by Sadie Black
My heart feels like it’s about to burst open in my chest as my voice hitches in my throat. My words won’t come out around the lump in my throat. Instead, I just squeeze his hand back and nod.
I watch as my parents quietly walk out of the room and look up at Bradley with my eyes full of tears. He puts Brooklyn down on her feet and gives me a soft kiss. “How about I put Ruth in her bassinet? I don’t think a nap is a bad idea for you either. Your Mama’s right, you should get as much rest as you can when the baby is quiet.” He carefully takes our daughter into his arms and walks her across the room to her hospital crib.
My eyelids start to droop as I see Bradley and Brooklyn look down at our little bub. “Hi, baby, I Brooklyn. I your big sister and I two-years-old.” The baby begins to fuss a little and Bradley runs his hand softly over her hair. “Shhh, it ok baby. Don’t cry. Everything ok, cause we are all here together. We’re a family!” She explains excitedly. “Right, Braddy? We’re a family?” She looks up for confirmation.
“That’s right honey; we are a family. And as long as we stick together, everything will be just fine.” He places his broad hand on her little shoulder and Brooklyn smiles. A smile twinges upon my lips as my eyes close, and I drift off into a warm, peaceful sleep.
Chapter Twelve
Epilogue
Brianna
“Are you ready?” My father holds out his arm, and I wrap mine around it. Seeing him all dressed up for church is nothing new, but I’m used to watching him stand at the front on the stage, not back here as he is now.
I take a big breath as I watch our daughters, Brooklyn and Ruth walk arm-in-arm, delicately dropping white rose petals on the long red carpet. At one and a half, Ruth looks like a little cherub with her big cheeks and black curls framing her huge brown eyes. Brooklyn looks like a giant next to her, even though she’s not even four yet. Either way, those two are definitely stealing the show. As I exhale soft curls of hair flutter in front of my face. “I’m ready,” I finally answer my father.
As Matthew walks Kendra down the aisle, she looks like she’s about to pop. I can’t even remember how many times we’ve had to have her stunning, floor-length teal dress adjusted to make room for her growing baby bump. Even though she’s only six months along, she already looks like she did when she was full-term last time. When I think of how much more she’s going to blow up in the next three months, it makes me think that two children are enough for us.
My wedding party finds their places at the altar, just like we’ve practiced many times. Bradley is waiting for me at the end of the aisle, standing tall and proud. Part of me wants to run down this carpet and just jump into his arms, screaming “I do! I do!” However, a larger part of me can’t wait to soak up every second of this moment. I always knew I was destined for a red carpet one day, and now I’m gonna drink it in as every eye in this place is locked on me.
The organist begins chiming up The Wedding Song as my father and I launch forward. My mermaid-cut custom made gown is difficult to walk in, not to mention breathe in. A little discomfort is worth it for this moment. My eyes lock with Bradley’s, and his mouth opens a little as he watches me close the distance between us. I haven’t followed most of the traditional pre-wedding rules. I don’t have something old and new, borrowed and blue, but I did insist on one thing; that Bradley couldn’t see me in the dress until right now. As I watch the wide array of emotions battle it out on his face, I know I made the right choice.
My father stops a foot short of Bradley and gives him my hand. “Take care of her, son.” His voice trembles and I watch Dad’s eyes mist up.
“I will, Sir.” Bradley nods and my father takes his seat in the front pew with my mother where they both wipe away their tears.
My mind buzzes like a hive as the Pastor begins his speech, “Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today…” I can barely pay attention. Instead, my focus is entirely devoted to the man of my dreams standing beside me. I think back to when I first met him, at an art charity auction almost five years ago. A smile spreads over my crimson lips as I remember how relentlessly he pursued me that night only to disappear into the ether for nearly two years. When he reappeared in my life, I never could have known the incredible journey we would embark on together, a journey that’s really only beginning.
“I’ve written my own vows,” Bradley interrupts my thoughts and frees my hands from his clasp to pull out a paper from his pocket. My heart is like a hummingbird’s wings in my chest. We agreed that we both wanted to speak from our hearts instead of reciting the usual passages at every wedding, however, neither of us has read what the other has written. I’m anxious to hear what Bradley has to say.
Bradley clears his throat, something I know he only does when he’s nervous. “Brianna, I used to wander around feeling lost and guilty. I had an overwhelming sense that I wasn’t whole, but as a man with a lot of privileges in his life, I knew I had no room to complain. The second I met you, I knew what was missing. I remember I had told my brother, Trevor that you were ‘the one’ before I even introduced myself. He laughed at me then, but he’s looking down on us now, just shaking his head saying ‘the heart knows when it’s right’,” Bradley’s voice trembles and he pulls air deep into his lungs. “I never knew that I could start and end everyday with so much joy, and you are the reason for it all. You’re an amazing mother, daughter, student and friend. Now I can’t wait to add one more title to that list; my amazing wife. I love you with every smile, with every kiss, with every breath, and I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life loving you.”
Tears stream down my cheeks, and I try to dab them away carefully, so my make-up doesn’t meltdown. “And now the bride has her own vows to read,” Pastor John announces to the church. I don’t have a paper to pull out, since I have no place to put it. Instead, I memorized my words in front of the mirror like a politician getting ready for an election.
“Bradley, I used to be a cynical girl, much too cynical for the twenty-eight-year-old you met a few years ago. I look back on that time with sadness because I realize that I had lost myself, and I had lost hope. Then you came into my world, and you breathed new life into my stale soul. I learned that it’s never too late to change your life, and it’s never too late to find your happiness. You taught me how to want more for myself, for our children, and for my family. I’m grateful every single day that I met you, I can’t imagine my life as that sad, cynical woman. Thank you for showing me joy, compassion, understanding, and love. With my heart wide open and my eyes clear I can say that I love you, and I want to spend every day I have left on this earth by your side, as your wife.” I wipe the now steady stream of tears off my cheeks. I knew I wasn’t going to get through this without crying, but that’s what happens when you open your heart to someone I guess. It turns you into a big softie.
“Bradley, do you have the ring?” Pastor John directs him and Bradley looks over his shoulder to Matthew, who hands him the oval diamond wedding band from his jacket as I hold out my shaking hand.
I can’t make out more than fragments of words as I hold my breath, not pulling air into my lungs again until he slides the band over my finger. In a blur, I realize that I’m being instructed to do the same, I turn to Kendra, who hands me Bradley’s ring she was wearing around her thumb for safe keeping. I parrot the words being directed by the pastor before sliding Bradley’s band halfway down his finger, and he pulls it on the rest of the way.
“Before today, you have kissed each other perhaps a million times,” Pastor John proclaims. “However, it is my honor to announce that now you may share your first kiss, joined in your promise under God. Bradley, you may now kiss your wife.” My husband wraps his arms around me and looks deep into my eyes before softly kissing me. I close my eyes, and I swear, I can hear both our hearts beating at the same time, in sync.
The church erupts in clapping and cheers as I face the crowd as Mrs. Brianna Sheppard. Our children are all smiles as they rush over to us and wrap their a
rms around our legs. I know this is just the beginning of a new chapter in our lives, our chapter as husband and wife. As long as we all stick together there’s nothing we can’t do together… as a family.
Can You Do Me a Favor?
First, I would like to sincerely thank you for buying or borrowing my book. If you have a minute, could you leave a review of what you thought on Amazon or at Goodreads? As an independent author, my work thrives on word of mouth and reviews, so any and all feedback is truly appreciated.
Feel free to connect with me on twitter @_sadieblack or on Facebook. You can follow me to find out when I’m releasing new titles, but I’d also love to have real conversations with you. I’m always happy to hear your ideas and what you like or don’t like about my work.
Thank you again for supporting independent authors, like me, without you we would have shoe boxes full of crazy story ideas and no one to read them.
Want to learn how Brianna’s story began? Want more from Sadie Black? Check out the sizzling 3 part series of Indebted. All three parts are free through Kindle Unlimited!
Part One of Indebted, download or purchase from the Amazon store.
“I’ve earned every single thing that I have in this world, and not on my knees.”
Kendra knows what it's like to watch someone work three jobs and still struggle to pay the rent. She has spent her entire young adult life determined to do better. In a few months, the lifetime of sacrifices will finally be worth it. She will be graduating at the top of her prestigious masters program at Columbia, and finally leave her job at the diner to venture into the world of business. The only thing that could make this moment sweeter would be if her mama was still here to watch her cross that stage and clutch that diploma she's given up everything for.
When Matthew Blackwell, the infamous billionaire bad-boy bachelor, shows up out of the blue in her diner asking for a date, Kendra's world is lurched sideways. With girls lined up around the block to be his "next mistake", Matthew could have almost any woman in New York City, or possibly the world. However, Kendra isn't interested in being his flavor of the week, until he hits her in her soft spot... her ambition. Despite her best attempts to keep her distance, Matthew's stunning good-looks and mischievous flare keep pulling her toward him.
Will she unlock the heart of the unbreakable bad-boy or will Kendra become another victim of Matthew Blackwell's reputation?
You can read this entire series by downloading it from the Amazon store now!
I hope that you enjoyed Devoted! I love to hear what you think, so feel free to contact me or leave an honest review of the book. If you enjoyed this series, you’re in for a treat! This Fall I’m releasing my first full length novel: Run This Town.
Run This Town is a dark romantic thriller about politics, power, deceit and corruption. Look for it exclusively on Amazon in autumn. If you want to keep tabs on the release date, please sign up for my newsletter. Not only will you receive free bonus material, but you’ll never have to guess when one of my books is coming out again.
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http://kinktimemedia.com/sadieblack
Take care,
~Sadie
About the Author
Sadie Black is a 30-something author living on the east coast. She’s married to a man who isn’t a billionaire, but is her happily ever after (and they have four rug rats to prove it). If she isn’t dreaming up steamy romance stories or chasing her children then someone should file a missing person report, because she is always doing one or the other.
To tell Sadie what you love, hate or would like to read more of, send her an email at: [email protected]
