The soft, warm breeze blowing off the Gulf of Mexico feels almost as good as the warm sand I’ve buried my bare toes in.

Ronan’s thumb glides back and forth along the back of my hand as he stares intently into his. I do my best to make my eyes sparkle with happiness. If he even suspects the amount of discomfort I’m currently in, he’ll freak out.

My free hand rests against my baby bump. For the bulk of my pregnancy, I had the cutest little bump. It was so small that most people didn’t have a clue I was pregnant until I mentioned it, but these past two months it’s swelled to epic proportions. It is the real reason I am currently barefoot instead of wearing the stunning pair of white sandals I had picked out for today.

I bite the inside of my cheek as a sharp pain arrows through me. Now, if the baby would only wait patiently for a just a little bit longer,

Ronan has embraced every single aspect of his pending fatherhood. He has handled the bulk of prep work that goes into welcoming a baby, even planning the baby shower. As much as he’s enjoyed the entire experience, his absolute favorite part is telling everyone, and I do mean every single person, he meets how my little baby bump triggered my upset stomach which allowed us to get free of the exotic animal smugglers who are currently waiting to be sentenced for their crimes.

Besides us, Ronan’s Aunt Evie, who used the internet to become an ordained minister, finally says the handful of lines I’ve been waiting to hear since the ceremony started.

“I now pronounce you man and wife,” she says proudly. “Ronan, you may kiss your bride.”

Ronan doesn’t need to be told twice. He pulls me as close as the baby bump allows and kisses me with more passion than is strictly appropriate for a wedding ceremony.

I try to return his ardor, but the sudden, mind numbing pain of every single muscle in my lower belly contracting nearly makes my knees buckle.

I cling to Ronan and gasp for breath.

“Oh my,” his Aunt Evie cackles. “Talk about extraordinary timing.”

Ronan grips my upper arms and stares down at me with panic filled eyes. “What’s wrong?”

Before I can answer, Evie leans over the beachside wedding alter we had made for today and taps his shoulder. “You’d better get your girl to the hospital. ASAP.”

“What?” The blood drains from Ronan’s face. “Why?”

I take a step away from him and look down. The size of my baby bump makes it impossible to see what the front of my maternity wedding dress looks like, but it feels even wetter than the front of Ronan’s pants.

“Because my water just broke.”

“Aren’t you just the sweetest little thing?” I whisper to my brand-new daughter. I place a kiss on the top of her head before sliding my gaze sideways to where Ronan is sitting on the chair the nurses moved beside the bed. He looks exhausted. “I can’t believe we still don’t know what to name her.”

Before Ronan can answer, someone knocks on the door.

“Come in,” I call out.

The door swings open and Evie pushes Sally’s wheelchair into my hospital room.

“We wanted to give you two some time to get used to being a family,” Evie says. “But Sally here just couldn’t wait to meet her new niece.”

Ronan straightens in his seat. “I’m surprised you waited this long.” He gently slides our daughter out of my hands and holds her so that Sally and Evie can get a good first look.

“This is what Baby Bump really looks like?” Sally tilts her head to one side and studies her red-faced niece. “I thought she’d be bigger. And prettier.”

I gape at her. “What did you call her?”

“Baby Bump,” Sally says in a clear voice. “That’s what you and Ronan decided to name her.”

“I was thinking about something more traditional, like Amelia or Constance,” I say. “Why do you think her name is Baby Bump?”

“That’s what you and Ronan are always calling her,” Sally explains. “Baby Bump made Cassie puke. Baby Bump saved our lives. Baby Bump is going to be a pilot just like her mommy and daddy.”

Ronan’s startled glance meets mine. After a moment he starts to laugh. “She’s got a point,” he chuckles.

I look at Evie, who grins at me. “Face it, Cassie. You can name her anything you like, but since it looks like we’ve all gotten into the habit of calling her Baby Bump, it’s going to be her nickname for the foreseeable future.”

Realizing that I have no real control over it at this point, I relax and simply decide to bask in the love and laughter filling the small, private hospital room.