by V. Vaughn
“You look beautiful, darling,” my father says as I look up into his blue eyes that are the same color as mine.
“Thanks, Dad. You ready for this?”
He smiles. “I believe I’m supposed to ask you that question. So, are you?”
I nod as a grin covers my face. “I am, Dad.”
I notice Lexi disappears around the tall hedge that surrounds the park, and that’s our cue. I take the arm my father offers me, and we walk into the park.
There have to be no less than a hundred people standing in rows turned toward me as I walk down the aisle. Old friends from school, regular customers from the diner, all my cousins and neighbors. Everyone I know and love is here to watch me marry the love of my life. It’s everything I ever dreamed about since I was a little girl.
Teal and white streamers line the bushes, and white roses fill baskets all around the fountain. An arch with tiny white roses winding up the sides stands at the end of the aisle. And underneath I see Alec with his brother Bruce by his side. The man I’ve waited for six years to come home to marry me smiles with the love I hoped to see.
Dressed in a black tux with a teal bowtie, Alec is the most handsome man to ever exist. I can’t believe I get to spend the rest of my life with him making memories and lots and lots of babies.
When I finally reach him, I kiss my dad on the cheek and turn to Alec. He takes my hand and kisses it. “I’ve been waiting forever for you.”
“Well, I’m here now, baby.”
Clutching hands, we turn toward Jane, the mayor, who insisted on marrying us today. She says, “Friends and family, we are gathered here today to join Hillary Raz and Alec Thompson in marriage.”
I don’t hear the rest of what she says over the thumping of my heart as I stare at the man whom I love more than anything in the world. It was a long and painful journey to get here, but it was worth it. We’ve both grown and changed to become the people we needed to be. Fate works in weird ways, but in the end, she gets it right.
Alec turns to me and speaks his vows. “From this day forward, I promise you these things: I will laugh with you in times of joy and comfort you in times of sorrow. I will share in your dreams and support you as you strive to achieve your goals. I will listen to you with compassion and understanding and speak to you with encouragement. I will help you when you need it and step aside when you don’t. I will remain faithful to you for better or worse, in times of sickness and health. You are my best friend, my lover, and my mate, and I will love and respect you always.”
Tears run down my cheeks, threatening to ruin the perfect makeup Lexi applied for me, but I don’t care. This is what I’ve been waiting for my whole life. My beautiful Alec to love, respect, and cherish me forever. I don’t know if he can ever know how much I love him, but I hope to spend the rest of my days showing him.
When the formal service is over and we are pronounced husband and wife, I get ready to toss my bouquet. All the single ladies line up in front, jostling for position to catch it. I smile as I recall I was one of those ladies lined up not even a year ago at Lexi’s wedding, secretly hoping to catch the bouquet and bring Alec back in my life.
I turn my back to the crowd and toss my flowers. Squeals makes me turn around to see the chaos that ensues. Some women are serious about getting the bouquet, and there might be a little blood drawn. Just when I’m afraid there’s going to be a brawl, a victor emerges. Jessica, who I went to school with, holds up the clutch of white roses victoriously. I laugh at the appropriateness and wonder what brave man will step up to court her.
With the traditional stuff over with, the party ramps up to a ten on the Richter scale. Music the DJ spins blasts from the speakers, and people get out on the makeshift dance floor to shake their butts. Even my parents take a turn and show how it’s done.
Alec swings an arm around my shoulders. “Well, Mrs. Thompson, what do you think? Is this one hell of a party or what?”
I smile up at him. “It’s the best party.”
He cups my neck with his hand and pulls me close so he can kiss me until I’m dizzy. He pulls back and lets out a sigh, making me think he wishes he could do more than kiss me right now. He says, “I’m going to go get us drinks.”
I watch him strut across the grass toward the bar set up near the dance floor. People stop him to shake his hand or give him a hug. His smile nearly splits his face. He looks so happy and content with his life. And I’m proud to say that I had a big part in getting him there.
I glance around at the people who came to support me and Alec. The people of Heartland. Wonderful, kind people with big hearts and even bigger smiles.
I spot Lexi and Tristan talking and laughing just off to the side of the dance floor. Tristan sets his hand on her stomach, and she places her hand over his and gazes up at him. My heart leaps as I suspect Lexi is pregnant. I couldn’t be happier for them. It didn’t happen quickly, and I know Lexi has been frustrated by that.
On the other side of the gazebo, I spot Mandy playing with her son Daniel. She’s such a good mom. I hope to be as loving, kind, and patient as she is. And I hope one day she finds the perfect mate and the same kind of love that I share with Alec. I hate seeing the sadness that clouds her eyes so often.
Alec returns to my side with a glass of champagne for me. “Here you are, my beautiful wife.”
“Thank you.” I hold it up. “What should we toast to?”
His brow knits while he thinks. “How about love, life, good food, and great sex.” He grins, and it sends my hormones into overdrive.
My bunny hops to attention, but I tell her to relax. We’ve got the rest of our lives ahead of us. We can wait a few hours before we escape to go home and, well, screw like rabbits.
Chapter 40
HILLARY
I play with the faucet in my pretty new bathroom. Water on, water off. Water on, water off. It’s been a month since the wedding, and Alec and I moved into a new house together so that we could have a fresh start to our marriage.
I love our new home. It’s close to the schools and not that far from the diner, which means I can still walk to work. It also backs up to the woods, so my bunny and Alec’s bear can go for their long playful runs easily. I don’t hear much complaining from my bunny these days. She’s as happy as I am.
Alec knocks on the bathroom door. “Baby? You’ve been in there for a long time. Everything okay?”
“Yes. I’m just, ah, shaving my legs.”
“Okay. When you’re done, I need to tell you something.”
I’m not shaving my legs. I’m actually in here behind a locked door waiting for a line to appear in the window of a pregnancy test. And it’s taking forever. Five minutes feels like an eternity when you’re staring at a stick, hoping it will tell you you’re pregnant.
I’m three days late for my period, and my boobs are a bit sore. Water splashes as I play with the faucet again and then check the stick. Surely five minutes have passed by now. Then I check the timer on my phone. Fifteen seconds left to wait.
I check the little window again.
“C’mon, c’mon, c’mon,” I mutter quietly, tapping my fingers against the sink.
Then I think I see it. No, I’m sure I see a thin pink line turn into a plus sign, and my heart stops. I’m pregnant! I open the bathroom door and yell, “Alec!”
“In the kitchen!”
I run down the stairs to find he’s making us sandwiches. The moment he sees me, he stops what he’s doing and rushes over to me. He says, “You’ll never guess who called.”
For a split second, I fear the answer, thinking he’s about to tell me he’s got a coaching job offer from some NFL team. But then I realize, even that’s happened, we’ll figure out what to do together. “Who?”
“Coach Weaver. He’s decided to retire early, and he wants me to take over as head coach of the high school football team.”
“Oh my God, Alec, this is so amazing.” I hug him.
“I know, right?” He
grins like a maniac. “I’ve married the most amazing woman ever, and now I got the job I wanted. This day cannot get any better.”
I give him a big smile. “It’s about to.” I bounce on my toes with my excitement.
His eyes narrow. “What?”
“I’m pregnant.”
His jaw drops, and he stares at me in shock. He lets out a strained noise.
I grab his arm. “Alec? Are you okay?”
He snaps his mouth shut before he says, “I am beyond okay.” He chuckles and then cups my face in his hands, his eyes shiny with tears. “Hillary, this is the best news ever.”
He kisses me deeply, with way more than passion behind it, and I feel as if it fills me with his love. When he pulls back, he looks down at my belly and sets his hand there. My stomach is still flat, but soon I’ll have a baby bump, and I can’t wait. He gazes at me with so much love in his eyes that I feel my heart might burst. “I love you, Hillary.”
I can’t help but give him the same look. “I love you, Alec.”
“You’ve made me the happiest man alive. I couldn’t ask for any more in this life.” He pulls me to him and kisses me again. “Thank you for waiting for me. It took me a while, but I finally got here.”
I smile, glad I took a chance on our love. “It took me a while too, but we’re here now, Alec. And in the end, that’s all that matters.”
More from V. Vaughn
Check out V.’s world of shifters:
Called by the Bear
Tempted by the Bear
Desired by the Bear
Rocked by the Bear
Bewitched by the Bear
Winter Valley Wolves
Smokey Falls Wolves
V. writes Vampires and Aliens too!
Called by the Vampire
Greenville Alien Mail Order Brides
Coming soon - Night Meadow Witches!
Sisters, Love and Magic
You can see all her published books at www.violetvaughn.com
About the Authors
V. Vaughn lives on an island in Maine and spends as much time outdoors with her two Portuguese Water dogs as she can. She may have seen a bear or two….
www.violetvaughn.com
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C. J. Oliver is the secretive sort, but she doesn’t mind you knowing that she enjoys swimming in the ocean, a good pale ale, and cuddling on the couch with the one she loves.
