by Magan Vernon
She smiled. “Barely. That was one hell of a delivery.”
“Yeah. It was.” I smoothed out her hair with my free hand. “But little Oveta was worth it.”
I turned our bundled up little girl toward her. Oveta’s blue eyes widened as she poked her round head out of the blanket she was swaddled in.
“You know I faked all this so I could get out of changing the first diaper, right?” Monica said.
I shook my head. “Should have guessed it.”
Swallowing hard, I licked my lips. I’d been preparing what I wanted to say since the moment I saw both our lives flash before my eyes and I thought I was going to lose her. I didn’t want to feel like that again.
“Monica, we haven’t talked much about a wedding, but how do you feel about doing it now. A wedding day and a birthday?” I asked.
She raised her eyebrows. “You can’t be serious.”
I nodded. “Look, I can make all the arrangements and we can have it ready in the chapel this afternoon. I’ve already talked to some of the nurses about it.”
She licked her lips. “This sounds crazy. Don’t you want the big wedding. The whole Chapman lake house and all the Governor’s friends there?”
I shook my head. “None of the pomp and circumstance matters. What matters to me is knowing that you’re going to be my wife. That we have our family all together and I can leave this hospital with my wife and daughter. What do you say?”
She sighed and blinked slowly. I wasn’t sure she was actually going to give me the answer I wanted until she smiled. “Sounds like you have a lot to do, Mr. Chapman.”
***
Within a few short hours, Mom had the hospital chapel filled with flowers and our closest friends and family. Monica’s mom had done some arranging with the hospital to get us all the clearance we needed and Melanie found a white dress that I wasn’t allowed to see.
“You’re one hell of a crazy man to do all of this, Chapman,” John said, straightening his tie as we piled into a small room just outside of the chapel.
“It’s what you do when you love somebody,” I said, shrugging.
He clasped my shoulder. “You’re a good man, Chapman.”
Tripp nodded, slapping John’s back. “He’s always been the best.”
Trigg came around the corner, knocking on the door to get our attention. “Hey, I don’t want to interrupt this moment here, but they’re about to wheel your bride and daughter in.”
“You ready for this?” Tripp asked.
“I’ve been ready since the day I met her,” I answered.
We walked into the small chapel where the hospital minister stood at the front and the pews were crammed with people. I held my breath as I waited for the doors to open and Matt Nathanson’s “Wedding Dress,” played through the speakers.
Monica’s dad wheeled her to the entrance. For just giving birth only a few hours before, she still looked absolutely amazing in a long, white, strapless dress. Oveta was wrapped in a white blanket with a little white hat with a sparkly bow on it to match the silver clips in her mother’s hair.
Tears welled in my eyes as Monica’s dad started to wheel her, but she grabbed his hand, stopping him. She held onto the side of the wheelchair and motioned for him to come to her other side. Slowly he helped her to come to a standing position, while cradling Oveta in her arms.
The entire room went silent as she took the first step, her father’s arm around her waist, guiding her down the small aisle. Each move looked like it took a great amount of effort, but she wasn’t about to miss her time to walk down the aisle and as soon as she was in front of me, I couldn’t contain the tears that fell over my cheeks and neither could she.
Her dad hugged us both and whispered in my ear. “Take care of my girls, Trey.”
“I promise,” I said.
I put my arm around Monica’s waist and helped her to stand beside me as the preacher read the sermon. This wasn’t just about Monica and I’s marriage, but the joining of our families. Especially our new family.
All our lives we’d always been searching for answers, whether it political, romantic, or just about how we should feel. In that moment, as I stared down at our sleeping little girl I knew all the answers to all of the questions. And they all began and ended with us.
If you enjoyed this book, please leave a review on GoodReads or whatever online retailer you picked up this book from.
It keeps the author happy and you get your own chance to be a writer :)
About the Author
Magan Vernon is a Young Adult and New Adult writer who lives with her family in the suburbs of Charlotte, NC. When not writing she spends her time fighting over fake boyfriends via social media.
Want more information on Magan’s upcoming novels?
Sign up for her newsletter
Or follow her Social Media
Facebook
Twitter
GoodReads
Pinterest
Blog
Acknowledgements
First things first. I need to thank everyone that read The Only Exception and DEMANDED more Trey and Monica. I didn’t think their story needed to continue, but y’all proved me wrong.
My husband, Tim, thank you for putting up with the voices in my head while I wrote this book in the midst of a move across the country.
My editors Jen and Autumn, thank you for pointing out my lack of grammar and for helping to make this story the best it could be.
Regina, you always hit the nail on the head with the perfect cover.
The Minions! I love every single of one of the crazy members of my street team. Y’all keep me focused and love me no matter what I put out... at least I think you all do.
My PA’s: Carrie and Shannon. Thank you for keeping me sane in this crazy world. I don’t know what I would do without the two of you.
Joshua, my original Tripp Chapman muse. Without you there would be no Tripp. No black sheep. Even though we don’t talk as much I just want to say “thank you.” Thank you for not letting me give up when I wanted to so badly.
