Page 106 of Knocked Up by my Best Friend's Brothers

I nod slowly and grab my bouquet—a fine assortment of white roses and imperial lilies sprinkled with lily-of-the-valley sprigs. It smells amazing. We arrive downstairs just as Aunt Mary steps out of the chapel.

She is positively vibrant in her pale yellow dress. I think she looks younger. Maybe my happiness is rubbing off on her. I sure hope so.

“My God, Christa, your parents would be so proud to see you now,” she says, tearing up at the sight of me. “Granted, they’d have some thoughts about this arrangement, but I know they would want you to be happy.”

“Oh, Auntie, I’m just grateful you’re here today. I’m sorry we couldn’t do a big, snazzy wedding,” I say.

“Honey, love is love. It’s also weird and funny, but it lasts a lifetime. It doesn’t matter how many guests you have or what kind of wedding party you throw. What matters is that you’re doing what feels right for you. And if this feels right for you, I’m all for it.”

“It’s just you and Teagan and Tony,” I mumble.

“And a very kindhearted pastor who agreed to do this,” Teagan kindly reminds me. “Come on, your grooms are waiting.”

I glance inside the small, pretty chapel and see the pastor waiting, clad in shimmering white and gold as he opens the Good Book for the ceremony. Beside him, my three loving grooms await, and they look like something out of a dream, absolutely dashing in their custom tuxes, small primroses pinned to their silvery lapels.

“You know, if you’d told me back in high school that I would end up marrying all three of your brothers, I probably would’ve fainted from laughter,” I tell Teagan.

“I probably would’ve fainted before you,” she giggles, then looks around. “Shoot. Maybe we should’ve invited Uncle Zeddy, after all, so he could give you away.”

Aunt Mary hooks her arm through mine, raising her chin with warmth and pride. “Don’t you worry about that, Teagan, darling. I’m here.”

“Auntie,” I manage, stunned by her gesture.

“It’s your wedding day, sweetheart. Your father would approve. Besides, it gives me great joy to be able to do this,” she says. “I may not have been the best caregiver you could’ve had, but I can still be your family going forward.”

“I wouldn’t want it any other way,” I reply.

“Okay, I’ll go first,” Teagan quips as the pastor’s assistant plays the “Bridal March” on the chapel’s beautiful vintage organ.

She walks down the aisle, shining with joy, as her brothers smile softly. Next to them, Tony, their brother-in-law and best man, lovingly winks at his darling wife as she joins him.

It’s my turn. My heart is beating so fast. And the baby is probably going to be an exceptional soccer player, judging by the kicks. I grunt quietly. Aunt Mary gives me a worried look.

“Are you okay, honey?”

“Yes. Just let’s do this before I go into labor,” I joke.

It doesn’t feel like a joke halfway down the aisle.

Cassius, River, and Nathan light up at the sight of me, and I really want to share the feeling. I want to be nervously happy about the fact that we’re about to get married in the eyes of God, that we’re about to make this moment last a lifetime.

But there’s a pressure building up in my body.

And it is suddenly released with a whooshing, splashing sound.

“Oh, my God,” I gasp, freezing in the middle of the aisle, surrounded by white rose petals and cherrywood pews.

Aunt Mary looks at me, and I see her gaze drift downward.

I follow it.

“Christa, we might have a bit of a problem,” she whispers.

“You think?” I croak, suddenly horrified.

Cassius rushes over. “Babe, I think we need to postpone the ceremony for a short bit.”

“Holy crap!” Teagan exclaims and drops her floral bouquet. She pauses and gives the befuddled pastor an apologetic smile. “Sorry about that.”

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