A lot can happen in two years.
People get married.
Babies make appearances.
And others, well they end up in jail rotting for the rest of their days—good riddance Todd, nobody will miss you.
On this particular day, we were gathering together to celebrate a wedding.
My wedding.
To Hayes.
Hayes and I were getting married.
Finally.
Our relationship had roared like a fire from the very start and I knew Hayes would’ve married me when we’d only been dating officially for six months, but I didn’t want that. I wanted to take things slow after everything we’d been through.
And now the day had arrived where I was going to make that man my husband.
I clutched the bouquet tightly in my hands.
“Breathe,” Sadie whispered, blowing out her own breath in an effort to get me to copy her movements.
Her body was swathed in a pale blue fabric that accentuated her ever-growing baby bump. She’d become Mrs. Ezra Collins only a year ago, and Ezra hadn’t wasted any time with getting her pregnant. Sadie was thrilled though, positively glowing, and couldn’t wait for the arrival of her baby boy, Everett, the latest Willow Creek baby.
“Are you okay?” She asked me. “You’re not going to pass out, right?”
“I’m good,” I assured her with a smile.
“Okay. I’m going to go take my seat.”
Hayes and I had opted to keep our wedding small and not have any bridesmaids or groomsmen.
The only person that would be up there with us was Mia.
She strolled up to me and smiled before taking my hand.
She was no longer my baby anymore. She’d grown into an intelligent six-year-old who constantly blew my mind. Sometimes she still had night terrors, left over effects from her kidnapping and the break in, but other than that she was fine. We still took her to see a counselor every week, just in case. I never wanted to look back and wonder if I could’ve done more for her.
“Ready, mommy?” She asked, beaming up at me with a wide, toothy smile. Her red hair curled down her back and she wore a dress in her favorite color, purple.
“I’m definitely ready, baby girl.”
I heard the music start up and knew that was my cue.
Together Mia and I rounded the corner and stepped into the ballroom.
Hayes stood at the end of the aisle, looking the best he ever had.
He wore husband well.
Hayes grinned at me and butterflies assaulted my stomach.
I’d once thought that fluttery, jittery feeling would go away, but I’d been wrong. It only intensified as I fell more in love with him.
When I reached the end of the aisle and stood in front of him with Mia at my side I thought I might burst.
“You look beautiful.” He mouthed.
“You’re not bad yourself.” I mouthed back.
He chuckled and ducked his head.
“Shall we begin?” The minister asked.
“Um, no actually,” Hayes cleared his throat.
I stared at him in confusion.
“There’s something I need to say first.”
My confusion only deepened when he got down on his knees.
He grabbed Mia’s hands and held them in his own. His were so large that hers completely disappeared.
“I have some vows for you first,” he spoke to Mia. “I may not be your real daddy, but I vow to be one in all the ways that matter. I vow to be a shoulder for you to cry on when you’re sad. I vow to hold you in my arms and hug you whenever you need it. I vow to protect you always, in any way you may need. I vow to hunt down any guy that thinks he can date you—you’re going to be single for life Mia, just accept it. But most importantly, I vow to love you with all my heart and take care of you always.”
By this point tears flowed freely down my cheeks. I glanced out at our friends and family and saw that nearly all of them were crying as well. My mom and Hayes’ mom both had a tissue pressed to their faces, wiping away smudges of mascara. Even Jessica, Hayes’ older sister, was tearing up. She and I had worked through things. We certainly weren’t best friends, but things were civil between us.
“I love you.” Mia said and wrapped her arms around his neck.
Hayes hugged her back fiercely and kissed her cheek before standing.
Willow, Maddox and Emma’s daughter who was nearly two now, let out a squeal that broke the emotional bubble that had formed around all of us.
Everyone laughed at her outburst and the minister cleared his throat to gain everyone’s attention.
In what seemed like seconds we were both saying, “I do,” and slipping rings onto each other’s fingers.
“I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride.”
Hayes wasted no time in taking my face between his hands and kissing me deeply.
“Woohoo! Get some!” Maddox yelled and Hayes laughed against my mouth.
Placing one last tender kiss on my lips he pulled away, murmuring, “Wife.”
“Daddy,” I replied back.
His eyes narrowed in confusion. “Are you trying to be kinky, because I’m not sure I’m into that.”
I laughed and shook my head. “No.”
His mouth parted in shock and his eyes widened. “Are you saying…?” He prompted, one of his hands moving to cover my flat stomach.
By now everyone was staring at us in confusion, trying to figure out what we were saying.
“I’m pregnant. I just found out yesterday and I wanted to surprise you.”
Hayes thrust his hands into the air and turned to our family and friends. “I’m going to be a daddy again!”
I laughed, pleased that he was so happy with this unexpected news.
Everyone burst into excited chatter and shouts of congratulations.
“I’m going to be a big sister?” Mia asked, her eyes filled with wonder and delight.
“That’s right.” I squeezed her shoulder lovingly.
Hayes leaned forward to kiss me again and reached down for Mia’s hand.
“Girls,” he smiled crookedly, “I can say, without a doubt, this is the best day of my life.”
I stretched up on my toes—still too short to reach his ear even in my heels, and whispered, “And it’s just getting started.”