Holding You (Love Wanted in Texas 3)

The moment I saw my sister, my heart felt as if it was about to jump out of my chest. Peeking over to Will, I watched him wipe a tear away as he watched Alex walk down the aisle on my father’s arm.

“She looks beautiful,” Luke and I both said at once. My father and Alex stopped at the altar and Pastor Roberts asked who was giving Alex away.

“I do, her father, the man who will always be number one in her life. Oh, and her mother.” Everyone laughed, including Alex.

Alex reached up and kissed my father. “Daddy, I do love you so very much.”

Placing Alex’s hand in Will’s, my father smiled, wiped a tear away and went to sit down next to my mother who was full-on crying.

Will smiled at Alex and leaned in and said, “You are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.”

Alex began crying as she reached up and kissed Will as everyone clapped. Pastor Roberts cleared his throat and began to speak. “Seems the couple is jumping ahead.”

Alex and Will turned to face the Pastor. “It’s hard for me to believe that I stood u

nder this very same tree and married Alex’s mother and father.”

Alex rocked back and forth and I knew she only did that when she was nervous. She had done it for as long as I could remember. Will kept looking at her and at one point he leaned over and asked if she was okay.

Glancing over to Lauren, she looked white as a ghost. Her eyes caught mine and I mouthed, what’s wrong?

Her eyes widened and she mouthed back, it’s big. Huge.

Oh shit. Swallowing hard, I turned to my dad. He must have noticed the same thing I did.

Pastor Roberts was about to start with the vows when Alex turned and faced Will. The only thing anyone heard was five girls all whispering, “Oh shit.”

Alex’s lower lips trembled. “Will. I have to talk to you.”

“Now, Lex? I mean, can it wait?”

Luke leaned over Will’s shoulder. “Alex, if this is about the fart thing, really, you’ve got to move on.”

Will and I turned and looked at Luke. “Shut the hell up, Luke,” Will said.

“Will, it’s important. I need to talk to you.”

Will shook his head. “Have you changed your mind, Lex?”

Sucking in a breath, Alex frantically shook her head. “No. My gosh no, Will. I want to marry you more than anything but . . . but I need to tell you something before we do this. You have to know something. It will take like three minutes.”

Looking back to my father he shrugged his shoulders.

Turning back to Will and Alex, I walked up and said, “Um, excuse me ladies and gentleman, we’re gonna take a five-minute, um, intermission. Just stay in your seats and the bride and groom will be right back.” Turning to Alex and Will, I motioned for them to step away. “Go, you’ve got five minutes.”

Alex grabbed Will’s hand and walked through the girls as she made her way away from everyone. All eyes were on them, watching as Alex talked and Will listened. The moment I saw Will’s smile, I knew. Looking at Lauren, she was smiling at me. Baby? I mouthed. Lauren wiped a tear away and nodded.

“My father is going to kill, Will,” I whispered.

Leaning in closer, Luke spoke to Pastor Roberts. “Pastor, you may want to say a quick prayer for William there, his life could very well be over.” Turning to me, he said, “Damn, he was so close. So close to being safe.”

Laughing, I watched as Will scooped Alex up in his arms. They were both crying as Will stood there and held my sister.

My father stood up and asked me, “Do you have any idea what is going on?”

Shaking my head slowly I said, “Nerves. I think she needed to talk to him.” My father smiled, then looked back at my mother.

“I totally get it.” Turning, he went and sat back down. Peeking at Luke, we both let out the breath we were holding.