Page 21 of Our Little Wedding

“I know. It just feels like all we are doing is treading through rough waters, and it’s been that way since all this started. It’s literally killing me that the two most important people in my life are showing me zero support.”

“Your father will come around. That I can promise you. I assume Carly would be the other one.”

Ainsley nodded. “Yes.”

“She is throwing you a baby shower. Doesn’t that count as showing you support?”

“Sure, but it’s a baby shower I asked her to wait for. Other than that, her entire focus has been coming up with reasons I should just find someone else.”

“Well, all I can say is that she will understand much better when she meets someone.”

“I never looked at it that way. She hasn’t ever been in a relationship. She has no idea how I feel about you.”

“Exactly. When it’s true love, nothing should stand in the way of it. No matter what anyone says. Deep down, I know Carly is there for you. She puts on a good game, but you mean a lot to her. I can see that, otherwise she wouldn’t be there every time you need her. I also know you mean the world to your father, so please never think for a moment he’d disown you. I know how that man feels about you. If he didn’t care, he wouldn’t fly off the handle every time. He’s just having a hard time accepting what is happening, but eventually he is going to have to accept it. He will come around.”

Ainsley nodded. I watched as her eyes fell to her hands. I cleared my throat. “Look at me.” I waited until she lifted her head and her eyes met mine. “I meant what I said the other night. I regret nothing about us. You need to know that. But you also need to ask yourself the question, is this what you really want?”

“What do you mean?”

“Do you really want us?” I replied, praying, and hoping she said yes, because I didn’t know what I would do if she said no. I’d grown to love her more than anyone I’d ever been with. She meant the world to me, and I had vowed to myself that I would fight to keep her, no matter what, because my world would shatter the day she ever walked out of my life.

“I do, but I also want everyone else to be happy for us, too.”

“Well, love, that is impossible. There will always be someone who doesn’t approve of every relationship, especially ours. What matters is that you and I are happy. That is it. That’s all that matters.”

Her eyes met mine, and she sat there for a minute saying nothing, then she softly smiled. “I want this. I want us so badly. Those few weeks we were apart were hell for me. I never want to feel that way again.”

“I feel the same way. Without you was hell. So how about we focus on us and put a lot of this noise behind us? Everything will work out,” I said, taking her hand in mine.

“Thank you for being here. I love you.”

“I love you, Ainsley. I’ll always be here for you, for whatever you need. Now let’s get back on track and focus on my question…”

“Of course, I’ll stay with Nikki.”

“Good. I thought you could work from home and possibly take her shopping for some things for the new house. She was showing me some new bedding she’d like. I told her to put it on her Christmas list, but I don’t see any reason to make her wait.”

“Yes, I could also begin packing, too.”

I shook my head. “No, I am hiring a company to do that. They will begin after I am back. Now what you can do is call those venues we contacted and find out what ones are available.”

“I can do that,” she said with a smile.

“Good, and after lunch, can you also book my flight?”

“Yes, of course. I’ll do it as soon as we get back to the office.”

“Perfect. Now let’s enjoy this beautiful day and our lunch.”

Ainsley

Spencer was leaving for Denver. I’d gotten him an early-morning flight and booked his hotel for three nights. Nikki and I drove Spencer to the airport, and we sat in the car watching as he headed to the front doors with his luggage.

“Bye, Daddy!” Nikki yelled from the backseat window.

Spencer turned around and waved at us. “See you soon,” he called.

We watched until he’d gone through the doors, then I hit the button to roll up the windows and turned on some music. I hadn’t told Nikki that she wasn’t going to school today. Instead, I figured I’d surprise her when I pulled into the mall parking lot.

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