I stood under the arch and waited not-so-patiently for Paxton to appear. My parents and Paxton’s had gone all out for this quickly pulled together wedding. It appeared like it had been months in the making. Everything was beautiful. The flowers, the cakes. It was everything I could see Paxton picking out. I was glad we had decided to keep it to close family and friends only. It made things easier when it came to planning.
Cord stood next to me. He was my best man and the one who won the straw drawing. Having four other brothers is hard when it comes time to pick a best man. Chloe had come up with the whole “drawing straws” idea, and my brothers loved the idea. Damn kids at heart…all four of them.
The music started playing, and I first saw my sweet little Chloe. Then Patches. What in the hell? She wore a huge smile as she skipped down the aisle while Patches trotted next to her. I couldn’t help but laugh. The damn goat was in our wedding. We were never going to get Chloe to fall asleep tonight with all this excitement on top of it being Christmas Eve.
“Damn, Steed. She almost makes me want to have a kid,” Cord said with a chuckle.
I glanced over to him. “A kid, huh?”
He frowned. “I said almost. The goat isn’t helping.”
Corina came next. I peeked over to Tripp. He was smiling, but one look at Mitchell and I knew which one of them was more captivated by her.
Mitchell.
The way he stared was a far cry from the way Tripp looked at Corina. I looked back, holding my breath as I stared at the back door.
When the wedding march started and everyone stood, I slowly exhaled only to have my breath taken again when Paxton walked through the door with her father. I heard gasps from the small group of friends and family.
“She’s beautiful,” I whispered as a smile spread over my face.
The simple cream colored gown hugged her body, and I couldn’t help but let my eyes roam. They lingered a little more on her stomach before I dragged them back up and her blue eyes caught mine.
I shook my head slowly. I wanted to pinch myself.
Holy shit. She was mine. She was finally mine.
As Paxton and I walked around and talked to the guests, I could tell she was getting tired. So was Chloe who had stuck to our side like glue. She’d already started calling Paxton “Mommy,” and every time she did, Paxton’s face lit up.
Thank God it was mostly family, plus some friends from each side and a few of my father’s closest business partners. Other than that, it had been a small wedding and reception. We had made it around to everyone in no time at all.
Somehow Amelia had found someone who was willing to make a wedding cake last minute. It was decorated in white and soft blue. The same blue as Chloe and Corina’s dresses. Don’t ask me how they pulled that shit off.
Paxton leaned against me and sighed. “You tired?” I asked.
“A little,” she said, then yawned.
“We cut the cake, we said hello and thanks for coming. I think it’s time to leave. Besides, look at Chloe.”
Her eyes swung over to our daughter, and she laughed. Chloe was sitting at a table, her head perched up with her hands, sound asleep.
“That poor little thing. We promised her a movie too. We should probably start making our way out of here.”
I nodded in agreement. “Let’s find our parents and let them know we’re ready to go.”
Paxton laced her fingers with mine while we searched for our folks. They were sitting inside talking to some old friends.
“Mom, Dad, I think we’re going to take off. Paxton is tired and poor little Chloe is passed out.”
They all stood. Each of them took turns kissing us on the cheeks and congratulating us.
“We’ll make the announcement that y’all are leaving.”
“Plans for a honeymoon?” Karen Alright, one of my parents’ friends, asked while taking a sip of wine.
“Not right now. We’re going to go to Ireland during spring break.”
“Ireland?” she asked with lifted brows.
“Yes, Paxton’s always wanted to go there so that’s where we are heading. Tonight we are taking our daughter home and watching Miracle on 34th Street.”
“How wonderful!” Karen said.
Forty-five minutes later, we were finally leaving. Chloe was asleep in my arms as we walked past everyone cheering out “Mr. and Mrs. Parker!” I gently put my sleeping beauty in the backseat of my truck, helped my beautiful wife in, and tucked her dress safely inside.
A quick wave to everyone, and I jumped into the truck and headed to our place on the other side of the ranch.
Paxton dropped her head back. “As much as I loved our wedding, I would have been just as happy eloping. I’m exhausted and I didn’t even plan anything!”
I laughed.
We were soon back at the house, changed, and sitting on the sofa eating popcorn and watching the movie Paxton said we had to make a family tradition each Christmas Eve. I couldn’t believe how fucking happy I was. As much as I wanted to sink myself into my wife and stay lost in her all night, this felt perfect.
Chloe sat in the middle, entranced with the movie. She had asked earlier if Paxton was going to sleep in my room with me and a part of me was bothered we had been lying to her. We told her yes, and she smiled big and stated that we were now officially a real family. I didn’t want to ask why she felt like Paxton sleeping in the same room meant we were a family. I was going to ignore it. Ignorance was blissful.
When it was time to put her to bed so Santa could come, Paxton tucked her in like she had been doing the last few weeks, while I turned on her nightlight and grabbed her favorite doll and stuffed animal.
Our normal routine had changed a bit when Paxton moved in. I used to be the one to tuck her in. That job was given to her new mommy. Which I was fine with. Then it was prayers, a small story with her doll and giraffe and then lights out.
“Ready for prayers?” Paxton asked while kissing Chloe on the forehead.
“Yes!”
Closing her eyes, Chloe started her prayers, which were exactly the same every night…with a few changes when need be.
“Please bless my teacher Paxton. Please bless all my friends. Please bless, Sam, Bill, Lady, Allure, Marley, Little Bill, Harley, Chip, Milo, Buddy, all the goats especially Patches cause he’s my goat granddaddy gave me, and all the cows and all the wildlife in the whole wide world. Please bless my Grammy and Granddaddy and my new Gran and Pops. That’s what they want to be called ‘cause I asked them and tonight I can officially call ‘em that.”
My eyes lifted to Paxton’s. We both smiled, and she quickly wiped a tear away.
“Please bless all my aunts and uncles. There’s too many to name.”
That part always made me laugh since she pretty much just named four horses, two cats, and two dogs along with half the damn ranch animals in her prayers.
“And please bless Daddy and my new mommy. It’s Paxton, God. I know that might confuse you ‘cause she’s my teacher too.”
My heart felt light. A happiness so overwhelming hit me in the chest that I had to force myself not to cry. One look at Paxton told me she felt the same way.
“And one more thing God. Please bring me a baby brother or sister. Amen.”
Paxton and I glanced over at each other, and she smiled. We had already talked about telling Chloe first before announcing it to the whole family tomorrow. It would make it more special for Chloe, Paxton had said.
I leaned over and kissed my daughter’s cheek. “Pumpkin, God has already answered your prayer.”
With a look of wonderment, she asked, “Which one, Daddy?”
Peeking over to Paxton, she took Chloe’s hand and put it on her stomach. “I’ve got a baby growing in my tummy, Chloe Cat. A little baby brother or sister.”
Chloe sat up. She had been so emotional when we announced we were getting married, I wasn’t sure what she would do with this news. Her eyes filled with tears, and I held my breath. I hated seeing her cry.
“Is it true? Daddy, is it true Mommy has my baby brother in there?”
I nodded. “It is. Does that make you happy?”
She jumped up and threw her arms around me. “Thank you for bringing us home, Daddy. Thank you!”
I held her tightly and squeezed my eyes. “Oh, baby. I love you.”
When she pulled back, her tears were streaming. “I love you too.”
She turned to Paxton and wrapped her little arms around her neck.
“I love you so much, Mommy! Thank you for loving me and giving me a baby brother! Thank you so…much.”
Chloe was now sobbing and so was Paxton. Each of them held onto each other as if their lives depended on it.
“Oh, Chloe Cat. I love you so much too!”
When my girls finally stopped crying, Chloe climbed back under the covers, folded her hands in prayer and smiled. “P.S. Dear God, thank you for going so fast on the baby brother. And thank you for helping Daddy find my mommy. He’d been looking a long time. His eyes aren’t sad anymore thanks to Mommy’s love.”
Air rushed into my lungs. I stared at Chloe as she took her doll and stuffed goat and snuggled with them. “I better get to sleep or Santa won’t come.”
Paxton and I slowly stood. Both of us in a silent shock. I was positive that had affected Paxton as much as it did me.
We each kissed Chloe goodnight.
“Night, pumpkin,” I whispered against her forehead.
“N-night.”
Brushing her hair from her face, Paxton kissed her on the cheek. “Goodnight my sweet Chloe Cat.”
She smiled and mumbled something before drifting off to sleep.
Taking Paxton’s hand in mine, I led her out of the bedroom, down the hall and stairs, and straight to our bedroom. When I shut the door, we faced each other.
“That was the most amazing moment of my life,” I said.
She nodded and wiped a tear away. “I thought the same thing.”
My hand slipped behind her head, and I drew her to me. Gently kissing her lips, I softly spoke against them.
“I’m going to make love to you now, Pax.”
“What about Santa coming and leaving all the gifts?” she asked.
With a wink, I said, “Even Santa takes time to enjoy the milk and cookies left out.”
Paxton laughed and hit me on the chest. “You’re bad.”
“Not yet, baby.”
Lifting her shirt over her head, I dropped it to the ground.
“I’m going to kiss every inch of your body as I whisper, ‘Mrs. Steed Parker,’ against your creamy skin.”
“Steed.” She gasped a needy breath.
Undoing her bra, I pulled it from her arms and threw it onto the T-shirt. Grabbing the waist of her sweats, I pulled them…along with her panties…slowly down and off her legs until she stood in front of me naked. Twice in the last few hours I had gotten to undress her. The first time left with me blue balls as I stared at my wife in her wedding gown and then those lace panties. It took everything out of me not to make love to her then.
I pressed my lips under her belly button while her hands combed through my hair, and she let out a soft whimper.
“You are my life, Mrs. Steed Parker. The reason I breathe. My heart beats right along with yours, and I can’t imagine a world without you in it.”
Dropping my forehead to her stomach, I took in a deep breath.
“You’re everything I’ve ever wanted.” Lifting my eyes to hers I smiled. “Our love was never lost because it stayed with me…always.”
She dug her teeth into her lip, trying to hold back her emotions as I kissed her stomach. Our child was in there and that knowledge about knocked me over.
“I’d lay my life down for you and our kids.”
Standing, I cupped her face in my hands and brushed her tears with my thumbs. My lips brushed over hers.
“My life.”
Smiling against my lips, she replied, “My love.”