Chapter 25 - Mav
TWENTY-FIVE
MAV
My beauty did it. Of course she did. I never had a doubt, but hearing the excitement in her voice, her confidence, hit me right in my feels.
“Mckenna!” I call out when I enter our home. I can’t wait to see her, to kiss her, to congratulate her on being the most amazing human I know.
“Hi!” She enters the foyer.
I hold out the bouquet of peonies. “Hi.”
She grins. “You bought me flowers!”
“Congratulations!” I close the space between us and pull her into a hug. A kiss. “I’m so damn proud of you. You did it!”
“We did it.” She wraps her arms around my neck and pushes up onto her toes to kiss me back. The swell of her belly cuts into my stomach and I love the feel of it.
I’ve been nervous and excited for today’s appointment, but now, with Mckenna’s news as the cherry on top, I know today is going to be one of the best days of my life.
I take the bouquet from her hand, dropping it on the console table. Then, I wrap her in my arms, kiss her deeply, and drop to my knees in front of her.
“What-what are you doing?” She beams down at me.
Reaching into my pocket, I pluck out the strip of ribbon with a diamond eternity band tied to the end of it.
“Mckenna Tate, I love you so much. I am so proud of you, beauty, for every challenge you meet head-on, for every obstacle you’ve overcome this year, and for all the love and grace you show the people you care about.
I’m honored to be your husband.” I take her hand and slip the ring onto her ring finger, stacking it on top of her wedding band and engagement ring.
The ribbon flutters in the space between us but I ignore it. I was nervous I’d lose the damn ring if it wasn’t tied to something.
“Marry me again, Mckenna. Let’s say our own vows, me and you, before we bring our baby into the world.”
Mckenna blinks back tears. Her gaze doesn’t waver from my face as she kneels before me, cupping my cheeks in her hands.
“I love you, Mav. I’m honored and grateful to be your wife. I can’t wait to see what life brings us and to live through every up and down with you by my side. I’d love to renew our vows.” She laughs. “Although we kind of just did.”
I snort before kissing her deeply.
“We get to see our baby today,” I murmur.
“I know. I can’t wait.”
I help Mckenna to her feet. “Let me get scissors to cut the ribbon off.”
She chuckles, but holds out her hand, admiring the ring. “It’s gorgeous, Mav. You didn’t have to—”
“I wanted to,” I call over my shoulder as I enter the kitchen. I return a moment later to snip the bit of ribbon. “I’m going to rinse off and change and then, lunch?”
“Yes. Okay,” Mckenna says.
“Okay.” I bend to kiss her one more time before hustling up the stairs.
I shower, change, and bound back downstairs.
Mckenna’s eyes flicker to mine when I enter the kitchen.
“I have a job interview at Aiden’s firm next week,” she blurts out, her eyes bright.
“All the pieces are falling into place, Mckenna,” I say, rounding the island to hug her. “Everything you worked hard for is finally happening. Enjoy it, sweetheart. Every damn second.”
“I will,” she promises, her tone serious. “I am.”
“So am I,” I whisper, kissing her cheek.
Then, I help her off her barstool and take my wife to lunch.
Later that day, we learn that we’re going to have a baby girl and my heart nearly bursts.
“A girl,” Mckenna whispers.
“I knew it,” I say.
She rolls her eyes. “No, you didn’t.”
I laugh. “I mean, I had a fifty-percent chance of guessing correctly so…”
“We need to start thinking about baby names.”
“We will. We have time.”
“I know,” she says but by the excitement in her expression, I know there will be a stack of books for baby names on our coffee table by the end of the day tomorrow.
When we return home, Mckenna calls her dad and leaves a voicemail for her mom. I dial Jameson to tell him the good news and then call Mom and Nico.
After we share our update with family and friends, Mckenna and I sit down at the kitchen island, power up her laptop, and book flights to Costa Rica.
I’m taking my beauty to my favorite place on Earth so I can tell her, at sunset on the beach, that I will always honor, cherish, and love her and our family.
Not wanting to waste any time, we fly to Tamarindo the following week where we do exactly as I intended. In front of the rolling ocean, Mckenna and I exchange heartfelt vows and make a forever commitment, as the sun dips below the horizon.
“I will never take you or your love for granted,” I promise my wife. “You are my pinnacle, Mckenna, and I am so grateful to share this life with you.”
I kiss my beauty as the water runs over our toes. She’s crying happy tears and I brush them away with my thumbs as I deepen our connection.
“Forever, Maverick. We’re forever.”
“Always,” I tell her.
Wrapping Mckenna in my arms, I marvel at how my life, my daily existence, could be this perfect. This joyous.
This promising.