It was mid-May, with twenty-five days left until Janina's due date.
Janina had been staying home for most of this time. She wanted to exercise, but her feet were so swollen that she couldn't walk for long.
Worried it would be hard for her daughter to use the bathroom in the middle of the night, Grace had moved in to sleep beside Janina.
Janina hadn't slept with her mother since she was a little girl and thought it would feel strange. But, surprisingly, she had been sleeping remarkably well ever since.
Even so, she had to use the bathroom five or six times every night. The slightest movement would wake Grace, who would then help her up and guide her to the bathroom.
A child loved by her mother is the happiest in the world, she thought.
The next morning, she was awakened by the crisp chirping of birds outside. It was another beautiful day.
After freshening up, Janina walked to the dining room.
She saw Ethan Holt busy in the kitchen while Grace was packing a bag.
"Nina, you're up! You must be hungry," Grace said, putting down what she was doing. She hurried over to help Janina to a seat at the table.
Janina didn't know whether to laugh or cry. They were treating her like royalty. "Mom, I can manage on my own. You'll spoil me rotten if you keep this up."
Grace shot her a playful look and brought a meal from the kitchen. "You're my girl. What do you expect? Besides, you're carrying a baby. We've got to spoil you extra right now."
Ethan walked behind Grace, a basket of warm, freshly baked bread in his hands.
"You're our treasure, of course we have to take care of you. While your mother and I are still able, we'll look after you as much as we can. And then there are your four brothers... who knows when they'll finally find wives."
At the mention of their four sons, a look of worry crept onto the couple's faces.

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