“I promise to love you forever too.”
Bella
“Ready or not, here I come,” Travis announced from the living room.
Ariana grabbed the shower curtain and held a finger against her lips, signaling for Bella to be quiet as she hid from her daddy.
Bella grabbed her makeup compact and pressed powder over the dark crescents beneath her eyes. Zach and Lauren’s wedding wasn’t a formal affair, but Bella didn’t want to look like a tired sloth. The vitamins made her stomach roll day and night, and she’d barely slept the last few nights. It was impossible to relaxwhen her stomach was ready to protest at any moment.
Travis opened the bathroom door and looked around. “Have you seen a cute little girl?” He bent to hold his hand out at his knees. “About this tall with frizzy hair and one brown tooth?”
Ariana giggled from her hiding spot in the shower. She was just beginning to talk, but Daddy’s voice always pulled a reaction from her.
Travis gasped. “Did you hear that?”
Bella played along. “I didn’t hear anything. No cute little girls here.”
Travis stepped into the room and pulled her into his arms. “But I see a gorgeous woman.”
“And I see a handsome man.” She put the compact on the counter to kiss her husband.
Ariana flung the curtain back with all of her usual dramatic flair. “Me too! Kiss!”
Travis feigned surprise. “There’s that cute little girl.”
Ariana held out her hands to her daddy. “Hold you.”
He picked her up and pressed a kiss to her cheek without correcting her. “You can hold me anytime.”
“One of us is going to be holding her during the reception. It’ll be her nap time.”
Travis patted his shoulder, and Ariana laid her head against him. “Daddy’s always got a spot right here.”
Bella fanned her face as heat crept up her neck. “You have got to stop being so attractive. We’re going to outgrow this house if you keep it up.”
Travis tilted his head to look down at Ariana. “I think Mommy said she wants a bigger house. You want to be my building buddy?”
Ariana nodded without lifting her head from Travis’s chest.
“I’ve got to go set up the chairs at the church. I’ll take Ariana with me so you can finish getting ready.”
Bella gave Ariana and Travis a quick kiss before reaching for her dress hanging from the hook on the back of the door. “Zach is lucky. He picked the best man to be his best man.”
“I think he was afraid Dawson would prank him, Gage is working two jobs, and Anthony is in school.”
“All that is true, but I think you’re secretly his favorite.”
Travis shrugged one shoulder. “I was wrong about him.”
Bella rubbed her husband’s shoulder. “I’m glad you were wrong. Look at him now. He’s the first one out in the fields every morning, and he’s the first person we call when we need a hand. He never misses Bible study or Sunday morning services. He’s a good man, and I think he picked up a lot of that from you.”
Travis rubbed his hand over Ariana’s soft curls. “I can’t take credit for his turn around, but I’m glad he came to his senses.”
Bella patted makeup over her nose. “Tell Lauren I’ll be there in a few minutes. I’m almost ready.”
“Can we tell them today?” Travis asked.
“It’s Lauren and Zach’s day. Let’s wait until next week when they get back from their honeymoon.”
