We decided against a large wedding. I’m packing my last two semesters into one, which, thankfully, is not a huge load. I was ahead of schedule and only needed three classes to finish my degree. One of which involves my externship that allows me to spend time with my fiancé at his business, our business as he likes to remind me.
The wedding is actually being held at our home. I have school, and really, we just didn’t want big. Just us, my dad, Bright, and Nicole and that’s it. Short, sweet, and simple, exactly how we want it.
“You look beautiful, sweetheart.” My dad’s voice comes from behind me. I turn to him and smile.
“Thank you.” I look down at my simple white silk gown, which is doing nothing to hide my barely there baby bump. I’m fourteen weeks and finally starting to show. Maxton cannot keep his hands off my belly. I would be irritated if it wasn’t so sweet. “I wish she was here.”
“Me too, Kensi. You look just like her, you know? She would have been so damn proud of the woman you have become.” He chokes up on his words. “I’m proud of you too. You fought back against the pain; you allowed yourself to open up and love, to be loved. You couldn’t have chosen a better man to spend your life with.”
“I never allowed myself to want this.” I lay my hands over my baby. “Never thought there would be a man who would take the time to get to know all of me and love me despite it. He does.” I look up at him. “He loves me and the baby so much that my heart is bursting with it, Dad.”
“I know that, baby girl. I know how he feels. It’s the same exact way I feel with you and your mother. I will love her until the day I take my last breath.”
I’m wiping away tears when Nicole walks into the room. “I knew it,” she says, placing her hands on her hip. “I knew you would be in here messing up my handiwork. Off you go. I’ll let you know when we’re ready,” she scolds my dad.
He chuckles at her, kisses my cheek then hers, and leaves the room. “Now. Let’s get you fixed up. Max is liked a caged bear down there. He’s going to wear a hole in the carpet if we don’t get you beside him soon.” She laughs.
When she has me presentable once again, she opens the door and yells for my dad. He appears and holds his arm out for me. We walk into the living room arm in arm. Maxton’s eyes lock with mine as Dad leads me to him. As soon as I’m within reaching distance, he reaches out and places a hand on my hip, pulling me to him. My dad throws his head back and laughs a deep belly laugh. “No point in telling you to love her right or to remind you to take care of her, I see,” he says.
“Nope, not necessary,” Max says, kissing my temple.
We turn to face Brighton. He became ordained so he could marry us? Apparently, it was a long-running joke between him and Max that if the other fell in love and got married, that the other would be the one to marry them. Nicole thought it was hilarious. Little does she know that Bright is not the only one who became ordained. Maxton and Bright did it at the same time. Bright is planning on popping the question soon.
The ceremony, or lack thereof, is short and sweet, again just how we like it. It’s more of a formality than anything. We’ve already pledged our lives to one another and to our baby. Maxton says the best part was finally kissing his wife. Sweet Maxton is here every day. He is the man I fell in love with and the man who just became my husband. Sometimes it feels like a dream, this happiness we have found. If it is, I don’t ever want to wake up.
IT’S A BOY. We found out yesterday that we’re having a boy. I don’t think I’ve stopped smiling since the doctor uttered the words. I would have been just as happy with a little girl who looks like her mama, my wife. I think a lot of the happiness comes from getting to see him. We had a three dimensional ultrasound and it was… life altering to be able to see him growing inside of her. Life is good.
Today is Friday and Kens and I are at the bar. We spend Fridays here together more often than not. She now knows the ins and outs of the business; we are partners in all aspects of our life and I would not want it any other way.
She’s currently in the office entering invoices into the computer. “Hey, babe, you hungry? I thought I could run down the street and pick up some lunch.”
“Yes.” She rubs her belly. “Your son and I are starving.”
My son.
“How about I go get it? There are a few invoices here that I’m not sure about. You can take a look at them while I’m gone.”
“I can—” She holds up her hand, cutting me off.
“Maxton, I am pregnant not dying. The doctor said me and the baby are healthy and doing great. The short walk of what, fifty feet, will be good for me.”
“Okay. I’m sorry; I just want to take care of you.” I pull her against me and place my hand on her belly. Dropping to my knees, I talk to my boy. “Tell Mommy she needs to get used to me taking care of both of you.” I kiss her bump and stand to my feet. I hand her my wallet. “Please take your phone with you.” I worry. I will always worry about her.
“I’ll be right back.” She steps on her tiptoes and quickly presses her lips to mine.
I’m in the middle of taking a look at the invoices when Brian, one of my bartenders, knocks on the door. “Max, there’s a guy here to see you,” he says.
“Thanks, Brian.” I stand to follow him out to the main bar area. When I reach the bar, I stop in my tracks. Standing at the opposite end is JT, Justin. I haven’t heard from him since that day at the farm. I’m instantly on alert. Kensington will be back any minute and she doesn’t need the stress; it’s not good for her or the baby.
“What are you doing here?” I ask, my voice heated.
“I just wanted to explain to you what happened back then,” he says.
“You don’t need to explain anything to me. My wife filled me in,” I retort.
“Wife? Wow, I, uh… I didn’t know. Congratulations, man. She’s amazing,” he says.
My anger rises. “You have no right to talk about her, to think about her. You know nothing about her,” I seethe.
“Maxton.” Her voice comes from the door behind JT.
Shit! I hop over the bar, needing to be next to her. “Brian!” I yell, he comes over and I hand him the bag of food Kens just brought back.” He takes it without a word and walks back to the bar. He stays close, his eyes on us.
I place one arm around her waist and the other rests on the side of her belly by her hip. Protecting them both from him. He will not get near her.
“Kensington.” Justin says her name like he’s pained to do so.
“Don’t fucking—”
She places her hand on my chest to get my attention. “It’s okay, Max. I’m good,” she tells me. “Just don’t let go.”
Like I would do such a thing. I raise my eyebrows at her and she chuckles. It’s a sound I didn’t expect to hear considering the present company. Then my girl surprises me even more; she turns to JT. “Justin, what can we do for you?” she asks as if he is some stranger off the street, not the brother of the guy who murdered her mother.
“I came to explain to Max about then, about what happened.”
“My husband is aware of my past and the events surrounding it,” she replies.
JT runs his fingers through his hair. “I’m so fucking sorry about your mom, Kens. I was young and stupid and I looked up to Joe. At first, I just thought it was a dumb club. Just a group of guys who would do silly things for no other reason than to say they did. They started out telling me I had to make you fall for me and then break up with you. I wanted to be a part of his group, so I agreed. Then I talked to you that first day and I immediately began to question why the hell I would ever let someone as great as you slip away even to be in some group with my older brother.”