18. Zac
Chapter 18
Zac
“ A re you sure you have every exit and entrance covered?” I ask Gray again. He’s the owner of the Everafter Lodge here in Sweetheart, North Carolina. It’s a popular wedding destination, and I reserved it this weekend.
When I asked my girl what she wanted for Christmas, she told me the only thing she wanted was to become Mrs. Zac Maple. It took some planning and a hefty donation to Gray’s favorite charity, but we were able to get the last wedding of the year. I love that when the clock strikes midnight and announces a new year, I’ll be a married man.
“Every exit and entrance is covered. No paparazzi are getting in here,” Gray reassures me.
“And she’s not running away, though maybe she should,” Jasper jokes from his place in the groom’s suite. He’s one of my best men. He and my three brothers.
“Ante up,” Barrett says, dealing a fresh round of cards to the table. I’m too agitated to sit around playing a game. My woman is across the hall and in a matter of minutes, she’s going to become my wife. Who has the patience to sit at a time like this?
“Jasper can’t. He’s out of poker chips,” Evie’s little brother says.
“How about my good leg? This particular model is worth a little over ten grand with all the upgrades,” Jasper says.
“The rest of us don’t need a spare leg,” Noah says, and the guys get into a discussion about which one of them needs a spare brain.
While they bicker, I send a quick text to my girl. She doesn’t respond to my message, though, so I call her instead.
“Stop calling her!” Thea answers Dotty’s phone. “You’re driving us all nuts.”
“Where is she? Put my wife on the phone right now, or I’m coming in there and throwing her over my shoulder and—”
“Sheesh, calm down, caveman,” Dotty’s soft voice coming on the line instantly calms my racing heart. I still have anxiety sometimes when I haven’t heard from her in a few hours. “I just stepped away.”
It feels like every time I turn around lately, she’s in the bathroom. Maybe I’ll make a doctor’s appointment for her when we get back to town. Hell, maybe I’ll demand Cash drive out to my cabin to treat my wife. Yeah, that sounds like a great idea. “Are you OK?”
“Do you have any idea how much trouble it is trying to pee while you’re wearing a wedding dress?”
“No.” The word comes out like a question because I’m not sure what the right answer here is. Nine times out of ten, the correct answer is to kiss her until she’s forgotten whatever I’ve done to annoy her. The other one time, the answer is to give her chocolate and a heating pad. I can’t do any of that stuff over the phone.
“Well, it’s really annoying,” she sniffs. “And we shouldn’t be fighting on our wedding day!”
She’s been doing this lately, crying for reasons I can’t even understand. Two days ago, there was an ad on TV for teddy bears, and she started bawling her eyes out. Still don’t know what that one was about, but I held her for a really long time after that and stroked her hair.
“I can’t wait to see you in your dress. You always look beautiful, but I bet you’re even prettier than the sun today,” I tell her softly, soothing her. Weddings are stressful, and I know I wasn’t any help. She and my mom planned most of the day’s events and decorations. All I had to do was show up in my suit.
“I’m very pretty today,” she confirms, and her voice is no longer wobbling.
“Why don’t you send me a picture of it?” I’ve been dying to see what she looks like in her dress. She’s been secretive about it. All I know is she got it from the Sew Cute boutique in town.
“Nice try,” Thea is back on the phone. “Listen, we only need fifteen more minutes. If you’d stop calling her, you might actually get married before the new year starts.”
I hear Dotty laughing softly in the background, and the simple sound fills my soul with joy. I didn’t know it was possible for my heart to feel this big. “Have my woman at the altar in fifteen, or I will come and drag her down that aisle myself.”
Dotty
I breathe a sigh of relief that I feel like I finally emptied my bladder. I thought I was getting a bladder infection. But I saw Dr. Cash yesterday and he confirmed I don’t have an infection at all. What I have is a twelve-week baby growing inside of me.
I wanted to tell Zac immediately, but we were spending the day and night before our wedding apart. It was my idea. I thought it would be romantic. At least, it sounded romantic in my head. Really, it’s made both of us cranky. I miss sleeping next to my burly man and hearing his soft growls in his sleep. I miss the feel of his arms around me and the gentle thrum of his heartbeat beneath my ear.
I wash my hands and leave the bathroom, exiting into the bridal suite where Thea, Ginger, and Mrs. Maple are. These three women have helped me with every part of wedding planning.
It’s been amazing to have their support, especially because my own parents aren’t attending our wedding. When they heard I was getting married, they barely cared at all. I’ve decided to stop contacting them. I’ve spent years reaching out to them. If they want to contact me, they can. But I won’t beg for their affection any longer.
“All better now?” Mrs. Maple asks gently. She’s been looking at me this morning like she knows exactly what’s going on, but she hasn’t said anything. I haven’t told a soul about the pregnancy. It feels like something Zac should know first.
“Much better. Glad I went with a tea length dress,” I tell her.
“Can I talk to her alone, girls?” Mrs. Maple asks.
Thea and Ginger give me a round of hugs and kisses before they leave the room. My heart is so full today. Not only am I marrying the world’s biggest, sweetest cowboy, I’m also gaining a family of people who love me. From Zac’s older brothers to his younger sister and even his mom, it’s clear they adore me. I feel the same way about them.
“What is it?” I ask as soon as we’re alone. I’m nervous she’s going to bring up the pregnancy.
But before she can say anything, there’s a knock on the door. When Mrs. Maple gives permission, Walter enters the room. The two of them got married a few months ago in a quiet ceremony in the center of town. They both looked so happy. They live together now, splitting their time between the Maple farm and Walter’s house on the edge of town.
Walter comes to stand beside Linda, putting a hand on her shoulder. He gives her a little squeeze, and I love that. They’re so affectionate with each other, so tender and patient. I can only hope that will be me and Zac in a few decades.
“We know your parents aren’t here today,” Walter says. “Linda and I thought…well, it would mean a lot to us if we could do the honor.”
I try to blink back the tears, but they still come anyway. All I can think about is how my baby is going to grow up with so much more love than I ever did. My voice cracks when I say, “I would love that.”
After a long hug from both of them and a quick fix of my makeup, the three of us are walking down the aisle toward the love of my life.
The moment Zac sees me, his face transforms. Eager anticipation gives way to delight.
“Beautiful,” he whispers the word softly as he takes my hand in his. His fingers caress mine gently, and I know it will always be like this between us. Always loving and gentle and kind. We’ll fight sometimes, and we won’t always see eye-to-eye, but we’ll always love each other.
I listen to him repeating his vows in his growly tone, smiling as he promises to love and cherish me for the rest of our lives. Then it’s my turn, and I’m promising before our family and friends that this man will always be the love of my life.
He presses a soft kiss to my lips before Gray even gives him permission.
“You’re mine forever,” Zac whispers, ignoring the time-honored tradition of waiting. I don’t care. This man can kiss me whenever he wants.
“And together, we’re going to raise a family,” I tell him softly. I think Gray is still talking about the importance of love. It doesn’t matter. The two of us are lost in our own little world.
He raises his eyebrows, and I give him a little nod. “Three months along.”
“Can we—?”
I nod again, excited to share this news with our guests. I can’t believe we got this lucky. I thought it would take a few more months of trying together. But we’re getting our little miracle.
“And now introducing as man and wife—”
Zac elbows Gray and whispers something in his ear.
Gray chuckles then says to our audience, “And now introducing as man and wife and soon-to-be parents, Mr. And Mrs. Zac Maple.”
Our guests break into loud applause and whistles as Zac beams down at me. “Best day ever.”
I couldn’t agree more.