Epilogue I
Christa
“ M aybe we should’ve waited until the baby was born,” I mutter as I stare at myself in the mirror.
The bridal gown falls beautifully around me, a sea of white lace sprinkled with pearls. The top hugs my breasts and covers my arms in the finest satin with an embroidered gold pattern that makes me feel like a princess straight out of a fairy tale.
Teagan stands beside me, trying so hard not to cry. She’s pretty in her cherry-pink dress, glowing with joy for me and my special day. My belly is huge, though. I had imagined myself in a different setting—and not pregnant. But we skipped a few steps in our already-complicated relationship.
“Christa, you are absolutely gorgeous,” Teagan says.
I chuckle. “Preggo bridal chic?”
“I’d say goddess in white.”
“Ah,” I gasp, cradling my giant bump, “kicking again.”
“You’re nervous. The baby feels it, too.” She winks at me. “Now come on! You’re perfect. And your grooms are waiting downstairs.”
I nod slowly and grab my bouquet—a fine assortment of white roses and imperial lilies sprinkled with lily-of-the-valley sprigs. It smells amazing. We arrive downstairs just as Aunt Mary steps out of the chapel.
She is positively vibrant in her pale yellow dress. I think she looks younger. Maybe my happiness is rubbing off on her. I sure hope so.
“My God, Christa, your parents would be so proud to see you now,” she says, tearing up at the sight of me. “Granted, they’d have some thoughts about this arrangement, but I know they would want you to be happy.”
“Oh, Auntie, I’m just grateful you’re here today. I’m sorry we couldn’t do a big, snazzy wedding,” I say.
“Honey, love is love. It’s also weird and funny, but it lasts a lifetime. It doesn’t matter how many guests you have or what kind of wedding party you throw. What matters is that you’re doing what feels right for you. And if this feels right for you, I’m all for it.”
“It’s just you and Teagan and Tony,” I mumble.
“And a very kindhearted pastor who agreed to do this,” Teagan kindly reminds me. “Come on, your grooms are waiting.”
I glance inside the small, pretty chapel and see the pastor waiting, clad in shimmering white and gold as he opens the Good Book for the ceremony. Beside him, my three loving grooms await, and they look like something out of a dream, absolutely dashing in their custom tuxes, small primroses pinned to their silvery lapels.
“You know, if you’d told me back in high school that I would end up marrying all three of your brothers, I probably would’ve fainted from laughter,” I tell Teagan.
“I probably would’ve fainted before you,” she giggles, then looks around. “Shoot. Maybe we should’ve invited Uncle Zeddy, after all, so he could give you away.”
Aunt Mary hooks her arm through mine, raising her chin with warmth and pride. “Don’t you worry about that, Teagan, darling. I’m here.”
“Auntie,” I manage, stunned by her gesture.
“It’s your wedding day, sweetheart. Your father would approve. Besides, it gives me great joy to be able to do this,” she says. “I may not have been the best caregiver you could’ve had, but I can still be your family going forward.”
“I wouldn’t want it any other way,” I reply.
“Okay, I’ll go first,” Teagan quips as the pastor’s assistant plays the “Bridal March” on the chapel’s beautiful vintage organ.
She walks down the aisle, shining with joy, as her brothers smile softly. Next to them, Tony, their brother-in-law and best man, lovingly winks at his darling wife as she joins him.
It’s my turn. My heart is beating so fast. And the baby is probably going to be an exceptional soccer player, judging by the kicks. I grunt quietly. Aunt Mary gives me a worried look.
“Are you okay, honey?”
“Yes. Just let’s do this before I go into labor,” I joke.
It doesn’t feel like a joke halfway down the aisle.
Cassius, River, and Nathan light up at the sight of me, and I really want to share the feeling. I want to be nervously happy about the fact that we’re about to get married in the eyes of God, that we’re about to make this moment last a lifetime.
But there’s a pressure building up in my body.
And it is suddenly released with a whooshing, splashing sound.
“Oh, my God,” I gasp, freezing in the middle of the aisle, surrounded by white rose petals and cherrywood pews.
Aunt Mary looks at me, and I see her gaze drift downward.
I follow it.
“Christa, we might have a bit of a problem,” she whispers.
“You think?” I croak, suddenly horrified.
Cassius rushes over. “Babe, I think we need to postpone the ceremony for a short bit.”
“Holy crap!” Teagan exclaims and drops her floral bouquet. She pauses and gives the befuddled pastor an apologetic smile. “Sorry about that.”
“Is the bride okay?” the pastor calls out.
Nathan fishes his car keys out of his tux pocket. “Yes, but we’re going to have to reschedule, I’m afraid.”
“We’re about to become dads,” River laughs as he joins us, gently snaking an arm around my waist while I’m close to breaking down in tears.
“This can’t be happening,” I cry out.
“It is happening, honey,” Aunt Mary tries to comfort me, but the pain quickly becomes unbearable as the first round of contractions rocks through me, damn near knocking me off my feet. “Deep breaths, Christa. In and out, slow and steady.”
“I don’t know if I’m ready!”
“Whether you’re ready or not, our baby is coming,” River chimes in. “Come on, darling. We’ve got you.”
“You’ve got me?”
“We’ve got you. All of us,” he insists.
I find comfort in the hazel pool of his eyes. I’m reminded of Teagan’s wedding night. How everything started there. A shameless night became something so much bigger, much more beautiful than I ever imagined. The Hawthorne brothers carried me through the darkest time of my life. And the love I bear for them is only matched by the love I feel for this little guy or girl who seems so eager to get out of me.
“Yet another wedding we fumbled, huh?” I laugh nervously. “OW! Crap, crap, crap, the contractions are getting closer together.”
“Way too close,” Aunt Mary says. “If we linger any longer, we might have to deliver the baby here! Come on, sweetie, off to the hospital with you.” She gives River a firm nod. “You three take your wife. Teagan, Tony, and I will follow.
Nathan takes my hand, while Cassius keeps me standing. River gets the car keys.
“You’re going to be okay,” Nathan tells me. “This is the best day of our lives already, with or without the wedding vows.”
Off we go then. Into the next chapter. The wildly anticipated, equal parts thrilling and terrifying chapter of motherhood. I find comfort in what my men have often said since they proposed. I’m not alone anymore. I’m safe, I’m protected.
And I am deeply loved.
Our baby is, indeed, so lucky…