Page 57 of A Wedding in the Bay

“We’re so lucky to be married,” she murmured as he turned out the light and she started to fall asleep. “And now Josie and Wesley are this lucky too.”

“Mm, nobody’s as lucky as me,” he said, and kissed her.

“Oh, my feet hurt.” Josie wiggled her feet out of her shoes and laughed. Her feet might have felt bruised and battered, but her happiness was shining as brightly as the stars that glittered over the winter night.

“Worth it, though, right?” Wesley turned to her, grinning. They’d just left their wedding, and he was driving them home through the snowy streets. “You looked like you were having so much fun out there with your mom and Paige. You were dancing like some kind of fairy princess.”

“A fairy princess, huh?” she said, laughing.

He nodded solemnly. “That long blonde hair of yours makes you look ethereal when you dance.”

She laughed and leaned over to kiss him. “Whatever you say, handsome.”

They grinned at each other and then drove in silence for another few moments. She gazed out at the glittering winter night, feeling her heart swell with contentment and happiness despite her fatigue.

“Today was amazing,” she murmured. She turned back to him with a smile, reaching over to take his hand. “It was the best day of my life.”

“Mine too,” he said without hesitation. “I’m so happy to be married to you, Josie.”

He stopped at a stop sign, and she leaned over to give him a kiss. “I’m so happy to be married to you too.”

She felt as if they’d opened a door together onto the rest of their lives. It was as if they were beginning a new chapter, a new journey, and she couldn’t wait to see where it took them.

They arrived home a few minutes later, and before they stepped through the apartment door, he scooped her up into his arms fireman-style. Laughing, she let him carry her into the living room, where he set her down on the couch.

All at once, she realized that now they would have the opportunity to build a home together. It wasn’t just her apartment that they were in anymore, it was their first home. The place where they would learn how to care for each other in new ways. And because of that, the idea of being carried across the threshold felt especially romantic—they were entering their new life together at the exact same time.

“Now,” he said, kneeling down and pulling off her shoes, “I believe you said something about your feet hurting.”

Her mouth popped open, thrilled that he was surprising her with a foot massage. “Oh! Oh my goodness.”

She closed her eyes and grinned as he massaged her feet. It felt incredible, and her aching arches felt better in no time at all.

“Wow, thank you,” she said, when he finally finished the massage and settled onto the couch next to her. “That was unexpected and amazing.”

“I noticed you wincing while you were walking even before you said something in the car,” he said. “I told myself I was going to give you a foot massage as soon as we got home.”

“Well, you are very good at foot massages. I hope you’re prepared to massage my feet for the rest of our lives.” She grinned at him.

“I definitely am.” He nodded seriously, although a grin curved his lips. “I’m going to take care of you. As a matter of fact, it’s my biggest goal in life to take care of you. I’m going to make sure I look out for you every day—and that’s definitely going to involve foot massages sometimes.”

Her heart warmed, and she nestled against him. “Thank you for saying that. It makes me…” She hesitated for a moment, not sure how to put her emotions into words. “It makes me feel safe,” she said after a beat, pinpointing the emotions she was feeling.

“Good.” He kissed her head. “That’s how it should be. I always want you to feel that way with me.”

“I’m going to take care of you too,” she promised, smiling at him in adoration. “You want me to massage your feet?”

He laughed, wrapping his arms around her. “My feet are okay, thanks. I wasn’t wearing glass slippers all night.”

She laughed at his joke, shaking her head wryly. “Actually, as far as female footwear goes, those shoes were pretty comfortable.”

“Whatever you say, wife.” He kissed her nose.

“Okay, husband.” She lingered on each syllable, feeling a thrill that she got to use that word to describe him. Now that they’d exchanged vows in front of friends and family, she could use that word for Wesley every day from here on out. She brought her lips to his and kissed him tenderly.

It was official. They were husband and wife, and now they would get to spend the rest of their lives together.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

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