My dad is quick to lean over and hug me. “I’m not sure I’m liking this grandpa title, I’m not getting that old.”
I glance to the corner where Bella sticks her thumb up. Then the next set of parents hug me in congratulations before everyone circles around our little marvel. Swinging my legs out of bed, I walk over to join them, and our little girl should probably be wailing at the top of her lungs right now with all of these new faces, but instead, she is calm and basking in the attention she isn’t aware that she’s receiving.
Nancy has her hands on her heart. “What a little darling. I’ll babysit you, yes, I will.” The voice that we all harbor comes out in full force. The type of voice that is an octave too high and so incredibly joyful.
“And she will have such a fun time at Olive Owl whenIwill babysit,” my mom corrects her, and I roll my lips in to hide my laugh.
“I have cigars, Son.” Edward slaps a hand on Carter’s shoulder. He never struck me as a man who loved cutesy moments with babies or animals.
The door cracks open, and Oliver gives Carter a thumbs-up.
“Well, Dad. Hopefully your brought extra cigars.”
My dad pipes up but continues to be enamored by Cassie. “No worries. I brought my own.”
Oliver enters with Hailey and the judge, an older man I’ve seen a few times at the grocery store.
“Judge Daniels, what are you doing here?” Edward draws everyone’s attention to our new arrival.
Before the judge can say anything, Carter comes to side-hug me. “If we just bang out the two-minute version then we’re okay, right?” he asks me offhandedly as though nobody is here.
I ignore that anyone is in the room as I reach down to swoop our daughter up into my arms. “Yeah, that’s fine. I’ll just pick her up.”
“What’s… what’s going on?” My mother is as bewildered as everyone else.
“Just getting married again. It will be like two minutes,” I explain coolly.
Her eyes flutter as my dad tries to catch up, and Nancy’s jaw just dropped.
Carter’s hand rests on my lower back, and he smiles at the judge. “Let’s get this done. If we’re lucky, we’ll be done before their freakout ends.”
“Oh, I heard that.” Bella is not impressed. She pulls a flower out of the bunch in a vase and saunters to me to offer the light pink rose to me. “Here. Be a bride even though you never told me.” Now, she’s just throwing on theatrics.
I lift my arm slightly to support Cassie’s head. “No flowers. I’m holding precious goods.”
“Fine. I’ll hold onto it as your maid of honor.”
“Self-appointed title, but fine, okay, sure,” I say dryly, but I’m still happy as a clam.
“Can’tanyof my sons get married in a normal way? Preferably not hiding the fact from all of us until they decide not to?” Nancy shakes her head.
Oliver holds his hands up in the air. “Hey, not my fault Carter decided to take a very smart move from my book.”
“Or we can refresh everyone’s minds that Rosie and I were married once before, so we just need to hash out a few details to re-marry. So if you could all give us a second, maybe debate whose flowers are better arranged, as Rosie and I have something to do.” Carter glances to me with warmth and assurance on his face.
I grin widely because this is all perfect. Every single second, from a snowstorm to the bathroom floor, to our little girl in our arms, and a quickie wedding that catches everyone by surprise. You couldn’t imagine a better twenty-four hours.
“Let’s just go for it,” Carter instructs the judge.
“Oh, so we’re really doing this here?” My mom points to the ground.
“Yep.” I tighten the P.
There is a brief silence in the room before everyone jolts into realization that we’re not joking.
“Someone film this.” Nancy elbows Edward to get his phone out. “Thank goodness there is a bottle of champagne in the basket.”
“Or we have a bottle of Olive Owl wine in the car,” my dad mutters.
