Page 90 of Alexander's Heart

“Stop, stop, I have special vows for my little love,” I state, “Mr. Harrington, Dad, can you pick Alexa up, I don’t think my husband is going to let me down.”

Everyone laughs including my handsome husband, and Dennis picks Alexa up who is smiling with watery eyes.

“Hi, Mommy, Daddy, that was so, so beautiful,” Alexa kisses my cheek then Alexander’s.

I look deep into the same beautiful green eyes as Alexander’s and smile softly.

ELIZABETH ANNE HARRINGTON:

“Alexa Jane Harrington, I not only fell in love with you at first site, but you are the reason I met and fell in love with your daddy and the more I love your daddy, I cherish and love you ever more.

Because you, my little lovebug, are the sweetest most kind and ever so loving little girl I’ve ever known, and the more I’ve gotten to know you, the more I wish I’d had the pleasure of meeting your mommy and daddy.

I know they are looking down on us from the stars and smiling with pride at your remarkable capacity to love, and it is all because they were wonderful parents and they will forever look down on you, my sweet girl, because you hold their heart within your own.

Will you, Alexa, my little love, do me the utmost honor in becoming my daughter, my first child, my forever little love.

I promise to love you with all my heart, care for you with everything I am, honor and keep you for as long as we both shall live. I love you, my little love.

Alexa has tears rolling down her face just the same as me, “I say, yes, Mommy, yes, yes, yes! You love me so vewy much and you makes my heawt happy. I love you, to the moon and... back.”

Alexa leans forward so I can wrap my arms around her and we hold each other tight, like we will, forever more. As we sway gently on together, a sudden twinge hits my belly interrupting the magic of the moment. At first, it’s a subtle sharp sensation, but as the pain intensifies, my breath catches in my throat, and I let Alexa go and Dennis steps back and I lean into Alexander for support.

With determination and resilience, I push through the discomfort, drawing strength from Alexander’s unwavering presence wrapped around me.

“Dad,” I breathe, “papers I need to sign our wedding certificate and Alexa’s adoption papers. Now! Oh, right now!”

As the intensity of the contraction increases, Dad grabs his folder and a pen and hands Alexander the pen and certificates and he signs, while I breathe through my contraction. One the contraction has passed I sign first our marriage certificate and then Alexa’s adoption papers.

“Alexander and Elizabeth, I now pronounce you husband and wife. And I hear by certify you Elizabeth Anne Harrington as Alexa Jane Harrington’s legal mother, as a Commander of the United States Navy.” Dad kisses my cheek and salutes Alexander.

“HOOYAH!” Booms across the majestic Angel Arch at Bethesda Terrace.

“Now, Doc, bring my grandbabies safely into this world. Betty you’re driving get them to the damn hospital, go! Cuddy and I will wrangle this lot and get everything squared away.”

Betty charges ahead as Doc strides beside Alexander as we make our way to the Beast surrounded by our loved ones cheers and hollers.

Despite the unexpected timing, there’s a sense of serenity and purpose in the air as Alexander and I prepare to welcome our babies into the world. As we make our way to the hospital, me in his arms, I’m filled with anticipation and love, ready to embark on this new chapter of our journey together as husband and wife and very soon to be... parents.

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

ALEXANDER

My wife... oh, it’s fucking amazing to be able to call Lily my wife. She is currently sitting in my lap panting and trying to breathe through her contractions, and she still looks just as beautiful as when I saw her standing there tall and proud next to my Commander. Lily quite literally stole my breath when I clocked her standing at the end of the aisle. The sun shone behind her, lighting up her whole being, she really is an angel...

As Betty skillfully maneuvers the Beast through the hectic streets of Manhattan, Lily is caught between bouts of laughter and the intensifying contractions. The city, always alive with honking horns and the near-constant buzz of activity, is just another element to this critical, yet unexpectedly humorous journey to LHH.

“Betty, you sure you weren’t a rally car driver in a past liffffe?” Lily jokes through gritted teeth, gripping my legs as we take another sharp corner, dodging a taxi that abruptly cut in front of us.

“Cupcake, in this freakin’ traffic, every New Yorker becomes a damn rally driver,” Betty retorts with a sassy wink in the rearview mirror, her confidence unwavering as she zips around another slow-moving vehicle. “Just hold on tight; I’m getting you to LHH faster than you can say ‘epidural’!”

Despite the pain, my wife can’t help but chuckle at Betty’s bravado and the absurdity of her speeding through Manhattan like a scene out of a spy movie. Each laugh, mixed with a wince, seems to help Lily manage the pain, even in this intense moment.

I hold her firmly in my arms, and smile with relief at each burst of laughter from Lily. It eases my worry to see her spirits kept high by Betty’s antics and the adrenaline fueled ride, underscoring the deep bonds they share that make this nerve wracking ride bearable and more memorable, this is definitely going to be a brilliant story to tell our grandkids one day.

As the city darkens and lights blur past, I hold onto Lily for dear life, my heart is pounding not just from the breakneck speed at which Betty continues navigating the Beast, but from the rush of adrenalin flooding my system.

With her precision and handling of a seasoned pro, her focus is solid as she dodges taxis and buses under the darkening night sky.

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