The Perfect Life
Page 23
Both the wedding and ceremony were held at the Dresser Palmer House—a small bed and breakfast that we rented for the entire weekend. My parents, Leslie, Ethan, and the kids had flown out for the event. Laura and her family, Luke’s parents, and his sister Lucy were all there for our celebration. Even my former in-laws were present.
There were things that still scared me about marriage, but unlike before, this time I would make sure that if we got to that part, we’d talk about it. We’d get the help we needed.
“Mom?” AJ said, pulling me out of my trance.
“Yeah?” I smiled up at him. He had grown so much in the last year; three inches total according to his new pediatrician.
“I think it’s time.” He bit his lower lip, and I spotted his missing tooth.
“Steph?” Leslie said behind him. “You all set?” She rested her hand on her round belly. I still couldn’t believe that she and Ethan were on their third baby.
“Are you okay?” I laughed.
“I could really use a drink right about now.” She sighed.
“A few more weeks.”
“Can’t come soon enough.” She walked into the room and grabbed her bouquet and mine out of the vase. “Hey, you didn’t drink your champagne,” she teased, holding up my flute.
“It’s not fun to drink solo.” I took my bouquet from her hands.
“In a few weeks, we’ll have a redo.”
“You got it, babe.”
Leslie walked out of my bedroom and down the long flight of stairs to the outdoor patio. AJ and I followed behind her.
Surrounded by the people I loved most in this world, my son walked me down the aisle where I met my groom, a man who filled the darkness around my heart.
The man who made me believe in love again.
* * *
Three weeks later.
We had skipped our honeymoon or, more accurately, postponed it. I had told Luke that I wanted to wait till the summer so AJ could spend a month with my parents in Arizona before we traveled through Europe. It was a small lie. But I think he’d be okay with it.
“Where are you?” I asked when he answered his cell phone.
“Second floor,” he said, and I could hear him walking through the hallway. “Is everything okay?” I heard the hesitation in his voice.
“I’m fine, just a small procedure.” I bit back a smile and looked over at Dr. Kim, my gynecologist. “The nurses know to send you back,” I said and hung up the phone.
Two minutes later, there was a small knock on the door, and a worried Luke walked in. “What is it?” He rushed to my side and ran his hand through my hair.
“Well,” I said and my cheeks hurt from smiling, “looks like you’re going to be a dad.” I pointed to the ultrasound machine that had been frozen with an image on it.
I watched as his eyes moved away from mine and toward the screen. “Oh, my.” His voice cracked. “I’m going to be a Dad?” He looked back down at me.
I nodded and blinked away the tears. “Of twins.” I laughed. “Twin girls.”
“Girls?” His voice softened, and he placed a hand on my stomach.
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner, but with the wedding and all, I didn’t want to take away from our day. Plus, with my age, there were a few extra tests I needed to do, which is why we found out the sex so soon.”
“I love you, Stephanie.” He kissed me.
“Yeah?” I asked, and he nodded. “I love you too.”
What I realized is that sometimes you need to weather the storm, go through the tough times, in order to come out alive on the other side. I lived through the imperfections, through the dark days. But now there was light in my life. There was AJ, Luke and two little girls to make it all perfect.
Afterword
Do you want to read the next five chapter of Indiscretion? It’s my next release coming out late fall 2018?
Sign up to my newsletter and be the first to read it.
http://eepurl.com/dGDMOL
And no, I won’t spam you.
About the Author