Fated Hearts (Southern Bride 8)

She looked up at me and grinned. “You remember that?”

“Of course, I do.”

“How about I make you one when we get back home?”

Annalise and I decided to purchase the Martin Ranch together, and construction for our house was already underway. She had moved out of her rental and in with me while the house was being built. With any luck, it would be finished in plenty of time before the baby arrived.

“When do we find out how far along you are? The due date, all of that?” I asked.

“I’ve got an appointment the day after we come back from our honeymoon. It’s at two in the afternoon. I knew you’d taken that day off already, so I figured that would be okay.”

Lifting her hand, I kissed the back of it. “That’s perfect.”

I stopped walking, causing her to do the same. “We’re at our gate,” I said.

Annalise did a little hop, then turned to look at the flight information. With a frown, she said, “Orlando? Do we change planes there?”

“Nope. That’s our final destination.”

I could see the wheels spinning in her head as she tried to think of why I would be taking her to Orlando. Then it dawned on her…and she slowly turned to look at me.

“I mean, where better to take Cinderella on her honeymoon than to Magic Kingdom?”

Annalise nearly knocked me over when she threw her body against mine. She held on to me tightly before letting go. She looked up at me, and I smiled and reached down to wipe her tears away.

“You remembered.”

I placed my hand on the side of her face, and she leaned into it. “I love you, princess.”

“I love you too.”

Roger - A few years down the road

I STARED AT the baby in my arms in utter awe. She was perfect. Just like her brother before her had been.

“She’s so beautiful,” Annalise whispered as I sat down on the bed next to her.

“Me see, Daddy! Momma, me see!” Matt cried out, practically clawing to get out of my father’s arms.

“Remember your inside voice, Matt.” My mother held Carrie up on her hip. Carrie was Truitt and Saryn’s two-year-old daughter, born on the exact same day as Matt. Nolan and Liliana stood off to the side with Truitt and Saryn.

Annalise held her hands out for Matt. My father handed him to her, and Matt crawled right in between me and Annalise.

“Do you want to hold her your baby sister, Matt?” I asked.

He nodded and held out his arms. Annalise and my mother had been working with him on how to hold the baby the right way, making sure he knew she was going to be very delicate.

I was positive we all held our breath as I lay Millie in Matt’s arms after my father propped a pillow under him.

I watched our son stare down at his newborn sister. Tears filled my eyes when he started to rock softly and sing to her. No one knew what he was singing, but Millie opened her eyes and stared at him. Their connection was instant.

I heard a soft sob come from my right, and I turned to see Annalise wipe one tear and then another away.

I placed my finger under her chin and lifted her head until her eyes met mine. “Thank you for making me so happy,” I said.

She shook her head. “Roger, you’re the one who makes us so happy. You’ve made my fairy tale come true.”

I glanced at our son and daughter and smiled before I looked back at Annalise.

“Just think, it all started with a snowstorm and a stranded princess.”

And they all lived happily ever after.