Page 95 of Fate

Our girl-hug session is broken up by a booming voice. “Everyone ready to get this show on theroad?”

I pull back first to see Chase standing just inside the bedroom in black dress slacks, a linen button-up, and an orange Gerbera daisy matching the one Bree put into my hair pinned to his shirt. He looks alive, tan, and healthy. In his arms is a tiny bundle of love wrapped in a blue blanket. Gillian leaves the huddle and wraps her arms around her husband’s waist, leans up as he leans down, and kisses him softly on thelips.

“Everyone ready downstairs?” she asks, eyes focused solely on her husband, love shining all aroundthem.

“Yeah, beautiful. Will you take Clay so I can get the bride-to-be handed off to my cousin?” He grins and kisses her one moretime.

“Yeah,” she says dreamily, putting her hand into the hair at his nape, tugging him forward, and kissing him with a bit more depth than the previous two pecks before finally pulling back. She then takes their three-week-old son into herarms.

The girls shuffle out, and Chase walks over to me and sets both of his hands on top of my shoulders. We look at one another in our reflections in the mirror as I assess myself one more time before becoming Mrs. Carson Davis.

“You ready to become a Davis?” He smirks.

I put my hand over one of his. “Damn straight. Take me to myman.”

He chuckles, hooks his elbow with mine, and leads me through my house and out across the porch to the private beach. A path has been created out of flower petals, and our beautiful gazebo is decorated in a mixture of orange daisies and other wildflowers. Swags of fabric fall down each side, providing the most beautiful arch. At the top step are the preacher and Carson.

His eyes are as blue as the sky, and his smile is bigger than ever before and filled with so much love it makes me stumble. I want to get to him faster. Chase holds me up and grins as we walk up the two steps it takes to get to the entry of the arbor and the man I’m going to spend the rest of my life with. Chase hands me off to Carson, who holds both of my hands.

“You’re beautiful,” he whispers only forme.

“You’re sweet,” I counter.

“You’re everything.” His voice is filled with unending emotion.

“Everything I am is yours.”

CARSON

“Baby, you were amazing. I’m in awe of you,” I tell my wife after experiencing the most death-defying act known to man. How a woman survives childbirth is a mystery.

Kathleen sighs, petting our son’s cheek with her thumb. Yes, Maria was right, as usual. She sure knows how to take the fun out of the we-want-to-be-surprised game with our first child. Still, I can’t be mad right now. I’m looking at my wife and our son. Twenty-one inches and seven pounds of perfect human being.

“He’s perfect,” Kat says, tears clogging her throat.

“Yes, heis.”

A knock sounds at the door. “It’s time to introduce him.” I make sure she’s covered from her first nursing session, which went surprisingly well considering she’s new atit.

Kat swallows and looks at the door nervously. “Do you think he’ll be happy?” Her caramel-brown eyes flicker with worry.

“Only one way to find out.” I know this is going to floor the man entering theroom.

“Everyone decent? Can we come in?” Chase asks, Gillian tight to hisside.

Kathleen chuckles. “Come in, guys.”

Kathleen adjusts herself, sitting up in the hospital bed. Chase comes to her right side first, Gillian a few paces behind him. He’s always eager to hold the babies. The man is a baby magnet, and I have a feeling he’s going to have a very special connection with this one. At least I hope so. My little guy is going to need all the love and strength of his family.

“My, my, why look at our little bruiser,” Chase murmurs, getting close.

Gillian leans over Chase’s side to get a gander. “And a brunette with blue eyes like his Uncle Chase. What’s his name, or does he not yet have one?” Gigi asks, petting hisfoot.

Kathleen clears her throat, and I tighten my hand on her shoulder, giving a squeeze so she knows I’m here for support.

Gingerly, using her newfound strength in her injured arm, she lifts the baby toward Chase. “I’d like you to meet Chase William Davis the Second.” Shivers ripple down her arms and sear into my hands. Tears begin to fall down her cheeks.

Chase’s eyes whip up to me, to Kat, the baby, and back to my wife. “Kathleen…Carson…I don’t… I-I don’t know what to say.” He’s clearly shocked by this gesture.

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