Page 49 of Bride for Keeps

“It might have scared me. It might have been too much. Maybe I wouldn’t have handled it right. God, we have an awful lot to learn, don’t we?”

“I think…” He took a deep breath and let it out. “As long as we want to learn it together, we’ll get through the rough spots. The mistakes. As long as we always come back to this place right here where we talk it out. Because I love you, Sierra. I never, ever want to come that close to losing you again.”

“I love you too,” she whispered since her throat was so tight. Then, to really get their new start off on the right foot, she admitted the other prevalent feeling in her chest. “And I’m scared.”

He pulled her into his arms, onto his lap, holding her close and tight. “I’ll keep you safe,” he whispered into her ear.

“We’ll keep each other safe,” she whispered, leaning in to him, relaxing fully for the first time in months.

Because it wouldn’t be perfect or easy or happy, but it would be a good marriage full of hard work, hope, and love.

Chapter Fourteen

A month later

Sierra kept pressingher hand to her stomach. Not in the way she usually did these days, trying to find some evidence of the baby growing somewhere in there. Tonight, she was nervous.

Not that she could pinpoint why. She loved parties, and rather enjoyed being the center of attention, which her and Carter would no doubt would be.

But Dr. McArthur and Mrs. McArthur were going to be there and Sierra wasn’t sure she was prepared for whatever their reaction was going to be. She and Carter had decided to keep their distance from his parents while they worked on getting their marriage back on track. He saw his father at the hospital, and occasionally went and had lunch with his mother on his lunch break.

But it wouldn’t always be that easy to simply keep their distance. They lived too close, and Carter’s life was too entwined with theirs through the hospital. Besides, the McArthurs weren’t evil.

Whether Sierra liked it or not, they were her unborn baby’s grandparents. Which meant, loath as she was to admit it, she had to try to find some peace with them. Maybe, like a marriage relationship, that would take some giving pieces of herself she didn’t necessarily want to give.

She shook her head. Some other day she’d worry about that. These days, she took worry one step at a time. And tonight wasn’t about worry. It was about celebrating.

“Oh, don’t you look pretty,” Kaitlin exclaimed, stepping into the living room. She was wearing a pretty sundress herself, though she had a baby blanket draped over her shoulder. Ellie was settled on her hip in an adorable purple dress with ruffles and layers.

Sierra would be happy whether her baby turned out to be a boy or a girl, but having a girl to dress up, a girl who could be a friend to Ellie… Oh, that would be sweet.

“Thanks. My hair’s okay?”

Kaitlin nodded and Sierra ran her hand over her white dress. She still wasn’t showing, and Kaitlin was still the only one who knew, but that would change soon.

The white lace she was wearing wasn’t anything as elaborate as her first wedding dress had been, and this wasn’t really aweddingper se. It was a renewal. An announcement. A surprise for just about everyone in attendance.

“Mom’s not going to approve of the extravagance.”

“Mom’s going to hearsecond grandbabyand not care about anything else,” Kaitlin reassured.

Sierra smiled. “I’m so glad we’re telling everyone. Secrets arenotfun.”

“Let me see again.”

Sierra went over to her purse on the table and pulled out the sonogram picture. It was just a viability scan, no clue as to the sex yet, but it still gave Sierra something tangible to hold on to. This little blob was in her, growing just as he or she should be.

Ellie babbled and waved her chubby fists and Sierra couldn’t believe her life was going to havethisat the end of the year. It still seemed so very far away.

“We should get out there. Everyone had arrived when I came in to change Ellie. Carter’s with the officiant and said to come out whenever you’re ready.”

“I look okay?” Sierra wasn’t usually so needy in the reassurance department when it came to her looks, but it seemed easier to worry about how she looked than how this was all going to go.

“You look gorgeous.”

“Okay.” She walked with her sister to the back of the house. Carter and Cole had spent most of the afternoon decorating the backyard themselves. Fairy lights and streamers. Nothing extravagant. Nothing that would tip people off that they were attending something other than an anniversary party.

When she stepped out the sliding glass door, Carter’s back was to her. He was wearing a suit, though it was more a khaki color than anything dark or heavy. He was standing with Cole, Luke, and Beckett, who were dressed more casually in jeans and button-up shirts and boots, talking about something or other. She liked that the families could mingle like that, even if it was only the younger generation.

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