Page 165 of Rocky Mountain Home
That made him sit up, still holding her fingers as he brought her back to vertical. “A double wedding?”
She nodded. “Turns out Vicki’s been putting off their wedding because she didn’t want to have their big day without you around. She hoped at some point you and Joel would be friends again so you could be his best man.”
Jesse’s face tightened for a moment and he swallowed hard. “I really don’t deserve my family.”
Dare shook her head. “I really think you do, but I agree they’re pretty special people. So, what you think? You okay sharing our day with Joel and Vicki?”
He nodded. “That would make it extra special.”
The rest of the family thought it was perfect as well. Plans were put in place for the wedding to be held long enough after Vicki’s baby arrived for everyone to enjoy themselves.
June rolled around. They hit the middle of the month before Vicki grew exceedingly annoyed. “It’s not fair. You were two weeks early. How come I couldn’t have that?”
Dare shrugged, catching Joey in mid-wobble as he made another attempt to walk. “You didn’t throw up for three months straight.”
Vicki grimaced as she attempted to adjust position, her belly far too big considering her petite size. “Okay, that’s true, but at this point I’d be happy to exchange—”
She broke off, her mouth opening in shock.
The guys, who were usually attentive but not excessively so, cued in on the sound or lack thereof like magic.
An instant later Joel was beside Vicki, looking her over frantically. “Sweetheart?”
Her eyes were wide. “I feel funny.”
“Funny how?” Joel demanded.
She met Dare’s gaze. “I really want to push.”
Joel shook his head. “Oh no you don’t. We’ re going to get you up and get you to the hospital—”
Vicki caught his hand in hers and squeezed, teeth gritted together as her breathing increased in pace. “No. We’re going to have this baby, now.”
Which is how, in spite of Joel’s demands that she wait for the hospital, Vicki ended up giving birth at home.
Dare acted as coach best she could. Joel caught the baby with Jesse encouraging him along. By the time the ambulance arrived, all the excitement was over.
Jessica Marie was lying in her mama’s arms having a snooze while Joel stared in amazement. Joey had fallen asleep in the playpen kept in the living room for when little people visited.
Jesse? Well, he held on to Dare as they sat across the room from the new parents, and he whispered how astonished and proud and crazily-lucky he was to be there. To be with her and get to witness his brother and Vicki’s joy.
Family—a growing, sharing experience like Dare had never imagined.
Now, a couple of months later, she put the final touches on today’s blog post.
Blog post: Wedding Bell Blues
It’s not what you think. You’ve been listening to me post about pre-wedding jitters for the past six months, and today is finally the day.
I’m not at all nervous anymore.
In fact, the blues are what’s outside the door. After two weeks of clouds, the sky cleared last night. An Alberta bluebird day. For those of you who have never seen it, consider the pictures you’ve drooled over of a Caribbean ocean, or a pristine glacier-fed lake.
But most importantly, this blue is the colour I see every day when I look into the eyes of the man I love.
Oh, and about those bells…
The happiness inside was real. Dare glanced out the window at her new home, past the picture frames filled with shots of family from near and far, and offered up a prayer of thanks for all her blessings.
