My mom was big on Christmas mass. Giving her a daughter-in-law who taught at a Catholic school wasn’t the worst thing I’d done in my life. Or another grandchild. My pop wasn’t so sure on the marrying Kelsey thing, but my mom was definitely from the do-the-right-thing camp.
So here I was again.
A non-traditional traditionalist. A little fun turned into a lifetime attachment one more time. Only this time, I wanted the girl as much as the baby. I still didn’t know how to handle that part, but I had time.
After today, all the time in the world.
Rylee came around the corner. She was dark to Kelsey’s light. Lush to her lean, and abrasive to Kelsey’s sweet babbling. “Okay, she’ll be on her way down in five minutes. Do we have the judge?” She scanned the room and her lips slid into a bombshell smile when Asher Hamilton stood up.
Our newest judge for the courthouse was definitely on the young side compared to the one who had been busting all our balls for as long as I could remember. Since Asher—who had some blue blood in him thanks to some distant relation to Seth and Oliver—had run unopposed, he’d been the youngest judge in the county to take over Crescent Cove’s post.
Rylee crossed the room and hooked her arm into Asher’s and led him to the front. “Thank you for making time for this crazy little shit-show.”
“Rylee Jane,” came a commanding voice.
“It’s not church.” She scrunched up her shoulders and shot a look over at her father.
“It’s a courthouse. Show some respect.”
Rylee glanced up at Asher. “Did you feel disrespected?”
“We don’t generally like cuss words in court, Miss Ford.”
Rylee gave an exaggerated shiver, patted his arm, and murmured something under her breath.
I rolled my eyes. She was definitely not like her sister. Then again, Kel had said plenty of off-color things to me over the last few months.
And yet somehow they sounded sweeter and more growl-inducing. Hell, it was pretty much how I ended up in this predicament. I hadn’t been looking for laughter and sex and a future, but I damn well had found it.
I moved to the front of the room where the judge stood. August followed me and we both pulled at our collars.
Wes raced over to stand between us, the ring box clutched in his hand.
Now I just had to hold onto what I’d found.
Nineteen
I worried my grandmother’s locket between my fingers as I paced the small dressing room.
“Would you stop, you’re making me nauseous.” Sage sighed from the couch we’d set her up on.
“Is it time yet?”
“Are you sure you don’t want me to go out there and tell him you changed your mind?”
“No, Mom. I want to marry Dare.”
“Then why are you so anxious?”
“I just thought I’d have a little more time to get used to the idea, that’s all.”
I hadn’t even gotten to buy a wedding insert for my planner. The entire process had taken up one list page.
God, I was such a sap.
Then again, Principal Gentry had been practically delirious when I told her I couldn’t do the fall pageant this weekend because I was getting married. She tried not to ask questions about my pregnancy. Heck, no one would have known about it yet if Dare hadn’t blurted it out at Sage’s baby shower.
Then again, me screaming the baby might not be his didn’t help that one either.