31. Amberlee
Chapter 31
Amberlee
Seven months later
“ I look like a beached whale!” I exclaim as I gaze at myself in the mirror.
Being nine months pregnant on my wedding day wasn’t exactly in my plans. But here I am. Jeremiah wanted me to still have the wedding of my dreams with my father walking me down the aisle. I told him I’d be happy with just going to the courthouse and having it done, but he wouldn’t have it. After careful consideration, we chose to wait until after the twins were born, but before my due date to have the ceremony. That was Jeremiah’s one concession. We were not having the baby without me having his name.
While he had his demands, I had my own. I wanted to be Angel's mother, not just by marriage but adoption. We weren’t sure what she’d say when we asked her. I’d never do it without her blessing. Of course.
“Angel, can you come in here so we can talk to you?” Jeremiah calls her.
She comes skipping into the room, stopping before me, kissing my belly, telling her brother or sister hello before sitting down. She’s done it since the day we told her about us getting married and the baby. The only thing we don’t know is the gender. We both wanted it to be a surprise.
“Is the baby coming now?” she asks in excitement.
“No, not yet. We still have a few months.” I laugh. “I want to talk to you about a couple of things. First, I want to know if you’ll be my flower girl in the wedding?”
“Yes, yes, yes!” she jumps up and down squealing. She’s been so engrossed with the wedding, since Maddy and I started planning. Maddy, of course, is my maid of honor.
“Okay, calm down squirt, we need to talk about something else.” Jeremiah slips his arm around my waist giving me a comforting hug.
Angel knows Sylvia gave her up and isn’t her mother legally any longer. Jeremiah even sat down and told her how her mother was coming around the house. She was in tears for days afraid she was going to try and take her away. Jeremiah and I did end up getting a restraining order on her because she showed up again, that time I was there and she tried to attack me.
“Angel. I love you so much and no matter what you answer, it won’t change that. In my eyes, I’m your mother and I always will be. But, I’d like to make it official and adopt you. Is that okay with you?” I’m so nervous as I wait for her response. One that’s not coming as quickly as the one did when asked to be a flower girl.
“So you’d be my mommy forever, just like with the baby?”
“Yes,” Jeremiah answers for me.
“Can I start calling you mommy now or do I have to wait?’
“I’d love nothing more than for you to call me mommy.”
“Okay, mommy.”
In exactly one month from today, we will go before the judge. Jeremiah wanted us to be married before I adopted her.
“You’re not a whale, you’re pregnant,” my mother says from behind me as she places the veil on my head.
“Thank you,” I tell her, tears already blurring my vision.
“Are you ready?” my dad asks, tears in his eyes.
“I am. My back is killing me as bad as my feet,” I tell him.
While it’s nothing new especially with being nine months pregnant, my pain has been worse today. There’s several times today I had to stop to catch my breath.
“Let’s get this girl married,” Maddy shouts, sending everyone into laughter.
We head out of the dressing room to the front of the church. It still seems like a dream that I’m marrying Jeremiah Dawson. If you asked me seven years ago, I’d thought it was just wishful thinking.
“You look beautiful, Amberlee,” Ryan steps over, kissing me on the cheek before taking my mother’s arm in his to lead her into the church, then he’ll take his place beside Jeremiah as the best man. Jeremiah already escorted his mother in.
The music begins to play as Maddy and Angel move into position, then make their way down the aisle.
“You got a good man. I couldn’t have picked a better husband for you,” my father whispers as he hooks my arm through his.
Initially, I thought my parents would be disappointed in me when they found out I was pregnant out of wedlock, but they weren’t. They were happy for me and that I was going to make them grandparents again.
“I love you, Daddy.” The wedding march plays and we begin to slowly make our way down the aisle
In a matter of minutes, I’m about to be Mrs. Jeremiah Dawson.
Another pain decides to hit me, more intense than what I’ve been feeling. I let out a grunt.
“Are you okay?” my father asks and I just nod my head.
But I don’t think I am. I’m suddenly beginning to think I’m in labor. That I have been all morning.
“Are you sure? Do we need to go to the hospital?” my father questions.
“No.” But I do. “Not yet. I need to get married first.”
My father’s grip on me tightens as he helps me make my way down the aisle to the man who’s waiting at the end.
We stop in front of the pastor, a sweet older man, who gave us no judgment about being pregnant and unwed.
“Who gives this woman to this man in marriage?” he asks.
“Her mother and I do,” my father announces with pride as he slips his arm out of mine. Jeremiah takes my hand as we take a step forward toward the pastor, then turn to face each other.
I turn for a moment and hand my bouquet to Maddy, just as another contraction hits.
Shit, they’re getting close.
“Are you okay?” she whispers.
“I think I’m in labor,” I whisper back, but it’s loud enough for Jeremiah and the pastor to hear.
“Amberlee, this can wait. We need to get to the hospital.” His voice is laced with concern.
“No!” My voice is firm. “I’m not having this baby until we’re married.”
“Pastor, we may need to hurry this up,” Jeremiah tells him.
He just laughs and then looks out to the guests.
“Ladies and gentlemen, the ceremony will be short and sweet. We have a guest who’s excited to make their appearance.” Everyone erupts in gasps and shouts of congratulations.
“Shh,” the pastor says again. “We’re gathered here today to join this man and this woman in holy matrimony. If anyone objects to this union, speak now or forever hold your peace.”
Jeremiah and I both shoot our gaze to our guests. I had a little dread in my mind that Sylvia would show up and ruin today, but thankfully she didn’t. She hasn’t contacted us since the restraining order.
“Very well,” the pastor starts and another contraction hits me. I do the breathing I learned in lamaze while motioning for the pastor to continue. I don’t know how much longer I’m going to last.
When I pick back up on what’s being said, it’s Jeremiah speaking.
“I, Jeremiah Dawson, take thee, Amberlee Michaels, to be my wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part.” He takes the ring and slides it on my finger.
The pastor turns to me. “Amberlee, do you take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband?”
“I do.”
“Then repeat after me.”
I recite the same vows to Jeremiah, taking the ring from Maddy and slipping it on his finger.
The pastor announces us married as another contraction hits me.
“Sorry for the rush, but we have to go. Enjoy the reception without us,” Jeremiah announces as he scoops me up in his arms bridal style and rushes down the aisle. We don’t worry about Angel, we already had it planned for Maddy and Ryan to watch her when I went in labor.
“I love you my wife, let’s go have this baby,” he tells me as he exits the church.
“I love you, too. It’s always been us since the moment I saw you.”
The End