Page 90 of More Than Anything

“God, no. Great. Do it again until I’m hard and then I’ll tear you apart.”

She laughed. God, he loved that laugh! “Oh, goody! Sure thing!”

In five minutes, they were rocking together in the dim light of the little lamp on the dresser, moving against each other, touching and kissing and whispering promises. It was heaven. And when they came together, for the first time, Avery’s essence was forced deep inside Lydia, the promise of a life together forever, a home, a family, and a love that would never die.

* * *

“I’mglad you two planned this wedding for three o’clock in the afternoon,” Danette whispered to Avery. “What the hell? Did she get hold of some bad seafood or something?”

“No.”

“She’s been puking her guts up since seven this morning. It’s ten now. I hope she’s over this by the time everyone gets here.”

“She will be,” Avery said and winked.

“How do you know?”

He just grinned. “Because she always is.”

Danette just stared at him like he was mad, but he watched as that look was replaced with a big, goofy grin. “Morning sickness?” Avery nodded. “How far along?”

“Just a few weeks.”

“Are you excited?”

Avery was beaming. “You can’t even imagine.”

The ceremony was done, the cake eaten, the dances danced, and everyone had gone. Avery and Lydia had taken her car, decorated with cans, streamers, and, for reasons they couldn’t understand, strips of bacon, and headed to the far side of town to a bed and breakfast where Jason and Danette had given them two nights as a wedding gift. But Avery had a wedding gift of his own to give his bride.

Once they were settled in the room, he pointed at Lydia. “Everything off.”

“Yes, sir!” she said and stripped instantly.

Avery did the same. Naked and lounging on the bed, Lydia said, “I’ve got a wedding gift for you.” Avery had expected that. “I hope you like it.”

She handed him the box and when he opened it, he was surprised to see the SIGSauer forty-five he’d been drooling over at the sporting goods store. “Oh, god, baby, it’s beautiful! Thanks!”

“You’re welcome.” She waited, and he knew she was expecting a gift. She’d been looking at a bracelet at the jewelry store, but Avery had opted for something far more valuable. He handed her an envelope, and she smiled. “What’s this?”

“Open it.”

“It’s plane tickets, isn’t it? Oh, god, I’m so excited! Will they let me fly if I’m pregnant?” she chirped, tearing the envelope apart and taking out the thick packet of documents inside. “What is this?” she asked, unfolding them and looking at them in the lamplight. But in an instant, Avery knew she’d figured it out. “Oh, god, Avery, no! You shouldn’t have done this! Oh, baby…” she said and dissolved into tears.

“I wanted to give you the one thing I knew you wanted more than anything in this world.”

Her tear-filled eyes looked up at him and she smiled. “A deed to the farm.”

“It’s yours, angel. All yours. Your legacy is returned to you, for you and our kids,” he said, kissing those sweet lips and laying a hand over her not-yet-expanding belly.

“You’re wrong, Avery.”

He stared at her. “About what?”

“You said you wanted to give me the one thing you knew I wanted more than anything in this world. But you’re wrong.” She sniffled and handed him the deed. “The thing I want more than anything else in this world is you.”

Avery’s smile was wide as a tear rolled down his cheek. “Then I guess all your dreams just came true.”

* * *

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