Chapter 8
Eight
“ G ood morning.” Lily’s small voice jolted him out of his thoughts.
“Morning,” he said as he took her in. She’d clearly been up for some time before deciding to come out and join him. Her hair was done up in a fancy braid, and she’d left little wisps out to frame her freckled face. His eyes followed her as she walked to the coffeepot and poured herself a cup. Lily must have seen the surprised look on his face when she turned back around because she shrugged her shoulders and mumbled something about being allowed one cup of coffee a day.
He laughed at that. Like he’d known anything about pregnancy and what was and wasn’t okay during it. He certainly wouldn’t begrudge her coffee, especially when he’d heard her get up several times during the night to use the bathroom. One thing about Gia and Gunner’s rooms that weren’t ideal was the fact that they were both connected to the same bathroom. Shit. He should have checked in with Lily before to see if she was comfortable with that arrangement.
“You look nice today,” he mumbled into his coffee cup. And she did. It wasn’t just her hair. She had on a sundress that clung to her curves like it was custom made for her. The emerald green fabric, covered in little white flowers, worked perfectly with her hair and seemed to make her green eyes even more vibrant.
“Thank you. I always imagined wearing a green dress on my wedding day.”
Gunner choked on his coffee.
“Your wedding day?”
“I guess it’s not just mine, right?” Lily patted his back. “Today is as good a day as any. You want your mom to be there, and we know our time is limited between her and the baby coming. I think today is right, as long as you are still okay with this arrangement.”
“Of course I am. But I’m pretty sure that even if we were to get our license today, there’s a waiting period of a few days.”
“That’s if you just pay for the standard processing. You can stand before a judge about fifteen minutes after you submit your application if you pay an additional fee.” Gunner must have been looking at her with some sort of doubt on his face because she was rather quick to add, “I looked it all up last night. There’s a surprising amount of information on the county website.”
“Okay.”
“If you don’t want to pay the fee, then we can wait. Or I can pay it.” She sighed and twisted the mug in her hands. “I mean, I can pay you back from my paycheck that you’re giving me, or we can wait until I go back to work after the baby comes and I can pay you back then.”
“Lil, I’m not worried about the fee.”
“Okay,” she took one last sip from her coffee cup before standing back up from the table. “I need to see your mom and do her morning routine, but then we can go. Maybe in two hours when the county clerk’s office opens?”
“That’s fine.”
“Hi Jules.” Lily laid her hand on her friend’s arm, smiling as she watched her wake up.
“Lily, you look beautiful.” Her voice was hoarse, and she licked her lips.
“Would you like some water?” Lily lifted the cup from the nightstand and held the straw to her lips. Jules took a small sip and smiled.
“Thanks, love. Why are you dressed up?”
“It’s a special day.”
“Is it?”
“I’m marrying Gunner today.”
“Really? I’m so happy for the both of you.”
“We have to go to the courthouse to get all the paperwork figured out, but then we are going to come home and have Gia do a simple ceremony here.”
“I could cry, honey. That means so much to me. I won’t get to be there for Gia, but to be at my son’s wedding before I go means everything to me.” Juliette moved to sit up and Lily quickly moved to help. “Don’t you dare. Gunner told me what your doctor said.”
“Jules, this is my job. I can help you sit up.”
“I’m good. Got a burst of energy knowing I’m about to have a new daughter and granddaughter in just a few hours.” She patted Lily’s hand. “Will you go over to my dresser for me?”
“Of course.” Lily walked towards the tall dresser in Juliette’s room. “No, not that one. The one with my jewelry box on it. Grab that old thing and bring it here.”
Searching the smaller dresser, Lily located an old wooden jewelry box and placed it on the bed next to Juliette .
“I know somewhere in here is exactly what I’m looking for.” She rummaged around with a smile on her face for a moment, and Lily couldn’t help but smile right along. It was the most energetic she’d seen Juliette all week, and it almost felt like her old friend was in the room, the one who lived before sickness started to take her away.
“Found it! Look at that sparkle.” Juliette held up a stunning broach, with a large central blue gemstone and diamonds embedded all around.
“Jules, that’s beautiful.”
“It is. For your ‘something old, something blue’.”
“And my ‘something borrowed’, too.” Lily smiled as she took the piece of jewelry from Jules.
“No, Lily. If anything, it’s something new to you. I want you to keep it. My mom wore it on her wedding day. I opted not to. Maybe that’s why she had a lifelong love, and I…well…didn’t.” Her laugh was soft, and an emptiness came with it. “Hopefully it will bring you good luck with Gunner.”
“I love it so much, Jules. But wouldn’t you rather save it for Gia?”
“You’re my daughter too now, Lily. I want you to have it. Maybe it can be Gia’s something borrowed on her day. And it can be from the both of us.”
“I love that idea. Thank you so much, Juliette.”
“We’re a blessed family, getting to add you and the baby to our ranks today.”
“Do you feel up to eating something this morning?”
“No, honey. But could you help me wash up a bit? I want to look nice today.”
“Of course, Jules. I’d love to.”
“Gunner’s out front. Are you ready? ”
Lily nodded, pulling her purse strap back over her shoulder. She’d checked five times already that the documents she’d need were in there. “Do I look okay?”
“You look beautiful.” Gia pulled her into a hug. “I’m so excited that today we’re becoming sisters. Even if things are weird and this isn’t the way you thought your wedding day would be, I’m so happy about you officially joining our family.”
“I love you, Gia.”
“I love you too, Lily.” She wiped a tear from her face. “I know I need to stay with mom, but I really wish I could be there.”
“It’s just the formal stuff. Boring. I’m counting on you to come up with a really funny and sweet ceremony for when we come back. I know it will mean so much to your mom.”
“Of course. And now that I’m ordained thanks to a fifty-dollar fee to that online church, I can’t wait to put my new qualifications to use.”
“You didn’t need to do that, G. We’re getting legally married at the courthouse.”
“Oh, well, maybe I can start offering my services as a wedding officiant when I’m not teaching.”
“You should. That’s an amazing idea.” They shared a laugh. “As much as I would love to continue stalling while my nerves go crazy, I better get out there. The baby has already made me head into the bathroom twice to pee. If I wait around any longer, it’s going to be three times.”
Lily and Gia hugged one more time, and as Lily stepped out onto the porch, she touched the broach now pinned to her chest. It was nice feeling like the Brooks women were with her, even if it was just in spirit.
“I want you to keep me updated, Gage. The minute she wakes up. The minute you have a lead on the fucker. When Cap signs his okay on the death warrant. I want to know. ”
Lily’s heart pounded in her ears. Even when serious, Gunner had never sounded so vicious. So cold. Gunner threw his phone to the ground as his head fell into his hands.
“Gunner, what’s going on?” she asked as she walked towards him.
“Lil? Fuck, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have acted like that.”
“It’s okay. Just tell me what’s going on.”
When she looked into his eyes, she could see the turmoil threatening to swallow him up. Automatically, her hand went to his arm for support.
“Remember how I said my job is still dangerous?” Lily nodded, unable to speak with the worry constricting her throat. “The woman my team was protecting, my boss’s girlfriend, well… she was attacked last night. That was what the call was about. We didn’t keep her safe. And now, she might not survive.”
“Gunner, I don’t…I’m so sorry. Do you want to go back to Texas and be with your team?”
Gunner looked towards the house, conflict written all over his face.
“Yes. No. Fuck.” His whole body went rigid. “I want to be with my team, but I know I need to be here.”
Silence swam around them for so long that Lily wondered if they were actually going to go through with the whole thing. She wouldn’t blame Gunner if he wanted to change their plans.
“You need to know that I plan on going back to Texas after mom passes.” Gunner confessed, finally breaking the silence. “It’s where I live now.”
“And because I’m going to be your wife…”
“I hope you’ll agree to come with me. A fresh start for you and Sprout somewhere the Callahans have no reach.”
“This is the only place I’ve ever lived. I don’t know.”
“Silver Springs is going to be a great place to raise the baby, Lil. And she’ll have so many uncles ready to fuss over her and protect her. You don’t have to give me an answer about moving today. We can still be married and figure it out later. But I hope you will say yes.”
Lily stared into his eyes for a minute before she nodded in agreement. Tucking her arm into Gunner’s, Lily prayed she was making the best choice for her and the baby.
Getting their license was easier than Gunner had thought it would be, and fifteen minutes after their paperwork was all sorted, he and Lily stood in front of a judge. The guy was no nonsense and seemed to be in a hurry, which Gunner could appreciate. Efficiency was usually hard to come by.
“Do you have rings you wish to exchange at this time?”
“Oh, I didn?—”
“Yes.” Gunner could see the surprise on Lily’s face. It certainly wasn’t anything fancy. He wanted to wait to get something that would fit her fingers once they weren’t so swollen from the pregnancy, so he’d enlisted help from Gia to get simple silicone bands for them both.
“Good. You can take them out now and you’ll exchange them as you say your vows.”
Gunner nodded, reaching into his jacket pocket and pulling the rings out. Lily’s was white, and had a braided twist design, while his was a simple black band.
“I wanted to get something comfortable for your finger.”
“That was very kind of you.” Her voice was small, but he could see the appreciation written on her face.
“Lily Katherine Bennett, do you willingly choose Gunner Joseph Brooks as your lawful wedded husband?”
Gunner squeezed both of Lily’s hands, and noted that they still felt like ice, even after he’d been holding onto them for several minutes. Her eyes were searching his, as if she had a million worries swirling around in her mind. But he saw the moment she swallowed down her fear.
“I do.”
“Please place the band on his finger.”
Lily’s hand shook as she tried to slip the silicone ring over his knuckle. He smiled and helped push it the rest of the way on before grasping her hands again.
“And Gunner Joseph Brooks, do you willingly choose Lily Catherine Bennett as your lawfully wed wife?”
There was no hesitation. He wanted to do this for Lily and her baby. “I do.”
“Please place the band on her finger.”
Her band slipped into place, and his heart slammed inside his chest. They were married. She and the baby were his responsibility from there on out.
“By the powers vested in me by the state of Connecticut, you are now husband and wife. Congratulations. If you would like to take a picture to celebrate, my clerk would be happy to assist.”
“Oh, I think that’s okay,” Lily said as she tried to pull her hands free from Gunner, looking down towards the floor.
“Lily, we’ll want to show Sprout our wedding pictures one day. Let’s get one for her.”
She nodded in agreement, and the older women ushered them together with the judge before taking a few pictures on Gunner’s phone. The judge wished them the best, and then they were done.
The feeling of the ring against his skin was doing weird things to his head and his heart. Why was he suddenly feeling even more protective of her?
“Can’t complain about the efficiency there. You were right. It was all easier than I thought it was going to be.”
Lily hadn’t taken his hand when they left the courtroom, and he noticed how she slowed her pace, walking a step or two behind him. When he turned to see why she hadn’t responded, his heart fell. Her face had turned deathly pale, and despite having her feet firmly on the ground, she swayed as if she were off balance.
“Hey, whoa. You okay?” Concern shot through his body. She leaned her side against the wall and closed her eyes as he pressed his hand to the small of her back, ready to catch her if she passed out. Which, fuck, she looked like she might actually do. “What’s going on, Lil? Do you need to sit down? Do you need a doctor? What should I be doing right now?”
She shook her head. That didn’t stop him from looking for the nearest bench or chair or any fucking human who looked like they could help. “I forgot to eat breakfast. Just got a little lightheaded.” Her eyes opened back up, and she brought her hand up to his chest. “Sorry about that.”
“Lily.” Gunner’s voice was harsh, and he didn’t fail to notice how tears filled her eyes.
“I’m sorry. It was a busy morning, and I was nervous. I didn’t want to throw up on your shoes in the middle of a courtroom.”
“So instead, you’ll just let yourself pass out here in the hallway?”
Ignoring his question, Lily removed her hand from his chest and pushed herself off the wall.
“Let’s just get back to the house and I can grab something before we do the ceremony in front of your mom.”
“Stubborn woman.”
Gunner moved his hand down her arm until his fingers were lacing through hers.
“Are you okay right now?” He tried his best to soften his voice.
“Yeah,” she whispered .
“Okay.” He walked them out of the building and back towards the truck, his hand still holding hers.
Five minutes after he pulled out of the courthouse parking lot, Gunner stopped outside a small cafe that sat on the edge of town. When she didn’t make any moves to get out of his truck, Gunner sighed.
“Let’s go, Lily. Our first meal as a married couple shouldn’t be something you just throw together while trying not to pass out.”
“Okay.” Her small smile nearly knocked him out of his seat. “It’s been forever since I’ve been here. But it’s always been one of my favorite places.”
“I remember. The grilled cheese with onions, tomato soup and a slice of their death by chocolate cake.”
“That is still my favorite order for sure. I can’t believe you remember that from high school. You know, Sprout loves onions, but now she makes me eat them on peanut butter sandwiches with a big glass of chocolate milk. It’s so good!”
He was sure the horror of what Lily had just described as delicious was written across his face, because she rubbed her hand over her belly, laughing.
“Hey! Don’t judge it until you try it!”
“As appetizing as that sounds, I think I’ll just leave it for you and Sprout to enjoy.”