We’d known it was risky to schedule an outdoor wedding in October, but it had been our own fault for waiting so long to book something with Andie. By the time we’d actually gotten around to talking to her about a date, this had been her best available, unless we’d wanted to wait another six months. We hadn’t. So, we’d paid the deposit and hoped for the best.
And the weather seemed to be smiling down on us.
With the rehearsal behind us, we were now in the dining room at the castle for dinner with our family and closest friends. The table had to be extended to its full length to accommodate the fifteen people sitting around it, in addition to Beckett and me.
Our fathers sat side by side, making jokes about us as kids, while Lizalaughed softly, her fingers twined with Kurt’s. Fallon was feeding the baby, and Parker had wrangled Theo and Lila into chairs. Tejas was flirting with Andie, and she was keeping him at arm’s length, like she did most men. And then there was Fallon’s family, who’d done so much for me over the years, not just monetarily, but by extending their kindness. Lauren, Teddy, Rafe, Sadie, and Fallon’s siblings were all chatting and smiling.
A relaxed happiness was in the air that felt contagious.
That first night Andie and Fallon had shown up at Beckett’s to talk about the wedding, before we’d made it real, I’d imagined this would be the extent of people who’d show up for it. But tomorrow, the ranch would be bursting with at least a hundred people. In addition to some of the hospital staff and his fire crew, Beckett’s role as fire chief had forced him to include the entire city council and their plus-ones just to avoid offending anyone, as well as both the old and new mayors and sheriffs.
As much as it made me nervous to think about all those people watching me as I walked down the aisle tomorrow, I’d happily do it because it meant Beckett’s dreams had come true. I’d do just about anything to show him how proud I was of him. How proud I was of the role he’d already started to play in Swift Rivers, improving not only the department but the community itself.
I was even prouder of the way he’d changed in his private life and the love he gave freely now. The love he’d never once shied away from since sliding the engagement ring on my finger.
My chest filled with a glorious mix of joy and love and lust as I watched Beckett laugh at something Parker said. He’d worn his Class A’s tonight after deciding to wear a tuxedo in our actual ceremony. I hadn’t cared what he wore. I’d just wanted him to be comfortable.
When I’d told him as much, he’d said, “I don’t think I should show up in my boxer briefs, darlin’.” I’d laughed, as he’d intended. But then I’d slowly divested him of his clothes, including the boxer briefs, and neither of us had been laughing. We’d been lost in the heady touch of skin on skin and the slow-building roll to the summit.
My skin flushed simply thinking of it. As if sensing my stare, Beckett looked over at me, gaze stalling on the pink coating my skin. Then, he dragged his eyes down the deep-green dress I’d worn tonight. It had a thousand little buttons running along the front, from the sweetheart neckline all the way down to where it flared just above my knees. When his look finally returned to my face, the blaze in it only made my blush deepen. He smiled a slow, seductive smile that was big enough to make his dimple pop. He pulled out his phone, fingers flying over the screen.
My phone buzzed not even a second later. The text exchange did nothing to help my blush disappear, and when I looked up at him, Beckettwinked.
I moved around the table, leaned in, lips brushing the cuff of his ear, and said, “Payback is hell,ChiefRomero.”
When he went to grab me, I danced out of reach with a laugh just as dinner was served.
We made it through the courses, with laughter and jokes and love floating around the table. And that full feeling in my heart grew and grew until I thought it might burst. Beckett and I were living a beautiful, delightful dream. Fiction made real.
Child Maisey had always felt loved by her parents, even if Dad’s love had been hard to see with his absences. And she’d always felt loved by Beckett and Kurt and Fallon’s family, who accepted her as one of them. But that little girl with the broken jaw, who’d turned into the teen with the scars, had always felt like she wasn’t quite enough. At least, not enough for someone to choose to live happily ever after with.
Now, I realized I’d been looking for my happily ever after in all the wrong places, because the one person I’d really wanted had told me he could never love anyone in that way. I’d let us both believe it. I hadn’t fought for him or us because I hadn’t believed in my own worth enough.
So tonight, I was celebrating the ugly little duckling whose dreams had finally come true and the wounded little boy who’d learned to love, as much as I was celebrating the grown-up versions of us having grabbed hold of each other. Those little kids had survived. Had not only survived but excelled at life and love.
And now we’d make a family together.
Sooner than we’d planned.
My hand rested on my flat stomach, and a wave of love shifted through me so strong I thought I might cry. It was happening so much sooner than we’d discussed, but I knew Beckett would take it in stride just like he’d taken everything else in our lives. Better yet, he’d be the perfect, doting father.
My gaze traveled to my dad. Our relationship was deeper and fuller than ever before. He’d get a kick out of being a grandfather, sharing pictures and bragging on him with all the friends he’d made in his retirement community. And I finally didn’t have to worry about where he was getting the money for it as his property had sold just a few weeks ago to Cooper Wylee. The sheriff’s son had returned to town after the sheriff had a heart attack, and the city council asked him if he’d temporarily take over the role. He’d astonished everyone by giving up his job in LA and moving back to Rivers permanently with his tween son.
Coop moving in wasn’t the only change on our street either. The dealon the Helmers' place that Carter had tried to put together over a year ago had obviously fallen through, but their kids had still put the house on the market, and we’d all been surprised when Andie had purchased it in the spring.
It had been fun to have a girl friend living on the street. Plus, she’d been over to the house a lot getting Beckett’s opinions on renovation ideas.
Just as dessert was being cleared away, Fallon stopped by the head of the table, dropping off a wrapped box with Beckett. I frowned at it as he stood, raising his glass. Seeing my confusion, his faced softened with love, and he leaned in to tuck a strand of hair behind my ear and whispered, “Don’t worry so much, darlin’.”
He cleared his throat and said, “If I could have your attention for just a moment.”
The room grew silent, our loved ones concentrating solely on us.
“I wanted to take the opportunity before the chaos of tomorrow to say thank you to all of you. Not only for being here to celebrate this moment with us but for showing Maise and me the real value of family…of love.”
His voice grew scratchy, showcasing the emotions Beckett so easily gave these days.
“I’m grateful beyond words to have learned from all of you. So thank you.” He raised his glass in a silent toast. Then, he turned to me, drew me up from the table by my hand, and picked up the box Fallon had left. “But I also wanted to take the time tonight to say thank you to my bride-to-be.