Page 27 of A Happy Endings Wedding
Hailey read on, wiping away tears to take in Lauren’s sweet note. She’d married Josh’s younger brother Alex. The next note was from Carrie, a sweet nurse who had gone way past what Hailey would’ve suggested in finding a man. And then Ally, her partner in Love Junkies, who apparently knew Hailey was pregnant this whole time since they shared an office. Guess her frequent bathroom breaks and constant nibbling of saltine crackers had given her away.
She looked up at Ally with a smile. “Good job keeping my secret.”
Ally hugged her. “Congratulations, baby mama! We all knew you and Josh were meant to be, even though you gave each other hell getting there.”
The women murmured in agreement.
Hailey laughed. “Josh was just playing with me. Little did I know at the time. You remember how mad I’d get at him?”
“Tiny banana rings a bell,” Carrie said with a grin.
Everyone laughed. That had been a good move, hinting Josh had a tiny banana. He had been beside himself trying to deny it without being obscene. Ha-ha-ha. Luckily, it wasn’t true at all.
Hailey bit back a smile and kept reading. Missy was next. She was probably the most guarded of her friends after a difficult childhood and an abusive ex. Now that she was married to Ben, a total sweetheart, she’d become more expressive. Oh, wow, Missy wanted to form a mom club too!
“Yes!” Hailey exclaimed, opening her arms to Missy. “I would love a mom club. I was already thinking that.”
Missy laughed and hugged her. “Love you.”
“Love you too.” Hailey looked to all of their friends. “Of course, you’re all welcome to mom events. You don’t have to be a mom just mom friendly.”
“We’re definitely that,” Ally said. “You know we all want kids. It’s just a matter of time.”
Hailey nodded and turned the page. This one was from Sabrina, the relationship counselor. She’d married Josh’s youngest brother, Logan. Hailey braced herself. Sabrina was really good at emotional stuff and was sure to make her cry.
Hailey,
You nut! You’re the one who insisted I do the whole fake-fiancé thing and look what happened! Now I’m married to my best friend, Logan Campbell, the best husband in the entire world, and it’s all your fault! Seriously, though, I love you for being the eternal optimist and staunch supporter of love. I’m thrilled you and Josh finally opened up to each other to find the love that was waiting there all along. I hoped so much you would. We all did. I’m thrilled we’ll be sisters for life.
Love,
Sabrina
Hailey looked up, a lump in her throat, and Sabrina was already there, smiling at her. She hugged her tight.
“Last one, best one,” Lexi quipped. “Think you can hold off on the tears long enough to read mine?” Lexi was the most jaded against men of all of them. Boy, had she fallen hard for Marcus.
Hailey smiled and turned to Lexi’s sweet note, finally closing the journal with a satisfied sigh. She stood, placed the precious journal on the chair, and opened her arms without a word. She was quickly swallowed up by a group hug with her friends for life. She blinked to clear her vision from the tears and looked around at the faces of the women she loved. Not a dry eye in the place. Their journey together would continue through the next stage of marriage and motherhood. And, of course, they’d always have their love of romance binding them together.
Hailey smiled through her tears. “I was really freaking out before—”
“No, really?” Mad said with a smile.
Hailey laughed. “I was so caught up in the details. The flowers, the gown, the food, blah, blah, blah. You ladies reminded me the most important thing is love.” Her voice choked. “And I have an abundance of that from all of you and from Josh. I can’t wait to marry him.”
“We know!” the women chorused.
Everyone laughed.
“Let’s get this pregnant bride ready,” Mad said.
“Yes,” Hailey said, proud to own her pregnancy. She was thrilled about it and so was Josh. Soon they’d be married, and she couldn’t wait to see what Josh had planned for the honeymoon. It was the one thing she’d asked him to do.
