“Not ever.”
*
Our baby.
Jason’s words the previous night had given her goose bumps. Almost ten hours later, Ming rubbed her arms as the sensation lingered.
My baby.
She tried to infuse the declaration with conviction, but couldn’t summon the strength. Not surprising, when his claim filled her with unbridled joy. It was impossible to be practical when her heart was singing and she felt lighter than air.
Pulling into the parking lot of the salon Susan Case had selected based on their excellent reputation, Ming spent a few minutes channeling her jubilation over her baby news into happiness for Rachel and Max. It was easy to do.
The bride was glowing as she chatted with her sister, Hailey, Missy and Susan. As Ming joined the group, two stylists took charge of Rachel, escorting her to a chair near the back. Rachel had let her hair grow out from the boyish cut she’d had when Ming had first met her. For her wedding look, the stylists pinned big loops of curls all over her head and attached tiny white flowers throughout.
Unaccustomed to being the center of attention, Rachel endured being fussed over with good grace. Watching the stylists in action, Ming was certain the bride would be delighted with the results.
Because all the bridesmaids had long hair, they were styled with the front pulled away from their face and soft waves cascading down their back. When the four girls lined up so Susan could take a photo, the resulting picture was feminine and romantic.
Although the wedding wasn’t until four, the photographer was expecting them to be at the church, dressed in their wedding finery by one. With a hundred or more photos to smile for and because she’d skipped breakfast after oversleeping, Ming decided she’d better grab lunch before heading to the church. She ended up being the last to arrive.
Naturally her gaze went straight to Jason. Standing halfway up the aisle, model-gorgeous in his tuxedo, he looked far more stressed than the groom. Ming flashed back to their senior prom, the evening that marked the beginning of the end for her in terms of experiencing true love.
“Don’t you look handsome,” she exclaimed as he drew near. Over the years, she’d had a lot of practice pretending she wasn’t infatuated with him. That stood her in good stead as Jason pulled her into his arms for a friendly hug.
“You smell as edible as you look,” he murmured. “Whose insane idea was it to dress you in a color that made me want to devour you?”
For her fall wedding, Rachel had chosen strapless empire waist bridesmaid dresses in muted apple green. They would all be carrying bouquets of orange, yellow and fuchsia.
Ming quivered as his sexy voice rumbled through her. If he kept staring at her with hungry eyes, she might not be able to wait until after the wedding to get him alone. A deep breath helped Ming master her wayward desires. Today was about Max and Rachel.
“Susan proposed apple green, I believe.” She’d never know how she kept her tone even given the chaos of her emotions.
“Remind me to thank her later.”
Ming restrained a foolish giggle and pushed him to arm’s length so she could check him out in turn. “I like you in a tux. You should wear one more often.”
“If I’d known how much fun it would be to have you undress me with your eyes, I would have done so sooner.”
“I’m not undressing—” She stopped the flow of words as Emma waddled within earshot.
“I don’t know what you’re planning on taking off,” the very pregnant woman said as she stepped into the pew beside them, “but I’d start with what he’s wearing.”
Jason smirked at Ming, but there was no time for her to respond because the photographer’s assistant called for the wedding party to come to the front of the church.
With everyone in a festive mood, it was easy for Ming to laugh and joke with the rest of Rachel’s attendants as they posed for one photo after another. The photographer’s strict schedule allowed little time for her to dwell on how close she’d been to her own wedding six months earlier, or whether she might be in this same position months from now if things continued to progress with Lily and Evan.
But in the half-hour lull between photos and ceremony, she had more than enough quiet to contemplate what might have been for her and to ponder the future.
She kept apart from the rest of the group, not wanting her bout of melancholy to mar the bride and groom’s perfect day. Shortly before the ceremony was supposed to start, Jason approached her and squeezed her hand.
“You look pensive.”
“I was just thinking about the baby.”
“Me, too.” His expression was grave. “I want to tell everyone I’m the father.”
Ming’s heart convulsed. Last night, after discovering she was pregnant, she’d longed to stand at Jason’s side and tell everyone they were having a baby. Of course, doing it would bring up questions about whether or not they were together.
“Are you sure this is a good idea?”
“The only reason you wanted to keep quiet was because you didn’t want to hurt Evan. But he’s moved on with your sister.”
“So you decided this because Evan and Lily are involved?”
“It isn’t about them. It’s about us. I’m going to be in the child’s life on a daily basis.” His expression was more determined than she’d ever seen it. “I think I should be there as his dad rather than as Uncle Jason.”
He’d said us.
Only it wasn’t about her and Jason. Not in the way she wanted. Ming’s heart shuddered like a damaged window battered by strong winds. At any second it could shatter into a thousand pieces. She loved the idea that he wanted to be a father, but she couldn’t ignore her yearning to have him be there for her as well.
“Come on, you two,” Missy called as the wedding party began moving into position near the church’s inner door. “We’re on.”
Jason strode to his position in line and Ming relaxed her grip on her bouquet before the delicate stems of the Gerber daisies snapped beneath the intensity of her conflicting emotions.
As maid of honor, Rachel’s sister, Hailey, was already in place behind Max and his parents. The music began signaling the trio to start down the aisle. The groom looked relaxed and ready as he accompanied his parents to their places at the front of the church.
The bright flowers in Ming’s hands quivered as she stood beside Nathan. He appeared on edge. His distress let Ming forget about her own troubles.
“Are you okay?” she asked.
Lines bracketed his mouth. “I tried to convince Emma to stay home. Although she wouldn’t admit it, she’s really having a difficult time today. I’m worried about her.”
“I’m sure it’s natural to be uncomfortable when you’re past your due date,” Ming said and saw immediately that her words had little effect on the overprotective father-to-be. “She’ll let you know if anything is wrong.”
“I’m concerned that she won’t.” He glanced behind him at the bride. “She didn’t want anything to disturb your day.”
Rachel put her hand on Nathan’s arm, her expression sympathetic. “I appreciate both of you being here today, but if you think she needs to be at home, take her there right after the ceremony.”
Nathan leaned down and grazed Rachel’s cheek with his lips. “I will. Thank you.”
He seemed marginally less like an overwound spring as they took their turn walking down the aisle. It might have helped that his wife beamed at him from the second row. Ming’s stomach twisted in reaction to their happiness. Even for someone who wasn’t newly pregnant and madly in love with a man who refused to feel the same way, it was easy to get overwhelmed by emotions at a wedding. Holding herself together became easier as she watched Rachel start down the aisle.
The bride wore a long strapless dress unadorned by beading or lace. Diamond and pearl earrings were her only jewelry. Her styling was romantic and understated, allowing the bride’s beauty and her utter happiness to shine.
With her father dead and her mother out of her life since she was four, Rachel had no one to give her away. Ming’s sadness lasted only until she realized this was the last time Rachel would walk alone. At the end of the ceremony, she would be Max’s wife and part of his family.
Ming swallowed past the lump in her throat as the minister began talking. The rest of the ceremony passed in a blur. She was roused out of her thoughts by the sound of clapping. Max had swept Rachel into a passionate kiss. The music began once more and the happy couple headed back down the aisle, joined for life.
Because they’d been the last up the aisle, Nathan and Ming were the last to return down it. They didn’t get far, however. As they drew near Emma, Ming realized something was wrong. Nathan’s wife was bending forward at the waist and in obvious pain. When Nathan hastened to her side, she clutched his forearm and leaned into his strength.
“I think it might be time to get to the hospital,” she said, her brown eyes appearing darker than ever in her pale face.
“How long has this been going on?” he demanded.
“Since this morning.”
Nathan growled.
“I’m fine. I wanted both of us to be here for Rachel and Max. And now I’d like to go to the hospital and give birth to our son.”