Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 47615 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 238(@200wpm)___ 190(@250wpm)___ 159(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 47615 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 238(@200wpm)___ 190(@250wpm)___ 159(@300wpm)
So our big day’s been nudged forward a few weeks if only to save having my wedding gown altered again.
But Kane only smiles and runs his hands all over me whenever I complain about it.
Telling me if anything, he’d like to see a few extra pounds on me permanently, baby or not.
I wanted just a small ceremony, Kane and mom have conspired by making it the most lavish and elaborate by way of compromise.
The whole house has been transformed into what I think looks like a giant wedding cake.
With more flowers and pure white silk drapery than I’ve ever seen or even knew was humanly possible.
Even making Kane’s original efforts the night he claimed me, with all those roses and candles, looking like a practice run now.
With all the furniture removed from the downstairs areas, the house has a cathedral vibe about it, almost.
It’s huge anyway, and with Abby’s theater friends filling most seats, it's mom’s side of the family that makes up the rest.
Kane’s own family is Abby. Plus, the little guy or girl growing inside me.
After he proposed, he told me a little more about why family is so special to him.
He never had one growing up, and once things fizzled out with Abby’s mom, he figured it was as close as he’d get, just him and Abby.
But today means we’re well on the way to making that family a reality. For all of us now, the family includes mom and Abby, me, and Kane. Plus the little one on the way.
All part of a new family that’s only going to get as big as we want it.
And so far, I think Kane’s already thinking about a bigger house.
Both of us confessed to each other we want so many we have to struggle to remember all their names.
But first things first.
A baby needs a proper mom and a dad, according to Kane.
With a real wedding and gold bands exchanged, the whole nine yards.
And as much as I promised myself I wouldn’t cry, once those gold bands flash in the light, I hear Kane repeating his vows to the celebrant.
I can’t help but shed a few tears of happiness from under my veil.
But right at the moment when I have to keep it together at the end of our nuptials where we each say ‘I do,’ I almost drop the huge bouquet of flowers I’m holding.
Clutching at my belly and making a horrible groaning sound.
“Jesus, Jen! What is it? What’s wrong?” Kane gasps as he rushes to support me as I double over.
The whole congregation gasps with him.
But it’s nothing bad.
Far from it.
“It’s alright,” I whisper, smiling once it clicks.
“Just our little baby kicking for the first time…and yes. I do,” I’m quick to add.
Not wanting to miss making this official for anything.
The whole room behind us lets out a huge sigh of relief and then a big ‘Aww…’ as Kane rests one hand on my swollen belly while using his other to slip the wedding ring over my finger.
Both of us sealing the deal with a kiss.
A kiss just as powerful and beautiful as the ones I get from him every day.
Every day’s our wedding day, and every day that he tells me he loves me, I feel like a queen.
His queen.
My man. My husband.
My happily ever after.
EPILOGUE
ONE YEAR LATER
Kane
“I’ll go,” I murmur to Jen, patting her gently as she stirs next to me.
Little baby Marcus is squawking the house down, letting the whole street know it’s time for his three a.m. feeding.
“And you’ll let him suckle at your breasts, will ya?” Jen asks sleepily, making a very good point.
Three a.m. feeds are different from diaper duty, and judging from her razor wit at this hour, I’m assuming Jen hasn’t got any breast milk bottled and ready to go.
“How about we both go?” I ask, leaning over to kiss her awake.
Marcus is suddenly silent and even snoring if that’s what three-month-old babies do, and only once his mom and dad are up out of bed, wide awake and ready to feed him, now he wants to sleep.
But his mom knows him better than that, and in no time, I’ve plumped up the pillows and made it extra comfy for Jen to feed him once she comes back to bed.
Rocking him gently in her arms as she carries him over from his crib by our bed.
Dad here is just taking in every moment, grinning like a maniac as I watch my two favorite things in action.
My son and his mom bonding in a way I can’t do the same as Jen. But I can still be present for it.
“He’s getting so big,” I say, watching Jen yawn and start to doze off again.
A little smile plays on her lips as it does every time she feeds the little guy.
Even if it is at an ungodly hour, it’s always special.