You and Me Forever (Oh Captain, My Captain 6)

“Ms. Lincoln, here is your package.” The bellboy hands me a dress bag.

“Thank you,” I say and come back into the room with it.

“Is that it?” Luca smirks.

“Yes, it’s my wedding dress.” I hang it in the closet.

“Can I see it?”

“Sure, tomorrow, when I’m walking down toward you.” I walk over to him and wrap my arms around his neck. Our lips are about to meet when there’s another knock on the door. “Fuck,” I grumble, and this time, it’s Papa saying he’s hungry and we all should join him, Mama, and Valeria right now.

Luca takes my hand and we join them in the hallway. Valeria reaches for Luca and he takes her, kissing her cheeks. I hear him whisper something to her in Russian, but I can’t make it out. She only giggles and snuggles into his neck.

I stare at them for a moment and think of how far Luca has come. He left me the moment I told him I was pregnant, but here we are, almost a year later and we’re getting married tomorrow. Us. After Eleven years together.

I thought it was going to be a long wait, but Luca pushed, hounded, and begged to be married before Valeria was much older. He picked getting married here in Dublin and I set everything up. Luca’s never been one for big parties, but having Valeria, Mama, and Papa here was the most important.

He puts his arm around me as we head into the elevator and down to the restaurant.

~ ~ ~

“Sshh,” I soothe Valeria. Even though Mama wanted her to stay with her tonight, Valeria cried for her daddy and she ended up with us.

Right now, I’m trying to get her to go back to sleep. She keeps whimpering in her half-sleep state and I gently rub my hands up and down her back as she lays on Luca’s chest. That’s where she sleeps when he’s home. Hence, the reason we’ve not had sex in a while.

It sounds selfish, but I need some Mommy/Daddy quiet time soon, or I may combust. I look up at Luca and he’s asleep. He looks so peaceful, but still has a serious expression as he holds Valeria tightly.

I give up on going back to bed and get up. I check my phone and send emails to Amy. THN has taken off and currently is the number one hockey network and top ten of all sports networks.

Everything seems to be fine back home and I’m glad that’s one less stress I can mark off my list today. I jump into the shower and enjoy the hot water. When I step out of the shower, I can hear Valeria giggling and Luca talking to her.

I walk into the room and see them playing on the bed. There are toys all over my side of the bed and Luca will hold up a toy, say it in Russian, and Valeria will giggle.

This is what I wanted. I want my family and I love them more than anything.

~ ~ ~

Luca

“Give Valeria a kiss and go switch places with Mama, Luca.” Hadley is wrapped in a robe with a towel on her head.

“All her words so far have been in English,” I say, ignoring her comment for the moment. “I’m ready for something Russian to pop out. I know she understands me.”

Hadley tries not to smile as she says, “Maybe she’s laughing because you sound funny when you speak Russian, not because she understands.”

I narrow my eyes and she laughs. “You’re not funny.”

“Yes, I am. Go or we’re going to be late to our own wedding. If you leave now, you’ll have plenty of time to work on your hair.” She laughs softly when I cut her a mean look. “I’m on a roll this morning.”

I kiss Valeria’s cheek as I take her to Hadley. “I’ll see you later.” Automatically, I grin because the next time I’ll see her, she’ll become my wife. I lean forward, kiss her softly, and add, “And tonight, you’re mine.”

Hadley smiles, the desire already rising. “How are you going to manage that with Valeria wanting her dad?”

“You’ll see.” I give her one more kiss, give her Valeria, and trek across the hall to my parent’s room.

Mama opens the door, her eyes watery already. “My boy is getting married today.”

“I know, Mama.”