Page 114 of The Doctor's Twins

“Okay, you lot. Back off. I saw him first,” she laughed.

“How are we doing for time?” I asked, making sure all the buttons were done up.

“Another twenty minutes, darling,” Mom answered.

“Are the twins, okay?” I asked, feeling guilty for having seemingly abandoned my children.

“They’re fine. Your Dad took them for a walk. He took the padded baseball bat and a ball with him, so I’m sure they’re enjoying a waddle across the lawn.”

“Oh, crap. I hope he doesn’t bring them back all covered in mud.”

“Don’t worry, Pey. I brought a full tub of wet wipes along, just in case.”

“How’s my almost daughter-in-law?” Frances asked as she came into the room, carrying my bouquet. “Oh, my! Peyton, sweety, you look like a princess.”

“Thank you,” I smiled.

Ben’s parents had made me feel like I was family long before he asked me to marry him. They were wonderful with the twins and spoiled them rotten.

“Ben is chomping at the bit,” she whispered. “I’ve never seen him so nervous.”

“Oh, good. So, it’s not just me,” I laughed.

There was a faint knock on the door. It was Alan.

“Is the bride ready?” he called through the door. “I think we’d better get this show on the road before the groom grows any paler.”

“We’re ready, darling,” Frances laughed. “Five minutes.”

“Is Dad back yet?”

“I’m here, princess,” I heard my dad’s voice on the other side of the door.

“Alright, hens, let’s go,” Mom said.

I was left alone for a moment. I looked, one more time, at my reflection in the mirror.

“You look stunning, my beautiful daughter,” Dad smiled. “Come, let’s walk down that aisle. I’m here. You can lean on my arm, sweetheart.”

“Second time’s the charm, hey, Dad?”

“You bet.”

* * *

Peyton was a stunning bride. My heart dropped to my feet when I watched her walking toward me down the aisle. The ‘I am’ couldn’t come soon enough for me.

After the ceremony and the reception, and after we’d fished the rice out of our clothes, I took my bride away for a few days of solitude.

My folks were more than happy to have the twins over while Peyton and I were on honeymoon. I had one more surprise in store for my perfect wife. We were lying in front of a roaring fire in the cabin that had become our love nest of choice.

We’d spent the day skiing the slopes and enjoying a meal at the restaurant we’d discovered. I opened a bottle of wine, the same vintage we’d shared the first time we stayed over at the cabin, and we were just snuggling in the glow of the amber flames.

“This is perfect, isn’t it?” Peyton sighed. “I’m so glad you brought us here for our honeymoon, babe.”

“I’m glad you feel that way, beautiful.”

“Oh, I do. This is as close to paradise as I’ll ever be. I wish we could stay here all the time.”

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