42
Maeve
I pulled my mom aside and asked her if she wouldn't mind if the girls had a sleepover at her house tonight.
“What do you have cooking in your head?” she asked me after she agreed, quickly claiming she missed having the girls living with her and her house was too quiet.
Gianna and Tatum waddled over to where we stood.
“Wait, let’s get Chelsea too,” I said as we called her over, and she peeled away from Alex, letting the guys talk.
“I have this crazy wild idea,” I told all of them.
“Spit it out,” Chels exclaimed.
“Shhh,” I said, hoping no one else heard me.
“When I got married to Tyler, I had the big wedding. The church ceremony, the white dress, the whole event.” They all listened.
“What if I just got married…now?” I could hear their gasps as I shushed all of them.
“I just went through this horrible moment when I thought that I would lose my kids today, then came home and got engaged. I feel like everything is in this state of flux anyway, so like why not?”
“I guess I can't see a reason not to?” my mom responded.
“I’ll ask the girls too if they're okay with it, but they are already dressed in the cutest white dresses.”
“I can go get my camera.” Tatum hurriedly rushed off to grab her things. “Oh, and Julian is ordained. Elio made him get ordained for his own wedding as a backup.”
“Perfect,” I responded as this wild and crazy plan came to fruition.
“I will go outside and arrange the flowers and candles into more of a walkway too,” Gianna responded, then looked at Elio, who was staring at her. “ I will tell the boys where to place it without lifting a finger.”
“I can help with your hair, makeup, and outfit?” Chelsea questioned, and my face lit up in pride and joy. These were the types of friendships I wouldn't ever give away.
“Let’s do it. Mom, will you bring the girls upstairs and keep everyone entertained down here? I don’t wanna tell Christian until I’m ready.” She nodded, grabbing the girls to follow Chelsea and me upstairs.
I sat down at the vanity in my bathroom as Chelsea grabbed a white sundress from my closet that hit about mid knee. It had a low v-neckline and some delicate lace details around the bodice.
“This?” She held it up for me as I plugged in the curling iron.
“Wow, I haven't seen that dress in forever. I got it years ago. That looks perfect.”
Just as she smiled and we hung it up to steam, my two little girls came to stand next to me.
“Girls, I have a question for both of you?” I said, looking down at them as Chelsea began to quickly curl my hair.
“Yeah?”
“You know how Christian asked Mommy if she would marry him?” They both nodded their heads. “Well, since everyone is already here, I was wondering if it would be okay with you guys if we just got married tonight?”
“Oh, Mommy, are you so happy you found your Prince Charming?” Kelsie asked me.
“I am so, so happy.” I offered her a smile and a quick kiss on her cheek.
“We love Christian,” they both said, then bounded down the stairs.
“I think that means yes?” I looked up at Chelsea, who nodded in agreement.
This was actually happening. I would marry the guy who once came bounding into my life as my fake boyfriend. We were now going to be very married and have a baby together. Wasn't it crazy how life worked, sometimes?
After spending a half an hour applying makeup and curling hair, I slipped into the white dress. It was perfect and everything I could have imagined today would be.
Julian and James had taken Christian over to his house so he wouldn't notice everyone trying to adjust the house, and they were on their way back over. I walked down the steps, and Gianna and Elio had set up the backyard so the candles and the flowers provided a glowing backdrop to get married. Tatum had grabbed her cameras, and my parents set up some chairs to sit.
Suddenly, I turned around just as I rounded the last step, and the door opened. Julian and James slipped past me quickly, and Julian made his way to the front of the aisle.
“What is this?” Christian asked.
“Well, you like to surprise me, so it’s my turn to surprise you.” I gestured around us. “I figured, why wait to get married?”
“W-Wait you mean like right now?”
I shrugged. It was very rarely that I ever heard Christian stumble over his words like he was right now.
“I mean, if that is what you want?” I hesitated because somehow I expected a different reaction, but he closed the gap between us.
“What I want is to spend every living day breathing the same air that you do, so yes, firecracker, I would be absolutely honored to marry you tonight.” He smiled, and I leaned in, kissing him.
“Let's do it,” he said as he grabbed my hand.
“Wait.” I stopped him before answering the front door. Stephen stood on the doorstep.
“I couldn't miss this.” He came in and hugged Christian.
“Hey, Maeve,” Tyler sheepishly offered from around the corner. Christian shot me a look.
I simply shrugged. “They’re family too, and I knew how much it would mean for Stephen to be here for you.”
He leaned in to give me a kiss on the shell of my ear. “Are you sure this is okay?”
I nodded. “It was my idea.” We both walked out toward where everyone already waited.
"This was unexpected," Julian began. "But I’m so grateful that with all of your friends and family here, we can celebrate the union of Christian and Maeve." As Julian continued his speech, which I was sure he had practiced just minutes ago from an internet checklist, my focus remained solely on the person standing before me at the aisle.
It was the one person who had been there for me when I needed someone the most. The one who showed me that I didn't have to keep running myself ragged, that I deserved happiness, and who promised to stand by my side and give me everything I could ever ask for. My handsome, blue-eyed, rugged bodyguard was truly everything I ever wanted. We were both embarking on our second marriages, but with him, it felt like I was starting anew, walking a path I had never trodden before because of the way he genuinely knew how to love me.
"Hey, firecracker," Christian whispered, just audible enough for me to hear as Julian continued his speech.
"Hey, you.” I smiled back at him.
"I love you." His words might have been simple and short, but they meant the world to me. Sometimes saying "I love you" was more than enough. The love we shared, the love that had brought us here, mattered most.
As Julian reached the end of his speech, he smiled warmly at both of us and said, "Now, if you two are ready to embark on this beautiful journey together, please join hands and exchange your vows."
Christian took my hand in his, and I felt an overwhelming surge of love and happiness. I gazed into his eyes, and the world around us faded away. This was the moment I had been waiting for, the moment when I could officially call him my husband.
With tears of joy in my eyes, I began to speak my vows. "Christian, from the moment we met, you showed me what true love means. You've been my rock, my protector, and my confidant. You've taught me that love isn't about grand gestures, but about being there for each other every step of the way. I promise to stand by your side through thick and thin, to cherish and love you with all my heart, and to never take our love for granted."
Christian's voice was filled with emotion as he replied. "Maeve, you've brought light into the shadows and laughter into my life when I needed it the most. You've shown me what it means to be truly loved and supported me, even if the journey wavers. I promise to be your equal partner, to love you fiercely and unconditionally, and to stand beside you in all of life's ups and downs. I’m grateful for every moment we share, and I can't wait to build a beautiful future together."
As we exchanged our vows, the love and happiness was palpable. Julian looked at us and said, "It's time to seal this bond with a kiss."
Christian gently cupped my face in his hands without hesitation, and our lips met in a tender, heartfelt kiss. At that moment, I knew I had found my soulmate, the person I wanted to share my life with forever.
As we pulled away, cheers erupted from our friends and family. The room filled with joy and celebration, and I couldn't help but feel grateful for the unexpected journey that led me to this beautiful moment of saying "I do" to the love of my life.
We spent the rest of the evening celebrating. My mom and dad packed up to take the girls to their house for a little sleepover.
Tyler and Stephen had joined them, about to head out, both of them having spent most of the evening with the girls.
“I’m happy for you,” Tyler offered sheepishly.
“Thank you, but I don’t need your approval. Not now and not ever.” I offered a tight-lipped smile, and that was about all I was willing to give.
Christian hugged Stephen, and Tyler and Stephen said goodbye to the girls and told them they would see them tomorrow.
Once they were out the door, Christian got down on his knees to the girls.
“I hope you know that I promise to protect you and your mom for a very long time.” He gave them both a kiss on their cheeks.
“What should we call you now that you are married to Mommy?” Kinsley asked, and I cringed on the inside because I knew this question would come eventually.
Without missing a beat, Christian simply answered, “What do you call Stephen?”
“We call him “Poot” because he makes funny noises when he toots,” Kelsie said, and both girls giggled. Christian looked back at me and started to laugh hysterically.
“I used to hang out with Stephen a lot, and you guys are right. He has the biggest farts.” Everyone burst into a fit of giggles. “You guys already have a really cool dad, and I’m not here to take his place, so whatever you want to call me would be okay with me.”
Kelsie sat there thinking for a second, and then Kinsley quietly asked, “Mommy, is Poppy a weird name to call a boy?” Christian turned to look up at me too.
I laughed. “Names don't have genders, honey. I would say it's a cool name, why?”
“Well, Christian always gets us poppies and tells us how important they are to him, so I thought maybe we could call him Poppy?”
Christian coughed, and I knew he was holding back his feelings. The same surge of emotions came rushing over me.
“I think that’s a beautiful name,” I offered.
“Then I think I would like to call you Poppy, Christian,” she said and gave Christian a hug.
“Me too,” Kelsie offered and joined in on their hug.
After a few moments, my mom, who was in full tears after witnessing this whole event, grabbed the girls and left.
“I’m usually very tough, and it takes a lot to break me,” Christian said as he stood and looked in my direction. “But those two will be the death of me.”
“Imagine adding another to that.” I looked down at my stomach and Christian put his two hands on my belly.
“I can picture it, and I’m so excited about it.” He placed a kiss on my forehead gently.
We went to where our friends gathered around the fire pit in our yard. Elio had started a fire.
Christian settled into a large wooden Adirondack chair, and I sat on his lap.
“I cannot believe that a year and a half ago, when I moved out here, that I would be sitting here.” Tatum started to tear up. “Hormones,” she screeched, and we all laughed.
“Honestly, I cannot believe I’m here even from a couple of months ago.”
I looked down at Christian, who only responded by giving me a kiss on the cheek. He looked around at everyone gathered in the circle.
“I was always the type of person who preferred to be in the shadows. I answered my demons by replacing them with women. Sorry, babe.” I gave him an encouraging smile. “I always hung out in the back of these groups because I never felt like I fit in. I was always the outsider, just Julian’s bodyguard. I felt like I was only ever good to be the muscle, regardless of how self-imposed that was.” The girls were all teary-eyed, and I couldn't help but feel my heart surge with my love for this man. The fact he was confessing this was such an incredibly prideful moment for me.
“We are so grateful you are here with us. You are part of this very dysfunctional family,” Elio, the patriarch, responded, and there was a resounding agreement in the air.