Tomorrow was going to be a fun day. I could hardly wait for Asher to get home. I text him and told him I invited everyone over for dinner to welcome him home. He didn’t think anything about it. He wouldn’t be home until almost dinner time anyway. The next morning I was able to get in the see the OB/GYN. My doctor, Dr. Fleming, had already been informed about my history and she wanted to do an exam. Asking me to strip from the waist down, I was slightly confused.
Holding up a large wand looking device she said she was going to do an internal sonogram. I didn’t even know they did internal ones. Holding Amelia’s hand the entire time, she insisted on coming with me, but I couldn’t have been happier. A fuzzy black-and-white image appears on the screen. After some measuring and looking at the fuzzy blob she said I was ten weeks pregnant and that everything looked normal. She flipped a switch on the machine and a whoosh whoosh whoosh sound filled the air. It was my baby’s heartbeat. Our baby’s heartbeat. Asher and I made a baby. She printed a few pictures and made me my next appointment.
Making a quick call to Ava, she had everything all ready, and she will come over before Asher gets home. She told him she was helping me cook, which he was happy about, because he worries too much about me. Changing my clothes and putting on a sweatshirt jacket zipped up, I head into the kitchen to help Ava. Asher should be home any minute.
Just as expected Asher walks through the door a few minutes later, making a bee line straight to me, wrapping me in a tight hug, he kisses me like it has been weeks since he last saw me, instead of two days.
“How are you feeling? Better?” he asks concerned.
“Yes, one hundred percent better.”
“Are you cold? You’re wearing a jacket. Did you want me to turn the heat up?”
“No, I’m fine. I just put on a short-sleeved shirt without thinking. So I threw on a jacket. How was your trip?”
“The trip was a success, but I am so glad to be home.”
The rest of the family arrives each bringing more food than we could possibly eat. Asher eyes his dad suspiciously.
“Dad, why does your shirt say, ‘Dad’ on it? Are you getting senile in your old age, and need to be reminded what your name is?”
“Funny son, real funny.”
Giggling softly to myself, I know exactly why his shirt says, “Dad.”
Asher
Being home is such a relief, I am so glad everything is OK with Willow, I was so worried. Coming home to our house filled with family is the second best thing. Willow clears her throat and says, “If everyone can pay attention for a second before dinner, I have something I need to say.”
She’s probably going to tell everyone that her appointment went fine and she is still cancer free. Everyone is moving around trying to stand in a straight line. Aiden and Ava are fighting about who gets to stand next to Mom. What is wrong with these people? Willow stands next to me and takes my hand. Everyone else is lined up in front of us like a firing squad.
“OK, everyone now,” Willow says.
I have just now noticed that everyone is wearing zipped up jackets, except for my dad, whose jacket is already unzipped. They start taking them off one by one. Each T-shirt has one word written across the front of it. I read them starting from left to right. “You’re a be to going Dad.” I think everyone has lost their mind.
Everyone looks at their shirts, they all start talking at once and start re-arranging themselves. Willow joins them and un-zips her jacket. I read them all again. “Congratulations you’re going to be a Dad.” Wait. What?
Willow is standing with silent tears streaming down her face, shaking her head yes.
“How can this be? I thought you said you couldn’t get pregnant?”
Rushing over she plows into me with a tight hug, pulling away to look in my eyes she says, “I thought I couldn’t get pregnant either, the doctor said everything looks great, here.” She reaches in her back pocket and takes out a black and white image and puts it in my hand.
“This is our baby. Tell me you’re happy.”
Staring at the photo in my hand, Willow slowly backs away unsure of how I’m reacting. My face has fallen. My mom walks up and touches my arm, “Asher please say something, you’re scaring Willow.”
“I’m just… I’m just so happy, I don’t even think I can think. Willow, this is amazing, come here sweetheart, I’m so happy. I never thought this was possible.” Hugging her, I feel like I’m about to come out of my skin, she bursts into tears.
“I thought for a second you were angry.”
“Never, sweetheart, I’m so happy. You have made me the happiest man alive. We’re having a baby.” Placing my hand over her flat belly, our child is growing right now inside Willow and I’m going to be a dad.
Dinner was filled with so much joy. Soon Willow and I will be married and soon after that we are going to be parents. Thinking back to Olivia, we had talked about having a family. We talked about it all the time. In fact, we were even trying the last few years, but had been unsuccessful. I know she is looking down with a smile, I know she is happy for me.
After everyone left I’m standing in the kitchen cleaning up the last of the dinner mess. Willow wraps her arms around my waist, resting her head on my back.
“Are you really happy, you weren’t just saying that because your family was here, were you?”
Turning around, putting the dish towel on the counter, I wrap her securely in my arms, kissing the top of her head.
“I’m sorry if you thought that for one second. I was so surprised, in a good way. I didn’t even know what I was doing. Time was standing still. It’s the happiest thing, besides you being cancer free, I have ever heard. I love you so much. And I love this baby.”
Smiling, she kisses me tenderly. “So I guess it’s fitting that our wedding is going to be at the beach, because I just might be the beached whale.”
“Willow, sweetheart you are going to be beautiful on our wedding day and just remember you’re my beached whale.” She smacks me hard on the arm, and I say, “Ow,” with a smile.
Chapter 25
THREE MONTHS LATER
Willow
Today is the day. Today I will become Mrs. Asher Wellington. I am the happiest woman alive. I’m just starting my sixth month of pregnancy and it’s coming along beautifully. I am monitored closely by my OB/GYN. All my testing indicates it’s a normal healthy pregnancy. My regular testing for cancer has continued to come out clean as well.
My relationship with my mom has continued to grow and we talk on the phone all the time. We have flown to Illinois a few times, and she has made several trips here. Asher won’t allow me to travel anymore, always being the overprotective one. She and her husband flew in earlier this week for the wedding. Everyone is in full wedding mode.
We are all staying in a hotel near Alki Beach. My mom, Asher’s mom, and his sisters are rushing around in a frenzy while I sit. The hair dresser and make-up artist are performing their magic. My fingers and toes are painted in a pink French manicure. As they finish up with hair and make-up, there is a knock at the door. Amelia answers and comes back with a small rectangle box with a pink ribbon on top, and a card. Handing me the card first, I open it and read it out loud:
Sweetheart,
In just a few minutes you will make me the happiest man by becoming my wife. From the first day we met, I was captivated by your beauty. I knew that day, that my life would be forever changed. You helped me heal my broken heart and taught me how to love again. You have shown me that love is forever growing and have opened my heart to unimaginable joy. Today I marry my best friend. I promise from this day forward to be the best husband and father I know how to be. I love you with all my heart.
Love,
Asher
Not a dry eye in the room, I tell you. Samantha is dabbing her eyes with a tissue, Amelia is snorting snot and wipes it on the back of her hand. Ava turned around and is looking out the window, and my mom is staring at me with her mouth hanging
open, tears streaming down her cheeks. I don’t even know how I read the whole thing without crying myself. You would think with pregnancy hormones and being the one getting married, I would be blubbering like a baby. But I sit there with a smile on my face. Amelia hands me the box. I open it tossing the paper on the floor. Inside there is a beautiful platinum tennis bracelet with alternating pink sapphires and diamonds. There is a piece of paper under it from Asher, ‘This is your something new. The alternating pink sapphires and diamonds signify everlasting love’. Amelia takes the bracelet and puts it on my right wrist. On my left is the platinum charm bracelet Asher gave me months ago.
Stepping forward, Samantha hands me a small square box. Inside are sparkling diamond stud ear rings.
“These are your something old, they were given to me on my wedding day by my mother. Her mother gave them to her on her wedding day.”
“I couldn’t, this is something you should give to one of your daughters, not me.”
“You are one of my daughters, wear them knowing I love you, keep them and pass them down to your children”
My mother steps forward, “This is your something borrowed, it belonged to my father.” She hands me a silk handkerchief.
“Mom, thank you.” I stuff it into my bra.
Amelia and Ava step up and hand me a blue garter. “This is your something blue.”
“It’s beautiful, thank you. Thank you, everyone.”
“Can someone take this to Asher?” I hold up a square box.
Ava offers to take it to him as a woman tells us we have about twenty more minutes to get ready.
Asher
Today is the day I marry my best friend. I am standing in my room with my dad, Willow’s step-dad, and my two brothers dressed in a tux with a pink bow tie and a single pink rose bud in the lapel. Who said real men don’t wear pink? There’s a knock at the door, and Ava pokes her head in, and hands me a gift from Willow. Opening the card, I read:
Asher,
Today I marry my best friend. You stood by me through one of the toughest times in my life, never faltering. You were always strong enough for the both of us. Today I give you my promise to love you for the rest of my life. And not force you to eat chili with noodles. As our child grows in my belly, I look forward to raising him or her with the loving man that I know you are. Thank you for loving me, scars and all.
Love,
Willow
Opening the box is a Cartier watch with a silver band and a black face. Turning it over inscribed on the back is ‘all my love all the time.’ I put the watch on as the wedding coordinator opens the door and tells me it’s time.
Walking out on the beach, it’s just a simple ceremony. The officiate is standing a few yards away from the shore line. In front of him on the left are three chairs, my mom and dad sit in two, as I get closer, I can see the third is vacant. Sitting on the seat is an arrangement of yellow roses. With a smile, I just know that was all Willow’s doing.
On the right are three seats as well. Willow’s step-dad sits in one, the other to be sat in by her mother shortly. Next to that seat is a pink dog bed with Lucy sitting in it wearing a pink bow on the top of her head. Standing by the officiate, I turn around and my mom smiles warmly as my dad holds her hand.
Ava and Aiden walk toward me arm in arm, bending over they each kiss our Mom on the cheek. Next come Amelia and Adrian walking arm in arm, they too kiss our mother on the cheek. Next Willow and her mother appear.
Willow is a vision in white. She looks beautiful barefoot, wearing a white gown with her little baby bump on display. She’s holding an arrangement of pink roses with one yellow one tucked in the center. My parents and her step-dad stand as they make their way over to us. After kissing Willow on the cheek her mother, step-dad, and my parents take a seat. Taking both of Willow’s hands in mine I mouth the words ‘I love you’ to her.
“Ladies and gentlemen, we are gathered here today to bring together Asher and Willow in holy matrimony. Who gives this woman to be married?”
“I do,” says her mother.
“Asher and Willow have written their own vows and would like to recite them to you now.”
Squeezing Willow’s hand, I look into her eyes, and I recite my vows from memory.
“Willow, from the first day we met I became truly alive again. After years of sadness, you proved to me over and over again that my broken heart could love again. Standing in front of our families, I promise to love, honor, and cherish you for the rest of my life. I promise to be the best father to our child.”
Taking her left hand in both of mine, I place her rings halfway up her finger.
“I, Asher, take you Willow, as my friend and my soul mate. To stand beside you in laughter and tears, in sickness and health, through good times and bad. I give you these rings as a symbol of my love and devotion, and with all that I am and with all that I have, I will honor you until the day that I die.”
Slipping both rings all the way on her finger, I raise them to my lips and kiss them.
Willow takes my hands in hers and looks into my eyes and says, “Asher I have dreamt my whole life wishing to find a man that loves me the way you do. Running into you on a sidewalk brought us together, but your love and devotion binds us forever. You made me whole, you accept me for who I am. You make me feel beautiful and loved.”
She takes my left hand in both of hers, slips my wedding band halfway up my finger.
“I, Willow, take you Asher, as my friend and soul mate. To stand beside you in laughter and tears, in sickness and health, through good times and bad, I give you this ring as a symbol of my love and devotion, and with all that I am and with all that I have, I will honor you until the day that I die.”
She slips the band all the way on my finger, raising my hand to her lips and kisses it.
“With these statements of love and trust, in the company of family, I now pronounce Asher and Willow husband and wife. You may kiss your bride.”
With cheering and clapping, I place my hands on Willow’s face, barely touching her lips I tell her I love her and kiss her with every loving emotion in my body.
Turning around facing the ocean, Willow raises her bouquet over her head and throws it. Amelia catches it with a huge smile on her face.
Chapter 26
Willow
My wedding day was ripped right out of a fairy tale. It was a beautiful sunny day with only our close loved ones to watch. Having my mom there was an added bonus that always seemed to be missing from my perfect wedding day imagination. Our wedding was simple and it couldn’t have been more perfect. After the photographer left, our family headed over to a restaurant where we would be meeting in a few minutes. I had one more thing I needed to do.
I take Asher’s hand and the arrangement of yellow roses that sat reverently through our ceremony. It was an honor to recognize and honor Olivia in all aspects of our day. From the single rose in my bouquet to the arrangement that attended the ceremony. Walking to the shoreline the waves splashing at our feet, I hand Asher half of the flowers.
Bending over I place them in the water, I give his hand a quick squeeze. He raises his to his nose inhales sharply, kisses them then sets them free in the salty water. We watched together as they drifted farther out to sea. Resting my head on his shoulder, I can’t help but remember all that she did to help us along our journey.
Meeting our families at the restaurant, we all ate and laughed celebrating our happy day. Tomorrow my mom and step-dad are flying back to Illinois. Asher and I rented a beach house for a week not far from the restaurant. Samantha and Samuel are staying one more night at the hotel. Asher’s brothers and sister are all heading home tonight. Lucy is going home with Amelia. Saying our goodbyes to everyone with hugs and kisses, we drive to the beautiful beach house.
Bringing in our bags, Asher makes me wait on the porch. Picking me up, he carries me over the threshold.
“Asher you’re supposed to carry your bride over the threshold of our house n
ot a rental.”
Looking at me with a huge grin he says, “I just did.”
“Wait. What?”
“It’s ours. Well it’s not exactly ours just yet. We’re in the process of buying it. We go in next week to sign all the paper work.”
“EEEEeeeee, are you serious it’s ours?”
“I knew you’d love it, it’s my wedding gift to you.”
“And all I got you is a lousy watch,” I say teasing him.
Setting me own on my feet, he shows me around the home. It has five bedrooms each with an en suite. A family room with a floor to ceiling fire place set in large boulders. A gourmet kitchen and the wall facing the ocean is nothing but windows. Large French doors open up to the huge wrap around deck. Stepping out on the deck, the wind is gently blowing. The sun is setting and the sky is hues of orange and pink. Asher wraps his arms around me from behind, holding me tight. We watch the sunset into the horizon.
“Asher, thank you for today. Thank you for making all of my dreams come true.” Lowering his hands to my swollen belly, he lowers his head to whisper in my ear.
“Willow, thank you for today. You have made all my dreams come true. You gave me my life back, you gave me your love, and you are giving me a child.”
Turning in his arms, kissing him on the lips I walk back in the house, making my way into the master bedroom, and grab my sexy lingerie. Putting on a white sheer top that just covers my breasts then opens exposing my pregnant belly and falls to my hips paired with a white thong and the blue garter from the girls, I perch myself in the center of the bed. Asher comes into the bedroom. With a growl, he strips at the foot of the bed. On all fours, he slowly crawls up and hovers over my body.
“You are so beautiful, Willow. I want to make love to my wife.”
Placing my hand on his cheek, I say, “You are most handsome, and I want my husband to make love to me.”
Bending his elbows on either side of my head, he kisses just under my ear trailing my jaw to my lips. Opening my mouth for his tongue, he sweeps it in and gently kisses me. He moves down my chin and throat, between my breasts over to the fading scars on my left breast. He kisses each one with love, he moves to my right breast taking my nipple in his mouth twirling and sucking until it’s a hard pebble. He places his ear on my belly, then kisses every inch. Continuing downward, he kisses my inner thigh, where he finds my garter and pulls it down my leg, with his teeth.
Take A Chance (Running Into Love) Page 14