Page 109 of The Accidental Honeymoon

After making a couple of slow laps around the town square, we dance ourselves right into the Tin Shed Pub.

I can’t stop grinning. Everyone in my family makes sure to hug and kiss both me and Jay. My mother manages to wrangle a kiss from Wren and welcome her to the family. Wren turns so red that I have to rescue her before she dies from embarrassment.

The celebration shifts to the cake cutting. My masterpiece takes center stage. I watch as Jay slices into the cake with exaggerated care. It’s Gentilly Cream Cake, just like before. He feeds me a piece with a teasing smile that makes my cheeks flush.

There are a few toasts from my father and Ryan. But since we decided that this version of our reception would be dry, there isn’t much weeping (only my dad violates this rule) and toasts only go on for a few minutes.

Bennett feeds everyone, while Wren and Jay’s friend Gabe circle the room with bottles of non-alcoholic applecider. And if anyone misses tequila, they are too smart to mention it.

As the night winds down, Jay and I share a quiet moment away from the crowd. He pulls me outside and we walk to the gazebo, both wrapped in his big overcoat. The fairy lights cast a soft glow on his face as he teases me.

“We’ve conquered the marriage thing. What’s next?”

I tilt my head, considering. “Well.” I draw out the word playfully. “I suppose we should start having kids.”

His eyes light up. Before I can react, he kisses me. His lips are gentle but full of startling enthusiasm.

“I can’t wait to start building our own family.” His breath mingles with mine.

I blush. The heat rushing to my cheeks is almost unbearable.

“I can already imagine a little boy with your eyes.” I surprise myself with the honesty of it.

The image is so clear in my mind. A tiny version of Jay, with the same blue eyes and disarming smile, runs around in a pair of miniature Converse sneakers. It’s a vision that fills me with unexpected tenderness.

I hold up a finger. “But I want to wait a while before we start trying.”

Jay’s fingers trace the outline of my hand. His touch sends shivers up my arm. “Calla. I would wait for eternity if you asked me to.”

There’s a depth to his tone that makes my heart ache. I look up into his eyes.

“Ready to sleep over in the gazebo like the first night we got together?” I ask. I point to where Cora has tucked two rolled-up heavy duty sleeping bags on the ground.

His breath hitches and he smiles. “So ready.”

I giggle and grab the sleeping bags, unfurling them both.It takes a minute to zip the bags together to make them one big bag. As we untie our shoes and shimmy into the sleeping bags, I can’t think of when I’ve ever been quite this happy. I have Jay by my side, now and forever.

We snuggle down in the cojoined sleeping bags. I fall asleep knowing I’ll wake up in his arms tomorrow, and every damn day after that.

But hopefully never again on concrete.

forty

CALLA

THE EPILOGUE

Has anywhere ever smelledas good as my mother’s kitchen on a Sunday afternoon?

The aroma of freshly baked bread and roasted lamb wafts from the oven and radiates out, making hungry stomachs growl. My mother, still in a tizzy over me getting married again, insisted on throwing an impromptusecondwedding feast.

Jay is in the other room with Wren. I can see them both on the couch; Jay is trying to shield his little sister from the persistent questioning of my nosy family. Questions about whether she is seeing someone, no doubt. I warned them both ahead of time to expect some Greek matchmaking for her. My family literally just loves love. And you know that, because they never shut up about it.

"Calla, chop the parsley.” Mom thrusts a cutting board into my hands. I comply, though my mind is a thousand miles away. My eyes driftback to Jay. And I can’t help but smile.

He’smine.

My father trundles in the kitchen, eyeing the food. “No lamb?”

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