Epilogue Lachlan
Lachlan
One Month Later
“Today’s the day, buddy,” I whisper to my three-month-old son who’s in my arms, smiling up at me. “Mommy’s gonna have our last name,” I tell him.
We wanted a small, intimate wedding. We chose to stand up on our own, but I needed my boy with me, while we waited for his momma to walk to me down the aisle. When the music starts to play, I turn to look for her, waiting for the doors of the small venue we rented here in Ashby to open.
And there she is.
My bride.
“Momma’s stunning, Sean,” I tell my son. He coos up at me, looking adorable as hell in his tiny little suit Maggie found for him. He has no idea what’s going on, but he’ll have the pictures and the stories we tell him when he gets older.
My eyes move back to my bride, who is walking in on the arm of my dad. My chest expands with love for both of them. For the man who stepped up and showed me how to be a man. He showed me it’s okay to wear your heart on your sleeve, and that being there for those that you love is important.
And Maggie, she swooped in and stole my heart when I wasn’t looking. One night with her changed my life. Changed our lives. And I’m a better man because of her. She’s wearing a long, white form-fitting silk gown. Her curves from having Sean make my mouth water. Her hair is pulled back, allowing me to see her long slender neck, and I can’t wait to kiss her there.
To kiss her everywhere.
My parents are keeping Sean overnight while we go back home to our place to have some alone time. Maggie isn’t ready to leave Sean just yet for a long period of time, and she’s already back to work, so we’re planning a honeymoon, just a long weekend, in a couple of months.
When they reach us, I swallow the lump in my throat. Dad kisses Maggie on the cheek before pulling me into a hug. He then holds his arms out for Sean, and I hand my son over as I take my wife’s hands.
“You’re beautiful,” I tell her. I hear the ladies in attendance, hell, maybe even some of the men—it’s just the Everlasting Ink family, and their families in attendance—making an aww sound. I didn’t bother to lower my voice. My wife is a smoke show.
“You look handsome,” she tells me, with tears in her eyes.
“You ready to do this, Mrs. Noble?”
She nods and blinks away her tears. Unable to handle her being sad, I lean in and kiss her softly. “Love you,” I say. This time, my words are just for her.
“Hey, Lachlan, man, it’s not time for that yet,” Maddox calls out, and everyone laughs.
“Look at her. Do you blame me?” I call back as I watch the blush coat Maggie’s cheeks.
I get lost in her eyes as the officiant leads us through our vows. I speak where I’m supposed to speak, all words and promises we’ve made to one another prior to today. Because of that, we chose to say traditional vows.
When it’s my turn to place her wedding band on her finger, I swallow hard past the lump of emotions welling in my throat. My dad steps forward, holding a now-sleeping Sean, and passes me the ring. My hands tremble as I slide the diamond band onto her finger before lifting it to my lips and placing a kiss as my silent promise to never stop loving her.
My mom steps up and passes Maggie my ring, and her hands, too, are unsteady as she slides the ring onto my finger. “I love you, Lachlan. With all that I am,” she says, her voice cracking.
We’ve already signed the marriage license, so this is a formality, and I need to kiss my bride. I don’t wait for anyone’s permission. I slide my palm behind her back, and one around the nape of her neck, tilting her lips to mine, and I kiss her. I kiss my Maggie Noble for the first time, and damn, does it feel good.
My heart pounds like a bass drum inside my chest, and the crowd cheers.
“Mr. Noble, you got a little ahead of yourself.” The officiant laughs.
“I’m not sorry,” I tell him, pulling my wife into my arms and giving her a fierce hug.
Our guests cheer again, and we raise our joined hands, united as one. The photographer that we hired rushes us off to take some photos before we join everyone in the adjacent room for the small reception.
The entire day feels like a dream.
She is my dream.
We eat an amazing meal. Everyone stops by the table we’re sitting at in the front of the room to wish us well. Everyone we love is here. It’s perfect, and what’s better is my wife hasn’t stopped smiling. Hell, I haven’t stopped smiling.
“Can we get the bride and the groom out on the floor for their first dance?” the DJ announces.
I grin at Maggie, standing from our seats and offering her my hand to lead her out to the makeshift dance floor. Pulling her into my arms, I want her as close as I can get her.
“Today was perfect,” she says, smiling up at me.
“It was,” I agree. I slide my hand to the small of her back and pull her closer.
“Lachlan, I don’t think you can get me any closer.” She giggles.
“Can we try?” I ask her.
Her eyes light up, and she nods, before standing on her tiptoes, pressing her body into mine. She offers me her lips. Our kiss is slow and sweet, and exactly what the moment calls for.
“This is the first day of our forever, Mrs. Noble,” I whisper against her lips.
“Love you forever,” she replies.
***
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