by Tiffani Lynn
“Yes. We have some things to talk about. Big things, but yes. You’re going to be a daddy.”
I leap up from the ground and grab her around the waist, spinning her as we go. She squeals with delight and smacks me on the shoulder. “I’m gonna puke. Cut it out!”
I set her down gently and kiss her with everything I have until a loud whistle cuts through the fog of happiness.
“Boy, get a room. My front yard ain’t the Holiday Inn,” my granddad yells.
“She said yes,” I yell back.
“Well duh!” he yells back to me.
“And she’s going to have my baby too!”
“Well get her in here so we can feed her!” Granny hollers, and we both laugh.
Wrapping her in my arms, I kiss her hair, so thankful for this whole evening. In the middle of my bliss an unwelcome thought occurs to me. “You have to go back to Key West and pick up a crazy schedule. I don’t want you to give up your new career, but I’m going to worry.”
“I already thought of that. I talked to my agent while you were gone and asked to add security detail to my expenses. An actress I worked with did that. Granted, she was a bigger name than I am, but with everything that happened, my agent didn’t think I’d have a problem getting that negotiated in.”
“You’re going to have a bodyguard?”
“Yes, I thought that might make you feel better.”
“Yeah, but no one is guarding this body but me.”
“I already thought of that too. I contacted Athena yesterday about contracting you through Omega Team, at least until the baby is born.”
“What did she say? She didn’t mention anything to me when I talked to her earlier.”
“I asked her to let me talk to you about it. She said they’d be willing to do it if it’s what you want. I know you love your job and if you want to keep doing it, I’ll interview and hire someone else until I deliver. Then we can revisit everything. I don’t want you to stop doing what you love to follow me around, but I didn’t want to take the option from you either.”
“So, you’re asking me to be your bodyguard?”
“Well, yeah.” She looks at the ground like she’s afraid to see my face when I respond.
“You want me on location with you and tied to you that tight?”
“Of course. There’s no one I want more, but if it’s too mu—”
“That’s not even a question, M. I love you. I’ve waited for this too many years to count. I’ll follow you wherever you want to go.”
She looks at me with tears in her eyes. “What if you get tired of me? My own mother can’t even…”
“Don’t take this the wrong way, but your mother is a selfish cow. She never loved you like you deserved to be loved and now that I have a chance to show you how good it can be, I’ll do it. Our baby won’t experience a single second of what you felt growing up. There is nothing more important than you, this baby and our future together. I love you.” Before she can respond I kiss her softly, my lips lingering longer than normal, willing her to feel the truth behind my words.
My granddad, being the cantankerous old man he is, breaks the moment by yelling, “Boy! If you don’t get that girl in here and feed her so she can grow my great grandbaby, I’m gonna take a switch to your butt.” We both bust up laughing because we were threatened as kids with the “switch” when we’d get too rowdy, but he never could do it.
“Okay, okay Granddad, we’re coming.”
She slides her arm around my waist and my arm slips over her shoulder, holding her to me as we walk toward the front door. When we reach Granddad, he has a big smile. He lifts both hands, patting us each on a cheek. “Proud of you two. Glad you finally figured it out.” We don’t get the chance to respond because he turns on his heel and disappears into the house.
Epilogue: Mike
One month later…
At six o’clock, my mom, my grandparents, my brother Thomas, Hudson, Phil Harmon, Summer’s new assistant Karis, and the judge we found to marry us are all waiting patiently for Summer to join us. Everyone is seated facing us, except Thomas who is at my side and the judge who is facing our guests. I’ve glanced at my watch no less than 50 times today. My surprise for her should’ve arrived already and I’m nervous about it.
Just as I’m about to abandon my spot in front of everyone to see what’s taking so long, Javier strides out from the doors leading to where Summer has been getting ready. The grin on his face is huge. He comes right up to shake my hand and give me a half hug.
“Good to see you, man. The girls will be out in a minute. Val couldn’t wait so they went straight to the dressing room. Congratulations!”
“Thanks, I was starting to get nervous that y’all weren’t going to make it.”
“The ladies had to change into their dresses at the airport. Then it took us a few minutes to get a cab.” He leans over and shakes hands with Thomas as I introduce them. Considering the small group we have gathered, I announce, “Hey, guys. This is Valerie’s man, Javier. They’re here. It should only be a minute or two longer.” Javier shakes hands with everyone and then takes the seat next to Phil. A few minutes later my 12-year-old niece, Thea, comes through the door in a pretty, light pink dress, followed by her mother, Valerie, who still looks teary-eyed and is smiling widely at me. They both come to me and I wrap an arm around each of them and kiss their foreheads.
“Thanks for coming.”
“We wouldn’t miss it,” Val says.
“No way! This is awesome,” Thea chimes in happily.
Before I can say anything more, the door opens and Summer comes through on my dad’s arm, wearing sky-high heels and a short, white dress that skims her curves without clinging too tightly is adorned with shiny little beads. White and red gerbera daisies make up her small bouquet and I can’t help but grin back at her. When she gets to the edge of the concrete, she stops and kicks off her shoes and continues through the sand barefoot to stand next to me.
My dad places her hand in mine, kisses her cheek and slides into the chair next to my mom in the front row. I guide her to stand in front of me and say, “God, you’re beautiful, M.”
She flaps her hand in front of her face like she might cry again, so I squeeze her hand and turn to the judge. “We’re ready.”
He adjusts his glasses and reads the prepared script. I tip Summer’s face up to look at mine, wanting to stare into her sapphire depths through this whole thing. I want to burn this moment so deep into my memory that it never goes away.
After we’ve been declared husband and wife and have spent the evening enjoying dinner with our family and friends, I finally excuse us from the group. I’m ready to take this back to the hotel room and show my gorgeous new wife just how happy she makes me.
The End
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