Page 229 of Three Reckless Words

I have a new life and she’s fucking it.

Cheers erupt around us.

Patton wraps his arms around us both. “I hope you guys are happy,” he says over the sound of loud whooping. That’s Colt. “Be gentle with him, Win, okay? He’s old.”

“Bastard,” I snarl.

Winnie grins at us.

“I’ll be careful,” she promises. “I used to help my grandpa with his walker so I have plenty of practice.”

“That’s it.”

And I grab my wife around the waist and haul her over my shoulder as she screams before I stride down the aisle through the happy crowd.

Someone’s taking photos and people shower us in flower petals. Her best friend Lyssie dumps a huge handful over Winnie’s head.

And Winnie laughs her sweet ass off, wiggling uncontrollably against my back.

This is heaven.

The moment I want to remember.

Somehow, I know that when I look back on this day, this will always be etched in my mind.

And even if I live long enough for a damn walker, I know it’ll still make me smile.

The pizza is amazing.

We hired caterers from the top pie shops in town to serve up a feast.

Mom thought it was a shame we settled for a fancy pizza party on our wedding day, but Winnie tells me she wouldn’t stand for anything else.

We spend the rest of the long, lazy afternoon dancing and laughing and playing party games.

Winnie squeals every time she finds Colt’s hidden bees.

It’s silly and carefree and every kind of awesome.

Then comes the last big moment of the day.

“Okay, people,” I say, coming to the front. “Can everyone pipe down a second?”

“Speech!” Patton calls from the back, clinking his glass. Arlo stands up in his lap and claps his hands, joining his old man in yelling, “Speech! Speech!” over and over.

Sigh.

“You heard my vows. That’s all the speech you’re getting today.”

Winnie holds up a champagne glass of her nonalcoholic cider and comes over to stand beside me.

“It’s not a speech,” she tells them. “We have news.”

I look at her, but it’s her announcement, and I know she wants to be the one to break it.

It’s only fair when she’ll be carrying the baby for the next eight months.

She smiles at everyone like they already know.

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