Into the Light

“This baby, Charlotte, is a part of you. Anything that is a part of you cannot possibly be wrong. It just means that he or she will have another person that will love them more than they can ever imagine.”

I pulled him into me and hugged him tight, clutching onto him for dear life. He was willing to be with me no matter what. This man loved me for everything I was, for every mistake I had ever made. I gave myself a few seconds to take it all in. The enormity of love and selflessness enveloped me and I wanted to return just that, give him hope, happiness and the love he deserved. Lex deserved the world.

“Lex, this is your baby.”

He let go of me, his face searching mine for the truth “My baby?”

“I doubted myself when I knew the truth. I lied, Lex. There is so much behind why I felt like I needed to lie and I’m so sorry I hurt you, that I caused you so much pain, and I want my chance to tell you everything, Lex. Everything I’ve been holding back since the day it all fell apart seven years ago, but for now, for right now I need to kiss you. I just... I just need you so much in my life... I need you, Lex, forever.”

Finally he pulled me in, our lips only inches apart. His warm breath lingered in the air between us. I closed my eyes, waiting in anticipation to feel his lips against mine, but it was his finger I felt, tracing my bottom lip. My chest rising and falling at a fast pace, I shivered from his touch. His mouth lingered on my bottom lip, and what only was seconds but felt like hours, he gently sucked on my lip, savoring this moment. Everything that weighed heavily on my shoulders slowly lifted as his kiss spread throughout me, shining a light on every part of me that had been encased in darkness. He was mine, and I was his. And I knew that I wanted his kiss for the rest of my life and nobody else’s. He was the one... He was always the one.

“My baby?” he asked again, this time with a smile on his face.

“Yes, Lex...this baby is ours.” I smiled in return.

This time, with a happy emotion driving it, he kissed me deeper and lifted me slightly until we heard an eruption of clapping and whistling. We paused and pulled apart and looked around us. The whole room was giving us a standing ovation, and as my face started to blush I turned to look at Lex, his face beaming with the biggest smile I had ever seen. I placed my arms back around his neck and he spun me around.

We danced, never letting go of each other; there was no other place I wanted to be. That was until Emily cut in asking for a quick dance with her son. I was slightly relieved because I had to pee, serves me right for drinking four mock-tails during dinner. I quickly ducked off to the bathroom which proved a little difficult in the dress, but I made it with moments to spare. As I stood there checking my makeup, Erin one of the bridesmaids walked in and I couldn’t help but smirk; silly bitch for trying to get her claws into Lex.

“So, you and Lex, huh?”

“Yes, me and Lex,” I said politely.

“You never mentioned it. I thought he was shagging that blonde bird...Victoria...something or other.”

“Oh my God, you’re joking? I didn’t know that. Maybe I should break up with him?” I answered sarcastically.

“Maybe you should... I know a lot of ladies he’d be interested in.”

“Clearly sarcasm wasn’t your major but you should try picking up a dictionary some time… It might help you understand when it’s being used.” I fixed a strand of my hair and got the hell out of the bathroom, high-fiving myself for my great comeback.

The rest of the night went off without a hitch; several times I was pulled into conversation with people when I just wanted to be with Lex. I dragged him everywhere with me and thank God he didn’t want to leave my side, though he proved distracting when he would whisper things in my ear.

“Can we go now?” he asked as he tugged on my earlobe with his teeth.

“This is your sister’s wedding. Your only sister. Now suck it up like the hot piece of ass…errr sorry, gentleman that you are.”

“Suck what up?” he whispered in my ear as his hands moved slowly past my ribcage brushing my breast slightly.

“You’re evil, you know that, right?”

“Oh, Mrs. Edwards... What will I do with you?” he asked with a giant grin on his face.

Mrs. Edwards, Mrs. Edwards, the name like music to my ears.

“Did you want the X rated answer or G rated?”

He leaned in, resting his hand on my shoulder. His breath, warm and soft, lingered against my skin “X...always X.”

Okay so I may have giggled like a teenager but that didn’t last long as Emily and Andrew were standing beside us interrupting us from the soon-to-be pornographic banter. Andrew cleared his throat and Lex turned around abruptly.

“Oh, Charlie... I...” Emily’s tears flowed freely and I let go of Lex’s hand to hug her. This wasn’t just about us. There were other people entwined in our past, ones I thought wouldn’t be so happy with our reunion.

“I’m really going to be a grandmother?” she said through her tears.

“Yes, Mom...a little baby to spoil.” He grinned back.

I let go of her as she stroked my cheek. She looked at Lex and cupped his face. “My baby boy is going to be a daddy,” she cried again. She pulled him into her tight as Lex allowed her to have her moment holding onto her just as tight.