Twenty-Eight
Alex
“Are you ready for this?”Birdie asked exactly sixteen days later.
My wedding day, and it had only taken sixteen days because the judge had been on vacation. If Noah had had his way, we would have flown to Vegas. But I’d put my foot down.
I looked at my best friend, my stomach trembling with nerves, joy, and nausea. “Yes,” I responded.
“Then let’s go!” she exclaimed.
I looked over at Noah, who stared at me intently and then interlaced my fingers with his.
Then, together, we walked up the courthouse steps. I glanced at Noah as the security guard ushered us in.
“You got special treatment?” I said to Noah, knowing well how long it could take to get through court security.
“No, that’s all Birdie,” he said.
“Really?” I asked, looking at her.
She nodded. “I made a call to the judge who officiated our wedding. She was happy to do yours.”
“Thanks for getting us in on such short notice,” Noah said to Birdie.
“It’s no problem at all! Now I just have to wonder how we’re going to fit everyone in her office,” Birdie said.
“We’ll make it work,” Noah responded as we filled the elevator.
After three floors, the elevator doors opened, and we filed out and followed Birdie, who knocked on a door at the end of the hall.
I was surprised when the judge herself opened the door and ushered us into her chambers.
“Hello, Judge Carson. Thank you for officiating this wedding on such short notice,” Birdie said.
The judge smiled, her unwrinkled brown skin luminous as she smiled at Noah and me. “I’m more than happy to. And it’s good to see you and your husband,” the judge said, nodding at Dominic.
“Thank you, Your Honor. And I apologize for the crowd,” Birdie said.
The judge waved her off. “Nonsense. I always say, the more, the merrier,” the judge said as she nodded at Dominic, Tristian, Beau, Aunt Clem, and Dana, who had all squeezed into the room.
Then, she looked at Noah and me.
“The happy couple!” she said, smiling at us.
“That’s us,” I said. “And it’s a pleasure you meet you, Your Honor.”
“You as well. Will there be vows?” the judge asked.
“I want to say something,” Noah said.
“Go ahead,” the judge said.
Noah nodded at her and then turned to me and grabbed my other hand as he stared me in the eye.
He looked beyond handsome in his simple black slacks and blue button-down shirt. I was wearing a simple green dress, Noah and I both agreeing we didn’t need to dress up or have a fancy wedding.
We had the people we loved. And we had each other.
That was all that mattered.
I kept my eyes locked on Noah’s as he started to speak.
“Alex, I am not a lucky man. I didn’t used to think so, anyway. Until I met you. I never expected you and never was brave enough to even imagine you. But somehow, I found you. And I will spend the rest of my life proving that I deserve you.”
He squeezed my hand, emotion clear all over him.
I squeezed his hand back. “You don’t have to prove anything, because I feel the same way. I’m so happy to have found you and am honored to share my life with you,” I said.
The judge smiled and then laughed when Noah kissed me.
“Well, I think that just about does it,” the judge said.
“Thank you, Your Honor,” Birdie said.
“Keep me in mind for the next one,” she said, looking at Tristan and Beau, who, despite being over six feet tall, tried to make themselves small.
“Congratulations,” Birdie said, hugging me tight.
I hugged her back and then we filed out of the judge’s chambers and out of the courthouse.
After that simple, perfect ceremony, my friends—my family—went to lunch, one that thankfully did not include shrimp.
After we were done, Noah grabbed my hand and led me to his car. “Do you mind if we take a detour before the appointment?” he asked after we had settled in the car.
“Of course,” I responded, leaning over to kiss my husband.
He smiled and then set off. I recognized the neighborhood and smiled when I realized where we were going.
He stopped in front of my building, and I smiled as I stared at it.
“She’s shaping up nicely,” Noah said.
He’d insisted on taking charge of the renovations, and I’d decided to let him.
“I know it’s going to be great. Thank you,” I said.
Noah just kissed my hand and then rolled the window up. “One more stop today, then you go home and rest,” he said.
“Still so bossy,” I responded.
He just laughed and drove us to the doctor’s office. A nurse took my vital signs and then left, and Noah held my hand the entire time we waited. This was my first ultrasound, and Noah had insisted on being there, just like he had for the appointment before when I’d confirmed the pregnancy, and just like I knew he would for all of the appointments after.
“Sorry for the wait,” the doctor said when she entered the room.
“No problem,” I said.
Noah said nothing, just watched as she punched a few buttons on the screen and then looked at Noah and me.
He squeezed my hand as the doctor looked at us and said, “Are you ready to see your baby?”