As the song comes to an end, Max gracefully dips me low. That move elicits a lot of applause from our guests, and I can't help but smile. I've been smiling a lot these days.
The DJ plays another slow song, and Max holds me close. "I don't want to let you go," he confesses.
"I don't want you to let me go," I whisper.
He leans in to kiss me, but stops short when a small voice asks, "May I cut in?"
We turn to see Jacob all dressed up with a big grin on his face. His leukemia went into remission a few months ago, and his red hair is growing back in all its glory. It's spiked in all different directions, and he looks happy and, most importantly, healthy.
"I'll let Jacob dance with you, but he is the only exception," Max murmurs with a wink.
"I have to dance with my father."
Max sighs and jokingly says, "I guess I'll let him dance with you too." He kisses me chastely and says to Jacob, "One dance, Jacob, and that's only because I like you so much."
Jacob sticks his tongue out playfully and then looks up at me. "I never danced to a slow song before," he says, suddenly unsure of himself.
I smile and take his hands into mine. "Then I'll lead."
After dancing with Jacob and, much to Max's dismay, several other wedding guests, Max pulls me back into his arms. "Not letting you go this time."
I bite my lip to hold back a grin. "I still haven't danced with my dad."
"Damn it," he mutters.
I laugh and give my husband a kiss. I never thought I would ever be this happy. Just when life has knocked you down to the bottom rung, fate has a way of bringing you back up the ladder.
My fingers graze over my something new --- a necklace that Max gave me last night. He said it symbolizes our relationship. It's a locket with charms that signify different steps in our relationship --- a karaoke microphone and music notes, a sailboat, a crystal heart and finally…a bird with its wings spread and an empty birdcage. He told me that the last two charms represent me. I'm no longer a bird trapped in a gilded cage. I'm free to love. I'm free to live. And I'm free to choose my own path in life. And I want to do all of those things with Max by my side. I went through hell and back only to be saved by the one true love of my life. And I would do it all over again if it meant meeting my soul mate, my savior, my hero.
"I love you," I whisper to Max.
"I love you more than anything in this world," he whispers back. His hand ventures down my side and pauses at my barely protruding belly. A big smile forms on his lips as he gazes down at me like he's the happiest man on earth. "And I love our little boy…or girl."
I grab his hand and move it back up to my hip. "If you keep touching my belly, people are going to know I'm pregnant," I hiss into his ear. I'm only twelve weeks along. If the wedding had been planned any later, I might not have been able to fit into my wedding dress.
"Is it a big secret?" he asks, and the look on his face tells me that the cat's already out of the bag.
"You told your parents, didn't you?"
He shakes his head. "My mom has this weird sixth sense or something. She knew before you even took a test."
Smiling, I say, "That's because she's around me so much. She probably noticed a change in me or something. Mother's intuition." Max's mom has really become a second mother to me, and it's so nice to have that maternal bond again.
Max's hand returns to my belly, and I don't pull it away this time. He looks so happy, and I want him to always feel that way.
As I gaze up at my husband, I think to myself how perfect my life must appear to an outsider. I'm twenty-four years old. I married my soul mate, someone who would do anything for me and go to the ends of the earth to save me. Our child growing inside of me will get more love and affection than anyone could even imagine. A few weeks ago, Max and I bought a house in the suburbs across the street from a park where our kids will be able to play. And I get to spend the rest of my life with a man who completely adores me. I have the kind of life women dream about. I have the kind of life that women envy.
Anybody on the outside looking in would say I have the perfect life.
And they couldn't be more right.
THE END
THANK YOU
Thank you for taking the time to read Saving Avery. If you enjoyed it, please consider telling your friends and posting a short review. Word of mouth is an author’s best friend and much appreciated. Shouts from rooftops are great too.
And a special thank you to my beta readers, Senaka and Con. Thank you for being my second (and third) pair of eyes!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Angela is an author from a small town in Pennsylvania. She has always had a passion for writing and recently decided to pursue her lifelong dream. She currently lives in an even smaller town in Pennsylvania with her husband and her very spoiled Golden Retriever.
For more information about upcoming books from Angela, follow her on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/AuthorAngelaSnyder or on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/AuthorAngelaS.
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