Page 50 of Defended By the SEAL
“What?”
“Drink deeply, and trust that the well will fill.”
For a moment, Charlotte said nothing. The weight of her grandmother’s words settled over her like a heavy, comforting blanket, wrapping around the raw, vulnerable parts of her heart.
She thought about Cowboy—the way he looked at her, the way he fought for her, the way he made her feel safe andseen in a way no one else ever had. She still hadn’t gotten her period, and she didn’t think she would get it for quite some time. But that thought was less frightening than it had been initially, Jack settling in for the ride just as she was.
She stood and opened her arms, giving Grams a big squeeze. “I love you, Grams.”
“I love you, too.” Grams released her and lightly touched the tip of Charlotte’s nose. “Don’t wait three years to come visit me next time.”
A faint rustle in the doorway made them both turn. Cowboy stood there, his broad shoulders filling the frame, his expression a mix of curiosity and concern, and it occurred to Charlotte there wasn’t another human being she’d rather have standing on the threshold. “We ready to go?” he asked.
“Yeah. I’m ready.”
29
Charlotte stood in front of the full-length mirror in Grams’s guest room, smoothing her hands over her pale blue dress. The fabric stretched over her very pregnant belly, a belly that seemed to grow more absurdly large by the day.
She held a small bouquet of wildflowers in one hand, plucked fresh from the fields that morning, their bright colors popping against the soft hue of her dress. She turned to Gemma, her sister-in-law, who was wrangling her squirmy six-month-old son on the bed.
“I look like an orca,” Charlotte declared, half-joking but mostly serious.
Gemma laughed, bouncing her son on her knee. “Oh, please. Orcas are black and white.”
Charlotte snorted, adjusting the neckline of her dress. “Do orcas beach themselves on the coast of Maine?”
“Stop,” Gemma said with mock sternness. “You’re stunning. And trust me, I’ve done the pregnant waddle thing. You’re rocking it better than I ever did.”
Charlotte arched a brow. “You just had a baby six months ago. How do you already look like a supermodel?”
“Two pairs of Spanx,” said Gemma. “Gotta add another pair of those suckers for every kid you pop out.” She pursed her lips and sucked in air. “But I shouldn’t ruin the surprise.”
As Charlotte knelt to fasten the dainty silver sandals she was wearing, her nephew let out a delighted squeal. She glanced up to see Gemma bouncing him, her sister-in-law's face lit up with laughter.
“You make it look so easy,” Charlotte murmured.
“It’s not,” Gemma admitted, shifting her son to her hip. “But you find your groove. And Cowboy is going to be such a great dad. You two will figure it out, just like Logan and I did.”
Charlotte’s heart squeezed at the thought of Cowboy, the way he’d been doting on her during her pregnancy, buying her ice cream every single day without judgement. He’d even painted the nursery three times after she’d changed her mind about the color—twice.
“All right, whale-woman,” Gemma teased, breaking Charlotte’s thoughts. “Time to get you down the aisle before that baby makes an appearance.”
Charlotte made a low moan she imagined a whale might make. Her nephew’s eyes went comically wide and he visibly startled. The women laughed. Charlotte adjusted the wildflowers in her hand, letting her free hand rest on her belly. “Okay. Let’s do this.”
The outdoor backdrop was breathtaking. The stunning colors of a Maine autumn were on full display, the vibrant reds, oranges, and yellows of the trees reflecting against the bright blue sky. A gentle brook babbled in the background,the sound mingling with the soft rustle of leaves in the crisp fall breeze.
Charlotte and Gemma made their way toward the ceremony site, the gravel path crunching under their shoes. Charlotte caught sight of Cowboy near the arch, looking devastatingly handsome in a tailored navy suit.A whale blue, she decided. His dirty blond hair was brushed back, and his face lit up with that signature smile as his eyes locked on her.
Her heart swelled, a wave of happiness washing over her. This man. This life. For all her fears about losing herself to love, she’d found a man who made her feel more like herself than ever.
As they reached the rows of guests, Charlotte’s gaze briefly met her mother’s. Her mom gave her a soft smile, her expression somewhere between approval and bemusement.Oh, she definitely thinks I look like an orca,Charlotte thought, as she considered making her whale noise and stifled a grin.
Charlotte and Gemma stepped off to the side, taking their places as attendants. The guests murmured quietly, their anticipation building.
Next came Gemma’s daughter, toddling down the aisle as the flower girl. She threw fistfuls of petals enthusiastically, even tossing a handful at Logan, who sat grinning in the second row with their baby. Charlotte chuckled softly, exchanging a look with Gemma.
Finally, the music shifted, and all eyes turned to Grams. She glided down the aisle on Tom’s arm, looking elegant in a cream-colored gown with a lace overlay. Tom was beaming, his love for her evident in every step. Charlotte was so happy for them, she nearly cried. The love they shared was simple and steadfast, the kind of love Charlotte now understood all too well.
