Hard Limits

by Anna Parsons

  “I love you, Hope.”

  “Evie.” Shawna tugged on her daughter’s dress, trying to draw her attention. “We need to start planning the wedding. Spring is good. Don’t you agree, Kate?”

  “Absolutely. I think—” Kate started, but Evie interrupted.

  “No,” Evie said, her gaze still locked with Dylan’s. “I don’t want to wait. I want to be your wife now.”

  “Vegas?” he asked, raising an eyebrow. The parents protested immediately, but he only focused on his Hope.

  “No,” Evie said again. “At the gazebo, with our parents and friends.”

  “That’s just perfect,” Dylan said with a kiss.

  “Gazebo?” Kate asked. “I’ve never heard of it. What kind of venue is it?”

  “It’s not a venue, Mother,” Dylan said, his eyes never leaving his Hope’s. “Just a place that’s special to us.”

  “That’s great, son. Now put the girl down,” Owen said. “The mothers are about to bust a gullet to see the ring.” Dylan kissed his Hope on the nose and gently placed her feet onto solid ground.

  “Oh yes, do let me see.” Kate reached for Evie’s hand. Both she and Shawna gave their approval on Dylan’s selection before turning to each other, making plans.

  “Oh, Sean, look at how beautiful it is.” Shawna moved her daughter’s hand toward her husband.

  “Already seen it darling,” Sean said, causing all three ladies to look at him. “Saw it when he asked my permission last week.” The ladies sat in stunned silence. “He’s very traditional, you know.” Evie snickered, before the other two laughed heartily. “What’s so funny?” Sean asked Owen.

  “No idea,” Owen said, sipping his mimosa.

  Chapter 43:

  A Wedding

  Dylan, in light-colored khakis and a short-sleeved linen shirt, stood in the center of the newly restored gazebo, marveling at the work his Hope completed in just a few short weeks. The broken and warped wood was replaced with strong, rich, fragrant cedar, blending in perfectly with the surrounding grounds. Overgrown and drought-torn bushes and shrubs were replaced with flowering perennials and several varieties of wild pansies. Where the hell did she find wild pansies this time of year? That woman…my woman…Standing next to Dylan, also similarly comfortably dressed were Ben and Chris. A photographer snapped pictures, without being intrusive. She thought of everything. “You ready for this, man?” Ben asked with a smile.

  “I am,” Dylan said simply.

  “He’s ready for the honeymoon,” Chris said.

  “I am,” Dylan repeated.

  “She did all this?” Ben asked, looking around. Dylan nodded. “It’s awesome.”

  “I agree, brother,” Dylan said, walking to the rail. “She wouldn’t let me help. Between her and our mothers, the contractors didn’t stand a chance. Those ladies beat them into submission. No pun intended.” He chuckled. Allison and Antonio ascended the stairs, Allison in a pale pink sheath, Antonio in all white. “Allison, I know you’re the maid of honor, but what are you supposed to be?” Dylan asked Antonio after giving Allison a kiss on the cheek

  “I’m the ring bearer,” Antonio said pulling the ring Evie planned to place onto Dylan’s finger from his pocket.

  “That’s just great.” Dylan snickered. “Here come my parents and JJ. Now we just need my Hope and the minister.”

  Owen and Kate entered the gazebo, passing out hugs and kisses. “Ready for this, son?” Owen asked.

  “Absolutely, Dad.” Dylan hugged him. Over his father’s shoulder, he saw his Hope approach. In a knee-length sleeveless crochet dress, in off-white, she took Dylan’s breath away. In bare feet, carrying a few fresh pansies, she walked around the gazebo, pointing out flowers to her parents and her brother. Her hair was pulled away from her face and she tossed a long strand over her shoulder as she turned to look at the group gathered on the gazebo, meeting Dylan’s dark eyes and smiling. “Beautiful,” Dylan said. He tore his gaze from his Hope to look around. “Where the hell is the minister?”

  “Oh, dear,” Kate said. “Cursing at the minister. I raised you better.”

  “Brother.” Chris walked closer to his friend. “The minister is here.”

  “Where?”

  “You’re looking at him,” Chris said, opening his arms.

  “Is this some kind of joke?” Dylan asked. “That shit ain’t funny.”

  “Dylan!” Kate said. “Language!”

  “Sorry, Mother.” Dylan returned his gaze to his friend.

  “Evie made me do it.” Chris held his hands up in surrender. “I got ordained on the internet.”

  “Aw, hell.” Dylan laughed.

  “You, sir, are looking at an ordained minister in the Evangelical Church of the Everlasting Ascending Dove. I have a suitable-for-framing certificate, and all rights and privileges, including the ability to officiate this wedding.” Chris stood smiling, announcing his ordination while Dylan and Ben laughed uncontrollably.

  “You’re serious!” Dylan coughed.

  “Yes, I’m very serious,” Chris said, taking his place in the center of the gazebo.

  Dylan and Ben continued to snicker as Evie approached. She took her place between Dylan and Allison, with Ben standing to Dylan’s right. “You could only have one best man, and I wanted Chris to participate,” she said as she took Dylan’s hand. “It was either minister or ring bearer, and Antonio had his heart set on being the ring bearer.” Dylan laughed out loud.

  “Can we get started, please?” Reverend Chris asked seriously. “Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today, to…to…Ah, damn. Wait, I need my notes.” Chris dug into his pants pocket for his note cards.

  “This is the best wedding I’ve ever been to,” JJ said aloud, causing everyone gathered to burst into laughter.

  “I love you,” Dylan said, looking down at his Hope.

  “I love you, too,” she replied, standing on her tip toes, reaching to meet him. The kiss was tender and brief.

  “Not yet, man,” Chris said. “I’ll tell you when.”

  “Sorry,” Dylan said. “Couldn’t help it.”

  “Dearly beloved…” Chris started again. He made it through the traditional monologue with only a few guffaws, until he reached the critical part. “Do you Dylan, take your Hope, as your lawfully wedded wife? To love, honor, and cherish as long as you both shall live?”

  “I do,” Dylan said before placing the infinity band onto her finger.

  “Do you, his Hope, take Dylan as your lawfully wedded husband? To love, honor, and obey…”

  “Obey?” Shawna interrupted.

  “Yes, mother, obey,” Evie said, looking at Dylan. “I will love, honor and obey for as long as we live.” Antonio handed her the ring, which she slowly placed onto his finger.

  “I will worship you and love you forever,” Dylan said, gazing deeply into her eyes. “You are the person who connects me to the rest of the world. Without you, I am nothing.”

  “Well said, brother.” Ben slapped Dylan on the shoulder.

  “With my whole heart, I give myself to you” was his Hope’s reply.

  “By the power vested in me by the church Evie found online, which agreed to make me a minister for forty-nine ninety-five, I pronounce you husband and wife.” He paused, smiling. “You can kiss her now.”

  Dylan removed the pansies from his Hope’s hand, shoving them toward Chris. Taking her face into his hands, he leaned down and gently pressed his lips to hers. He moved his tongue between her lips, teasing her, encouraging her tongue to join his. As soon as their tongues touched, both felt a spark, deepening the connection.

  “Umm. Well…” Ben said to the group. “Let’s head to the pool area and give these love birds some time.”

  The assembly moved down the stairs, heading to the pool, leaving the newly married couple alone.

  Epilogue

  As her due date neared, Armand Vindinev invited Hope to play with him in a Christmas charity concert. At first, she declined but la
ter had a change of heart. After receiving a large dose of encouragement from the entire family, she became excited at the prospect of playing and graciously accepted his invitation. Her nerves would have taken control had Dylan not been with her through every rehearsal, through all of her doubts, and at the very end, seated in the front row. Dylan’s tailor created a lovely dress for his Hope to wear during the concert. Fitted red lace, with a scalloped plunging neckline, sensually displayed her breasts. The bell sleeves and scalloped hem made her look like old-world royalty.

  When she stepped onto the stage, Dylan noticed that she paused when she saw the audience. Fearful that she would bolt in fright, he started to rise. He was right. She froze until she noticed his movement. When their eyes met, she felt an overwhelming sense of well-being. Taking her place at the piano, Dylan watched as his Hope played the medley of holiday classics. “Ave Maria,” “O Come All Ye Faithful,” “The Holly and The Ivy,” and “Cannon and Gigue.” In the end, Dylan, Chris, Ben, Antonio, Allison, JJ, Matthew and the parents were on their feet, with the rest of the audience, most expressing their appreciation and adoration to the musicians, the family showing support for Hope.

  The entire group retired to the Hope-Rankin mansion, a wedding gift from Dylan’s parents, for Christmas Eve dinner. Hope excused herself several times during the evening, just not feeling herself. She didn’t experience any morning sickness during the pregnancy and found her appetite unchanged, contrary to the stories Shawna and Kate told her about their pregnancies. By the end of the evening, Hope thought something was happening. Then her water broke…

  “I’m so glad that there are three doctors here,” Hope said when she entered the family room.

  “Why is that, darling?” Sean asked, refreshing his drink.

  “Because my water just broke,” she said so calmly that it took those gathered a moment to realize what she was saying. Then the room broke into action.

  “Call 9-1-1,” JJ said to one to the staff.

  “I don’t think there’s time,” Hope said.

  “Upstairs,” Dylan said before lifting his Hope into his arms, and bounding up the wide staircase. He placed her gently atop their bed, standing back, allowing the physicians to take over.

  “We need to cut this dress off,” JJ said to no one in particular.

  “No!” Hope yelled. “Dylan had this made for me. And it’s so pretty.” Tears streamed down her face at the thought of losing the beautiful one-of-a-kind garment.

  “We can get it off.” Shawna pushed her way past the doctors and, along with Kate, got Hope standing and undressed within moments. Kate reached into the large bureau and pulled out one of her son’s shirts. Even with her protruding belly, the shirt engulfed her. Shawna led her back to the bed.

  “I don’t want to lie down,” Hope said softly.

  “You have to, darling,” Kate said.

  “I really want to sit up,” Hope protested. “The chaise.” She said, pointing toward the wide chaise lounge that took up a corner of the room. Hope sat gingerly, feeling nearly unbearable pressure. She groaned loudly, and Dylan was there, kneeling down next to her.

  JJ was elected to lead the team, assigning tasks to each doctor…hot water and towels for Sean, and instrument preparation for Matthew. The child was impatient to see the world, and within moments, Hope was pushing. Dylan moved to sit behind her on the chaise, supporting her as she brought his son into the world. She felt little pain and smiled through much of the experience, holding Dylan’s hand tightly as he whispered words of love and encouragement in her ear. She was starting to tire when she heard the sirens in the distance. “Dylan,” JJ said. “Come here and deliver your son.” Dylan sat, stunned. Hope looked into his eyes and squeezed his hand to get his attention. She nodded when he looked down into her green eyes. Shawna quickly took his place behind her daughter’s back. Dylan knelt on the end of the chaise next to JJ. He watched in awe as his son slowly exited the safety of his mother’s womb and made his way into his father’s waiting hands. Dylan was giggling like a school girl as he lifted his son for the grandmothers and Hope to see. Under JJ’s watchful eye, Dylan cut the cord and passed the newborn to Matthew who cleaned and wrapped him in a soft blanket before retuning him to his hovering father.

  Dylan moved carefully to sit next to Hope, placing his son into her waiting arms. “Have you thought of a name?” Shawna asked, brushing a stray hair from Hope’s forehead.

  “Dylan James Rankin,” Hope said as she stroked his chubby cheek.

  “The perfect combination of us all,” Dylan said before kissing Hope’s forehead.

  THE END

  WWW.ANNAPARSONSWRITES.COM

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  My name is Anna Parsons-Ferrell, and I live in Houston, Texas, with my fiancée and our dogs. I am very excited about Hard Limits, my first published work.

  Siren Publishing, Inc.

  www.SirenPublishing.com