“If you’re getting cold feet, you should know I already promised Talon that I’d pick you up and carry you down the aisle to him,” Chaz says, and I laugh as I tip my head back to look up at him.

“I’m not getting cold feet,” I promise, finding his hand and squeezing it.

“I didn’t think so.”

“But I am a little disappointed you’d choose Talon’s side if I did try to run away.”

“Sorry, sweetheart.” He grins. “I’m not apologizing for knowing what’s best for you.” He kisses the side of my head as I smile.

“You have one minute until the doors open,” November says, looking like a professional wedding planner with her folder in her arms and a mic attached to her ear. Honestly, I don’t know what I would have done without her, or without any of Talon’s family. Not only have they been here for me while planning the wedding and getting ready for two babies, but they have been a godsend to my sister and her girls after my parents went back to Montana to put their house on the market. Something that wasn’t part of their plan until they found out I was pregnant.

“Are you ready?” Aunt November asks.

“Yes.”

“What about you, Dad? You doing okay?” She looks at Chaz, and I watch him swallow hard.

“I’m ready.”

“Okay, let’s get this show on the road.” She looks at the group of kids playing off to the side of where we’re standing. Obviously, I couldn’t do the normal flower girl gig, not with all the kids saying they wanted to be a part of the ceremony, so November came up with an idea that was just too cute not to go with. “Come on, you guys,” she calls over to all the kids, handing them each a bubble gun.

“You guys know what to do. Just please do not shoot each other or anyone else with bubbles,” she begs, and I start to laugh, because yesterday during our rehearsal, that is exactly what happened. Once the kids are standing in front of me, the doors open, and they start down the aisle with their plastic guns in the air, blowing bubbles that become bits of magic with the light from the white fairy lights glowing around the backyard.

I follow them, holding onto Chaz tightly, wanting to avoid tripping in my heels on the white runner and falling on my face. When we make it to the end of the aisle, Talon steps down from the stage he and his brother built and takes my hand from Chaz, who turns to kiss my forehead before he goes to find his seat next to my mom. With my legs shaking, I’m not sure I can make it any farther, but with Talon’s help, I make it up two steps and stand facing him in front of our family and friends, my nose stinging as I look into his eyes.

I don’t want to cry and mess up my makeup, but tears still fill my eyes as his family’s pastor starts to speak about family, love, and devotion, everything I have found in the man holding my hands. As we say our vows, I can no longer hold back the tears and start to cry, which means when we say “I do” and the pastor says you can kiss the bride, I’m sobbing.

Talon

Two years later

I block Soma and her kids from trying to escape as I step out onto the back porch of the house I designed and built for my family and spot Mia in a peach-colored sundress, her belly growing with the little boy who will be here in a few months, lying in the grass on a blanket. Our son Tobias and our daughter Eleanor waddle around her as Mercury and Retro stand guard, both pups always finding energy to look after the kids whenever they’re outside.

I walk down the steps to the backyard, and the minute I reach the grass, the kids run toward me screaming “Daddy!” while Mia sits up and rubs her belly. I pick the two of them up and walk toward her, dropping to my knees at her side.

“Hey, Daddy.” Mia smiles, reaching out to me and touching the dimple in my chin like she’s always done before running a finger along my bottom lip. “We missed you today.”

“I missed you.” I lean forward to kiss her as the kids use me as a jungle gym, climbing over my back and under my chest.

“You know,” she whispers, holding my jaw as I pull away, “until you, I never would have believed this would be my life, but every day, I’m thankful for your determination to make me see that I could trust you to give me a beautiful life.”

“Baby.” I lean back, looking at her, my children, and my baby still growing in her belly. “You’ve given me more than I could have wished for, and every single day, I’m grateful for you.” I touch my mouth to hers, knowing she will never really understand what I would go through to make sure she’s happy. But then again, that’s love, proving every day that you are worthy of the person you’re with.

The End