Six Months Later
“I now pronounce you husband and wife. Damien, you may kiss your bride.”
Damien took hold of the delicate veil shielding my face and pushed it over my hair. He winked at me and put a hand on the small of my back, pulling me close and dipping me into a deep, dramatic kiss.
“I love you,” Damien whispered. He kissed me again, gently, then brought me back up to my feet and put a hand on my growing belly. “And I love this little one,” Damien whispered in my ear. “I can’t wait to meet them.”
I grinned happily before slipping my arm through Damien’s. Damien escorted me down the grass aisle as our family and guests applauded happily. I must admit – I’d never thought I’d be one of those people who gets married while pregnant – but I felt radiant and glowing, like everything was perfect.
Mom and Jack met us at the end of the aisle.
“This was amazing,” I looked all around. “Mom, you did a wonderful job with the planning!”
Mom beamed. “Thank you, sweetie,” she said. “Pretty good for only five months’ notice!”
I flushed. Damien and I had kept our engagement secret for a month…but I’d finally blurted it out to Mom one night when we had stayed up watching old movies. She hadn’t exactly been thrilled at first, but Damien had worked hard on winning her over during the past few months.
“I’m just happy you’re happy, darling,” Mom said.
“Congratulations, and welcome to the family,” he smiled. “Now we’ll all be Wilsons.”
I laughed and flushed. Damien rolled his eyes. “Dad, Emma was always family ever since you married Nadine.”
For once, Jack looked embarrassed. “You’re right,” he apologized. “That was rude of me, forgive me, Emma,” he said. “If you’ll all excuse me, I’m going to get some champagne.”
As soon as Jack had walked off, I turned nervously to Damien. “Do you think he’s ever going to be okay with this?”
“I don’t know,” Damien said. “Give him some time. Dad doesn’t like change.” He rolled his eyes. “You should see him at Empire. It’s like he can’t believe that his son is finally taking an interest in the family business.”
I nodded. “I get that, it’s a big change,” I murmured.
Damien smirked. “Have I told you how beautiful you look?”
I flushed, “About ten times.”
“Well, let’s make it twenty,” Damien said. He pulled me into a close embrace and kissed me passionately, wrapping his arms around my waist and pressing his body against mine. I moaned softly and wrapped my arms around his neck as our kiss grew more intense.
“I hate to ruin the moment, but I need to congratulate the bride.”
At the sound of Derek’s familiar voice, I jumped apart from Damien.
“Hi, Derek,” I said shyly. “Thank you for coming.”
“Congratulations,” Derek nodded. “And I mean it.”
“You look good, bro,” Damien said. “I mean that, too.”
Damien wasn’t wrong – Derek did look good. After he’d found out about the engagement, Derek had quit Empire Mesa and moved out west to start his own consulting firm. He was tanned and more taut-looking than before. But most importantly, his eyes were friendly, and I knew that his thanks were genuine.
“I hope you two are very happy together,” Derek said. “I’m going to say hi to Nadine and Dad.”
Derek and Damien half-hugged, then Derek sauntered off to find our parents.
“I hope it’s okay he came,” I said nervously. “I just…wanted to make sure things were okay between the two of you.”
Damien smiled as he pulled me close. “I don’t know that we’ll ever be that close,” he said quietly. “But I have you, and that’s what counts. I love you, Emma.”
I flushed with happiness. While I wasn’t sure what the future would bring, I knew that as long as I was with Damien, life would always be happy and perfect.
"I love you, too,” I said softly.
“Come on, Mrs. Wilson,” Damien winked. “Let’s go dance.”
As my new husband and I walked to the dance floor, I couldn’t believe it.
I’d finally found my perfect fairytale ending.
*****