These men, along with Kate and Shep, became my constants, and Robert?
Well … Robert became my rock.
From the day we said‘I do’he was my first in everything. The one who was always there no matter what. He was my hero even when he irritated the hell out of me, and I wouldn’t change him for all the world.
And he was right; he wore me down. Not that it took much work on his part. He never shied away from letting me know how much I meant to him. Three months after we met, we got married at the local registry office.
Shep and Kate stood up with us as witnesses. Afterwards, we went to the pub that Shep had just bought and partied until we had to close. Our wedding picture was the only picture we had of all the men and the two of us original old ladies.
If we’d known we’d lose Roman and Jones, I’d have insisted on more photos, but life got busy, babies arrived, Gunny got married, and we lost his wife not long after she had Drake. Then, Thor and Silvie blew up, and Kate and I took on Noni and Marcus along with our own children and Drake. To say we werebusy was an understatement, but that’s life, and somehow, we all managed.
I’d do it all again in a heartbeat as long as it meant I had Robert at my side and our best friends at our backs.
DOG
It took me a few months, but I wore Maggie down until she agreed to marry me. Life wasn’t boring with her at my side, that’s for sure. Was she a little quieter than Kate? Sure, she was, but she was perfect for me. Because when she loved, she loved with her whole heart.
And today was the day I made her mine.
We’d ridden home early this morning, and we’re meeting Kate and Maggie at the registry office. None of us had much leave. I had three days and two nights with Maggie before we had to be back at base.
We’d parked our bikes and walked to the registry office in the next town to our village.
“Are you nervous?” Thor wants to know as we climb the stairs.
“Nope,” I reply. “I can’t wait to make her Maggie Davies. She’s the only one I want to ever use my name.”
“That’s good, Dog. I’m happy for you.”
“Thanks, brother. It will be your turn one of these days.”
“Nah Dog, I’m good as I am for now.” Thor grins at me. I shake my head because he doesn’t know what it feels like to have that one woman who means the world to you, the one who you can tell anything to and she never judges you. Even though we’d only been together a few short months, I knew without a doubt that Maggie would always be there for me. I’d shared stuff with her that not even my brothers knew. And not once in all that time had she looked at me with anything other than love … okay, sometimes that was love mixed with exasperation, but I wouldn’t be me if I didn’t piss her off some days.
But not today. Today, I was making her mine.
Shep and I were waiting with the officiant when the first strains of music piped through and Kate appeared in the doorway smiling wide and winking at Shep, who chuckled.
Maggie had asked Roman to walk her down the aisle. He’d been only too happy to. There was a rustling at the door, and then there she was. My gorgeous Maggie.
Her hair, held with combs and flowers, hung loose around her shoulders. The dress she wore was short, cream-colored, and adorned with pearl flowers; a deep V dipped down between her breasts to a wide band that sat just under them. She carried a bouquet of sunflowers.
She captivated me, and only Shep’s nudge reminded me to breathe.
Taking her hand from Roman, I lean towards her, saying softly, “You look gorgeous, Maggie.”
Maggie smiles up at me. I lean in further, and I’d have kissed her if the officiant hadn’t interrupted us. With a wink at my future wife, I bite back a chuckle when her cheeks flush. Turning to the officiant, who is looking at us, eyebrows raised, but as there’s a twinkle in his eyes, I doubt he’s pissed with us.
“If the bride and groom are ready,” he queries with a small smile. My brothers and Kate laugh at his teasing.
“We’re ready,” I assure him. Maggie nods. It doesn’t take long until we’ve said our vows and signed the register. With Shep and Kate as witnesses.
The best words I heard that day other than Maggie’s, “I do” was when the officiant introduced us for the first time.
“Lady and gentlemen, I give you Mr and Mrs Robert Davies. Congratulations to you both, may you have many blessed and happy years.”
“Finally,” I shout. Bending, I swoop a laughing Maggie up into my arms and walk out of the registry office with her. My brothers and Katie are cheering and laughing behind us.
Lifting her higher in my arms, Maggie wraps an arm around my neck, grinning at me. “Don’t drop me, Robert.”
