“We’ve come so far, D.” Sienna sniffles as she pats down my suit jacket. “I love you with all my heart.”
“Me too.”
“Me three,” Vanessa says, walking over and standing beside me. “I have something for you, D.” She hands me an envelope.
I take it from her and open it, and when I read what’s inside, the letter falls to the floor.
“No,” I say, shaking my head. “No. No. No.”
“Yes, Derrick. Christian and I have discussed this at length, and we want to do this for you.” I keep shaking my head. This is too much. “Christian and I have agreed that we are done having kids. That our two girls are all we need.”
“Ness …”
“I have so many eggs on ice, Derrick. They are just going to be destroyed, and for some reason, that doesn’t feel right,” Vanessa explains.
“But …”
She shakes her head. “You can talk to Christian, but he said that there is no one else in this world who he would allow to share his wife’s DNA.”
“Ness, won’t it be weird seeing your child running around?”
“It’s not my child, Derrick, it is yours and Charlie’s. It might be my egg, but it’s not my baby.”
“Ness, this is too much.”
“You don’t have to decide yet or even at all. I just wanted you to know that the option is there for you and Charlie. Especially as the eggs are already there waiting.”
I wrap my arms around her tightly. “Thank you. This gift is too incredible.”
“I love you, D. You are my brother. You’re family,” she tells me.
Vanessa wipes her eyes first, then mine, and Sienna steps in behind her, squeezing my shoulder before pulling both of us into a hug. “We are a mess,” she murmurs.
I laugh, just a soft, shaky sound, and step back, taking a breath to steady myself. Today hasn’t even started, and I’ve already cried twice. What am I going to be like when I see Charlie?”
“Derrick, sweetheart, it’s time,” Camryn says, popping her head into the room.
Just hearing the words makes my stomach flutter. Sienna and Vanessa guide me back out to where everyone is, and as soon as we exit my room, everyone erupts with excitement and congratulations.
“The wagons are here, D. Are you ready?” Camryn asks. We are taking wagons up to the old barn, which has been converted into our ceremony venue. Thankfully, we went for an inside event, otherwise, our guests will be blocks of ice by the time we get there. Charlie and I have decided to have a first look together alone before we walk down the aisle together. We didn’t want a traditional-style ceremony because that’s not us. Our families will walk down first, that being the Sinclairs, Charlie’s parents, and Sienna and Vanessa’s. Then the children will be sent with the teens. Then Everly, Faith, and Jackson. Then my brothers, and finally my Dirty Texas family, each one of them walking down with their own partner.
We all pile into the wagons, and the girls are wrapped in furs and blankets for the short trip to the barn. Then we all get out and have our photos taken, thanks to Charlotte and her photographer friends.
“Okay,” Camryn says quietly, “go stand by the barn. He’ll come from the opposite side. No kissing.” Her eyes narrow on me like she knows exactly what I’m capable of.
“Are we really a no-kiss couple?” I murmur.
“Today? Yes. It’s bad luck before the wedding.” She points her pen at me.
I walk across the snow-dusted path to the side of the barn where lanterns glow soft gold against the snowy light. My breath fogs in front of me. My heart thuds like a drumline.
Then I hear the crunch of boots in snow.
He steps into view from the other side of the barn.
Charlie.
My world.
