Chapter 37
Cody
Karissa’s sitting beside me in her soft cream dress with a red sweater, hair curled, makeup light. Her hand’s in mine, and that ring I gave her three days ago? Hiding in her purse.
Because my family still doesn’t know I proposed a few days ago. We agreed not to take away from Jesse and Ella’s news about the baby on the way. So we came up with a better idea after we left.
They don’t know it yet, but if they stick around after the sermon today, they’ll be able to watch us get married. Just as we are. No bridal party, decorations, expensive clothes. Just us, standing before God and the handful of people who love us most. That’s all we want.
When the last song ends and we’re dismissed, people start talking, moving toward the doors.
I give Karissa a small smile and we stand, following my family out of the pew and the sanctuary.
Jesse’s holding Cora in his arms, talking with Mason, Dad, and another man.
Ella’s over by Maureen and Megan, who, honestly, I was surprised to see show up so soon after Mason announced their relationship.
Good for her. She’s showing them something on her phone, all three of them smiling.
Across the room, Addison’s standing with Wesley, deep in conversation with Blake and Sierra.
I don’t realize it until now, that I’m not gonna be able to make the announcement until we leave.
So, fifteen minutes pass by, and Karissa doesn’t leave my side. I can tell she’s nervous, tense, unsure if I’ll be able to stop everyone from getting in their cars. Wes and Addie are way ahead of us in the parking lot, my parents behind by what feels like a mile.
“Hey, uh, y’all got a minute?” I ask, slowing to a stop. My grip on Karissa’s hand tightens, Emma balanced on my hip with the other.
Everyone turns, attention on me.
“We’re, uh…” I glance at Karissa, who gives me a little nod of encouragement. “We’re getting married today. Back in the church.” I gesture behind me. “If you wanna stay, we’d love to have you.”
It takes everyone a second to let it sink in.
Maureen gasps, hand flying to her chest. “What?!”
Addison squeals. Ella’s jaw drops. Jesse just grins and shifts Cora to his other arm.
“You serious?” Mason says.
I nod. “Yeah. I proposed Christmas morning, but we didn’t want to take away from Megan being there for the first time and then Jesse and Ella’s announcement.”
Addison’s eyes widen. “You proposed three days ago and didn’t tell anyone?!” she practically shouts, drawing more than a few glances from people trickling out of the church.
Wesley reaches for her, hand settling on her back, laughing. “Addie…lower your voice, babe.”
Karissa cracks up and holds out her hand, flashing the ring. The diamond catches the morning sun, and everyone steps closer to see. A collective gasp echoes from the girls.
“Holy crap, Cody,” Ella says.
I smirk. “I know.”
Dad slaps a hand on my shoulder. “Congrats, Son.”
Mom’s crying now. “This is so exciting. I’m so happy for you guys.”
I take a breath, letting it all sink in, before we drag everyone back inside.
The sanctuary’s quiet now. It’s just us, our family on the front pew, and Pastor Charlie beside us.
Karissa’s hands aren’t shaky. She’s calm, just like me. She looks gorgeous, and I think her new last name is going to suit her incredibly well when we’re done.
I know getting married isn’t gonna fix everything.
It’s not some magic switch that makes life easier or keeps the hard days from happening.
We’re still gonna argue, still have moments where we don’t see eye to eye, especially as I step into the role of being a stepdad to a little girl who isn’t mine, though I will always love her like she is.
They can trust me to take care of them. To be someone they can lean on no matter what.
I mean the vows when I speak them. And when Karissa repeats hers back, my eyes glaze just slightly. When I look at her, everything settles in my chest. I’ve never felt more stable in my life.
When we kiss, I take my time. I don’t rush it. She was anxious about kissing in front of everyone, but with the sound of people clapping and my mom crying, I’m hoping those nerves of hers washed away the second my lips touched hers.
* * *
It’s strange that there’s no baby noises, no toys, no Elmo playing in the background.
We dropped Emma off with Mom and Dad for the night, and I just got back from taking over a few things she’ll need.
My heart rate quickens as I head into our bedroom and find Karissa standing in front of the dresser, looking at herself in the mirror. She’s still in the same cream-colored dress she wore to church and then our ceremony. Simple. Soft. Her.
She looks beautiful.
It doesn’t take a genius to tell she’s nervous. I am too. But when our eyes meet in the mirror, she gives me this quiet, knowing smile. Her gaze trails down my body quickly before flicking back up, and I catch myself doing the same.
I laugh under my breath and walk in farther, closing the bedroom door behind me slowly, leaving it cracked just an inch or two.
That’s when the thoughts really start, the nerves in my gut hitting hard.
“I wanna say something,” I say.
“Okay.” She faces me.
“Um, so, your expectations—”
“Cody, I don’t have expectations.”
“But I feel like I need to remind you…I’ve only done this once before and—”
“Honey. Stop. It’s not a performance.” She laughs. “I’m not going to rate you when we’re done.”
I laugh, because…I don’t know…I guess I just feel this pressure, being the man and all. Like I’m supposed to be the one who knows exactly what I’m doing, who takes the lead, makes it perfect.
She steps closer and I kiss her, deep and slow, one hand cradling the back of her head, the other sliding down the curve of her body.
She pulls back just enough to look at me, breath catching. “You know, I’ve been through an entire pregnancy so, like, my body is—”
“Stop it,” I cut her off, kissing her again, harder this time. She giggles against my mouth, and I can’t help but laugh too.
She sucks in my bottom lip, pulling me closer as we stumble back onto the bed. She drops down, and I follow, my hands on each side of her while her legs wrap around my waist. She locks her fingers behind my neck and pulls me in. Our mouths meet again, hungry, familiar, perfect.
This time, I catch her bottom lip, and the quiet sound she makes when I do has my chest pounding. Her hips lift into mine, and for a second I forget how to breathe.
I pull back just long enough to catch my breath and brush my thumb along her cheek, then down across her bottom lip.
When I finally peel her dress off, the room goes still and quiet, except for the sound of our breathing.
My eyes roam over her, I’ve seen her whole body before. Postpartum, exhausted, middle-of-the-night feedings…I’ve been there. But none of that was ever like this.
The stretch marks on her stomach catch my attention first. The silvery lines that curve over her skin.
She shifts, her arms starting to cross over her stomach like she’s trying to hide. But I catch her wrists gently and shake my head.
“Don’t,” I say quietly.
I can see that flicker of vulnerability in her eyes. “I know they’re not—”
“They look good on you,” I cut in, firm but soft, leaning in to press a kiss to her forehead. “You’re beautiful.”
She exhales like she’s been holding it in. I look down at her glassy eyes.
“I love you,” she whispers.
“I love you too,” I say, and kiss her again.
Then, her voice teasing, she says, “Show me how much you love me.”
And that’s it. I’m undone. Completely hers. And I will make sure she knows it in a brand-new way tonight.