Page 17 of Her Daddy Valentine

“My wedding dress.” I wipe my face against his chest in frustration. It isn’t because I’m angry at anything in particular. I knew it didn’t fit this morning, and I wasn’t nearly as bothered by it. But now it seems like the whole world is about to end because I can’t close the zipper on that white dress.

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. Hormones are a bitch.

“Then we’ll get it resized.” He pecks a kiss against my crown and squeezes me tightly into the hug.

“There’s no time. We’re a few days out and—” I cut myself off before I get lost in a panic. “I just want it to be perfect.”

“You’re going to be there. You’re going to become my wife. And we’re going to spend the rest of our lives together as the happiest of families. How could it get any more perfect?”

“But what about everyone else? It’s a wedding. They’ll be expecting?—”

“Screw everyone else.” Vaughn’s turn to still my ever-growing nerves. “They can count themselves among the lucky ones for being invited. It’s not their day, it’s ours.” His hand slides under my shirt and over my swollen tummy. “Well, ours and this little fella right here.”

“You really mean it?” I look up at him. Vaughn moves his hand out from my shirt and cups my cheek, using his thumb to wipe away a few straggler tears that managed to fall.

“More than anything in the world,” he says. “Because I love you. I want to spend the rest of my days at yourside. It wouldn’t bother me if you were in a stunning dress or oversized sweatpants and one of my T-shirts. You’re perfect from head to toe, and nothing’s going to change that.”

“I love you.” I swing my arms over Vaughn’s shoulders and pull him down to me for a kiss.

I don’t know how Vaughn manages to do it every single time. Easing me out of my woes and leaving a smile where a quivering lip used to be. That’s got to be a sign of true love, right? That no matter how hard things become, your partner can show you the silver lining.

“But it’s your fault, you know?” I say with a humph. “If you put this baby inside me a few weeks later, we wouldn’t be having this little problem.”

“Yeah, but how could I wait?” He smirks, starting to sway his hips in a slow dance to non-existent music. “And I’d be a terrible father if I didn’t let our child be part of such a monumental day.”

I move with him, dancing across our entire apartment, giggling freely now. In some ways, I suppose he’s right. We’re starting our family off the right way. Together for every special occasion right from the start.

And what a wonderful family it’s going to be. I stop our dance and pull him against me for another hug. Vaughn gives in without any fight, stroking the back of my head as he holds me close.

The future is bright, and it’s only getting brighter with Vaughn Valentine in it.

EXTENDED EPILOGUE

VAUGHN

One Year Later

“So, Mother, was it worth it?” Victor asks, his head resting on Olivia’s shoulder.

His question silences the table, and Claire looks at me as if to ask what he’s talking about. I roll my shoulders, genuinely confused, as I have been every time they share this secret conversation of theirs.

“Was it worth it?” Mom repeats the question, casting her eyes over the horizon as she ponders it. “Three wishes and three happy sons, all in love with fantastic young women, and, most importantly, I get to sayI told you so. Yes, it’s worth it.”

Victor chuckles, but it quickly erupts into a deep belly laughter that catches Addison’s attention. Still too young to understand but curious and observant, our little girl stares at her uncle in awe and bewilderment. Claire giggles fiercely at Addison’s reaction to Victor, and it’s that sound right there that melts my heart.

“Grandma had three wishes and didn’t share?” Vincent frowns. “That’s not fair.”

“It isn’t, my boy.” Vance tousles his son’s hair. “But without those wishes, you wouldn’t be here.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Vince asks in the broken English of a young kid.

Vance looks at Hana, then at me for some reason, and shakes his head. “Nope. Not going anywhere near that one. I’ll explain it when you’re older.” The table howls with laughter.

It’s hard to believe that one year ago, I was sitting in this exact same chair, feeling empty and alone. Things can change in the blink of an eye, and Claire proves it. Without ever needing to try, she gave me hope, a sense of purpose, and a promise that everything would be all right.

And those feelings are amplified tenfold, sitting among my family and relishing in all our successes.

“You look beautiful today,” I whisper to my wife. She looks beautiful every day, of course, but I love to remind her of it. And no matter how many times I say it, her cheeks always flush the same rosy pink that makes me fall in love with her all over again.

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