“Definitely,” Grant agrees.
“I can guarantee he’s going to piss you off,” Royce continues.
“Just ask my wife.” Conrad shrugs.
“But I can also guarantee that no one will ever love you like he does.” Royce holds my stare, willing me to trust in what he’s saying.
“He’s got a big heart, Wren, and he’s given it to you,” Owen explains softly.
Before I can reply, there’s a knock on the door. Grant reaches out and opens it. Marshall is standing there with Madeline in his arms. She’s hugging onto his neck, and there are tears in his eyes. He steps into the room and Grant closes the door. He walks to where I’m still standing beside our bed.
“Please don’t take her away from me,” Marshall says. His voice is thick with emotion, and the tears in his eyes make my knees weak. “I gave you both my heart, and I don’t want it back. Ever. I’m sorry. I’ll never keep something from you ever again.” He turns to look at his brothers. “If you don’t want her to know, don’t tell me.” He faces me again. “Never, Wren. I just wanted to give you the world. Hell, I still do. I never want Maddie to go a day not knowing a father’s love. I never want either of you to have to sacrifice ever again. Not when I know there is something that I can do to make your life easier.
“I know—” he starts and then swallows hard. “I know you might not want to go through with the wedding today. I respect that but, please, baby, I beg you, let me make this up to you. I never meant to hurt you. I just… I just wanted to make your life easier. You make me feel so damn alive.” He shakes his head, and it takes everything in me to keep from pulling him into a kiss. “It’s unreal, Wren. I can’t explain it, but when I have you and Maddie here with me, there’s nothing else in this world that I want.”
He takes a step closer, and I don’t move. I can’t. I’m powerless when it comes to the connection that we share. When it comes to him. “I know you have dreams, and I want to chase them with you. I can help you chase them, and I want to do that. I just want to love my girls,” he says, pressing his lips to Madeline’s head. There is nothing but honesty in his eyes, and suddenly all the anger evaporates and the fog in my head clears. This man is my future. He’s our future, me and my daughter’s.
“She loves you so much,” I say, wiping at my eyes.
“That’s because little girls are supposed to love their daddies,” he murmurs. His voice is sad. Broken.
I know I’m at a crossroads, and I also know deep in my soul he didn’t keep the truth from me to hurt me. Everything he kept from me was just as he said: to make my life better. If I’m being honest, even though I’m mad as hell, I’ve fallen just a little more in love with him, and I didn’t think that was possible.
Glancing over his shoulder, I make eye contact with his brothers. “Can you tell everyone that we’ll be right down? I just need a few minutes,” I tell them. None of them make a move as they wait for me to tell them the outcome of today. “I can’t get married with a blotchy face,” I tell them.
I watch as all four of them have slow lazy grins that cross their faces. “You need us to take Maddie Mae?” Grant asks.
“No. But thank you for the offer.” They nod, and each one takes the time to pat Marshall on the shoulder as they turn to walk out of the room.
“We’re still getting married?” Marshall asks. There is so much hope in his voice and love in his eyes.
“Good times and bad, right?” I ask him. I hate that I questioned his love for me. I let a small piece of hidden truth, that I know came from a good place, almost allow me to lose the man who owns me heart and soul.
“All the times, baby. Every minute of every day. Every single beat of my heart is for you.”
“No more secrets.”
“None.”
“Well, if I expect you to abide by that rule, then I need to be honest with you about something too.” With each passing second, I realize that I overreacted, and the envelope that Royce gave me earlier is proof of that. I let my fear skyrocket something that shouldn’t have even been this big of an issue. Especially not on our wedding day.
“It doesn’t matter.” He’s shaking his head. “Whatever it is, it will work out.”
“First, let me say I’m sorry. I overreacted. I let my fear of losing you, even though irrational, take hold of my emotions. I believe you were coming from a good place.”