Page 42 of Twisted Fate

“Yes? You will marry me?” He whispered, too afraid she’d change her mind to speak louder.

“Yes, you goofy man, I’ll marry you.” Keily all but shouted and dozens of people around them started to clap and shout in happiness for them.

Logan looked around, surprised anyone had noticed their little moment, but pleased at the response. At her response. He pulled her into his arms, kissing her all over her face as she laughed at his response. With his response rather, he reminded himself.

“I hope it’s the right size.” He breathed as he took out the diamond ring, just the right size and shape for Keily’s hand.

She was never ostentatious with jewelry and he’d chosen this one for a reason…it was a round, 2.5 gray carat diamond surrounded by smaller diamonds that matched the color of her eyes when she was most aroused. Only he would know that, though, he knew, and it pleased him that she’d wear his ring.

“It’s beautiful, Logan, thank you.” She held her left hand out, admiring the ring with Avery, just as one of the girls started to fuss and kick her legs.

People walked by and congratulated them in a mixture of Spanish and English. Logan said gracias to them all and meant it. This was one of the most important days of his life. He was pleased to have others to share it with.

“I’m still finishing school, though,” Keily announced once she had Zoe changed and a bottle in her mouth. “I want to work for you.”

“You can do whatever you like, Keily, as long as I get to do it with you,” Logan answered and picked up Zinnia when she started to fuss.

“Hmm, I wasn’t asking you, you know?” She narrowed her eyes at him but relaxed when he just smiled at her.

“I know, honey.” He finally replied. “Thank you for accepting my rather pitiful attempt at proposing, by the way.”

“I never in a million years expected it, Logan. You just aren’t the type. Well, weren’t the type, I should say. I guess you really have changed, and I love you for it.”

“You wouldn’t love me if I hadn’t changed?” He asked, a little perplexed.

“I would, but you wouldn’t have let yourself take a chance on it, so it’s not me that would have changed the situation, it’s you. I knew I loved you over a year ago. I’ve waited a long time for you to realize you loved me too.” Keily sighed, her eyes stormy. “A lot happened, in both our pasts and lately with the babies. We had to change because of that, but the way we approached those things had to change. We’ve let it draw us together, instead of pushing us apart, and that’s what matters. We’re stronger together, and always will be.”

“I love you, too, Keily.” It felt nice to say it, and he didn’t mind repeating it. He had a feeling he’d say it millions of times before his days were done.

“Good, because I need all the love I can get. Eventually, these three will leave us, and all I’ll have is you. But that will be enough.” She smiled a happy smile, full of joy and contentment.

“It will. And we can always adopt if we want more children. That’s a promise.” It was something that he’d thought about a few times now, but it was a decision for the future.

“Maybe when these three are older. Not before. No way.” She chuckled and looked over at poor Avery, quietly wiping away the last of her happy tears. “Want to help me find a dress?”

“I’d love to, Keily. I really would.” Avery sniffed and laughed at the same time.

This was going to be perfect, after all.

22

Keily

Once upon a time, Keily picked out the most expensive dress she could afford, invited everyone she knew, even in passing, to her wedding, and stressed herself out completely over everything being just right. In short, she’d been a bridezilla.

This time, she didn’t care who was there, so long as her sister, niece, best friend, and Logan and their girls were there. She chose a dress that was comfortable in antique ivory lace, a beach dress the saleswoman called it, but that wasn’t what Keily cared about. It wasn’t virginal white, there was a slim ribbon belt at the waist, and it showed off enough cleavage to hold Logan’s interest. There was a bit of girlishness in the flare at the bottom of the dress, but otherwise, it was suitable for a mother of three and a woman still young enough to want to feel pretty.

They didn’t get married at a church, neither of them attended one, so they decided on a destination wedding and got married in Charleston, on the beach as it happened. Keily stood on the sand in bare feet, her toenails newly painted a bright, gaudy orange that she loved, and smiled up at her soon-to-be husband.

The girls were with Avery and Violet while Rosa served as her maid of honor and Logan stood with his second-in-command, Wally. He was the closest thing Logan had to a best friend. Keily noticed the way Wally kept eyeing Rosa, but she’d just broken up with her couple, she wasn’t the least bit interested in a man. Or maybe she was… Keily had to wonder.

Alice served as their flower girl and ring bearer and that was the whole of their entourage. The only people that really mattered to any of them. Logan had invited Judith, but she’d declined because she had a cousin getting married the same day. That was fine, but they’d have liked the housekeeper, almost a mother to them both now, to be there.

Keily heard the words, repeated what she was supposed to, and stood there with a smile on her face, but she couldn’t tell what was happening or if the ceremony was almost done. She was too caught up in the emotions flitting across Logan’s face and the way his eyes kept getting sort of misty and red. He really did love her and it was heaven to know that for sure. She’d spent the majority of her life wanting to be loved, adored, but in the wrong ways, up until she met Logan. He’d changed everything, even her and now their girls were ten months old, and they were almost married.

Logan made his vows almost as robotically as Keily, but with a few more smiles and a charm that knocked her socks off. Her veil blew around in the breeze coming off the ocean and she pushed it away with annoyance. If that was the only thing that marred her day, however, she didn’t care.

The officiant declared them man and wife, had them sign a paper, and was then off to go to another appointment. The few true friends and family they had rushed up to congratulate them and Keily hugged everybody, too caught up in the moment to hold back. With a baby on both hips and one on Logan’s they left the beach to take pictures, and then went into the resort they’d booked into for the weekend.