"Our n to keep the pregnancy stable is working great!"


    "The doctor said everything looks good. The baby is doing just fine!"


    "In just a few months, you''ll get to meet your first great-grandchild!"


    Fleur grinned proudly. "And he''ll be your only great-grandchild, too!"


    "But are you sure her baby''s really okay? Didn''t Callie mention there were some issuesst time?"


    Eamon frowned. "If she needed bed rest, that usually means something''s not right with the baby. Sometimes you just have to let nature take its course, you know? Don''t force it."


    "No, I think Callie must''ve misread something!"


    "We had all the tests done, and the doctor said everything''s perfectly healthy!"


    “Bed rest is just routine-nothing special or extreme!"


    Fleur shot Calliope a sharp look, obviously annoyed.


    Calliope nced over at Yvette, who was dramatically cradling her still-t belly, really ying up the whole "expectant mom? act.


    Yvette didn''t look too happy.


    To Calliope, it was pretty obvious Yvette''s condition was a result of forcing the pregnancy along-never a good sign.


    She doubted this baby would be born healthy; there was a real chance things could go wrong.


    But Fleur wouldn''t listen, and there wasn''t much Calliope could do.


    Still, the thought of a baby being brought into the world only to suffer tugged at her<fn4> Th? link to the orig?n of this information r?sts ?n find{n}ovel</fn4>


    heart. She couldn''t help but gently say, "You know, regr check-ups are


    important. You really should take your doctor''s advice."


    They might ignore her, but surely they''d listen to their doctor, right?


    "Don''t worry, we''re not skipping appointments!"


    "Of course we''ll listen to the doctor. You really don''t need to worry so much!"


    Fleur''s tone was icy.


    Calliope just gave her a look and dropped the subject. No point arguing.


    At dinner, the mood lightened. Everyone chatted andughed over roast chicken and mashed potatoes.


    Afterward, Calliope yed a game of chess with Eamon—and beat him.


    He grumbled, "You''re really something, kid. Always so sharp. I give up! Let Ss y with me for a bit!"


    Calliope couldn''t help butugh. He was the one who insisted she try her best, but now that she''d won, he was a little sulky.


    Leaving them to their game, she wandered out to the backyard to y with Storm, the family''s chunky golden retriever.


    Storm had been staying with Eamontely, and was definitely packing on the pounds.


    "Storm, you''ve gotten way too


    Se Meshe said, ruffling his ears.


    keep eating so much,. keep eating


    for you!"


    to s


    "Woof!" Storm wagged his tail, as if protesting.


    "Seriously even if you eat a lot, you


    need to exercise more!" Calliope


    said, her voice yful. "Grandpa


    can''t keep up with you, so you''d better run around the yard yourself, okay?"  s


    "If you don''t, I''ll have to put you through boot camp!" she warned, giving him a mock-stern look.


    Storm''s eyes widened; his tail froze mid-wag. He clearly remembered what "boot camp" meant.


    "Didn''t realize the Jewell family put you through that kind of stuff," came a voice from behind.


    She turned to find Gideon standing there, watching her intently.


    He''d been observing her for a while now, andtely, he found himself missing her more and more.


    Since Yvette got pregnant, she''d be increasingly difficult. She was always suspicious of him, always afraid he''d cheat, and ready to pick fights at the drop of a hat.  s


    When she lost an argument, she''d clutch her belly and threaten a miscarriage.


    He couldn''t help but remember how Calliope had never acted that way. She''d always trusted him, never questioned his loyalty.


    She never dumped her problems on him, always handled things herself—and honestly, often helped him out, too.


    Comparing the two women, the difference was like night and day.