I’d thought Jessica was the most beautiful woman I’d ever laid eyes on the day she dumped a plate of cinnamon rolls down my shirt, but today… today there were hardly words to describe just how gorgeous she was.
And I was going to spend the rest of my life with that beautiful woman
What the hell had I done to deserve her?
I wasn’t sure, but it became my mission right then and there to be worthy of being called her husband.
****
Jessica
I was glad my dad had my arm tucked tight against him, otherwise I might have sprinted down the makeshift aisle to get to Alan. Knowing my luck, I would have tripped over the runner and dove head-first into one of the folding chairs.
I couldn’t help but giggle at the thought. It’d be appropriate, considering how Alan and I met.
As Papa and I stood there, I realized we’d forgotten about music. I guess walking down the aisle in silence didn’t matter in the grand scheme of things.
But before we even took a step, Ruelle’s “I Get to Love You” began playing from somewhere, and I knew Lainey was behind it.
Everyone stood, and with a big smile on my face, my dad walked me down the aisle to where Alan waited for me to start our married life together.
Chapter Sixty-Six
Jessica
I sat in the nursery, pumping breast milk for the third time that day.
Just what every bride wants to do after taking off her wedding dress, I mused.
But I wanted to make sure Ruthie had enough milk if I was going to drink champagne with mynew husbandtonight.
I have a husband.
And not just any husband who would be kindenoughto Ruthie and me, but a good man who would take care of us. I wanted to be a good wife in return.
After finishing my session, I went to our bedroom and into the walk-in closet. Lainey had told me she’d washed the ivory babydoll trousseau for me and placed it in the bottom drawer of the closet’s built-in dresser. With a deep breath, I slid it open, pulled the lacy garment out, and held it up to my body while I studied my reflection in the mirror.
It’d looked a lot sexier hanging from the store rack.
Am I going to look ridiculous wearing this thing?
I mean you could dress up a dairy cow in lace, but it was still a dairy cow.
The little voice in my head sounded an awful lot like Lainey’s when it scolded, “Stop it! You’re beautiful! Put that on and go out there and seduce your new husband!”
Maybe the champagne would help.
I heard Alan call, “Babe?” from the doorway.
“I’ll be right out!”
Okay Jessica Rose, you can do this.
It’s funny how different I’d felt about wearing this when I was shopping with my girlfriends. They were walking hype-women.
“Alan is going to flip when you come out in that!”
“Oh my god, that’s so beautiful! You’re going to look amazing!”
