by Lynn Stark
“Yay!” Brant yelled. “We get to go to a party.”
Maggie laughed and shook her head. She loved her kids. Like most small children, they were very simple in their wants and needs. Though they hadn’t yet gone to a wedding, they had attended a lot of receptions. It was a common occurrence in Silver, since so many people were being married or taking part in commitment ceremonies. It seemed as if they attended a reception a week, which wasn’t true. It just felt that way, at times.
Leaving her fiancés to entertain their children-to-be, Maggie went into the kitchen. She had given the guys a list of groceries they would need. Opening the cupboards and the refrigerator, she was pleased to see that everything seemed to be there. As she began getting things down and setting them on the counter, Sean walked in.
“I thought I’d help,” he told her, giving Maggie a warm smile. “What pans do you need?”
The next twenty minutes were very enjoyable. Maggie had always liked having someone to prepare a meal with. Sean was great at chopping up the vegetables to be steamed. She laughed and asked him if he had OCD because every piece was nearly the same size. When he put the fish she had stuffed with herbs and wrapped with foil on the pan according to size, largest to smallest, her teasing began all over again. She finished the salad once the fish was in the oven, putting it in the refrigerator to chill.
The next wave into the kitchen was Ethan, followed by Emily and Brant. She and Sean watched as they set the table, chuckling when Emily would carefully straighten the silverware after Max placed it beside the plates.
“It’ll be okay, Em,” she told her daughter. “They don’t have to be perfect.”
Emily giggled and went to get the plastic tumblers from Max. Brant was carrying a jug of juice, groaning when he lifted it to the tabletop.
“Oh, we need napkins!” Emily all but shouted in her excitement. She began looking around the kitchen, smiling and running across the room when Max opened a drawer. “Thank you, Daddy.”
Everyone in the room became still. Ethan had come in with Samuel. They stood in the wide archway, looking from Emily to Max. Emily was grinning from ear to ear. Max looked as if he might start crying. Maggie was in no way surprised when he scooped Emily up and hugged her tight. The pair looked at one another, both smiling, Emily sliding her little arms around Max’s neck so she could give him a good squeeze.
“Can you be our daddy, too?” Samuel asked Max. Max nodded and smiled. Then he looked at Sean and Ethan. “You’re all our daddies?” His voice was filled with amazement and awe and a whole lot of hope.
Sean hunkered down in front of Samuel. He brushed his bangs off the boy’s forehead. “We’ll be your daddies real soon. But you can call us dad or daddy. I know I’d like that. I bet Max and Ethan would like it, too.”
Though Maggie wasn’t one to cry at the drop of a hat, she was close this time as she heard the happiness and wonder in her son’s voice. Emily was running around the living room, her hands gripping her ponytails, yelling “yippee,” while Brant was doing some sort of end zone victory dance.
Yeah, she had made the right decision. Max, Sean, and Ethan were good men. They would be good fathers and husbands.
Chapter Twelve
Taking a deep, calming breath, Maggie examined her reflection critically. So much had happened in the past few months. Once she had given the men her answer to their proposal, she had begun making plans for their wedding. They did help, but there were times when it was easier to do some things on her own, or with the help of her mother or friends.
Now the craziness was over and she was prepared to commit herself to Max, Ethan, and Sean for the rest of her life. Her heart pounded in her chest. Her hands trembled.
“Okay, which of you two talked me into this gown?” Maggie asked her friends, Bambi and Amanda, as she eyed the exposed mounds of her breasts with some trepidation. One wrong move and they might decide to make an escape attempt. Her dearest friends laughed at her as they helped her finish dressing. She was expected at the church in less than half an hour. “Was I myself at the time?”
Neither woman made any attempt to hide their glee over her predicament. She looked at them. They were beautiful in their short, dark purple bridesmaid’s dresses. Maggie knew she couldn’t have gotten through the craziness of the past couple months, without her friends’ help. They had been almost inseparable since they were toddlers, until Bambi had married the loves of her life, Slade Jessop and Eli James, and Maggie had the triplets. Amanda was still single and sassy, as she liked to put it. Amanda and Bambi were the right kind of friends. Or the very worst kind. They would do everything within their power to make you happy, and would also be willing to break you out of jail. They had gotten into more than one scrape together, mainly at the Silver Spur Saloon.
“I believe you were perfectly sane,” Amanda told her with a grin.
Bambi nodded. “You can’t hide the girls. It’s better to show them off than to try to hide them.”
“I think you’re beautiful, Mama,” Emily told her. Maggie shifted her gaze until she could see her daughter standing beside her in the full-length mirror. “That’s the bestest dress ever!”
Turning slightly, Maggie bent to kiss the top of Emily’s head. “Thank you, baby. You look very pretty, too.” Emily was going to be the flower girl. Her dress was also purple, but a shade which complimented her red hair and green eyes. Of course there was a lot of lace and she had asked to have a wide ribbon sash, too. “Mama’s little princess.” Emily glowed at the compliment, her heart in her eyes as she looked up at Maggie. It was something she hoped she still saw in her daughter’s eyes, and her sons’, in fifty years. They were so precious to her. They were her heart.
Maggie straightened and looked at her reflection again. It was a beautiful gown and she knew she had made the right choice. Ivory, the dress was a strapless, tea-length, with a cap-sleeve shrug. The bodice and A-line skirt were covered in lace. She knew she might regret the length when she went outside. It was December and winter weather had gripped the area with frigid temperatures for the past few weeks. In deference to the cold, she was wearing ivory booties with a medium heel and faux fur around the top. They were cute and Emily’s choice. Her daughter did have good taste.
“You are beautiful,” Doreen Phillips told Maggie, as she stepped up behind her to place the small pearl and beaded tiara atop her fiery curls. She had decided to leave it down, as that was how the men preferred it. Emily had insisted that she needed a tiara. Truth be told, she had hated the idea of a veil of any length. The tiara finished off her ensemble quite beautifully. Her mother stepped back, smiling broadly. Maggie could see tears. She smiled back. “Perfect.”
It gave her heart another boost of joy, when Emily clapped her hands. “Mama’s a princess now, too!”
Finally finished, something borrowed and old was her grandmother’s cameo necklace. Something new was a thin diamond bracelet given to her by her parents. Something blue was a silk thong her naughty best friends had given her.
Giving herself one last glance in the mirror, Maggie took Emily’s little gloved hand and headed to the door. Fifteen minutes later she was walking down the aisle on her father’s arm, Emily in front of them, carefully dropping flower petals. She had to bite her lip to keep from laughing. It was probably the slowest trip down the aisle in the history of weddings. It was also being recorded, to possibly use later as a bargaining chip with her daughter or just a good laugh with family.
Maggie looked toward the three men waiting for her, her heart beginning to pound in her chest. Terror warred with ecstasy in her chest. She knew deep in her soul that she was doing the right thing. But just because she knew that didn’t mean there wasn’t a bit of uncertainty lurking, making her nervous. She supposed every bride went through such emotions, though she truly hadn’t experienced extreme highs and lows since agreeing to marry Sean, Ethan, and Max.
When the three men smiled at her, looking at her with such love, Maggie felt that
last of her nervousness slip away. She returned their smiles, and then glanced to where Emily had nearly reached the front of the church. She was ready to marry her men and wished her daughter didn’t feel the need to place every petal perfectly.
Ron Phillips laughed softly as they neared the end of the rows of pews. Maggie resisted the urge to turn her head to stick her tongue out at her father.
“I’m all done, Mama!” Emily exclaimed proudly, holding the handle of the empty basket in both of her hands.
Bending, Maggie placed a kiss on her daughter’s beaming, upturned face. “You did a very good job, baby. Thank you. Now, could you go sit with your grandma?” She watched as Emily headed toward her grandmother. She then looked at her men just in time to see Max go down, hitting the floor with a sickening thud.
Wincing, she hurried forward, feeling a moment of panic. Maggie squashed it mercilessly as she, Sean, and Ethan checked Max over. He was out cold. Then Emily, Brant, and Samuel were there, pushing to the front.
Emily bent to pat Max’s cheek before Maggie could stop her daughter. “Wake up, Daddy! You have to marry our mama now!”
“He’ll be fine, Emily.” Her father picked Emily, hugged her, and then carried her away.
No one carried the boys away, until it was too late.
Samuel bent to pat Max’s face as his sister had done. Max’s head moved a little and a soft moan escaped his lips. “Wake up, Daddy! You have to marry mama so you can make a baby with her.”
Maggie felt her fair skin flush brightly. Obviously one their little friends had been filling in the gaps of their knowledge about families and babies. They would be having a mother-daughter-sons talk, in the very near future. The guests in the church close enough to hear him, erupted into laughter. Those who hadn’t heard were soon filled in and their laughter joined that of the others.
She was relieved when Max sat up and rubbed his hands over his face. “Are you okay?” she asked, concern in her voice. She reached out to run her fingers over his dark brown hair. He turned his head to give her a sheepish smile. “Did you get hurt?”
Max shook his head. “Nothing but my dignity and I suppose that’ll survive.”
Sean and Ethan helped him to his feet and brushed him off. Both men fussed over him to the point where he had to push their hands away. It was one of the things she loved about the three men. They loved one another so deeply, that it was a like a living, breathing entity. And she was part of that now, too, as were her children.
“Are you okay, Daddy?” Brant asked, looking up at Max with huge eyes.
Max reached out to ruffle Brant’s carefully combed hair. He gave him a bright smile. “I sure am, buddy. Thanks for worrying about me. Now, why don’t you go back and get into place so we can finish getting married.”
“Okay, but don’t forget to make the baby. We want more brothers.”
“No! I want a sister! Boys are dumb!” Emily shouted from the pew beside her mother.
Maggie rolled her eyes and shook her head, as laughter once again filled the church. It was certainly going to be a memorable wedding and one that would surely be talked about for years. Turning to her daughter, she gave her best reproving stare. Emily wilted, sitting down beside her grandmother. Then she looked at her sons. They dipped their heads and shuffled back to their place. She certainly hoped no one had given them the ring yet, otherwise they were in trouble.
Taking a deep breath, Maggie smiled and went to stand before the minister. Bambi and Amanda, her best friends, were laughing with everyone else. It took a moment more, but they were soon reciting their vows. No one else passed out and the children kept their innocently embarrassing comments to themselves.
“Oh, no! More kissing!” Brant groaned, slapping his forehead.
She peeked from the corner of her eye, her lips pressed to Ethan’s, to see him covering his face with his hands. Okay, so she had been wrong. It seemed the day for the triplets to express whatever thought came into her head wasn’t over yet.
Ethan lifted his head, grinning at her. “Those kids of ours sure know how to liven up a wedding.”
Maggie nodded. “They do. Remind me not to take them to another.”
With her husbands gathered around Maggie, they posed for more photos taken by friends and family. Their children wriggled around in front, jostling for position. She chose to ignore their fidgeting. It was part of the moment.
Two hours later they had managed to live through embarrassing toasts and supper, as well as Emily twerking in the center of the dance floor.
The community center was packed. There wasn’t any need to invite anyone to the reception. Everyone showed up. It didn’t matter who they were. Friends and foes alike made an appearance, to enjoy the food, the music, and the company of fellow citizens of Silver.
Maggie caught her breath as they approached what was essentially a new house. The snow, light flakes floating on the wind, sparkled in the sunlight as they swirled and danced. There was a magical quality to it and she knew that her grandfather would approve. The windows he had designed had been taken from the front of the house and incorporated into the turret of the small, Victorian-style house. The room it was attached to was their children’s playroom.
It had taken the dedication of a very large crew to finish it in the time that they had. The weather had cooperated by not dumping several feet of snow in the area. The temperatures, too, had been milder than was normal.
“I still can’t believe how beautiful the house is,” Ethan said as they got out.
Max put an arm around Maggie’s waist, steadying her as they made their way up to the wide porch that wrapped around two sides of the house. She admired the stick and ball trim, the beautiful arches they formed around the porch, as she did each time since it had been put up.
“It is amazing, isn’t it? The snow falling around it makes it all the more special.”
Sean opened the door and stepped forward to sweep Maggie up into his strong arms. He cradled her against his chest as he carried her over the threshold and into the entryway with its curved stairway.
Maggie looked up to where the banisters surrounded the upper floor on three sides. There were four bedrooms, a playroom, and a laundry room. Their bedroom was on the right and took up all of one side of the second floor.
Something caught her eye as she looked above her head to the chandelier. She chuckled as she saw the ball of mistletoe dangling from a red satin ribbon. Strong arms slid around her waist from behind as Sean leaned down to kiss her. Their mouths met gently, without passion, a sweet kiss that touched her heart.
When the kiss ended, Max helped her out of her coat. A moment later she was being led upstairs to their room. Once inside, she turned to face her three husbands. While some might not have considered them handsome, she believed they were the most beautiful men on earth.
And they believed she was perfect. Maggie liked that. She loved them for it.
They were staring at her. “What?”
They smiled. “You’re gorgeous in that dress,” Sean told her, his voice husky, his blue eyes filled with desire. “I don’t believe I’ve ever seen a more beautiful bride.”
“Our bride,” Ethan said, moving closer. “Our beautiful Maggie.”
Maggie could feel the heat rise in her cheeks. Max reached up to carefully lift the small tiara from her head. He carried it to her dresser and placed it on top. Ethan kneeled at her feet, unzipping her boots. She lifted each foot so he could pull them off. Sean stepped behind her to remove the shrug before unzipping her dress. Within seconds she was standing there in an ivory corset, garter belt, blue thong, and stockings.
Their gazes roamed over Maggie, from the wild mass of dark auburn curls running over her shoulders and down her back, to her polished toenails. She was in no way surprised when their gazes lifted to her breasts, lovingly cradled in satin.
“Are you just going to leave me standing here? It’s kinda hard to make a baby all by myself.” As sexy as she felt, she
would be glad to get out of the corset. She would give them all the encouragement they needed to help her out of it. She doubted it would take long. She gave Ethan her best sassy look. She saw him light up and he headed in her direction. Lifting her arms, she wrapped them around his neck. She kissed his chin. “Now what? I hope you guys have something fun planned.”
Ethan winked. “Of course we do. This is a moment we’ve been waiting for.”
Sean stepped up behind her, lowering his head to kiss her shoulder. “Mmm, I could kiss your soft skin forever.”
“And I could let you.”
Maggie moaned as his mouth moved up along her neck to nuzzle behind her ear, sending tiny shivers of pleasure over her skin. Her nipples puckered into tight knots and her belly tightened. She missed his mouth at once when Sean stopped kissing her. She felt his fingers at the back of her neck. Her grandmother’s necklace slipped away. She heard it being placed on the top of the dresser. Then he was back, his hands reaching around to cup her breasts. Max moved in on them. She looked up and saw the heat in his gray eyes. She felt his fingers at her hip, sliding beneath the elastic of the thong. He pulled and it snapped, falling away. The grin he gave her promised all sorts of wicked things.
“You better follow through with the promise I see in your eyes,” Maggie told him, her voice sounding husky to her ears.
Max grinned and wiggled his eyebrows at her as he pressed close. She was surrounded by her men and loving it. Her arms tightened around Ethan’s neck. His cock was pressed against her middle. Sean was equally aroused and rubbing himself against her in a way that left no doubt what was on his mind.
They stepped away from her one by one and began taking off their clothes. They had lost the jackets to their tuxes hours before. Maggie laughed when Ethan looked so relieved when he removed the black bowtie. It went sailing somewhere to his left. Max already had his shirt off and was working on the belt. She turned slightly to see Sean kicking off his polished boots. She hadn’t bothered to ask the men to wear shoes and not boots. Though as handsome as any models she had ever seen, the idea of dressing up in tuxes for their wedding had made them wince, whine, and grumble. They were cowboys and not city slickers. So, hats and boots it was.