He must see something isn’t right because he mouths, “You okay?”
I grit my teeth and nod.
Moving to the right, I stand perfectly still as the music changes.
Everyone in the place stands and turns in time to see my sister, looking absolutely stunning in the same lace wedding dress our mom wore when she married our dad. I can tell he’s touched by the whole thing because the poor man is bawling his eyes out. “Dad,” I whisper to myself as I watch Amber approach her husband-to-be.
I move into place and wince as pain shoots through my abdomen. I know what it means. I’m in labor. But I’m not about to ruin this day for my sister. She’s come so far.Sofar.
In three years she’s grown from the problem child to a woman with a bright future as a hairstylist, marrying the man, the police officer who saw through all of the crud Amber had done and saw the woman within. Oh, sure, she’s still a pain in the ass, but she’s nothing compared to who she was before.
I grit my teeth until the pain ebbs. I missed a bunch of what the minister says, thanks to my contractions but I’m able to hear the good part.
“Amber Nicole Perkins. Do you take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband?”
I can’t see my sister’s face because I’m behind her, but I know she’s smiling. “I do.” I know the minister is asking her more questions. I remember them from when Eli and I did this over a year ago. I know the words by heart, but I can’t think with the pain that’s shooting through my belly. I do my level best to pretend nothing is wrong. With practiced breathing, I’m able to get myself under control in time to hear:
“Ordell Oliver Renate. Do you take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife?”
“Hell yes.”
The audience laughs. I wish I could. I really do. Except I can’t, due to the fact that I’ve just felt warm liquid gush down my legs onto my feet and the floor. “Oh, shit,” I say, loud enough for the entire church to hear.
“Shh,” Amber says as she turns to look back at me. Heck, she’s even got her finger over her lips like I’m a child that needs chastising.
“Screw you. My water just broke.”
She quickly glances down at my feet and laughs. “Of course your water broke. You just had to make this about you, didn’t you?”
When she laughs, I cry. “I’m sorry.” I really am. “I didn’t mean to go into labor on your we-wedding day.”
“Oh, Emma.” Amber’s voice sounds sincere. “I was kidding, honey.” Her arms wrap around me just as pain so intense shoots through me all I want to do is lay down.
“Emma, babe.” Eli’s next to me. He’s got his arms beneath my knees and one around my back, lifting me. “You all finish up here. We’ll meet you at the hospital.” As he carries me down the aisle, I watch the group at the front of the church.
“Good plan,” Carley says with a nod. Waving at the minister like she’s in charge, she says, “Please continue.” People around us laugh. “But make it snappy.Ourniece”—she winks at Amber—“is about to come into this world, and we need to be there.”
Turning to face the guests, Carley adds, “After this, the rest of you head to the reception. Have a good time. Lift a glass to the bride and groom, and baby Carley.”
And that, right there, is why I love her.
“Baby Carley,” I whisper into Eli’s ear.
“No way in hell, Angel. We’re sticking with the name we agreed on.”
“I know.” We chose a good one. “Amelia.”
“Exactly.”
By the time he’s walked us out to the car, the pain has eased. “You want to know a secret?” I say as Eli buckles me into my seat.
“Sure.” But he doesn’t wait to hear it. Instead, he carefully shuts my door and runs to the driver side. He’s in with the engine running and in gear in seconds.
“My secret is—”
“Uh-huh,” he says absently as he carefully checks for traffic as he pulls out of the parking lot. “We put your bag in the car, right?”
“Right. We did just as they told us. Just in case.”
