Page 138 of Wicked Love

“Dearly beloved,” Penn starts, and there’s more than one snort. “We are gathered around this hospital bed to celebrate the love of Bowie Fox and Poppy Keane.”

I get the giggles and then take a deep breath when my stomach starts tightening. Penn’s eyes grow round when he sees the machine tracking my contractions leaving a high peak.

“Are you having one right now?” he asks in a high voice.

I nod and squeeze Bowie’s hand hard.

“Keep going,” I say between my teeth.

“Do you, Bowie Fox, take Poppy Keane to be your husband? I mean, wife?”

More titters.

“I do,” Bowie says.

“Do you, Poppy Keane, take Bowie Fox to be your husband?”

The contraction starts to ease and I let out a shaky breath. “I do.”

“Do you have any words you’d like to share?” Penn says, looking between the two of us.

“I love you more than I ever thought possible,” Bowie says. “You have made me the happiest man, which is a miracle in itself. Sharing a life with you is all I want. And I’ll work on better vows when we get married on the beach.”

I smile at him. “Sounds like perfect vows to me already. I love you so much, Bowie. Being your wife is...” I breathe out through my mouth. “Everything,” I rush out. I try to focus on him, but it’s getting harder to talk through this one. I nod at Bowie, biting down on my lip as I try to work through the pain.

Bowie motions for Penn to wrap it up.

“By the power vested in me through the state of Colorado, I pronounce you husband and wife,” Penn says, so fast it sounds like a song being fast-forwarded.“You may kiss the bride.”His shoulders drop as he loses his breath, just as I’m catching mine.

I laugh and Bowie kisses me. Everyone cheers and congratulates us.

“Best wedding ever,” Penn says proudly.

“Thank you. That was the best surprise ever,” I say. “We’re married!”

“Are you my mommy now?” Becca asks.

“If you want me to be,” I tell her, eyes welling with tears.

“Yes,” she says simply.

“Yes,” I agree. “I love you, my sweet Tater Tot,” I say, and she beams.

“And we make Mommy and Becca pictures?”

“Of course, we will.”

Another contraction hits and Sadie ushers Becca out of the room, saying, “Let us know when the baby gets here!”

“Love you,” Tru says.

“I love you all,” I tell them.

When the room is quiet again, Bowie leans in and kisses me. This one is slow and so sweet.

“Hello, Mrs. Fox,” he says.

I tug on his hair and kiss him again, myhusband.

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