Epilogue
EPILOGUE
M elanie stood on the raised dais, sucking in her stomach. The wedding dress fit perfectly, but she had to quit eating such large breakfasts if it was still going to fit on her wedding day. Ever since Colton had moved in with her a day after her proposal, she’d been eating whatever he cooked.
Dawn stood on the next dais, her blue bridesmaid gown perfectly matching her stunning eyes. “You have not gained weight.”
“Maybe not yet, but I can’t keep eating like that. Your brother eats like a horse.” Melanie held still as the seamstress tucked pins in along the bodice.
“They all do. Remember them as teenagers? The food was always gone before I could get to the pantry.” Dawn gave a mock shrug. “Have you seen the guys in their tuxes yet?” She kept her gaze on her sparkly shoes.
“Not yet, but I bet Hawk looks amazing,” Melanie said. The guys were trying on tuxes on the other side of the wall, their boisterous laughter echoing through.
Dawn looked up. “I know, right?”
“Yeah. Did you ask him to your graduation ceremony for your master’s degree?” Melanie asked.
Dawn shrugged. “Yes, but he didn’t confirm. Graduation is in a month, and I know he’ll just be getting the gyms started.”
“If construction goes as planned.” Melanie eyed the rain blasting down outside the window of the Mineral Lake dressmaker. “We just broke ground last week.” She couldn’t believe she’d been engaged for almost a month. They’d planned the wedding for the end of June, and she couldn’t wait. But she’d wanted everything to be perfect, and perfect took time.
Dawn stepped down. “I’m glad you two are going to live in your house. I’ve always loved your place.”
“Me too.” Melanie’s stomach growled. While Colton had planned to build a house on his family’s property, he seemed more than happy to live in hers…while they combined the ranches into an even larger land holding.
Heat climbed up her back, and she breathed deep. “I think the bodice is too tight.”
The seamstress tugged on the fabric. “No, I think it’s fitting perfectly.”
Melanie’s head spun. “Um, I don’t feel so well.”
Dawn glanced up. “Oh, no. The flu is really going around. The elementary school even closed early yesterday, my mom said. Are you hot?”
“Yes.” Melanie swayed on the dais. Her knees weakened, and she went down.
“Mel!” Dawn yelled and hustled forward, bending down. “What’s going on?”
Melanie rolled over and shoved to her knees. ““I don’t know. My head is spinning.”
“Melanie?” Colton called from the other section of the store. “Are you all right? Dawn? What’s going on?” A rustling echoed, and the door started to open.
“Don’t come in,” Melanie gasped, shoving down bile.
“He can’t see you in the dress,” the seamstress hissed.
Melanie’s head lolled, and she dropped all the way down.
“Colton?” Dawn called. “Hurry.”
Melanie tried to stay conscious, but the world spun. A door banged open, and strong arms cradled her. Colt’s strong scent of musk and man surrounded her, offering comfort.
Her stomach lurched. “Oh, God.” The room spun as she was lifted and carried into the cold air. “You can’t see my dress,” she moaned.
“I didn’t look.” He hurried down the sidewalk.
A door opened, and warmth brushed her cheeks. She shut her eyes and rested against his chest, his heartbeat grounding her. “I think I have the flu.”
The lone nurse in the small clinic instructed Colton to take her to a back examination room, where Doc Mooncaller loped in, his hair braided down his back. “Hi, Mel. The flu’s going around. Have you vomited?” He reached out and felt her forehead. “You’re not hot.”
“Yes, she is,” Colt quipped.
Doc laughed, his belly shaking. “Funny. Okay, let’s check you out, darlin’. Do you want him to leave?”
“No,” Colton said.
Melanie shrugged. “I don’t care. If I have the flu, he’s probably next.”
“Hmmm.” Doc felt her neck. “Let’s see what’s up.”
During the next hour, he tested her, she peed in a cup, and she finally settled back on the examination table to wait.
“I hate the flu,” she moaned, her arm over her eyes.
“Me too.” Papers rustled as Colton kept reading through a magazine on fishing. “Your dress is stunning, by the way.”
She groaned. Now she’d have to find a different dress. No way would she begin her marriage with bad luck. “Everything is planned and has to be perfect. I’ll get another dress.”
Doc cleared his throat.
Melanie sat up. She hadn’t heard him enter.
He rubbed his chin. “So, about perfect and planning.”
She frowned. “Yes?”
“Ah, you’re pregnant,” the doctor said.
The world screeched to a stop. Her body shuddered. Tears slammed into her eyes. “No, I’m not.” She glanced at Colton, whose intense gaze was checking out her abdomen. “I’m not,” she said weakly, afraid to believe.
Doc glanced down at the chart in his hands. “Oh, you definitely are with child.” He eyed Colton and then her. “Um, is this okay?”
Colton shot to his feet. “Oh, yeah!” He grabbed her and spun her around.
Her stomach revolted, and she slapped a hand against his chest. “Stop.”
“Oh.” He tucked her close. “Sorry.”
She lifted her head, not caring tears slid down her face. “A baby.”
Colton nodded, his eyes wet. “Yeah. A baby.”
Melanie reached for him, needing his strength. Colton had always been there for her, always loved her. Now he’d love their baby just as strongly.
She looked back and grinned, her heart on fire for him. “I love you.”
“I love you more.” He kissed her, proving it. Yeah. She’d known Colton Freeze would be able to kiss like that, and now she had the rest of her life to enjoy him. Forever.