The only ones not packed into the room with me were Max and Daire.
With Hunter cradled in one arm, Hawkley reached for my hand and drew me close.“Harley, this happened so fast.Are you sure?I can whisk you out of here right now.”
I snorted out a laugh.“Better not let him hear you say that.”
Hawkley grimaced.“I know.I’m sorry.I just had to make sure.”
Like me, he was protective of the sibling he had left.I got it.I ran my hand over Hunter’s silky head, before smiling into Hawkley’s stormy eyes.“Thank you.I love you.I’m sure.”
He swallowed hard as he nodded and turned away.
Mom placed a soothing hand on his back, her gaze on me glossy.“Darling girl,” she breathed.“You are breathtaking.”
Nerves I didn’t know I had unknotted.The tension in my shoulders eased.And I smiled at my mom.
Turning to Hawkley, she hooked her hand into his elbow.“You have one job, son, and that’s to get me to my seat.Let’s get this show on the road.”
Noelle beamed at me as she gathered up our bouquets and handed me mine.
“I’ll give you and Dan a few minutes.I’ll see you on the flipside.”
The door closed with a quiet snick, leaving me with my big, cuddly, bear of a father.
He stood with his hands lightly fisted at his sides, his eyes soft on my face.
Then he spoke.
“To me, you’ve always seemed larger than life.I think Hunter saw you the same way.You amaze me.You always have.”
I sniffed and took a deep breath.
“I’m not going to make you cry, Harley, but there are times in a father’s life where he has to speak.And this is one of those times.
My voice locked in my throat, but I nodded for him to continue.
“You were so tiny, the tiniest newborn I’d ever seen.Babies usually get bigger with every pregnancy, but you barely tipped the scales at five pounds.I remember standing outside the nursery, seeing you surrounded by babies almost twice your size.And your little voice, louder than every other baby in that room.I knew then you were a fighter.
“And you are.
“I hold two Harleys in my heart.The first is that tiny, five-pound newborn baby I would have laid down my life for.Still would.Always will.Even though you don’t need me to be your champion anymore, it’s a role I will never give up.In many ways, you will always be my baby.
“Then there’s the other Harley, the one I’ve watched grow with bated breath into the beautiful woman you are.I’m so proud of you.Mom told me a bit about what you’ve been struggling with.I want you to know.To me, you’ve always been ten feet tall.”
A small sob parted my lips, but the panicked look on my Dad’s face turned it into a laugh.We rolled out of that room together, the top of my head barely reaching his shoulder, fueled by our laughter.
Looking up, I met Daire’s eyes.
His smile faded away to nothing.
His love for me stark and raw on his handsome face.
“That man loves you the way you deserve to be loved.It’s a pleasure to give you to him.”Dad patted my hand resting in his elbow.“Let’s get up there and put him out of his misery.”
She was too small to be noticeable when I walked down the aisle, but she was there, nestled in my womb, held like the most precious secret between his heart and mine.One that sparkled in his happy eyes every time our eyes met.
Face-to-face on the altar, we beamed at each other.
Noelle stood on my left, Max on Daire’s right, and Hawk held Hunter in the front row between my parents on one side, Ashley and John on the other.
