Page 90 of Beacon

I’m giggling, and Mack is laughing warmly at the opposite end of the aisle until the kids complete their journey. Travis and Jackson follow quickly to corral them back to their families and scoop up the attempted runaways.

Mack is wearing a black suit that’s a little too tight. Even finding that suit took some major work. It’s so hard to find a jacket to fit the breadth of his shoulders.

His laughing transforms into a different expression as he sees me standing at the end of the aisle. When the musicians—a fiddle and a couple of guitars—shift into the wedding march, I start walking, holding my simple bouquet of flowers.

I don’t have anyone to give me away, and it doesn’t really matter. Mack is standing in the front alone with only the preacher, and that doesn’t matter either.

We have so many people who love us, and they’re all gathered around us right now.

Mack is every bit as emotional as I am as I walk toward him. I can see it on his face. I do look away from him long enough to wink at Rina, who is standing right next to the rope with her family because Zed somehow managed to snag them one of the prime spots in the crowd.

Rina giggles and tries to wink back.

Then I look back at Mack, and I don’t look away until I’ve reached him.

The ceremony is short with a five-minute homily, a Shakespeare sonnet, and a couple of readings from the Bible. Our vows are the traditional ones. Mack managed to find us matching gold wedding bands—I have no idea how he found a pair that fit us both—and he’s so nakedly happy as he slips the ring on my finger that I’m not sure my heart can contain so much feeling.

Then he leans down to kiss me. Just before he does, he murmurs, “We made it.”

We did.

The celebration after the wedding lasts for a long time, and I’m exhausted by the time Mack and I are finally able to return to our little cottage.

Mack peels off his jacket, loosens his tie, and collapses onto the couch.

I lower myself a little more carefully to sit beside him.

Mack reaches over to rub my rounded belly.

“Just a few more months,” I say.

“I know.”

We didn’t get pregnant immediately. In fact, for month after month, whenever my period started again, I’d worry that maybe I’d waited too long and we’d lost our chance. But six months after we got together, my period was late, and it wasn’t much longer before it was clear I was pregnant.

So far, it’s been fairly easy for me. I’m hoping that will continue.

Mack has been so happy lately that I can comfort myself that he would have had a perfectly satisfying life even without children, but he’s always wanted them. So have I. And so far, so good with this pregnancy.

“You look tired,” Mack murmurs, moving his hand up to my face.

“I am. It’s been a really long day, and being pregnant is exhausting anyway.”

“Yeah. I’m kind of tired too. So how about we celebrate our wedding night by going to sleep?”

I giggle and squeeze his hand. “I think we better. At least for now. But I’m sure after we sleep for a while, we’ll have more energy to suitably consummate this marriage.”

“Sounds like a plan.” He stands up and stretches a hand down to help me to my feet. I really am exhausted and briefly lose my balance, grabbing for his shirt to steady myself.

He wraps his arms around me in a sudden, needy hug, and I squeeze him back, understanding the feeling radiating off him and experiencing it too. The hug goes on for a long time.

“I can’t believe we have a whole week off work,” I say when I finally withdraw from where my face was buried against his shoulder.

“I know. We’re going to enjoy the hell out of it.”

The town expects anyone capable of working to perform regular shifts in whatever situation most suits their abilities, skills, and interests. Vacation time isn’t really a thing, but people get time off after weddings and new babies and family deaths.

Our week off starts tomorrow. I’ve been looking forward to it almost as much as the wedding itself.

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