Page 65 of Ms. Fortune

“And what are you doing so intently on your phone?” I try to sneak a peek at her phone screen, but she yanks it out of my view.

“No way. You’re not supposed to see the dress before the wedding. It’s bad luck.” She jumps off the couch and out of my reach as I grab for her. Damn, she’s quick.

“Fine. Keep your secrets. Can I get by with a regular suit? Or do I need to pull out the penguin?”

“Penguin, please,” she shouts from the hallway, sounding almost offended. Luckily, I happen to own a tuxedo or two. Unfortunately, it’s the end of summer, and still hotter than hell in Vegas. Not ideal tuxedo-wearing weather. “We need to get a move on. I’ve got shopping to do and not a lot of time.”

“Remember, this was all your idea….” I call after her, shaking my head that this is actually happening.

“I know; I’m already regretting it.” She’s back in the living room, shoes on and purse in hand, ready to get married. “I’m kidding. I don’t regret anything…yet.”

“Give it time,” I say with a grin, joining her and pulling her into a passionate kiss. I get to do this with her for the rest of my life. How the hell did I get so lucky?

I had some shopping of my own to do before the ceremony. Since we didn’t have a real engagement, we didn’t have rings. When I arrive at the chapel, Normandy is already there, and I can hear her laughing with other female voices on the other side of the door to the bridal suite. As this is all kinds of unconventional, I guess our engagement will have to be too.

I find some paper and a pen and write a quick note to slide under the door. I put the diamond engagement ring in the center and wrap the message around it.

‘Picture me on one knee outside the door (because I am). Will you marry me?’

There are a few gasps and some more laughter before I hear Normandy say ‘Yes!’ loudly through the door. Bam. I have a fiancée. For a few minutes at least.

Chelsie is Normandy’s Maid of Honor, and when she walks down the aisle with tears in her eyes, my heart lurches. She’s seen us at our best and worst and has always cheered for us to work out. When she catches my eye, she gives me a big thumbs up from under her bouquet, and I can’t help but laugh.

Then Normandy appears, and I forget how to breathe. She is positively devastating in a white lace dress, carrying a bouquet of white roses. I barely see any of that, though, because my attention is on the massive grin on her face with her eyes dancing brightly at me. Not a tear in sight. And not an inkling of doubt. She’s as sure about this as I am, and I have to pinch myself.

We agreed beforehand to say our own vows, and even though we had such a short time to prepare them, I don’t hesitate to express how I feel in the moment.

“Normandy Blake, I can’t believe you picked me. Out of every other person on this planet, you are choosing me to spend the rest of your life with, and I am so honored. I get to show you every single day from now on how much you mean to me. And I’m grateful. I’m thankful for your grace, patience, and love. Things I hold dear and vital above all else. You see me for who I am and love me anyway. I promise to do the same for you, with all of my heart from this day forward, for as long as I live.”

As I slide the wedding ring on her finger, a single tear starts to trickle down her cheek, but she smiles as she wipes it away quickly.

“Brandon Carmichael, of course, I chose you. How could I not? When you show me every single day how much you love me. I can only hope you see how much I return that love. You are patient, and you are kind, and yes, I’m just repeating what you said back to you because I’m nervous and totally forgot what I was going to say. Just know that I feel like the luckiest woman in the world that you are choosing me too.”

She puts the matching ring on my finger and squeezes my hand. And as the officiant pronounces us husband and wife, I get to kiss the woman of my dreams. The woman who has enriched my life in so many ways that money never could. The person that makes me happier than I ever thought possible.

Never in a million years did I think I could be this lucky, especially in Vegas.

Epilogue

THE SWEETEST GIFT

NORMANDY

Three Weeks Later

We’re back from a whirlwind honeymoon in Europe, where we barely saw a single tourist attraction since we spent most of our time in bed. I am not complaining.

I had lunch with Sophie earlier in the day, as we’ve started doing recently, and she remarked on my being pale, asking if I was sick. I’m not ill, just jet-lagged, I think. But I could barely eat the lunch I ordered as nausea crested over me like a wave every single time I looked at my plate.

On my way home, I buy a pregnancy test. You’re supposed to wait until first thing in the morning to take it, but I can’t wait that long. I force myself to wait the full three minutes the test requires for the results to show, and it’s the longest three minutes I’ve ever lived through. I almost throw up from the anxiety.

What if it’s positive? We’ve talked about having kids, and we both agree that we want a family sooner rather than later, but this soon? We haven’t even been married a whole month yet. A significant life-altering change like this could upset everything we’re just starting to build together.

And what if it’s not? I honestly think I’ll be disappointed if it’s negative now that I’ve had the thought put in my head that I might be pregnant. Suddenly I want nothing more than to be carrying Brandon’s baby. To have growing inside me the culmination of our love for each other would be the most beautiful thing I can think of.

Brandon will be the best dad someday, whether it’s now or later. The patience that man has for all things, especially people, is one of the world's natural wonders. A baby will need a lot of it, and he’s got enough for both of us. I know in my heart he will love and protect our child, whenever it comes, with a fierceness and passion that not many men could match. These qualities are only a few of the reasons I married him in the first place.

The alarm on my phone sounds, and I shut it off with a nervous exhale. This is it. Positive or negative, I need to accept whatever it is because either result is fine. If it’s positive, we’ll start on a new adventure together, and if it’s negative, I get to spend more individual time with the man I adore. I’ll be happy either way.

---