Page 81 of My Always One

“And you didn’t tell me?” Marshal asks.

Melinda looks my way and winks. “I was waiting to meet the mighty woman who was first in line at kicking Carmichael’s ass to the curb.”

Marshal pulls me against his side. “She is a mighty woman, and whether it’s a kick or a right hook, she’s a wonder. I’m thrilled to have her beside me.”

“If you don’t mind me asking, if the two of you aren’t having a family-only small wedding, Dwayne and I would be honored to watch as two people who have always been right for one another make it official.”

“We don’t have any plans yet,” I say, “but I’m sure that once we do, Marshal will let you know.”

Sami

Six months later

“You’re radiant,” my mom says, her arm around my growing waist as we stand together in the long mirror. My dress is less elaborate than the one we found over a year ago. However, just like that day, her eyes are on me and mine are on her.

Mom reaches for my hand. “Samantha, you are radiant. Your dad and I are so happy about Marshal. I’ve never seen you happier, ever.”

I lay my hand over my growing baby. “I know this was a shock. Believe it or not, I was on birth control.”

Mom shakes her head. “A good shock, sweetheart. We’re going to have another grandchild. How could we be upset?”

The door to the bridal room bursts open as Millie and Jane enter with Jane’s two children in tow.

“Aunt Sami,” her little boy Patrick says, “you look real pretty.”

His sister Leigh grins. “Mommy said after you get married, you can have a baby.”

I crouch down and straighten Patrick’s bowtie and look at Leigh’s dress. “That’s right. But first, I need your help with the wedding. Are you both ready to walk down the aisle?”

They both nod.

“Just because you look amazing in an off-the-rack dress from Target doesn’t mean I’m going to follow suit,” Millie says as I stand and she hugs me, peering over my shoulder into the mirror.

Marshal and I had agreed we wanted a small and private wedding, nothing like the huge extravaganza I’d had planned with tiny-dick. We only wanted the people we love and those who love us. It turns out that includes half of Johnson and a significant portion of Grand Rapids.

To compromise, we found a beautiful wedding venue created from a refurbished barn.

The ceremony is to be outside, under the blue sky and the reception will be bigger than we planned. This time, Marshal and I insisted on paying for everything, well, almost.

Jane smiles at Mom as she comes to my side. “Something old.” She drapes a string of pearls around my neck.

As my fingers flutter over the necklace, my mom tells the story that I already know. “These were given to your great-grandmother on her wedding day by your great-grandfather. My mother wore them in her wedding, your two aunts wore them, and so did I.”

“And so did I,” Jane says. “Now they’re yours to hold onto until the next one of us girls is married.”

We all turned to Millie.

“That would be me,” she says, wiggling her engagement ring. Yes, my little sister was almost married before me.

Almost.

Her wedding is in two months, which is another reason Marshal and I didn’t want my parents to pay. When it comes to Millie’s wedding, I hope my bridesmaid dress will fit.

Just as I told Mom long ago, that’s what alterations are for.

Even though I adore my friends, by keeping this wedding small, I only asked my sisters to stand up with me. Marshal’s brother, Marcus, is his best man and my brother, Bryon, will also stand on his side.

Nothing has ever felt so right as the idea of the Michaelses and Andersons officially coming together as one big family.

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