Chapter 31
BONNIE
On our wedding day, I felt ready to pop. It was August, so it was hot outside. We were at a hotel and restaurant one hour away from Chicago. We were all spending the night here. The grounds were simply gorgeous, with rolling hills surrounded by giant old trees.
There had been a debate regarding if we should have the wedding before or after I gave birth. Certainly it would be easier to keep to the schedule without my huge belly, but I was happy with the decision. I wanted the baby to be part of me when we had the wedding. It fit our story.
We were holding the ceremony in a tent outside the restaurant. At first, Travis and I insisted on simply doing it outdoors, but the weather was unpredictable.
I was pacing in front of the tent with Ashley, Lena, Reese, and Emmett. Lena was fixing my dress. It didn't really need anything, but I loved that she kept fussing around me, arranging my veil, straightening my straps. She was stunning in a burgundy dress with short sleeves.
"You look so beautiful, darling," Lena said. "I'm so happy you and Travis met, and my granddaughter brought you back together. You know, I haven't told you this, but I consider you my daughter."
"Lena," Reese admonished, "don't make her cry, but that's sweet."
Tears welled in my eyes, and I heard Ashley sniffling.
My good friend knew what those words meant to me.
My parents weren’t attending. Mom said she couldn’t face the Maxwells after that interview, and Dad…
well, he simply said he didn’t think he could make it.
But I was determined to focus on the positive: the Maxwells were my family now.
"Thank you, Lena." I leaned forward, and she hugged me, which wasn't an easy thing to do, considering we had a beach ball between us. Happy couldn't even begin to describe how I felt. It was joy mixed with a peace that seemed to seep into my very bones and fill every cell.
"Are you ready?" Emmett asked.
I straightened up and blinked until tears fell over my cheeks. I dabbed them with the back of my palm. The makeup artist instructed me not to use my finger pads, because those were the dirtiest part of the hand and would leave prints on my foundation.
"I'm ready," I whispered.
He laced an arm around mine. "I always wished for a daughter just so I could give her away. I'm proud to escort you today, Bonnie."
"Emmett," Reese said, stomping her foot. She was crying now too.
My eyes welled up again, and the tears spilled over. I didn't even dab them away this time. It was pure happiness, and I didn't want to hide it.
Reese opened the doors, and she walked in front of me with a bouquet of flowers. Kimberly hurried from behind the last seats, following her sister. Ashley was my maid of honor and walked in front of me.
The choir started to sing. It was comprised of twelve boys and girls. Lena had insisted on having one, and I had to say, it was truly amazing. I felt like I was stepping into a dream, and it was the best one I'd ever had.
I focused on Travis. He was waiting for me at the end of the red carpet.
Sam was his best man. His other brothers were the groomsmen.
He looked so handsome in his tux. It fit him perfectly.
He was smiling, looking at me with happy eyes.
I was a bit wobbly on my feet, and I wasn't even wearing heels.
I thought hearing his parents say all those kind words to me got me undone, but seeing my man waiting for me, looking at me like I hung the moon, was honestly more than I'd ever dreamed of.
We stood hand in hand while the priest spoke. I was hanging on his every word, not wanting to miss the moment when he would address us. Happiness spread through my body. I felt it down the length of my limbs and in my fingers. It lit me up from the inside.
"You can exchange vows now, if you have some," the priest said.
"We do." Travis spoke in a strong voice. He turned around, taking both my hands and looking me straight in the eyes. "Bonnie, you’re my whole life. I will love you until my last breath. I don't know what's beyond that, but you'll have my heart then too."
We'd both decided to keep the vows short because I told Travis I didn't think I could last very long without bursting into tears. I couldn't even make it through his without doing just that. I cleared my throat while tears streamed down my face.
"And you have mine." My voice was only a whisper, but he could hear me, and that was enough for me. "I love you to the moon and back. And I promise to love you more every single day."
The priest said a few words, but I was too lost in Travis to hear him, right until he said, "You can exchange rings."
Paisley came up to us, holding the rings high.
She was smiling proudly. Oh, it made this girl so happy.
She told me secretly that her goal was to be the ring bearer at every wedding in the family.
I was pretty sure she'd get her way. She had everyone wrapped around her little finger, and she knew it.
Travis put my ring on first, and then I slid his on. The second I was done, he leaned in, brushing his lips against mine.
We were husband and wife. I couldn't believe it.
We stepped out of the tent, walking slowly as everyone congratulated us. I loved seeing the genuine smiles on the faces of our wedding party and to be surrounded by people who wished us nothing but happiness. I could practically feel the joy in the air.
The photographer took over as soon as we were out. Paisley also snapped a million pictures with the camera Travis got her the past Christmas.
The photographer took group pictures, ordering us around, and then he looked at Travis and me.
"I found some good spots for you two farther down here.
It's between a patch of trees. The light is perfect, and the sun is in a great position right now.
Ready to go? We can come back and finish the group pictures later. "
Travis looked at me. "Your call, babe."
"Sure. Let's go."
I'd told the photographer that I'd like us to include the surrounding nature in the pictures because it was too beautiful to leave it out.
He led us on a tiny path that seemed to disappear between the trees in the distance. Since my dress was long and huge, my shoes were hidden. I was wearing comfy flats with a pretty thick sole, and I was grateful for it; otherwise, I'd feel every little stone.
I was already getting tired. It wasn't easy to move around with the baby, but it was all worth it because the trees in front of us were simply breathtaking. I hadn't realized just how big they were. They were positively giant.
He led us between two trees that were intertwined at the base. Oh, he had a good eye. This was a truly romantic spot.
"Damn it, I forgot some of my lenses." He rummaged through the bag around his neck. "I'll be back in a few minutes, okay? Look around a bit, tell me if there's something you specifically want included. I have my ideas, but I want to know what you think."
"Sure," I said.
He sprinted back. I realized he'd only walked slowly for my benefit.
I loved it here. I could feel how much it grounded me. "It's so beautiful," I murmured. "The baby likes it too."
"Is she kicking?" Travis asked, eagerness obvious in his voice. He was so cute, always on the lookout for a kick, a sign the baby was listening.
"No, you know the only time she does it. Worth a try." I wiggled my eyebrows.
“Out of all the songs in the world. I can't believe it.” He put his hand on my belly and started singing "Yellow Submarine."
I felt a kick and then another one. I can't believe she's actually kicking to the rhythm of it. Travis put his other hand on my belly too. The happiness etched on his face made me feel so special.
About a month ago, we went shopping, and this song came on.
Travis mocked the hell out of the DJ. And then, also mockingly, he started to sing a few lyrics, and I felt one of the strongest kicks in my whole pregnancy.
We thought it was a fluke, but he continued singing when we were out of the shop, and the kick returned.
"I love you so damn much, Bonnie." He was whispering now.
"Both of you." He lowered himself on one knee, kissing my belly.
Then he moved back a notch to look up at me, and I tilted so I could see him over my belly.
He was staring at it. "I'm going to treat you and your mom like princesses.
" He'd said his vow to me in front of the priest, and now he was making vows to his little girl.
"Always, every day, you have my heart and my soul. And that will not change. I used to think the hotel would be my legacy, but now I’ve learned there's another meaning to the word. "
I ran my fingers through his hair, sighing.
We’d both learned a lot about ourselves and our beliefs in the past few months.
I’d always been adamant that I had to do things a certain way to give my kids happiness—that a good job and a strong marriage had to happen first. But now I knew life had its own way of just…
happening. It took the right person and a leap of faith to create moments like this.
"That's a perfect shot."
I hadn't heard the photographer return. He looked very pleased as Travis stood up, squeezing my hand.
"Sorry if I scared you. I always think the best shots are the ones where you don't know you're being photographed. It's very natural."
"Can I see?" I asked.
He smiled wickedly. "Nah, let's take a few more, and I'll show you all of them after that. Did you look around?"
I blushed. I would've looked, but my man surprised me with his love declaration for our girl. “I think we can start with these two trees. I feel very happy just standing here at their roots."
"Yeah, it’ll make for beautiful shots," he said. "Just make sure you don't trip over the roots. They’re tricky."
The photographer certainly knew what he was doing. He asked us to do different poses, though I declined some of them because we seemed a bit fake. He must have taken fifty pictures of us around the trees.
When we returned to the party, everyone was already sipping drinks. I was parched and happily took the glass of orange juice Reese handed me.
I looked around, smiling. Sam was doing the same. He seemed very pleased as he came up to me.
“Great wedding.”
"Thanks. Pity your mystery woman couldn't come," I said. Sam had been hoping he’d have a date, but apparently that fell through.
"Yeah. I really wanted her to be here at the wedding."
"So when are you going to introduce her to us? The next time you're in town?"
His expression changed. Somehow he looked even more pleased than before. "Can you keep a secret?"
"Hell yes."
"I've decided to come back to Chicago."
"Oh my God, that's great news!" I exclaimed.
"Shh. Remember that part about this being a secret?"
I looked around, smiling even more widely. "It's my wedding day, so people are going to expect me to be all giggly and happy. When is this happening?"
"In a couple weeks."
“Man, you move fast!"
"I've thought about it for a long time, but once I decide things, I do move quickly."
"That you do. And you’re moving back because things between you and the mystery woman are getting more serious?"
Sam laughed, kissing my forehead. "That's enough secrets for one day."
"I disagree. It's my special day. I'm entitled to know everything."
"I see you’ve caught some of Gran’s persuasion skills. You learn fast."
"That I do." I grinned but didn’t question him further because Reese and Travis approached us, and I had promised to keep this a secret, after all. But I still had time to corner him and use my bride right to know everything.
For now, I was simply going to enjoy this happy day.