There you are.” Bowie walked toward her with a gift in his hand. “You have to open this now. I’m not sure who’s more excited, me or the gift.”

She laughed because Bowie had once told her he wasn’t good at riddles, and yet he managed to tell a few himself. Behind him walked Sage and Cannon, Ben, and her parents. Doc raised a beer and the tongs from his position on the deck. Maisey and Dalton pulled up the rear. In Dalton’s hands was a cake on fire. It was amazing how much heat twenty-nine candles could create, but she felt it from a distance.

When the group came closer, they sang to her. She took a big breath and blew out the candles. It took her two tries, but she did it. Some would say she didn’t earn her wish, but looking at the people surrounding her, she’d already been granted it.

“Who made the cake?” It was perfect. She knew there wouldn’t be an inch of frosting on one end to cover a mistake.

“Dalton made the cake,” Bowie said. He stumbled sideways and almost dropped the box. “You need to open this now.” The box bobbled in his hands again. “I’ll hold it. You take off the lid slowly.”

Katie gripped the lid. “Bowie Bishop, if something jumps out at me, you’re in so much trouble.”

“We’ll see.” He gave her a smile that could stop a weaker heart.

Afraid he was pranking her in some way, she leaned to the side before she pulled off the lid. “Oh my God.” She lifted the brown bundle of wiggly fur into her arms. “You got me a puppy!”

Bowie threw the box to the ground and wrapped his arms around her and the puppy. “I gave you a child.” He reached between them and lifted the dog tag that had “Bishop” etched into a metal bone.

“I love you.” She tilted her chin up for a kiss.

Bowie met her in the middle and gave her a kiss she’d remember for a long time. She ignored the crowd around them and got lost in his love.

When Doc yelled, “The weiners are ready,” everyone laughed.

A leash appeared from Bowie’s back pocket, and he snapped it on Bishop’s collar. “Dad’s been teaching him to walk on the leash. He’s a smart dog.”

Katie smiled at him. “Of course he’s smart. He’s our son.” She lowered Bishop to the ground and walked him to the deck, where Sage had tables set up with salads and chips and buns. Everyone piled food onto their plates and claimed chairs.

Katie sat close to Bowie. Bishop lay at her feet. She was giddy with happiness, but she was tired. All the excitement of the day had worn her out. She signaled to Sage, who walked right over.

“You need something, birthday girl?”

Katie felt the world tilt to the right. “I need to lie down for minute. Can I use your room?” Sage had a full house this week due to the Fourth of July holiday.

A look of concern creased her brow. “Let’s get you there.”

Katie handed the leash to Bowie. “Can you take care of our child? I’m going to go inside for a few minutes.”

“You okay?”

She nodded and pushed herself off the chair, but the world tilted again. “Bowie?” A flush covered her skin, and her knees buckled as she reached for him for stability.

In seconds, she was in his arms and Sage was leading them into her and Cannon’s bedroom. “I don’t feel well.”

Bowie put her on the bed and placed his hand on her forehead. He turned to Sage. “Get Doc, she’s got a fever.”

In seconds, the room was filled with people. It reminded Katie of the night before her surgery, when everyone came in to see her.

“Move away, everyone.” Doc shuffled in and set his black bag on the nightstand.

“You do house calls?” Katie asked with a weak voice.

“Not if I can help it.” He pulled the stethoscope from his bag. “You want an audience?”

Katie looked around the room. Her mother’s hand covered her mouth. Her father seemed to hold Sophia up.

“I’m fine, just tired. Go enjoy the barbecue. I’ll be out in a few minutes.”

Katie’s dad all but dragged his wife out of the room. The rest followed, except for Bowie.

“I’m staying.” It was a statement of fact. He wrapped his big hand around her small hand and sat on the edge of the bed.

Doc lifted Katie’s shirt and pressed the cold stethoscope to her chest. His head bobbed quickly. His eyes watched the second hand on his watch.

“Ticker is fine.” He slung the instrument around his neck. “How have you been feeling?”

Katie scooted back and sat against the headboard—one similar to the one Cannon had made for Bowie and Brandy.

“I’ve been tired, but other than that I’ve been great.”

Bowie shook his head. “She threw up this morning.”

Doc frowned. “Was it just this morning, or have you been sick before today?”

Bowie glared in her direction.

“I’ve been sick a few times.”

“Mornings?”

“What? No?” She looked at Bowie, whose tawny skin turned ghostly white. “Seriously?”

Doc opened his bag and tossed the stethoscope inside. “Condoms have a failure rate of two to fifteen percent. Two if used properly.”

Katie sat up. Her hands went to her stomach. Was it possible she was pregnant? “You think I’m pregnant?”

“Whoa, whoa,” Bowie said. He rose from the bed and ran his hands through his hair. “She had her cycle.”

“Normal?” Doc asked.

Katie shrugged. “I’m not sure what’s normal. With my immunosuppressant drugs, nothing is ever normal.”

“You’re pregnant. I got you pregnant.” The words were like a painful howl. “Shit. I’ve killed you.”

“What? No, you did no such thing. You didn’t have sex by yourself.”

“Maybe he should have, and you wouldn’t be in this predicament.”

“Wait a minute,” she yelled. “You don’t know I’m pregnant.”

The door opened wide, and Katie’s mom stood there with a look of horror on her face. “What do you mean she’s pregnant?” The last word came out in a cry.

“I’m not pregnant.” Katie kicked her feet off the bed and tried to stand, but the change in position caused her to falter.

Bowie rushed to her side and swooped Katie into his arms. “She is pregnant. I know it.”

“Only one way to find out.” Doc closed his bag and walked to the door. “I’ll meet you at the clinic.”

When Doc disappeared down the hallway, Sophia surged toward Bowie. “If you really loved my daughter, you would have looked after her. Pregnancy is as good as a gun to her head.”

Katie struggled from Bowie’s arms and stood beside him. “Mother. I won’t put up with you ruining everything for me. You need to leave now.” Katie pointed a finger at the door.

“Me, ruin everything?” Sophia stood defiant in front of Bowie. “He’s ruining everything.” Sophia pulled her hand back. When she swung it forward, she connected with Bowie’s cheek with enough force to snap his head back. “If she’s pregnant, I’ll kill you myself.”

“Sophia!” Tate stood in the doorway. “Come with me now.”

Katie’s mom walked toward her husband.

“Mama. You listen, and listen well. I’d trade every minute of my life for one more with him.”

The door closed behind them, and Bowie fell to his knees in front of Katie. “I’m so sorry.”

Katie had only seen a man cry once. It was the day they wheeled her into the operating room. Her father had held her hand until the last minute. When she looked at him, his eyes couldn’t hold the tears anymore. She looked down at Bowie, and his eyes looked the same.

“I can’t live without you.”

Katie dropped to her knees in front of him. “You don’t have to live without me. Now go get our son, and let’s find out if you’re going to be a daddy.”

“Katie, you can’t have this baby. Even you told me it wasn’t recommended. It isn’t safe. It isn’t right.”

“Bowie Bishop, have we done anything the right way?”

She leaned into his chest and breathed in his comforting scent. She’d never been so afraid, but it wasn’t for her life she feared. It was for the life of the unborn child that might live in her womb.