by C. A. Harms
Today my best friend is marrying another one of my best friends, and I couldn’t be happier for them. It’s only been six months since I arrived in Ankeny, three months since I married the woman of my dreams and I’ll admit two days since I’ve cried another round of happy tears. But with Blair by my side I wasn’t surprised. I think I always knew she’d be the woman to break me in the best possible ways.
Now I just wanted all those same things to happen for Farris and Sadie. They deserved it.
Whitney wipes a tear from her eye and Blair takes the bouquet of white roses from Sadie just before she turns back to face her soon-to-be husband. I watch as they agree to love, honor, and cherish one another, and roars erupt when Farris grabs Sadie and dips her backward, giving her an overly exaggerated kiss.
To hear her laugh out loud when he lifts her back up is perfection. Sadie will always have a special place in my heart and I’m glad Farris is here to protect her.
As she turns around to face the crowd and looks back over her shoulder to Blair, I feel like my heart rate speeds up. Blair leans in and whispers something to Sadie that makes her face scrunch up in the way I know it does when she’s trying to hide her emotions. I wonder what could be taking place. Then Blair places her forehead to the side of Sadie’s head and they share a big hug, with a few silent seconds. Then clearly I see the words spoken from Blair. I love you. The same words she told me so many times before, and now I know the effects they have.
Sadie nods, unable to speak and stands tall once more.
Then Blair’s gaze connects with mine. My wife. God, I will never grow tired of saying that.
She offers me a wink before blowing me a kiss and again my head is spinning. Lucky, that’s what I am. Real damn lucky.
Blair
I spot Jake sitting at a table near Farris, and a few of the detectives from Chicago who traveled here for the wedding. All the testosterone in one small area is leaving every single female in the reception hall a little flustered, not to mention some of the married ones too. They are definitely a force for sure, all sexy, strong and confident.
But through it all I only have eyes for one man. My man, my husband, the father of my child, or rather children.
I can’t stop myself from casually placing my hand over my stomach as I look from Jake to Isabelle, who is in Whitney’s father’s arms, then back to Jake again. Knowing this time he’ll be here to share all the times up until we meet our second daughter or even son is a feeling I can’t explain. Whitney catches me in my moment and her own knowing smile adds to my happiness.
Just this morning my best friend shared the news with me that she and Trevor are now engaged, so it looks like we’ll be having another wedding soon. I am surrounded by love in every direction and after what took place in Chicago with my life, I’ll gladly welcome it.
Unable to stop myself any longer, I begin crossing the room toward the table of men. It’s almost like Jake can sense me and he looks up just as I pause next to the table at his side. In fact, many of the men stop speaking but again, Jake is my sole focus.
“Hey handsome, wanna dance?” I immediately notice the mischievous grin that covers his lips. I’ve seen this look often, that playful fun man I wake up next to every morning only to fall in love with all over again.
“I don’t know if I should. My wife might not like that.”
“Well, your wife should never leave such a good-looking man alone.” I counter, feeling my own smile fight to take over.
“No?”
I simply shake my head, still doing my best to keep a straight face. “It only opens the door for other women to step in and take advantage of you. To lead you astray.”
“Not possible.” Jake crosses his arms over his chest and leans back in his chair. I glance around quickly, noticing we’ve gained the full attention of all his friends. They smile and gleam as they watch our little game in humor.
“And why’s that?” I finally ask.
Jake shrugs, still remaining aloof. “There’s no other woman out there as beautiful and perfect as my wife. She could leave me alone for hours and it wouldn’t matter, I’d still wait for her. She holds my heart in her hands and she is the only woman I see.”
Unable to hold back my smile I reach out for him. “One lucky woman.”
“No,” he stands from the table and steps toward me, taking my hand into his, “lucky man.”
Bonus Scene
Jake
“Be careful, Princess.” I hold Isabelle next to the hospital bed at a safe distance. Blair holds our son close while we both watch in awe when Iz meets her little brother for the first time. She is completely enamored by him, her eyes focused on him and nothing else.
My little girl is shy, but when she feels the need to react I swear the shrilling screech of hers can break glass. Only now she is ever so quiet, her little hand up covering her mouth like it is stopping her from speaking.
On the ride up in the elevator, I explained to her how important it is that we not be loud and scare our baby. I even placed my hand over my mouth to ensure she understood. Now here she is mimicking my actions. It is so sweet.
“I’m lying her looking at him,” Blair whispers softly, “like I did when I held Iz the night after I had her and well into the morning. “I never had a name chosen, not until I saw her and then I just knew.”
“Do you know now?”
“I was thinking Jaxon,” she shrugs and looks away from our son, locking her eyes on mine. “I don’t know why I like the name, I just do.”
“Me too.”
Suddenly her face crinkles up and then a look of concern covers her face. “I’m so sorry I didn’t even think—”
“Babe,” I stop her before she can finish, already knowing she is feeling guilty for not allowing me to choose a name since I wasn’t here to be a part of naming our little girl. But I never intended to take that away from her. I just had one request.
“Jaxon Lark Wilkerson,” I say this and watch the concerned look leave her face. “When I found out we were having a son there was only one thought that crossed my mind. He’s the man responsible for me finding you. It was because of him I came here. He broke the rules for me, gave me information he shouldn’t have, and proved to me that second chances are possible.”
Blair smiles at me and reaches out to glide my finger along the cheek of our son.
“Without Lark this little guy may not be here,” I confess, knowing that had Lark Farris not busted my ass for weeks upon weeks after the arrest of my family I wouldn’t be standing where I am now. Who knows where I would have ended up, but something tells me it wouldn’t have been any place good.
“I think that’s perfect.”
“Yeah?”
Blair nods and I move in for a kiss, just as Isabelle squeals in delight, and Jaxon jumps in surprise. This quickly leaves our son screaming out too, only his are terrified cries and then Isabelle gets a look of heartbreak on her face. Here Blair and I sit, both looking between our two children while they cry as if to outdo one another, and all we both could do is smile.
This is our life, and I wouldn’t change a thing. It is absolute perfection.
