Chapter Twenty-Six

 

 

 

 

Nick

 

 

 

 

 

I’d never seen Kelly look so beautiful. Tears streamed down her face as she pressed her lips to mine forcefully and I couldn’t help chuckling against them before pushing her away gently.

“Go. I have to get dressed, too.”

She barely took her eyes off of me as she allowed Megan and Renee to pull her away. I was fucking proud of myself. It hadn’t been an easy thing to plan without Kelly’s help and I had honestly thought that someone would blow it, especially her chatty co-workers. She’d been genuinely surprised, though, and I felt like James Bond.

Everyone we knew was there. My whole company, all of Kelly’s co-workers, the girls’ friends from college, Owens’ family, Megan’s family, and even my family. Angela had flown in from Los Angeles just for the occasion, too. The country club had been so great when I explained what was going on. They allowed me to propose in the banquet hall that was littered with tables that were covered by white tablecloths. Floral centerpieces were in the middle of each one and ribbons with navy and silver accents hung everywhere.

A stage was off to the side and a dance floor in front of it. Next to that was a table that held a large cake that had the same navy and silver accents on top.

The patio had white chairs arranged in rows that faced an arch that we’d stand under when we finally said our vows. From the patio, you could see the blue mountains as the sun started to disappear and beautiful gardens were everywhere. You could see the golf course off to the side and I knew it was pristine.

“She definitely looked surprised,” Owens said as he stood in the mirror, straightening the silver tie that matched my vest. I grinned at my best man and nodded twice.

“She did, right? I couldn’t have done this without the ladies, though.”

Megan and Renee thought I was crazy when I told them what I wanted to pull off with less than three weeks’ notice. They jumped into gear, though, and helped me pick colors, music, flowers, dresses, and so much more that they knew Kelly would like.

James and I had fought about money so many times. I ended up conceding and letting him pay for half just to make him happy. With everything being so last minute, my savings account felt the punch but I didn’t even care. I would have drained it to make Kelly happy.

Once my tux was on, I gave myself a nod in the mirror. I was so fucking excited and it showed on my face.

Owens and Lennox were both in suits that matched my own and I checked my cufflinks before someone squeezed my shoulder. I looked up to grin at James as he adjusted his own tie.

“How do you feel, son?”

I shook my head and let out a long breath. “Happy. That’s the best word to describe me right now.”

He laughed and nodded his head twice. “You look happy.”

It was about thirty minutes later when my mom and my mother-in-law showed up in matching silver dresses. Renee gave me a bright smile with tears in her eyes.

“She’s ready. She looks so beautiful.”

My mom nodded in agreement. “She really does. They are ready for you to head out.”

I escorted both of our mothers out to the patio with their arms in mine. I led them to their chairs and kissed each of them on the cheek before taking my spot under the arch. The officiant, an older man, shook my hand and offered me some encouragement as we waited.

When the music started, a smile hit my face almost instantly. I had never known that choosing a song for the processional could be such a pain in the ass. After a lot of deliberating and going over the options with Megan and Delia, I’d picked a slow, acoustic version of Sara Bareilles’ ‘I Choose You.’ The lyrics were perfect and proudly told the world that Kelly and I chose this. That we chose each other.

I stared down the aisle as Lennox and Jones appeared. Jones was wearing the same knee-length, navy blue dress that Megan was. It was sleeveless and tied at her neck with silver heels that sparkled on her feet. Her hair was curled and pinned back on her head, making her look stunning. I knew most of my company was probably looking at her with their jaws dropped in that moment.

Owens and Megan came next, both looking happy as they clung to each other. He leaned down and whispered something in her ear that made her smile widen and they kissed once before separating at the arch. I caught sight of my mother as they broke apart and she was smiling happily while my father sat next to her, looking completely bored.

My little sister, Helena, stepped out onto the aisle runner with a white dress on and a basket of flower petals in her hands. She happily dropped them on the aisle and she ran to me when she got close enough to give me a hug. I squeezed her tight and pulled back to smile at her. I’d seen her more in the past three weeks as we planned than I had in a long time.

“I love you, kiddo.” I pressed a kiss to her cheek and she giggled before turning to head to Megan.

“I love you, too, Nick.”

I straightened up and waited in anticipation. When Kelly appeared, I felt like the wind had been knocked out of me. The white dress she was wearing was strapless and hugged her torso perfectly. It flowed out when it got to her hips and made her look like a fucking dream. Her hair was curled and pinned up and off to the side so it barely grazed her neck. She was wearing a long veil that flowed down her back and she clutched onto her father’s arm like a lifeline.

She looked so nervous for a moment but when her eyes locked on mine, a smile overtook her face. I felt one do the same to mine and I shook my head slightly. I was a lucky bastard.

When they approached where I was standing, James kissed her cheek softly and murmured words to her that made her blink furiously while she said something back. James turned to give me her hand and he pulled me into a hug easily.

“Thank you,” I said quietly and he shifted back with a grin.

“No. Thank you, Nick.”

I turned my gaze on Kelly and watched as she handed her bouquet to Megan, the music fading out. I couldn’t help leaning in to kiss her lips quickly. Her eyes locked onto mine and she still looked like she was in shock.

“I can’t believe you did this.”

“You deserve it all, sweetheart.” I leaned in to kiss her again but the officiant cleared his throat and I turned to look at him with a sheepish smile. “Sorry.”

We stared at each other as he spoke and I got lost in the blue eyes that reminded me of the deepest ocean. I heard him speak about love and trust for a moment before saying my name.

“Nick, will you continue to have Kelly as your wife and continue to live this happy marriage?”

I nodded immediately. “I will.”

“And do you reaffirm your love for her and promise to love, honor, and cherish her in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, for better or for worse, be faithful to her for as long as you both shall live?”

“I definitely do. I’ll even share my dessert.”

Everyone laughed quietly and my wife just arched her brows with a soft smile. “No backing out of that now.”

He asked the same things of Kelly and she looked like she was holding back tears as she answered. When he asked for the rings, Megan handed one to Kelly and I took one from Owens. Our Vegas bands had both been removed but they wouldn’t be tossed aside. Even though we wouldn’t wear them anymore, I planned on keeping them forever.

The new wedding bands had belonged to her grandparents, who’d had a long, happy marriage, and they matched the diamond ring I’d given her an hour before. The two of us exchanged them when we were told to and Kelly stared at her hand in amazement for a moment.

“Nick and Kelly, today you have renewed your vows and promises to each other. I conclude that you are now and forever more bound together as husband and wife. Nick, you may kiss your bride.”

And I did. I didn’t hesitate to wrap my arms around her waist and mold my lips to hers. She kissed me back immediately and I dipped her low as she clung to my shoulders. When I righted us, the officiant smiled.

“Ladies and gentlemen, it’s with my honor that I present you with Nickolas and Kelly Christos!”

Everyone moved to their feet as they cheered loudly and I tugged Kelly to my side while grinning out at them all. We stood there until the music began playing again and we walked back down the aisle.

“I love you so much,” Kelly said the minute we came to a stop. Her lips found mine again and we kissed for a long moment before being ushered to take pictures. Those took longer than I would have thought and after the ones of the two of us were done, we were steered back into the banquet hall. Applause sounded as the DJ announced us again and began playing the song I’d picked for our first dance.

I wrapped my arm around her middle and held her hand in mine as we swayed to the music slowly. Kelly gazed up at me with a smile and shook her head.

“Safetysuit? How do you even know any of their songs?”

I grinned and touched my nose to hers. “Megan. She suggested a few but ‘Never Stop’ was instantly my favorite. It describes my feelings for you completely.”

And it did. I’d listened to it a lot over the past three weeks. As I pulled my bride around the small dance floor, I sang the words quietly in her ear.

 

I will never stop trying

I will never stop watching as you leave

I will never stop losing my breath

Every time I see you looking back at me

And I will never stop holding your hand

I will never stop opening your door

I will never stop choosing you, babe

I will never get used to you

 

“I love you,” she murmured with awe on her face after a few moments of my singing. “I don’t even have enough words to thank you for this, Nick.”

I shook my head while leading us around the dance floor. “You don’t need to thank me. You deserved this. We deserved this. I couldn’t pass up the chance to see you in a wedding dress, Kelly.”

“You’re such a smooth talker, Christos.” Her hold on my shoulder tightened. “I have a surprise for you, too.”

“Yeah?” I raised my brows and ran my nose along hers. “Is it a good surprise?”

She sucked in a long breath. “God, I hope so.”

“You hope so?” I pulled back and frowned at her. “Tell me.”

There was silence for a long moment before she gave me a small smile. “I’m pregnant.”

Her words slammed into me like a truck that had been going eighty miles an hour and my feet stopped moving as I blinked down at her.

“What?”

Kelly’s throat moved as she swallowed before speaking. “I found out during my physical yesterday. Apparently, I’m twelve weeks. The doctor said I probably ended up pregnant around when I was in the hospital.” When I didn’t speak or react in anyway, she gave me a pleading look. “Say something. Please.”

I didn’t say a word. I pressed my lips to hers and kissed her so hard that I couldn’t be sure I wasn’t hurting her. I dropped my forehead to hers when I finally pulled back.

“We’re going to have a baby?”

She nodded and a smile lit up her gorgeous face. “It would seem so.”

“We’re going to have a baby.” I kissed her again and lifted her off of her feet so I could twirl her around, causing people to applaud our exuberance. As the song began to taper off, I dragged her up to the stage where the DJ had set his stuff up.

When the song was done, I held my hand out for the microphone and he gave it to me without hesitation. I brought it to my lips before glancing over at Kelly. I suddenly realized that she might not want everyone to know. When I caught her eye, asking her without saying anything, she just nodded with that smile still on her face.

“Thank you for being here,” I said, my voice amplified in the large space. Everyone stared at us and I inhaled a long breath. “I’m so happy that you could all come out on such short notice to celebrate with us. My wife, my beautiful wife, just shared the greatest news with me.” I paused and tugged her even closer to my side. “We’re going to have a baby.”

People gasped in surprise before cheers rang out and I leaned down to kiss her for the millionth time that evening. The DJ took the microphone back and I led Kelly off the stage so we could head to our table.

Megan was there the second we hit the bottom stair and she had her arms around her sister in an embrace so tight that it looked painful. Renee pulled me into a hug and we stood there for a moment as James, my mom, Delia, and a few others had their turn, too.

Once we were sitting and eating some delicious food that had many vegetarian options, Owens took the microphone and commanded attention of everyone eating.

“What can I say about Nick? He's been my best friend for almost nine years. In those nine years, I've never seen him as happy as he looks today. And Kelly, well, she's basically the little sister I never got and I know that woman deserves the world. Nick has done a great job at making her happy and I know I couldn't have picked a better match than the two of them. They challenge each other, they cherish each other, and they make the other incredibly happy. I'm proud to be a part of their lives and I wish them all of the happiness in the word. To Nick and Kelly.”

People all around us toasted and Kelly mouthed something to Owens, causing him to walk over and kiss the top of her head.

It was about ten minutes later when Megan took the microphone and the buzz of the crowd went silent as she cleared her throat.

“Hi. I'm the big sister by a mere eleven months. Since we were little, Kelly has dreamed of true love. She wanted the man who would scale towers, slay dragons, and would save her with true love’s kiss. I'm happy to say that she found that in Nick. These two together are mesmerizing and I've loved watching their love grow. I'm so excited that they'll embark on the journey of marriage and now parenthood…” She wiped a tear and I caught Kelly doing the same thing. “And I know that they'll overcome every obstacle together. I love you both so much.”

The sisters embraced again and I could hear them murmuring in low tones. When they pulled back, Megan had her hands on both of Kelly’s cheeks and she shook her head before kissing her sister’s forehead. Megan wrapped me in a tight hug and went back to her seat next to Owens.

James, Renee, my mom, and dad all went to the microphone next and all of them said some really beautiful words. Well, my dad stayed silent but my mom beamed as she spoke. When they all sat down, people finished eating and the DJ called out that it was time for the father/daughter dance.

I don’t know who looked more euphoric- Kelly or James. They danced to a version of Bob Dylan’s ‘Forever Young’, something James had chosen himself, and he stared at his daughter as if she was the most precious thing in the world.

I was going to have that. I was going to have a baby. Possibly a little girl who’d be as sassy as Kelly and as mischievous as me. Maybe we’d have a little boy who’d have her blue eyes and my crooked smile. If a chick would have come to me a year before and said she was pregnant, I probably would immediately hyperventilated. Kelly telling me that she was having my baby? It was an incredible feeling.

I let the two dance for a moment before walking to my mom and holding my hand out to her. She took it instantly and the two of us moved to the floor together. She stared up at me with a smile as we danced.

“I am so proud of you, Nickolas.”

“Thank you. I never thought I’d be this happy. Hell, I never even dreamed it.” I let out a small chuckle and shook my head. “That woman completes me and I didn’t think I wanted anything else.”

Mom’s smile widened. “Until she told you that you were going to be a daddy.”

“Right.” I nodded quickly. “We created life, Ma. How mind blowing is that?”

“You are going to be a great father, kalo mou. I need details on my grandbaby when you get them.”

I promised her that I’d tell her as soon as I knew and we hugged tight once the song was over. The music kept playing and I danced with Renee, Megan, Delia, Angela, Helena, and a few other people while Kelly danced with Owens, Alex, Phil, Captain Stevenson, most of the guys from my station, and even Miles. When my father asked her to dance, I kept my eye on them as I gauged her reaction.

As soon as the song was over, I thanked Melody for the dance and intercepted Kelly before someone else could. Everything felt better with her in my arms and I gave her a serious look as we moved.

“What did he say?”

She shook her head quickly. “Not a whole lot, actually. He did ask me if I intentionally trapped you with a baby, though.”

“That fucker,” I growled and Kelly shook her head again.

“Who cares? I’m way up in the clouds, Nicky, and no one can bring me down. Don’t let him bring you down, either.”

She was right so I didn’t mention my father again. We danced together until the DJ called that it was time to cut the cake. I already knew what was coming from the glint in her eye and was not disappointed when Kelly held up a piece of cake for me. She gently pushed it so my nose was in the icing and I chuckled as I chewed my piece.

When it was my turn, I held it up and saw Kelly brace herself but I didn’t do anything beyond offering it to her. Once I brought my hand down, though, I wrapped her in my arms and kissed her, causing the icing on my face to transfer to hers. The squeal she released earned us some laughs and she was grinning when I let her go.

“I love you,” she whispered as she wiped my face with a napkin and I smiled before doing the same to her.

“I love you, too, Kel.”