Free Don't Let Go by Jaci Burton

here on the counter. Megan, there’s also wine and sangria.”
    â€œI’ll have a glass of sangria,” Megan said.
    â€œThe guys are all outside over by the barbecues,” Martha said to Brady.
    Brady nodded. “I think I’ll see what they’re doing.”
    â€œOkay.”
    While Megan poured herself a glass of sangria, the front door opened and Samantha and Reid came in.
    She loved her best friend, Sam. Since Sam and Reid had gotten married and moved in together, Megan hadn’t had a lot of time with her. Plus, Sam’s grandmother’s Alzheimer’s had advanced, taking up a lot of her time. She understood family came first, so she’d backed away, knowing Sam needed space not only with her new husband, but also to take care of Grammy Claire.
    But now she went over to Sam and hugged her. “I’ve missed you.”
    Sam smiled. “I’ve missed you, too.”
    â€œHow’s Grammy Claire?”
    â€œHaving a good day today. I spent over an hour with her visiting, and she was fully aware the entire time.”
    Megan squeezed her hand, knowing how precious those moments with her grandmother were to Sam. “I’m so glad.”
    â€œMe, too. So what’s to drink?”
    â€œI’m having a sangria.”
    â€œThat sounds amazing. I’m going to have that, too.”
    Reid walked by and brushed his lips across Sam’s. “I’m heading outside to find the guys.”
    â€œOkay, bye,” Sam said, then went to fix herself a glass. “Where are Des and Emma?”
    â€œSlowly making our way down the stairs,” Emma said.
    Megan smiled as she watched Des and Emma coming toward the kitchen. At nearly nine months, both of them were the blooming vision of impending motherhood. Emma had her hair pulled to the side in a blond braid, while Des had her dark hair piled high on her head in a messy but oh-so-attractive bun. They both wore maxiskirts and short-sleeved blouses that barely covered their protruding bellies.
    And she’d never seen two women look more gloriously beautiful.
    â€œWhat would you two like to drink?” Martha asked.
    â€œJust water for me,” Emma said, rubbing the small of her back.
    â€œI’ll pass for now,” Des said.
    â€œHi, honey.” Georgia Burnett came over to pull Emma into a hug.
    â€œHey, Mom,” Emma said.
    Georgia gave Emma a quick up and down look. “Baby has definitely dropped.”
    Emma laughed. “That’s what the doctor said this week. He thinks I might go early.”
    Des sniffed. “My doctor did not say that, unfortunately. I’m ready for this to be over with.”
    â€œIt’ll be over with soon enough,” Martha said. “Just not today. We have a party to get to. Now it’s a beautiful day outside, so you two go sit and get some sun.”
    Emma held up her hands. “As if
I
have any control over what this baby wants to do.”
    Georgia looked over at Martha and smirked. “She’s grouchy today.”
    â€œI heard that, Mom,” Emma said as she and Des retreated out the front door.
    Megan looked at Sam and Molly, and the three of them grinned.
    â€œGlad it’s them and not me,” Sam said.
    Molly lifted her glass. “I’ll drink to that.”
    Megan followed the women out to the large front patio, where Logan, Des’s husband, and Luke, Emma’s husband, had set up cushioned chairs with footrests for Des and Emma. There were folding chairs for the rest of the nonpregnant women, so Megan pulled up a chair and sipped her sangria and listened to Emma and Des talk, learning way more about pregnancy than she ever wanted to know.
    She grimaced and shuddered, listening to their talk about hemorrhoids and mucus plugs and Braxton Hicks contractions until one of the women—Megan thought her name was Shelly—leaned forward.
    â€œI take it you haven’t had any kids yet?” Shelly