Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 78304 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 392(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78304 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 392(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
The next charm is a crown, obviously meant to symbolize Kingston—how we met, my maiden name, and our son’s name. It’s sterling silver with tiny diamonds dotting the tips. It’s beautiful.
And the last charm is of a champagne bottle. It’s absolutely adorable. All the charms are. Julian couldn’t have picked a more meaningful gift if he tried.
Under the bracelet is a note. I open it up and find Julian’s chicken scratch.
Red,
Today isn’t the beginning, but rather a continuation of the life we’ve already begun. I can’t wait to marry you again, and I look forward to all the memories we’ll create together.
Love,
(Jul)ian
“I love that sound,” Dad says when I laugh at the way Julian signed his name. “And I love seeing you happy.”
He envelops me in a hug, and I kiss his cheek.
“I’m so glad you’re okay,” I whisper. “And you need to stay that way.” I back up and smile at him. “Especially since you’re going to be a grandfather again in nine months.”
Dad glances down at my stomach with wide eyes, then looks back up at me. “You’re pregnant?”
“I think so,” I say with a laugh. “I took a test this morning, and it came out positive. I’m going to make an appointment with the doctor once we get back from our honeymoon.”
Since neither of us is anywhere near ready to leave Kingston overnight, we’re keeping it simple and spending a week on the beach at a resort in Galveston.
After the wedding photographer we hired takes a few pictures of me with my dad, the wedding march begins, telling us it’s go time.
The walk down the aisle is far too quick, and I choke up when my dad and Julian shake hands and hug, Julian promising to continue to love and care for me.
We say the vows we wrote for each other, and as hard as I try not to cry, I give in and let it happen when Julian surprises me with a new wedding band.
“This one has two bands interconnected,” he explains. “They represent both times we’ve said I do, weaving our lives together until eternity.”
He slips the band on and then puts my engagement ring back on. I stare at it for several seconds, loving that he made sure it fits perfectly with my ring.
“I did the same thing,” I tell him with a watery laugh.
Since we don’t have a ring bearer, Ryder, Julian’s best man, is holding the ring. I take it from him and show it to Julian. The platinum wedding band is made up of two cables twisting around the entire band, symbolizing the two times we’ve gotten married.
“I love it,” he says as I slide it onto his ring finger. “And I love you.”
The officiant pronounces us husband and wife, and Julian cradles my face, then kisses me with such passion that it’s as if our souls are connected, and I guess in a lot of ways that’s true because this man doesn’t just own my body and heart. He owns my soul too. For so long, I thought being successful would make me happy, but now, I know I was looking for happiness in all the wrong places.
But that’s okay because everything happens for a reason. I had to experience the downs so I could appreciate the ups. And because of the loss I felt from losing my mom and the years I spent feeling alone, I know how precious love is. And there’s no one I would rather experience it with than Julian.
“So, you’re pregnant, huh?” he murmurs when we break the kiss.
I glance over at him and roll my eyes at his cocky smirk. “You’re not going to be laughing when we’ve got two babies only a year apart.”
Julian
“Marriage and fatherhood look good on you,” my best friend, Ryder, says, clasping my shoulder. “Congrats, man.”
“Thanks. And between you and me”—I lean in so no one will hear since Ana doesn’t want to announce the pregnancy until she’s sure and twelve weeks along—“I think Ana’s pregnant again.”
I waggle my brows, and Ryder chuckles.
“Better you than me,” he says, shaking his head.
Ever since his marriage to Nora ended abruptly a few months back and he became a single dad, he’s been struggling a bit.
“How’s everything going?”
“It’s rough,” he says, sounding as exhausted as he looks.
“I know it’s hard right now, but you did the right thing.”
“I know,” he agrees. “But most days, I feel like I have no idea what I’m doing.”
“Trust me when I say, we all feel that way. It’s not just you.”
“Yeah, but at least you and Ana have each other,” he says. “Anyway, enough of this depressing shit. It’s your wedding day!” He grins at me. “Go dance with that beautiful wife of yours.”
I glance over at Ana, who’s on the dance floor, holding Kingston in her arms and twirling him around to a pop song. She nuzzles her face into his neck, blowing raspberries, and his face lights up. I can’t hear him from here, but I can see him laughing. He started doing it a few days ago, and it’s the most addictive sound.