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Life's Perfect Plan (The Life Series)

Page 20

by Goodman, Sarah


  “Hey, there you needed me?” I quietly say as I walk into the room.

  Jacob turns around and he is acting strange and kind of jittery. “Yeah, I need you for a second, the boys have something to say.”

  I look at him as if he has lost it. I walk towards the crib to where I hear babbling and coos. When I look down at the boys my heart stops beating and my breath vanishes. I stare at what the boys’ shirts say. He has aligned the boys shoulder to shoulder in the crib and they have on white shirts with one word across their shirt. Grant’s say’s “MOMMY” and Evan’s says “MARRY” and Cole’s say’s “DADDY”. “MOMMY MARRY DADDY” are the words I keep repeating in my head. I stand there just staring at the shirts so long, that when I muster up the strength to turn around I find Jacob on one knee. All I can whisper to him is, “Jacob?”

  He grabs my wrist to pull me closer to him. I am standing in front of him with tears rolling down my face. “Baby, don’t cry.” He reaches up with his thumb to wipe away the tears. “Baby, I have loved you from the moment you fell into my arms. You sent a shock wave of electric volts to my system the moment I held you. My heart started to beat to a different rhythm the second you entered my life. My heart has been yours ever since that day. My heart became theirs the moment they took their first breath. Elizabeth Ann, I love you more than the air I breathe. I want to spend eternity with you by my side. I can’t promise you sunshine and roses all the time, but I will do my best to make you smile every damn day. I love you, Elizabeth. Please marry me and spend the rest of your life with me?”

  I sob out tears of joy. I grab his face with my hands and bend so our foreheads are touching one another. “Yes, I will marry you.” I whisper to him as I am trying to control my sobs. I fall to my knees in front of him and kiss him hard.

  “Baby, I still have another step to do” as he is trying to pull away from our kiss. I sit back on my heels and watch as he pulls the most gorgeous ring out of his pocket. Sliding the huge princess cut diamond with two smaller diamonds on each side in a platinum setting, I gasp by it beauty. “The diamond in the middle reminds me of you and the four smaller ones are the boys and I, how you hold us all together. You are an amazing woman, baby, and I am so lucky to have found you.” He stands up and pulls me into him.

  “I love you, Jacob! Thank you for making me so happy.”

  “It’s my pleasure to make you happy. I love you, baby and thank you for legally making me a dad. Those three boys are the best gift you could have ever given me, I’ll always cherish you for it.”

  Looking into those blue eyes of his and then looking at my babies. It was then that I knew that my life was perfect.

  “Beth, for the love of God, stop … just stop. This is your day and you are stressing me out. Everything you have planned up until now will go to plan. If not then it wasn’t meant to be.” Ella says as I am trying to find pins for boutonnieres.

  “I just want to make sure there are extra incase a few get lost.”

  “Beth, we need to get you into your dress.” Kate sings songs to me.

  “Yes, let’s get you dressed before I have to sedate you again.” Ella says to me with a quiet laugh.

  I walk to the door where my dress is hanging and smile. It is beautiful and simple. Jacob and I didn’t want a huge wedding. We both did that with our first marriage. This time it was just about us. We are getting married on the beach in the late afternoon, where we will eat and party until the grand finale of fireworks.

  Kate slides my dress off the hanger and unzips it for me to slide into. It’s an off white, A-line Charmeuse gown with a beaded sweetheart neck-line. The back is what caught my eye and is stunning. It is held together in the back by three slim beaded straps running across my shoulder blades and down my back. My hair is pulled into a low bun in the back and I have three baby pink roses in my hair.

  “Kate, freeze, focus, stop dancing, and help me,” I say as I’m standing in my blue thong panties, my something blue from Kate. She is dancing to music off her iPhone, which is playing “Catch My Breath”.

  “It seems fitting, Bethy, huh? Dance with me.” Once Ella slides the zipper up, we three start to dance. Kate and Ella dance in their pale pink strapless sweetheart A-line dresses. Once we finish our little dance, I turn around for the mirror. “Bethy-babe you are drop dead gorgeous … and look at those sexy arms of yours. I told you those car seats would tone you up.” She winks at me. I do look stunning, I haven’t felt this cherished or beautiful in a long time.

  My mother walks into the hotel room. “Elizabeth, they are all ready for you girls … are you ready?” She says while watching me through the mirror. I turn around and hear her catch her breath. “OH, baby girl, you are breathtaking.”

  “Thanks Mom, I hope Jacob thinks the same thing. Do you have the boys?”

  “Yes, they are in our room with your father and Jacob’s father Jeff. They look adorable in their outfits.” I wanted simple and didn’t want to blow a fortune on a wedding when all Jacob and I wanted was to get married. The men and boys are wearing Khaki pants with a white button down shirt. Jacob is in a tan tie and the other men and our boys are wearing pink ties. My favorite part is we are all going shoeless. Ella hands me my bouquet of pink roses. They are wrapped in the handkerchief that Jacob’s mom had with her on her wedding day to his father. The pink roses are also in honor of his mother.

  Ella, Kate, my mom and I walk out of the hotel room and head for the elevators. I am greeted in the lobby by my boys’ squeals and laughter. “Hi, handsome boys!”

  “Momma … momma … momma!” My father and soon to be father-in-law picked them up so I could lean in and give them kisses. “We are ready to start this party … Jacob and the men are already down there with the pastor,” Jeff says as he gives kisses to Cole’s chubby cheek.

  “I’m so ready … let’s go!”

  I leave the hotel pool deck and head for the beach. Our parents walked down the man-made aisle with our boys. I laugh as I hear our wedding march song, Chris Daughtry’s “Start of Something Good.” He wanted to pick the music, which I happily gave him that honor. It reminds me of our first date at the concert when he leaned into me and whispered into my ear that we had something good starting. Boy was he ever right! I watch as my best friends walk down to the beach. Kate turns around and blows me a kiss. I blow her a kiss back, and it’s in that moment that these women are my rock and saving grace. I wouldn’t be here today, walking towards my happy ending with my love if it wasn’t for them. Once they were passed the sand dunes, I start to make my walk. I walked by myself this time. I didn’t think I needed my father to give me away a second time.

  Finally, I am past the sand dunes and staring right into my man’s sea blue eyes. I watch as I see his smile get wider. He places his right hand over his heart, as if I have stopped his heart. I walk towards him with thoughts of our future. I look forward to tonight when I give him his wedding present. I’ve surprised him twice, and I’m hoping that the third time is a charm. I look to our family and friends, who are standing waiting for my arrival into my husband-to-be’s arms. I look at our sweet baby boys with their dark hair blowing in the wind and their sparkling green eyes watching their momma walk towards their daddy. I blow them kisses and smile at our parents who are trying to keep our boys still.

  When I get to Jacob he grabs hold of my hand and pulls me close to him. He kisses my forehead. “My God, baby, you are absolutely stunning.” He whispers into my ear. He makes my skin tingle by the simplest words. We stick with a simple ceremony. We say our vows, our I Do’s, exchange the rings, and then he kisses me and sweeps me off my feet. My favorite part of the ceremony was when we were introduced as Dr. and Mrs. Alexander. We walk hand in hand back up to the hotel lobby.

  After our beautiful pictures on the beach we are ready to start our reception. We walk into the hoots and hollers of our guests as they reintroduce us Dr. and Mrs. Alexander. With his arm wrapped around my waist he guides us to the dance floor.


  One of my surprises is our wedding dance song. “I hope you like our song, baby. I thought it completely tells our story. I love you.” With his ending words I hear the music start. He pulls me into his body, and his hands drop to the small of my back.

  We start to dance to Rascal Flatts “Bless the Broken Road.” I lean my head against his chest, with the beating of his heart I listen to the words of our song. I feel my cheeks get moist from the tears that run down my face. We are dancing to the most beautiful song I have ever heard. He’s right too. This song does speak about us. I totally believe that the path I had been on is the path that led me to Jacob. I loved my other path of life, and where it brought me, only this path, gave me all my new dreams and desires. Jacob is the new love of my life. Kate was right, I’m extremely lucky to have two loves of my life. My path way with Grant was what I had planned; my path with Jacob is what life had planned. My only plan is to take this path slower.

  After our dance we eat dinner, then we dance some more. We cut the cake and feed each other a few bites, which turned me on so much. I could tell that he was turned on just as much as I was, when I sucked the icing off his finger. The DJ wanted to do the garter and tossing the bouquet. Which was a really sad sight to see considering most of the females at our wedding were either married or in committed relationships. So it was a no brainer when Kate walked onto the floor with Megan, Ethan’s girlfriend and Sophia Jacob’s eight year old niece. Kate is a sore loser and she wasn’t going down. With a few pushes between her and Megan she did catch the bouquet. God, I love that girl!

  The garter was a sight to see. I could only imagine what the guests were thinking while Jacob was under my dress for so long. I know what I was thinking … that I wanted to take this man up to our suite and have hot and heavy sex with him. I could feel his warm tongue lick up my thigh. I could feel my panties melt. After what seemed like hours he finally came up for air with the garter in his mouth. My brother ended up catching the garter and Kate was more than happy to let Megan do the honors of sitting in the chair. “Kate, that was so sweet of you. Now, I wonder who will get married next you or Ethan.”

  “Ethan.”

  “What makes you think Ethan?”

  “Beth, I’ve already been down that road, plus who is going to want a single mom who works her tail off? I don’t have time, and my time is what made Keith leave.”

  “Katie-bear, you are preaching to the choir here. Who was the one that pushed me to see Jacob for what he is. I didn’t think he could love or want a woman pregnant with triplets. You are beautiful, and your next chapter is out there. So, I’m betting it will be you next.”

  “I love you, Beth, and I’m so happy for you.”

  “I love you more than you’ll ever know, Kate. How will I ever thank you for all of that?” As I point to the table where Jacob is sitting with my parents, his father and our boys.

  We had a half an hour before the fireworks went off. I pulled Jacob to the side and told him I wanted to give him his present. It worked out great because my mother came up to me with a sleeping Evan in her arms. Jacob and I decided to take the boys up to my parent’s room and asked them to be up there in twenty minutes. I grab Evan from my mother and Jacob grabs Grant and Cole. By the time we reach my parents’ room, all three are passed out. We undress them quickly and place them in their pac n plays. I walk over to the boys’ diaper bag and pull out the little silver bag that is holding his gift.

  “Here, handsome, this is for you.” He pulls out the flat item and un-wraps the tissue paper. He stares and within seconds his jaw drops. I’m smiling from ear to ear.

  “Is this ours?” He stammers out the question.

  “YES!” I squeal in pure happiness.

  “But, how … you said it couldn’t happen.”

  “Why, Jacob? You are the doctor; you should be telling me the answer.” He holds the silver 4x6 picture frame that says “On Our Wedding Day” but it’s the picture that has him captivated. He is staring at my eight week ultrasound picture of our baby. “Are you happy Jacob? Because I am over the moon thrilled. I wanted to tell you as soon as I knew, but I wanted to surprise you. I just found out three weeks ago.”

  He walks over to me and places his hands on my belly. “Baby, you blow me away with your surprises, but I am so damn happy. We made a baby … holy shit … wait … you’re eight weeks? Who did this ultrasound? It’s from my office. You’re due in January?

  He can’t stop his rambling, which means he’s happy. “Yes, babe, we made a baby. I’m eight weeks and so far everything is going well. As you can see, I’m a lot smaller with one than I was with three. Ella took the ultrasound. She squeezed me in when you were off to a lunch meeting. Your dad knows, once the ultrasound confirmed it, I called him. I’m sorry to be sneaky, but what do I get the man that has everything? I thought that this would be the best surprise.”

  “Oh God … Love, I am not upset, I’m just surprised that’s all. We just never planned this. Holy Shit … I can’t believe it, you are carrying my baby. I love you so damn much.”

  “If there is anything I have learned in the short amount of time that we have been together is that the best things in life are the things we never plan for. We can plan as much as we want, but then life turns it over and gives us the perfect plan.”

  “I love you, Mrs. Alexander.”

  “I love you, Dr. Alexander.”

  “Now let’s go watch those fireworks with our guests. After that show, I’m bringing you back up here and creating our own firework show,” Jacob says as he brings me to my knees in a panty dropping kiss.

  “I like that plan!” I whisper during our kiss.

  I wouldn’t have written this book if it wasn’t for life giving me unplanned experience. This book was four years in the making. Four years of celebrations and uphill battles. I wouldn’t have succeeded if it wasn’t for so many people in my life.

  To my husband, thank you for being my rock through our marriage and writing this book. I don’t know where I would be if it wasn’t for you. Your support, strength, and love is what got me through so many obstacles. Thank you, love!

  To my handsome and miracle boys. You are living proof that life has its own way of doing things on its own time. You three have shown me more strength, determination, stubbornness, strong willed, strong minded, and fearfulness in your short lives than I have in my lifetime. You three will never know how much these characteristics have changed me forever as a woman and a mother. Face life head on and always find the positive in the negative. You are my sunshine and I love you to the moon and back!

  To my mother, if it wasn’t for catching the stomach bug while visiting you, this story would never had happened. You were determined to keep me away from my boys so they wouldn’t get sick and for me to start typing away at my book. Thank you for your help and pushing me to write.

  To my very own Ella and Kate. Kristan, we have been though many, many years together. You have found humor in any situation we have experienced throughout our friendship, marriage, motherhood and life. It’s because of you that I created a book. Throughout, you always said, “This needs to be in your book!” and as you can see through “Life’s Perfect Plan”, many have made it. Including the VICKS scene, I will never forget that experience and neither will our children. To Erica, you are more than a rock you are my mountain. You are the strongest and bravest woman I know. I can hope that throughout our friendship I gain a quarter of your strength, determination, and fight for life. You have shown me that life is a gift and to live each day minute by minute. I am so blessed that you are a part of my life.

  To my editor Liz, with Book Peddler Editing. What can I say? I wouldn’t have a book if it wasn’t for you. I gave you a manuscript that needed a lot of work. Your feedback, advice, and opinions made me see things differently than just as a writer. You helped me create a story that I am truly happy with. I look forward to the next book we work on.

  To Book Design by Dee, who created my book cover.
You knew exactly what I wanted to have in a cover. You created a cover for me that I truly love. I look forward to working with you again.

  To Angela with Fictional Formats, you saved my sanity when it came to formatting. Thank you for your help and hard work.

  To my Beta readers … Amanda, who read the book in bits and pieces. Your texts would push me to write one more paragraph or page. You loved where the story was going and I can’t thank you enough for excitement in the story line. Michele, who read the worst rough draft ever of my book and who also read the final. Thank you for reading my book twice, thank you for being my personal cheerleader. I can’t thank you enough for being my biggest fan. To Lucinda, Kerri, Chrissy, Stephanie, Jennifer, Corinne and Darla thank you for taking the time to read my story. Your advice, feedback, and opinions are what made my story better. Most of you wanted more Jacob, so with your advice I created Jacob’s point of view. You will never know how much you truly helped me be a better writer.

  To the amazing authors I have talked with through Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads. Stepping into your territory is terrifying, yet you all scooped me up and placed me under your wings and helped me along the way. To Author L.B. Simmons, I truly love your books and your writing technique. When I expressed this to you, you were so helpful and didn’t hesitate to steer me in the right direction. Thank you for helping me out and recommending some talented people into my life. To Author Janice Baker, I cannot give you enough Thank You’s for what you have done. Your messages and texts always brought me peace. You didn’t sugar coat the experience for me, you told me what would be hard and boy were those moments hard. Thank you for not only being a great author but a friend as well.

  To the many bloggers that helped me to get my name and book out there. Thank you, Melanie with Nerd Girl, Tiffany with This Redhead Loves Books, Jessica and Sheraka with Crazy, Chaotic Book Babes, For the Love of Books, Booked on Romance, One More Chapter, and The Romance Cover. It’s because of you all that I am where I am. You all did the hard work putting my book out there and I can’t thank you enough.

 

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