by S M Broad
I glance down at the most perfect wedding dress, a white A-line tulle gown, with lace floral embroidering and crystal embellishments across the chest. We opted out of a traditional church ceremony, going instead for a venue just outside of town. Floor to ceiling windows spanning a lake creates the most amazing backdrop for our big day. The sun is just beginning to set, making the whole room glow. The “Wedding March” starts to play as I begin my walk down the aisle.
A ray of bright sun hits me, and I know it’s my dad. He’s here with me in spirit and I can’t stop my smile.
I love you, Daddy.
I steady myself as I look up to the man waiting for me and burst into tears. Latham stands there in his black tuxedo, looking as handsome as the day I met him in his grease-stained coveralls, his hand covering his mouth and his amazing green eyes filled with tears. The closer I get, the harder it is to not make a run for him.
“Wow,” I see him mouth as Kohen nudges him in the shoulder. Finally, I get to him and he hugs Boone before taking my hand and leading me up the short steps. The officiate begins his speech, but I’m locked on to Latham’s gaze, so taken and completely enchanted by him. We exchange our own vows and rings, promising to each other that no matter how dark the sky gets, no matter how rough the journey, we’ll always be there to pull each other through.
The officiate pronounces us husband and wife, and Latham pulls me to him, stealing my breath with our first kiss as husband and wife. When I pull back to look at him, a bubble of laughter bursts from my mouth because he has his fist raised up to the sky in celebration.
People rushing around the room brings me back into focus as a contraction hits me so hard, I cry out loud.
“Almost there, baby. You’re doing so good.”
Latham’s voice in my ear makes me stronger as I prepare to bring our daughter into the world.
“Alright, Aayla. Just one more push and she’ll be here,” Dr. Simmons says, as the last contraction starts. I pull my legs back with Latham’s help, and bear down with everything I have in me. Finally, a tiny cry fills the room. I fall back onto my pillow as Dr. Simmons brings my baby up for me to see. The nurse checks the clock and announces she was born at eight thirty-one p.m. My vision blurs when I see my girl for the first time, perfect in every way, with a full head of brown hair, just like her daddy. Latham cuts the umbilical cord and the nurse takes her for just a minute before bringing her back, wrapped in a light pink blanket, placing her into my arms.
Latham leans over me, kissing my head.
“I’m so damn proud of you! Look at her, she’s amazing.” He wipes the tears collected on his face and kisses our baby girl.
“Congratulations, Mom and Dad! She’s beautiful! What’s her name?” the nurse asks, and I turn to Latham, who gives me a big smile.
“Hensley Amelia-Erica Reed.”
“Amelia? Are you sure?” New tears well up in his eyes and I know this is the right decision.
“Absolutely. I never got to meet her, but I know she’s watching over us. We’ve got the two best guardian angels in the world.”
I kiss my daughter and then my husband, thanking my dad and mother-in-law for bringing Latham and I together when we needed each other the most.
I've been through a shit storm in my life; one not many people ever have to experience. I now know that the road you travel may not always be smooth, but it’s worth it, and you'll always find yourself in the place you’re meant to be.
Acknowledgments
There are so many people I have to thank!
My mom and dad. Your support in everything I do means the world to me. I am so incredibly blessed to have you as my parents. This would not be possible without you two.
My children and husband. I love you three endlessly.
My Beta readers! Thank you for going on this new journey with me! I hope you like my words enough to come back for more!
Emily Wittig at Emily Wittig Designs and Photography for my absolutely gorgeous cover! I’m so proud of you for chasing your own dream! Your work inspires me!
Jenn Wood at All About the Edits for helping to polish this baby up and get it ready to release into the wild! It’s been such a joy working with you, my dear friend!
Tiffany Black at T.E. Black Designs for formatting my pages and getting them pretty for publication!
Micalea and Abby. I can’t say thank you enough for your constant love and support these last few years. It means more to me than you’ll ever know. I love jumping online and chatting with you beautiful humans.
Super special extra shout out to my author bestie and fellow dinosaur lover, Micalea Smeltzer, THANK YOU SO MUCH for including the prologue of my baby in the back of your latest masterpiece, The Other Side of Tomorrow. (Seriously you guys-check it out! It’s AMAZING!)
You are a spectacular person and I’m so happy I get to call you a friend!
Lastly, but certainly not least.
To you, the reader.
I hope you love this story as much as I loved writing it. Latham and Aayla are my first book babies but I hope not the last.
If you enjoyed this story (or even if you didn’t, that’s okay too) I’d be forever grateful if you would consider leaving a review.
Thank you with all of my heart for reading!
About the Author
SM Broad is a 20-something coffee connoisseur.
She’s a mermaid obsessed, dinosaur loving, moose collecting Ohioan whose love of reading and dream of being an author was born at the age of 15 after reading Don’t Die, My Love by Lurlene McDaniel.
She lives with her husband, son, daughter and their pet Bala Shark, Bruce.
She enjoys yoga, listening to all genres of music, watching movies and having dance parties with her kids.
When she isn’t moming and writing, you can find her curled up with a good book and spending time with her friends and family.