Page 107 of Knocked Up by my Best Friend's Brothers

“Is the bride okay?” the pastor calls out.

Nathan fishes his car keys out of his tux pocket. “Yes, but we’re going to have to reschedule, I’m afraid.”

“We’re about to become dads,” River laughs as he joins us, gently snaking an arm around my waist while I’m close to breaking down in tears.

“This can’t be happening,” I cry out.

“It is happening, honey,” Aunt Mary tries to comfort me, but the pain quickly becomes unbearable as the first round of contractions rocks through me, damn near knocking me off my feet. “Deep breaths, Christa. In and out, slow and steady.”

“I don’t know if I’m ready!”

“Whether you’re ready or not, our baby is coming,” River chimes in. “Come on, darling. We’ve got you.”

“You’ve got me?”

“We’ve got you. All of us,” he insists.

I find comfort in the hazel pool of his eyes. I’m reminded of Teagan’s wedding night. How everything started there. A shameless night became something so much bigger, much more beautiful than I ever imagined. The Hawthorne brothers carried me through the darkest time of my life. And the love I bear for them is only matched by the love I feel for this little guy or girl who seems so eager to get out of me.

“Yet another wedding we fumbled, huh?” I laugh nervously. “OW! Crap, crap, crap, the contractions are getting closer together.”

“Way too close,” Aunt Mary says. “If we linger any longer, we might have to deliver the baby here! Come on, sweetie, off to thehospital with you.” She gives River a firm nod. “You three take your wife. Teagan, Tony, and I will follow.

Nathan takes my hand, while Cassius keeps me standing. River gets the car keys.

“You’re going to be okay,” Nathan tells me. “This is the best day of our lives already, with or without the wedding vows.”

Off we go then. Into the next chapter. The wildly anticipated, equal parts thrilling and terrifying chapter of motherhood. I find comfort in what my men have often said since they proposed. I’m not alone anymore. I’m safe, I’m protected.

And I am deeply loved.

Our baby is, indeed, so lucky…

Extended Epilogue: Christa

A lot can change in the span of two years.

The life I ran from and the life I built with the Hawthornes have somehow met again, somewhere along the way, only to result in something truly exceptional. A dream come true, oddly enough, as I stand in my executive office, in a building right next door to the Hawthorne Corporation’s HQ.

It’s my building.

And this is my company.

Today is our first day of operations.

“Campbell Cyber and Fintech Securities,” I say, reading the gilded letters on my office door aloud, then look at myself in themirror.

I’m twenty-seven and running a young but promising cybersecurity and financial technology company. My own business, built on the bricks of my professional experience and my husbands’ unwavering support.

I look good, too. Glowing in my silvery-grey pantsuit, my blonde hair pulled in a sleek bun. And nausea unfurling in the back of my throat. Nerves, again. Wreaking their usual havoc.

“This is great,” Cassius exclaims as he walks in with Willow, our two-year-old daughter, in his arms. “I understand your staff is already rolling out two major contracts! I thought you only had one going before opening the doors.”

“I thought so, too, but then I walked in and opened my email and saw a confirmation from a branch of the DoD… So, here we are,” I say and laugh lightly, then kiss my husband and take my daughter. “Hey, sweetie pie.”

“Mommy!” Willow exclaims, then hugs and showers me with warm, sloppy kisses.

“Oh, Mommy loves you, too!”

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