46.Jada
I was engagedto be married in less than a month, riding in a town car with a real-life driver, on the way to meet with the most coveted wedding planner in the city. And my fiancé? He was a tall, handsome heartthrob holding my hand in the back seat.
I looked down at our hands linked between us. Being a tall, large woman, I’d always felt so big. But Bryce’s hand encapsulated mine, making me feel utterly protected and feminine in a way I’d never expected.
He squeezed my fingers, and I looked up at him.
“Ready for this?” he asked.
“There’s cake involved, so absolutely,” I replied.
He chuckled. “I’m glad Glamma could come too.” She was getting picked up by a different driver so we could meet her there after work.
“Me too.” The weight of emotions made my eyes sting. Getting married without my parents here was just a reminder of all I’d lost. But at least I had my grandma, the woman who had been my rock through it all. “Besides, she’ll make things look better than I ever could.”
“I don’t doubt it,” Bryce replied with a small smile on his lips.
It made me like him more—the fact that he made an effort to include her in this, even sending a car to pick her up from the house so she could meet us at the wedding planner’s office.
Butterflies danced in my stomach at the thought, and then I realized...
“Oh my god!” I cried out.
The car swerved, and Gen yelled back, “Are you okay?”
Too excited to feel embarrassed, I said, “I can feel the baby kick!” I dragged Bryce’s hand over my stomach to the spot where I felt the butterflies. “Can you feel it?”
His eyes were wide, and he leaned closer like he would be able to somehow hear the kicks. Then his eyes went even wider. “Oh my gosh. I thought Dr. Blake said we wouldn’t be able to feel it.”
“They said the odds were low, but not none.” I shook my head in awe. Baby girl was beating the odds by being here at all, and getting to feel her kicks felt like an even bigger treat. As Bryce kept his hand over my stomach, I said, “I can’t help but feel like she’s here for a reason, you know?”
He nodded, then lowered his lips to my stomach so tenderly I almost burst into tears. “I’m so glad you’re here,” he told Twyla.
And then a tear did fall down my cheek. Because when Twyla asked about her dad, I’d tell her that blood doesn’t matter because this man right here was showing up for her and would prove how loved she was every single day.
I had many doubts, but Bryce wasn’t one of them. Not anymore.
Turns out I didn’t need to go to the wedding planning meeting at all. Glamma had more taste in her little finger than I did in my whole body.
For two hours, she spoke with the wedding planner about every small detail of our wedding that would take place whatever location in the city would accommodate all the flowers she wanted. Of course, I had final say over the cake (chocolate with maple buttercream icing, thank you very much) and the wedding colors. Navy blue and gold.
But Grandma helped choose everything else, from the design of the invitations (no time left for save the dates) to the types of flowers that would line the aisle.
Bryce and I both wanted to keep it small, so the guest list was limited to fifty people between his family and mine. His only requirement was that there be barbecue brisket available as the meal. It sounded amazing to me.
When we left the appointment, Bryce and I walked Glamma to the car that was waiting for her. She scooted into the back seat, and Bryce said, “You were amazing in there.”
She smirked. “Looks like I still have some pep in my step.” But then she let out a long yawn.
Worried, I said, “You better get some rest, Glamma.”
She nodded. “I won’t wait up for you, I’m guessing?”
I looked to Bryce. Were we a “stay the night” couple yet? I mean, we were getting married soon.
“I’ll get her home safe and sound,” he promised Glamma.
She patted his hand. “Good boy.”
