Page 81 of Give Me Forever Love

He gives me a puzzled, hopeful look.

I nod with a smile. “Yep. I’m pregnant.”

We stop before we get to the screen door. He hugs me so tightly, I feel my back pop. I laugh and he kisses my forehead. “We’ve missed out on so much together, but I swear my grandbaby will know me.”

“I know,” I say. We pull apart and I pat under my eye before putting my finger over my lips. “Don’t tell anyone. I haven’t told Bryce yet.”

“He doesn’t know?” he asks as the musical version of Elvis’ “Can’t Help Falling in Love” begins to play.

“Nope. You’re the first.”

He sniffs and nods, obviously too emotional to speak. This meant a lot to him, and I’m glad I told him first. There’s no doubt Mills will be the best granddad ever.

The door is open for us and we exit the enormous farmhouse. The guests turn our way, and nervous butterflies swarm inside my stomach at the attention. I look to Emily and Lou as they smile proudly at me. Lou wipes tears from her face. Mary doesn’t smile, but shows more emotion than any of them through her eyes.

This is everything to her, and she’s told me more times than I can count. She didn’t think she would see this day and she didn’t think she deserved it, but part of her therapy is learning that the mistakes she’s made in the past don’t have to follow her into the future.

She’s in control of her life and her actions. We are proud of her and the work she’s doing. She’s helped so many women get clean.

Lee sits beside his wife with a prominent grin, and Monnie’s cheeks are slightly pink as he sits uncomfortably in dress clothes I’m sure he didn’t want to wear.

The rest of the guests are family that I don’t really know and friends of Bryce’s and mine, like Becca and Ben. I look to the front and see Jace. He looks handsome. He smiles at me, giving me a wink, and I’m so glad he’s here. He and Bryce talked before the wedding and that went well and didn’t go well. He’s been shady for months, and now we know why, but that’s his story to tell. Plus, it’s my wedding day. I don’t care to get into it.

My eyes go to Bryce and my knees almost buckle as we near him. Mills holds on to me tightly and my stomach calms. The butterflies land gently, and everything and everyone disappear as he looks at me, through me.

His soul begs for connection, his heart beats for me, and they both reach with everything they have to get to mine. And in just a little bit, we will become one in front of God, our family and friends, and the universe who so graciously made our paths cross.

_____________

Bryce

I didn’t think I was nervous. I thought I was Mr. Calm, Cool, and Collected, but as I put on this suit and tie, something clicked inside of me.

I’m really doing this. We’re really doing this.

How?

I still don’t know what happened.

It was as if I snapped into a different universe.

I had everything planned out in my life. Every day I knew what was expected. What’s that saying,man makes plans and God laughs?

Yeah. The joke was on me.

I exhale as I stand in the dining room downstairs, knowing Kathrine is up in my old bedroom sliding into a dress I can’t wait to see. I stare out the window at the pasture around our house, thinking about life and the future we’re going to have.

“There you are,” I hear. Pops’ voice isn’t like anyone else’s. I turn to look at the man who made me who I am. “Nervous?”

I nod. “Yeah.”

He laughs. “I was, too. Both times,” he says to me.

“Well, that makes me feel a little better,” I reply, glancing back out as a horse grazes near the fence.

He pats me on my shoulder. “You and Jace okay?”

I shrug. “Getting there.”

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