Page 117 of Wed to You-
“Chelsea?”
“Hmm.” She turned to him, her brown eyes filled with love. He knew he didn’t deserve it, but he vowed to work every day to earn it.
“I think we should get married.”
Her smile made his heart swell until he thought it might burst from his chest. “We’re already married.”
“A real wedding.”
“Wasn’t ours real?”
“It was legal, but I want to do it all over. A wedding where the vows are true. Where I can say in truth how much I love you.”
Tears filled her eyes. “I’d like that.”
“And new rings. Not an engagement ring, but a wedding band. You can keep this one, for now. I want everything this time to be genuine. Not because of a baby, either. We do this no matter what that stick says. Because I love you.”
She nodded. “I love you, Jagger.”
Her words swept over and through him like a comforting blanket. Pushing the bitterness and fear away, leaving only what was important. His love for her.
She kissed him. “Should we check now?”
He took a breath and nodded. She reached for the pregnancy stick and together they read the results. Then they looked at each other.
“You’re going to be a daddy.”
He thought it wasn’t possible to be happier than he’d been the second before he saw that blue plus symbol. He pulled her to him, cradling her, his hand stroking her belly, hoping she knew she was the most important thing in his life. “Thank you.”
“Thank you?” She was laughing, giddy with excitement.
“Thank you for giving me all this.”
“You deserve this, Jagger. All of it. You’re a good man.” Then her eyes turned feral and her smile seductive as she pushed him back. “My hormones are raging.”
He was gentle when he rolled her, bringing their bodies into perfect alignment. “I can help you with that.”
Epilogue
Chelsea stood at the end of the aisle, staring up into Jagger’s brilliant blue eyes. His gaze shone with such love, her knees were weak. He looked devastatingly handsome, but it wasn’t his white shirt or dark slacks that added to his allure. It was the baby pack slung over his chest where baby Annabelle, their sweet daughter born just eight weeks earlier, slept. Standing next to Jagger, stood Kaden, holding the pillow bearing their rings. Tanya sat in the front row, a wide smile on her face.
A year ago to the day, Chelsea had stood in this same spot, overwhelmed with doubt and worry as she married a man in a fake ceremony. Today there was nothing fake about their love or commitment. After discovering the pregnancy, they’d decided to wait before renewing their vows, wanting to share all their joy with friends and family. So now, on their first anniversary, they were doing it all over again.
“Ready?” Mitch stood by her side, taking the traditional role of the father in giving her away.
She nodded. “I’ve never been more ready.”
“Brian would be proud of you. He’d be happy for you and Jagger. I wish he was here.”
Chelsea choked back tears, not wanting to start blubbering before she made it up to Jagger. “Thank you, Mitch.”
He nodded and took her arm, and they made their way up the aisle. The first time, each step closer to Jagger brought doubt and worry. This time, it seemed to take forever to reach the man she loved and wanted to spend the rest of her days with.
Lexie stood on the other side of the minister, grinning, while Drake and their housekeeper Claire held the twins, now nearly 18 months old. Sydney stood next to them, holding her and Mitch’s five-month-old baby boy, Brian.
The sight of everyone she loved and cared for sharing in her happiness, and also having their own happiness, was almost more than she could bear.
She finally reached Jagger, taking his hand and leaning forward to kiss baby Annabelle, who was sleeping peacefully against his chest. When she looked up into his eyes, they held love and awe and a few tears. She smiled, lifted herself onto her toes, and kissed him.
