I nod and kiss her hard on the lips, because my wife has the biggest fucking heart of anyone I’ve ever met.Together, we make our way toward Mom and take turns hugging her.Then I wrap one arm around her, leaving the other around my wife, and address our guests.No, not our guests, our family.They might not all be blood, but they’re our family all the same.
“Thank you all for being here,” I say, my voice catching as I try to swallow the lump in my throat.I take a breath, getting my emotions in check.“Today, I married the love of my life.”I look at Ells, and my chest feels like it might burst.“And my mom just gave us the best possible news.”
My heart starts pounding.“Since we’re sharing,” I continue, squeezing Ells’s hand, “we wanted to tell you… we’re pregnant.”
For a split second, everything goes silent.Then Mom gasps, finally registering my words, before she pulls us both into her arms, crying and laughing all at once.The quiet shatters into chaos.Cheers erupt.Everyone rushes forward, and hugs wrap around us from every direction.Someone lifts me off my feet, and when a firm slap lands between my shoulders, I don’t even have to look to know it’s Kip.
There’s laughter everywhere, joyful and loud, but beneath it all is something softer, deeper.I catch glimpses of teary smiles, hands pressed to hearts, people wiping their eyes.I don’t think there’s a single dry eye in the backyard, and somehow, that makes it even more perfect.These are our people, and they’ve been there with us every step of the way.From all those years ago, to this very moment.
I feel overwhelmed with gratitude.For life.For love.For family.For all the things that truly matter, all gathered here around us.
Eventually, the noise fades into something softer.My wife ends up in my arms, where she belongs.I pull her back against my chest, holding her close, my hand resting gently over the place where our baby is growing.The realization hits me all over again, stealing my breath.We laugh.We talk.We dance beneath the fading July sun, wrapped in happiness so full it feels almost unreal.
I didn’t think we’d ever get here, but love guided us through it all, and back together.
This day.Every second of it is etched into my heart forever.
Epilogue Ellison
Ellison
“Do we have to go?Can’t we just stay here?We could order in,” I ask my husband.I’m currently eight months pregnant and as big as this house.I don’t want to go anywhere.Not to mention it’s cold as hell outside.It’s early December, and the cold has hit Tennessee, and I’m perfectly fine, curled up on the couch and avoiding the outside world all weekend long.
“We do.We won’t be out long.I promised Chandler and Macie we would have lunch with them.She got us something for our baby girl,” he says, rubbing my belly.“Besides, we’re just going to the inn.”
“We need a name,” I say, ignoring the fact that we have to leave the house today and focusing on the reality that our daughter will be making her entrance to the world soon, and we don’t have a name for her yet.
“We have a list,” he reminds me.“We’ll know when we meet her what her name will be.Now, up you go.”
I groan, and he chuckles, helping me sit up before dropping to his knees to put my shoes on me.
“You’re too good to me,” I tell him, running my fingers through his hair.It’s gotten so long, and I tend to run my fingers through it every chance I get.
“Never, Ells.I’ll always take care of my girls.”
Once my shoes are on, he helps me stand, get into my coat, and keeps his arms wrapped around me all the way to his truck.It’s not icy or snowy, just cold as hell, but he’s still making sure I make it to the truck safely.
“We’re just going to have lunch at the inn, right?”I double-check, making sure my pregnancy brain didn’t hear what it wanted to hear.“Why don’t we just walk?”
“Ellison James, if you think I’m going to let my pregnant wife walk to lunch, you’ve lost your damn mind.”He’s laughing as he says it.He’s protective of me, and I’ll be honest, it might drive me crazy sometimes, but it’s sweet, and I love it.Then again, there isn’t a single thing I don’t love about my husband.
“It’s right there.”I laugh, pointing to the inn that’s like five hundred feet from us.I can make the walk.I do it often for work, at least I used to, until it got cold.I miss the walk, and even though I was just complaining about it being too damn cold to be outside, now that I’m in the fresh air, I want more of it.Besides, it will be good for me to get some steps in.I can’t lie around like a bump on a log for this part of the pregnancy.
“Not happening.”His tone is firm yet gentle, and it makes me smile, because I can imagine he’ll use that very voice with our daughter.
“Party pooper,” I say, sticking my tongue out at him.
“I thought you were cold.”He chuckles, helping me up into his truck.
“I was, but the fresh air and a little bit of a walk are good for me.”I bat my eyelashes at him, knowing he’s not going to budge.
“Okay, we’ll go for a walk tomorrow if you’re up for it.Today, I don’t want you to be too tired while we visit.”
“Copeland.”I laugh.“It’s just lunch.”
“Humor me, Ells.”
“Fine.”I peck his lips with a kiss when he leans in and buckles my seat belt.“Do you ever get tired of this?Of taking care of me like you do?”I ask him once he’s behind the wheel.
