off an electrical current. I took the water, and like the two previous bottles, stuck it down the back of my shirt.
“Childbirth is supposed to be hard on the mother. Not the aunt. If I passed out for this baby’s birth, how am I ever going to manage having any of my own?”
“Knowing you, by sheer will and force of determination,” he said mildly. “We’ll deal with it when it happens.”
“We will, will we?” I grinned at him.
We both knew it was only a matter of time.
“Is there a baby?” Kaleb burst through the waiting room doors with Lily behind him. “Is it here?”
“There’s been a baby for months, and don’t call it an it,” I snapped. Fainting made me grumpy.
“You just did.” Kaleb cocked his head to the side.
Lily sat down beside me and lifted my hair off my neck with one hand, fanning me with the other. “You know Thomas and Dru won’t tell anyone if the baby is a girl or a boy. It’s not Em’s fault.”
“You’re too good for him, you know,” I said to Lily with a sniff, but I winked at Kaleb.
He flipped me off, but he was smiling.
“Why are you so excited, Kaleb?” I asked. “Babies don’t seem like your thing.”
“Neither do cookies, but you don’t complain about those.”
A door opened and a nurse stuck her head out. “Ready to meet your newest family member?”
My stomach tried to take a vacation by way of my mouth. “As I’ll ever be.”
“Thomas and Dru asked for all of you.” The nurse stepped back so we could enter the birthing room.
I wanted to take Michael’s hand, but I crossed my arms over my chest instead.
Dru’s face shone radiant, and my brother was so puffed up with pride I half expected him to pop.
“Emerson,” Dru said, “meet your niece. Clarissa Elisabeth.”
“After Mom.” I looked at Thomas, and couldn’t stop the tears from falling. He had a few of his own.
“And you,” he said.
And me.
“Do you want to hold her?” Dru asked.
“I … I don’t know. What if I break her?”
“You won’t.” Michael’s smile of encouragement was all I needed.
I bit my lip and stepped up to the bedside, psyching myself up. “Okay.”
Dru held a bundle of blanket and baby out to me, and I took her in my arms. She was beautiful, tiny, and perfect.
“Hello, Clarissa Elisabeth,” I whispered. “Welcome to the world.”
I bent down to place a kiss on her forehead.
And started laughing when every light bulb in the room blew.
Thank you to:
Amazing Literary Agent Holly Root, for being there at every turn, especially the sharp ones. You are the best.
Fab Film Agent Brandy Rivers, who’s always excited about my work, and always an advocate.
Egmont USA, for all you’ve done for the HOURGLASS series and for me, and to Regina and Katie, for being the best trip chaperones a girl could have.
Stephanie Perkins, I don’t think I’d have made it this year if you hadn’t been in my corner. You are the truest blessing to come from this book! TWYLA FOREVER.
Jeanette Arnold and Christian Steele, you’ve been my anchors in reality. I am so grateful for you both, and for Maddy, Lauren, Samuel, Landon, and Mia, who shared you with me.
Critters and friends who went SO far above and beyond: Sonia Gensler, Jodi Meadows, Natalie Parker, and Lauren Thoman. I owe you more than I’ll ever be able to repay. I’m serious.
Jodi Meadows, M.G. Buehrlen, and C.J. Redwine, for always being my Go To group when it comes to the big decisions and the teensy ones. You are my sanity and my safety, and I love you dearly.
Courtney C. Stevens, C.J. Schooler, Ariel Lawhon, Angie Cardwell, and Joanna Nash, for listening ears and good advice.
Jessica Katina and the rest of the Katina family, who answered every single question about Samoa I asked, and who are lovely humans in general.
Lo, for the playlist; and Christina, for the charm offensive, and to both (Christina Lauren) for keeping me laughing. Always with the laughing, these two.
My Texas ladies: you know who you are. Special thanks to Kate Johnston, for reading on the fly; Anna Carey, for handling my weird stress sleep noises; Tara Hudson and Amy Plum, for understanding; Tessa Gratton, for buckling down with me and commiserating; Carrie Ryan and Brenna Yovanoff, for the wisdom; Gretchen McNeil, this hobo’s for you; and Beth Revis, for being the best. Cheerleader. Ever.
Heather Palmquist-Lindahl, please forgive me for forgetting to add you last time!
Tammy Jones (who proves old friends are the best friends) for reading, encouraging me, and schlepping me all over NOLA in her Beetle Bug convertible.
Judith and Tom at Octavia Books in New Orleans, for inviting me to their amazing store, and for helping me see NOLA the way I needed to see it.
The Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance, and every sales rep, bookstore employee, and book pusher. Thank you for promoting literacy every day.
Every blogger who’s posted a review, every reader who’s used the superpower of Word of Mouth to share book love, and especially every librarian who’s perfectly matched readers with my books.
Team Root, the best group of agent mates out there.
Sophie Riggsby and Jen Lamoureux, for taking care of Murphy’s Law and me.
Deborrah and Keith McEntire, and Elton, Mandy, and Carter, because family is important.
My parents, Wayne and Martha Simmons, for always making sure I had a book in my hand, and for letting me read whenever I wanted. (Even in the shower.) I love you both.
Andrew and Charlie, who put up with a lot while I wrote this book (three different times), and who loved me through it anyway. Being present for the real people I love is so much more important than any work of fiction. Life is a process, and we learn as we go. I love you.
Ethan, who did way too much single-parenting in the past twelve months. You’re my partner and my best friend, and I am so grateful for you (even though you’re bugging me about what we’re having for dinner as I type this).
It’s hard to say goodbye to my Hourglass characters, but I’ve given them the best stories I could. They belong to the readers now, and I hope you all enjoy them!
