Chapter 50
Chapter Fifty
Trevor
I’m not sure why I’m so goddamn nervous. It’s not as if we aren’t already married. But as I look out over the hundred or so guests, all awaiting Ava to walk down the aisle toward me, I’m suddenly sweating like a snowman at the equator.
“Dude,” Carter says, leaning toward me. “She’s not gonna bolt, you know.”
“Am I being that obvious?”
He shrugs. “I get it. To you it’s your first wedding. I’m sure I’d be nervous as hell, too. But trust me, you have nothing to fear. The two of you—” He stops talking and his eyes go wide. “Oh, wow.”
I look where he’s looking and, holy God, I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a more beautiful sight.
Ava is standing at the back of the aisle on the arm of my dad.
She’s wearing an incredible cream-colored satin and lace gown designed and donated by Holland McQuaid, who is apparently a big-shot designer in Manhattan.
Her long honey-brown hair is upswept with wisps of curled tendrils framing her face. A veil sits atop her head, trailing tulle and lace down the back of her hair and past her shoulders.
The massive bouquet—peonies, of course—covers her belly, and if you didn’t know she was pregnant, you’d be shocked to hear it.
Awestruck gasps and lauded murmurs coming from the crowd let me know I’m not the only one mesmerized by her beauty.
I have no idea what the twenty-five-year-old me felt or thought the first time this happened, but if it’s anywhere in the vicinity of how I’m feeling now, I know I was a fortunate man.
As she makes her way toward me, the past seven months flash through my mind as if on a movie reel.
And I realize I’m still a lucky man, despite the accident and the memory loss.
I’m lucky because even after all the shit I put her through, she’s here in a wedding dress, willing to marry me for a second time.
Willing to uproot her life so I can chase my dream.
It’s like I finally get it. Watching her walk toward me, as her eyes connect with mine and I get lost in her sandy brown pools, I finally get the meaning of unconditional love. It’s total. Complete. Absolute. It’s everything I’ve ever wanted… and more.
This feeling. It’s indescribable. It’s like I’ve won the largest lottery in the history of all lotteries.
Her eyes slam shut. Her gait slows. A harsh wince overtakes her gorgeous face. One of her hands loses its grip on the flowers and presses against her belly. For a moment, I tense. But then her smile returns, and a soft shake of her head lets me know it was just another Braxton Hicks contraction.
I laugh inwardly, because wouldn’t that make this wedding memorable?
Dad kisses her cheek when they get to me and takes his seat next to Mom, who’s already sobbing quietly. Not that I blame her. I feel like crying myself. Because… fuck, I’m a lucky, lucky man.
The last seven months have all been leading up to this one moment.
Hell, maybe my whole life has been leading to this.
Perhaps everything does happen for a reason, and the reason for my accident was that awful fucking letter I wrote.
Maybe the universe knew Ava and I belonged together, and that it had better do something, and quick, in order for us to live the happily ever after we were always supposed to have.
She hands off her bouquet to Maddie, who is only one of her two matrons of honor.
Since Regan was her maid of honor last time, Maddie got the first spot for this one.
At this point though, I could hardly care who is standing up with us and how many people are watching.
It’s just the two of us—Ava and me. Nobody else exists at this moment in time. In this bubble of pure happiness.
I take her hands in mine and stare into the eyes of the only woman I ever want to look at for the rest of my goddamn life.
When Reverend Jenkins begins to speak, I’m reminded it’s not, in fact, just the two of us in this world.
“Heavenly father,” he says. “We thank You for Your love and blessings on this day. We ask for Your guidance and favor upon Trevor and Ava as they begin… or rather, continue their life together.” A few chuckles are heard from the crowd. “May their love be strong and enduring, and—”
“Oh my god!” Ava interrupts, shock stripping her of her smile.
“Ava?” I ask quietly.
She looks down at the ground, then leans in as close as her pregnant belly allows. “Trevor, I think my water just broke.”
“You think?”
“I felt a little pop and then there was a gush, so yeah?” She glances sheepishly at the crowd. “Trev, what are we going to do?”
My face cracks into a smile. “Get you to the hospital, babe.”
“It’s too early.”
“It’s not too early. You and the baby are going to be fine.” I sweep a tendril of hair aside and cup her face, pressing my lips to hers. “I promise.”
Carter clears his throat behind me, reminding me once again we’re not alone. I turn to the guests. “Sorry, folks, we’re moving the wedding.” I sweep Ava into my arms and start up the aisle, turning to Mom as I pass. “It might be a long day. Anyone who wants to come wait at the hospital is welcome.”
“I’ll pack up and bring some of the food,” she says, reaching out to touch Ava’s arm. “Good luck, honey. We’re all here for you.”
As I carry Ava past everyone who came to watch us get married—most of whom I’ve been told were also in attendance the first time—and make my way to the limo that was supposed to take us to our honeymoon weekend on Long Island, Mom’s words echo through my head.
I’ve never been more grateful we didn’t move to Atlanta before the baby came.
Everyone we know and love will be here to welcome our daughter into the world.
I set Ava down and help her into the limousine, telling the driver about the change in plans.
We get her situated inside and she doubles over. She looks up at me, frightened. “What you said to your mom about it taking a while? I’m not sure it will.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I’ve been having contractions all day. I thought they were Braxton Hicks.” She’s visibly becoming more anxious as the moments pass. “I assumed they were just happening more frequently because I was nervous and excited.”
I scrub a hand across my jaw. “Jesus, Ava. You’ve been in labor all day?”
She shrugs, looking guilty. “Maybe since late last night.”
“And you didn’t think to tell me—your doctor husband?”
“I didn’t want you worrying, and I didn’t want anything taking away from this day.” She looks down at her soiled dress. “I’m sorry I ruined everything.”
I get on my knees in front of her and take her hands.
“You ruined nothing. I got to plan the wedding of my dreams. I saw you walk down the aisle.” I sweep my eyes across her.
“You’re fucking beautiful, by the way. I got to stand up at the altar in front of all our friends.
” I chuckle. “Even if it was only for thirty seconds.” I move our entwined hands to her belly.
“And now I get to watch our daughter come into the world. I can’t think of a better or more memorable day. ”
She doubles over again, eyes closing, face scrunching.
“Shit, babe. That was only a few minutes since the last one.”
Her eyes widen like saucers. “I’m not going to have her here in the car, am I?”
“No, of course not.” At least I hope not. We are thirty minutes from the hospital. “First babies rarely come that quickly.” Still, I turn and shout to the driver, “As fast as you can safely get us there.”
“No worries, Dr. Criss,” the driver says. “There’s a police escort just ahead of us. We’ll be there in no time.”
“Sherriff Niles?” I ask, knowing he was in attendance.
The driver chuckles. “Sure does pay to live in a small town where everyone knows everyone, huh?”
Ava squeezes my hand. “Are you sure it’s not too early? Regan had Mitchell early and he was in the NICU for weeks.”
“You’re over thirty-six weeks. And she’s a girl.
Girls born a bit early usually fare better than boys.
” I offer a reassuring smile even though I’m battling my own concerns about how close together her contractions are.
“You and Jordan are going to be just fine.” I get out my phone.
“Hang in there, babe. I’m going to call Dr. Russo. ”
By the time we pull up in the emergency bay, Ava is really struggling. She needs help to get out of the limo and into the wheelchair Kara, an ER nurse, is standing next to.
“Trevor, something feels wrong. I can’t walk.” She beckons me closer and whispers. “And I really feel like I have to poop.”
Damn, she’s progressing faster than I thought. “Let’s get you inside.”
“Labor and delivery is waiting,” Kara says. “Dr. Russo will be here in less than five minutes.”
We wheel her through the ER and are approaching the elevators when another contraction hits. Ava reaches back and grabs my arm. Hard.
“Trevor, I’m not sure I’ll make it. I feel a lot of pressure down there. I don’t want to deliver this baby in an elevator.”
I point to the curtains on my left. “Kara, can you put her in there? I’m going to wash up and check her real quick.”
On my way to the scrub room, I take off my suit jacket and roll up my sleeves. I consider changing into scrubs—this might be a long day—but I don’t want to leave her alone any longer than necessary.
By the time I return to curtain three, not two minutes later, Ava’s face is red. “I have to push. I can’t wait.”
My heart races as Kara helps me push up her long gown and remove her soaked panties. Ava’s legs fall open, and my jaw goes completely slack. She’s fucking crowning.
“She’s not going to make it upstairs,” I say, just as Dr. Russo comes around the side of the curtain.
She takes in the scene: Ava on the bed in a wedding dress and veil. Me in my dress clothes and tie. “Your baby sure knows how to make an entrance,” she says. She touches Ava’s shoulder. “Looks like you’re about to meet your daughter. I’ll just go wash up.”