“Dude, don’t worry. It’s the most magical moment of your life!”

“Shit, Gunner…what if they find something wrong? Ah hell. Maybe we shouldn’t do this before the wedding. We should wait.”

Gunner just stared at me, and then he busted out laughing. “Damn. I thought I was a nervous wreck. Dude, calm down. It’s going to be all good. You’re gonna see your baby today, and then we’re all heading to the coast for your wedding tomorrow. It’s going to be perfect.”

I knew Gunner was right. It’s all going to be okay. I’m just nervous about the wedding. The baby is fine. Heather is fine. Everything is going to be fine.

I looked up and saw Jeff walking into the barn. Gunner and I must have read Jeff’s T-shirt at the same time because we both started laughing.

“Where in the hell did you get that shirt?” Gunner laughed, pointing at him.

Jeff slapped his hand away and looked down at his shirt.

“I know your wife doesn’t know you have that shirt on,” Gunner said with a smile.

“Y’all like it?” Jeff said with a grin. “Shit! Ari wears what she wants to wear, so I wear what I want to wear.”

Gunner just shook his head. “Uh-huh.”

I laughed and re-read his shirt.

Endangered Species

The Long-Haired Beaver

Jeff walked up to me, and we slapped hands before he brought me in for a hug and slapped my back. “You ready to see your baby, dude?”

With that, the anxiety hit me all over again.

Jeff must have noticed because he started laughing. “Josh, it’s gonna be fine. You’re going to be in awe at the sight of your baby.”

I shook my head to clear my thoughts. “Okay…well, what did y’all want me to drive all the way to Mason for anyway?”

“So, we know Brad’s been out of rehab for about a month or so, and he’s doing really well,” Gunner said with a smile.

“Yeah, we had lunch with him and Amanda two weeks ago,” I said.

“Did they mention that they are moving after the baby is born?” Jeff asked.

What the fuck? Moving? “Moving? Where? They didn’t say a word to Heather and me about moving.”

“I guess Brad’s dad actually did something nice for him. He got Brad a job with another advertising agency here in Austin, and they are willing to let him work at their branch in Florida,” Jeff said.

Florida…holy shit.

That’s right. Amanda’s degree was in marine biology. Brad was moving, so Amanda could follow her dreams.

I smiled as I looked between Gunner and Jeff. “Damn. That’s fucking awesome, but at the same time…Florida? It’s so far away.”

Jeff just stared at me. “Jesus H. Christ. When did you grow a vagina, dude? Are you going to cry?”

“Fuck off, Jeff! Asshole!”

“Assmole, Jeff!”

Jeff closed his eyes and shook his head. I turned around to see Matt running into the barn as Ari stood there with her hands on her waist.

Why is it she shows up with Matt when I’m the only one swearing?

When Matt ran up to me, I bent down ready to take him in my arms.

“Josh! I’ve missed you, Josh, so much! I’m going to hug you now.”

I laughed as Matt gave me a big ole hug, and I returned one just as big. “Hey, little buddy! I’ve missed you, too. Have you been a good boy?”

He nodded and turned to look at Ari, who flashed him a smile. “Josh, Ari said that you’re going to see your baby today. Can I see her, too?”

I laughed before I gave him a quick kiss on the head. “I wish you could, buddy, but not today. You see, I’m taking Heather to the doctor, and we are going to use a special machine that will be able to see the baby. The baby is only about ten weeks old in Heather’s belly, so I think it’s gonna look like a peanut.”

Matt laughed. “You’re such an assmole, Josh!”

I smiled as I stood back up and looked at Ari, who was holding her stomach.

“So?” I smiled.

Ari was just about to start talking when she noticed Jeff’s T-shirt. “Oh. My. God. What in the hell are you wearing?”

Gunner had taken Matt and walked him over to see Rose’s new colt. He turned around and yelled over his shoulder, “I told ya!”

Jeff gave Gunner the finger before smiling at Ari. “What’s wrong with my shirt, baby?”

Ari glared at him. “Well, since you seem to like long-haired beavers, I can arrange for that.”

I started laughing.

Jeff’s smile dropped. “Um…no. No, that’s really okay, baby. I’m not a fan of the long-haired beaver at all! I’m more partial to the hairless beaver.”

The next thing I knew, Jeff was taking off the T-shirt and tucking part of it into the back of his jeans.

Gunner died laughing, which caused Matt to laugh.

Matt finally stopped laughing as he looked up at Gunner. “Why are we laughing? Should I take off my shirt, too?”

Ari walked up to Matt and reached for his hand. “No, buddy, don’t take off your shirt. Let’s go in and see Mommy. You can try on your new outfit for Josh and Heather’s wedding.” As she walked by Jeff, she reached behind him and grabbed the shirt out of his pocket. “I needed a new cleaning rag.”

I had tears coming out of my eyes as I watched Ari walk out of the barn with Jeff’s T-shirt.

When I was finally able to stop laughing, I managed to get out, “I’m the one with a vagina, dude?”

Jeff looked at Gunner and then me and shook his head. “Fuck off, both of you! Let’s talk about doing something for Brad and Amanda, like we were supposed to. Assholes.”

As we waited for the doctor, Heather reached over and took my hand in hers. “So, you never did tell me what y’all are going to do for Brad and Amanda?”

I knew she was just trying to keep my mind busy. How is she so damn calm? “I was going to tell you about it. Jeff and Gunner already talked to Ari and Ells, and they’re totally on board with the idea.”

She smiled at me, and my heart melted.

“Okay. You’re going to have to tell me the idea, babe, for me to be on board, too.”

“What? Oh yeah, right. Okay, so when I told you that they’re moving to Florida, you already knew. I love how I’m the last to find out, but that’s beside the point.”

She started to giggle as she rolled her eyes.

I let out a sigh. “They wanted to pull together some money to give to them before they left. To help them get settled and all. With Brad’s parents totally cutting him off, they’re not going to have much of anything after they sell the house. His mother is insisting that they pay back everything his parents paid for in regard to the wedding.”

“Wait a minute! That bitch was the one who wanted the big fancy wedding, and now, she wants them to pay her back for it?”

I nodded. “Yep. She always has been a bitch.”

I was just about to keep talking when Dr. Johnson walked in. Heather was so happy that the same doctor who had delivered Alex was also going to deliver our child.

When he held out his hand, I stood up and shook it.

“Josh, Heather, how are y’all doing?”

“Good!” we both said together.

Heather quickly glanced over at me and winked.

“So, how are Alex, Gunner, and Ellie doing?”

Heather let out a laugh. “Alex is doing great! I can’t believe she’s two months old already.”

Dr. Johnson sat down and looked over at me. “Josh, you doing okay, buddy? You look a little white.”

“I’m good. I’m fine. I’m just ready to see my baby girl and make sure she’s okay.”

He smiled. “Baby girl, huh? Well, we might be able to hear the heartbeat if we’re lucky.”

Heather snapped her head over toward him. “But I’m only ten weeks! Can the sonogram machine pick that up this early?”

He started laughing. “We actually just got this new sonogram machine in. It’s capable of picking up the heartbeat as early as eight weeks, so let’s keep our fingers crossed. So, Josh, you think it’s a girl? Heather, how about you? Any guesses?”