Page 51 of Defended By the SEAL
As they reached the arch, the officiant welcomed everyone, and the ceremony began. Charlotte couldn’t stop smiling as Grams and Tom exchanged vows, their voices strong and clear over the songs of blue jays and robins. When they kissed, the crowd erupted into applause, and the newlyweds walked back down the aisle hand in hand, before being followed from the ceremony by a large beached whale.
The reception was set up under a big white tent, strung with twinkling fairy lights. Tables were adorned with pumpkins, gourds, and wildflower centerpieces, and the aroma of cinnamon and spiced cider filled the air. Cowboy and Charlotte moved together on the dance floor, swaying to a soft country tune as the guests mingled.
“Did I look beautiful out there?” she asked, her wide grin a clear signal that she was playing.
Cowboy twirled her gently, returning her smile. “So gorgeous. I just kept thinking oooOOOOoooeeeEEEaaawww,” he said in his best whale voice.
Charlotte laughed so hard she snorted several times.
When she finally calmed down, he pulled her closer, his voice softening. “You look beautiful, baby. I mean it.”
She smiled up at him, warmth spreading through her chest. “You’re not so bad yourself.”
The song ended, and Cowboy left to grab them drinks. Charlotte turned to find her mother standing nearby, holding a glass of champagne.
“You look radiant,” her mom said, her voice gentle. “Truly. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you look so stunning.”
Charlotte shifted, caught off guard by the compliment. “Thanks, Mom. I feel like Jupiter.”
Her mom smiled, a touch of awkwardness in the gesture. “I know I’ve been… hard on you, Charlotte. But seeing you here, seeing you happy—it’s all I’ve ever wanted.”
Charlotte’s throat tightened. She’d spent years chasing her mother’s approval, only to stop caring when she thought she’d never get it. Hearing it now was… complicated.
“Thanks,” she said, her voice a little unsteady.
As her mom walked away, Cowboy returned, handing Charlotte a glass of water. “What was that about?”
Charlotte took a sip, then leaned against him. “I think she’s drunk.”
One side of his mouth hitched up in a grin. “I think she loves you. She’s just not real good at it. Now Jack,” he said, addressing her stomach, “Jack thinks she’s drunk.”
As the music swelled and laughter filled the tent, Charlotte let herself lean into the moment—into Cowboy, into the life they were building, into the messy, beautiful world of families and love. She swayed, looking around at her relatives and strangers, at the tiered cake and the lightup dance floor. “You think we’ll ever do this?” she asked.
“This?” He asked, looking around as she had. “Nah. I don’t think so.”
She hadn’t brought it up since the last time they’d been in Maine, and neither had he. She gave him a little side-eye, wondering if he was serious. “Leo Wilson, are you being for real right now?”
He shrugged, no trace of gile on his suntanned face. “Yeah. If you want to get married, I would absolutely say yes. But if it were up to me? I don’t really see the point.”
Backing up, she stared at him. “For real. You’re being honest with me? You don’t want to get married?”
Reaching for her chin, he lightly tippedher face up to his. “For real? It wouldn’t make my life any better than it is right now.” He bent his head and kissed her.
Abruptly, she pulled back an inch and hissed through clenched teeth, “Shhhhhhit.”
“What?”
“My water just broke.”
His eyes went wide. “Oh my god.”
“I know, right?”
“There’s a whale joke in there somewhere.”
She smacked his arm. “Oh my god. We’re having a baby, like now. Right now.”
“On the dance floor?”
