Flora Bloom lay under the covers, blushing as she pulled them up over her face.
The mountain air was wonderfully fresh, carrying the faint scent of green bamboo and the soft scuttling of small animals that had yet to hibernate for the winter.
"Lex, my due date is in a little over a month, and I'm suddenly starting to get scared."
"Don't worry. I'm always here."
Lex Cross turned to face Flora, slipping a hand under the covers to gently rest it on her rounded belly.
"Polly Cross, you'd better be a good girl. When it's time to come out, you come out quickly and without a fuss. If you dare give your mom a hard time, I don't care if you're a girl—you'll be in for it!"
As if Polly had understood her father's words and was protesting, Flora's stomach suddenly cramped, making her cry out in surprise.
"Ah!"
Lex Cross shot upright in alarm, his face tense and alert. "What is it? Is your stomach hurting?"
