Shawn and I both wanted kids right away. We’ve never used protection, so I’m surprised it’s taken this long. Though I do think this is good timing. We’re getting married today and we are all settled into the new house.
“Can you keep a secret?” I ask Hazel, and she holds out her pinky for me to lock with hers. “I’m pregnant.”
“Bailey!” she yelps, with so much excitement in her voice. “You’re going to have a baby.” She looks down at my belly and puts her hand on it.
“I haven’t told Shawn yet, so we have to keep it a secret for now.”
“I can do that,” she says. She looks like she is about to burst.
Relief fills me that she is happy. That’s all I ever want in life. A knock at the door has Hazel getting it together. She brings her fingers to her lips, pretending to zip them closed.
“Come in,” I call out as Shawn’s mom Martha comes in. As always, she looks stunning.
“I wanted to see you two before Shawn walks me down the aisle.” She steps inside and closes the door behind her. “Aren’t you two just beautiful.”
Hazel holds out her dress for her to see. Shawn’s mom is like the mother we never had. She dotes on both Hazel and me. She was over the moon when Shawn introduced us to her. I thought she might say we were rushing things, but she helped plan everything. The woman is a machine. When she’s on a mission I can easily see how she used to run a company.
She gives us both a hug. “I hope when you two become Reeds today, you’ll think about calling me Mom from now on.”
“Okay, Mom,” Hazel says, and we laugh.
“That sounds perfect.” I give Martha another hug and hold her close. My heart feels so full.
Technically Hazel already has Shawn’s last name. The change went through last week, but we haven’t told her yet. She knows we’ve been working on it, but Shawn wanted to tell her after we were married. So it felt like she was a part of everything and we were becoming a family together.
When it’s just Hazel and me again, we put on our shoes and get ready to walk down the aisle. Hazel isn’t just my maid of honor, we’ll also be walking down together. She’ll stand up there with Shawn and me as we say our vows because she’s part of me. As much so as if she were my own daughter.
We lock arms together and head downstairs. When we get to the back door the music starts to play. My eyes already begin to water when I see Shawn standing at the end waiting for us. It’s a small wedding with only twenty guests. It’s how we wanted it. When I walk past Kyle, he gives me a wink. I reach out and give his hand a squeeze as I pass him.
When we’re almost to the end, Shawn steps up and holds out his hand to guide me over to him. Hazel stands next to me and she waves to Kyle.
“You both look beautiful,” Shawn says.
“I’ll show you my twirl later,” Hazel whispers to him.
“Can’t wait,” he tells her with a wink before his eyes lock back on mine.
The priest starts the ceremony and begins to talk about love and commitment. I don’t catch everything he’s saying because I’m too busy focusing on the man I love and how wonderful he is. When the priest tells Shawn to slide the ring on my finger I smile down at it. Then when he’s finished he turns to Hazel. Shawn holds up a necklace with a heart locket and opens it for her. He shows her a picture of the three us of together in the inside and she smiles. Hazel grabs my hand as Shawn turns to her.
“And will you, Hazel, let me be your big brother?” Shawn asks, and she nods as she leans forward and he puts the necklace on for her. Then he kisses the top of her head and I can’t hold back the tears anymore. Why are they always making me so emotional?
“Now you may kiss your bride,” the priest says.
Hazel lets my hand go as Shawn pulls me to him and kisses me deeply. When he leans back, I tell him what I’ve been dying to tell him all day.
“I’m pregnant.” I whisper the words and he closes his eyes for a moment, letting them sink in.
He drops his forehead to mine and shakes his head. “You are always saying I give you everything, but in reality, Bailey, you’ve given me so much more.”
The sound of Hazel clapping makes me smile, and then Shawn kisses me again.
Epilogue
Shawn
Nine months after the wedding…
I slide my hand under Bailey’s night shirt and smile against her neck. She doesn’t have any panties on and I keep moving until my hand rests on her very pregnant belly. I feel our little man give a small kick and I kiss her neck. She lets out a cute little sigh and I smile. If she doesn’t go into labor soon they’ll have to induce her. She turns her head and I see her eyes are open.