Chapter 20
Twenty
Macklin
I can’t stop staring at the grainy strip of black-and-white photos we got from the ultrasound yesterday. The lady was incredible and printed a strip for both of us, and I needed mine with me today.
There’s a knock at the door, and I yell for whoever it is to come in with a raspy voice, because yeah, I’m all up in my feels. How could I not be? In less than an hour now, I’m marrying the love of my life.
“Son,” Dad says, as he and my mom enter the room I’m using at the inn to get ready. The Groom’s Room is what the computer-printed sign on the door says. I’m the groom, and my Baylor, she’s my bride. I’m in awe that we’re finally here, less than twenty-four hours after our first ultrasound.
“You look so handsome,” Mom says, smiling as she wipes at her eyes. “What do you have there? Is that from the ultrasound?” she asks, her voice hopeful. Forget that her only son is about to get married, she’s currently more interested in her grandchild’s first photo.
“Yeah,” I say, tears burning in my eyes. “You want to see?” I offer her the strip. She takes it quickly, swiping it out of my hands, and Dad pulls her into his chest as they take their first look.
“Wait.” Her eyes snap to mine. “Am I reading this right? I know it’s been several years, but, Mac, this says Baby A and Baby B.”
“Yeah.” I swallow hard. “Twins. My wife is having twins.” They’re the first people I’ve said it out loud to other than Baylor since our ultrasound yesterday.
We agreed that I would tell my parents first, and she’d tell her grandparents.
She said she wanted her sisters to find out with everyone else.
She wants me to be there to see the shock on their faces.
“Twins?” Dad asks.
I nod. “Yeah, two babies. Two healthy babies. At Baylor’s first appointment yesterday, they said she was measuring larger than what we told them was the conception date, so they wanted to do a scan. Turns out, we were right. There are just two.” I grin.
“Bring it in, son,” Dad says, holding out the arm that’s not holding Mom, inviting me into their hug. I stand and go to them, wrapping my arms around them both.
“How are you feeling?”
“I’m—elated. She’s all I’ve ever wanted, and these two babies are a product of that. I’m stoked, a little scared about keeping two tiny humans alive, but I’ll have Baylor and you all and her sisters and our friends. We’re going to be just fine.”
“I had so much trouble getting pregnant with you. I always said I wanted twins, when it did happen. Two for one.” She smiles, wiping tears from her eyes.
“Baylor’s always wanted to be a mom.” My voice cracks.
“The three of them are lucky to have you,” Mom says.
“Nah, I’m the lucky one,” I say, taking the strip of images she hands me.
“You ready for this?” Dad asks.
I can’t help it. I toss my head back in laughter. “I’m ready, old man,” I tell him once the laughter subsides. “No cold feet. No second-guessing. In fact, you can go out there and tell them I’m ready now, and we can get this show on the road.”
“We saw her before we came to see you,” Dad tells me.
“Asshole,” I mutter good-naturedly, and they both laugh.
“She’s glowing.”
“My wife is a stunner,” I say, nodding. I can’t wait to see her in her dress.
She kept it at her place, well, her old place, because she moved in with me after my proposal at the Hideaway.
She was already pretty much living there.
We just made it official by cleaning out her old room.
So now, everything she owns is at our place, where it belongs.
More than just her clothes and her toothbrush.
All of her, mixed in with all of me, and soon, our two babies will be here.
Okay, not soon, but I can imagine these next few months are going to fly by.
“Well, let’s go. You don’t want to be late,” Dad teases.
I stare down at the strip of images and smile.
I’ve already cut one off, and it’s in my shirt pocket.
I needed them with us today as I prepare to make their momma mine in every way.
Grabbing my cowboy hat off the table, I place it on my head and stand.
“Let’s do this,” I say, and my parents smile.
Mom wipes more tears from her eyes, gives me one last hug, and we make our way to the flower garden, where Baylor and I are getting married.
The flower garden has been transformed with even more flowers for today’s ceremony. Baylor and I decided not to have anyone stand up with us because we didn’t want to have to choose, and if we picked all of them, well, we wouldn’t have any guests.
“Welcome to the family, son. You take care of my girl,” Grandpa Dean says as he stands next to me, waiting for Baylor to come down the aisle. Baylor is thrilled that her grandfather is marrying us, just as he did with Ellison and Copeland.
“I love her, sir. I promise I’ll take good care of her.”
Of all three of them, I think to myself, but I don’t know if she’s told them yet or not.
Dean nods, and a smile breaks over his face. I whip my head around, and my breath stalls in my lungs.
There she is. My wife.
Music plays, but I can’t hear it. I can’t hear anything but the rush of blood in my ears. Baylor’s smile is wide, and when she reaches me, there are tears in her eyes. I lean in close, kissing her cheek. “You’re beautiful, wife,” I murmur.
She mouths, “Thank you,” and her grandpa Dean begins.
The ceremony is a blur. All I can see is her, and all that I hear is her “I do,” and then, I’m kissing her. I’m kissing my wife, my Baylor, the woman whom I’ve loved from afar for years but never thought I’d get the chance to love freely, openly, as my own, yet here we are.
“I love you, Mrs. McBride,” I murmur against her lips.
“I love you, Mr. McBride.” She grins, and we turn to face our friends, our family, and I pull our joined hands in the air between us. Everyone cheers, and we head back down the aisle to the tent we rented for our reception.
There are a few long tables set up with chairs and wedding decorations.
We didn’t want a separate table. We wanted to sit and mingle with those we love who are sharing this day with us.
We told Alice we just wanted a buffet-style lunch.
Pulled pork, mac and cheese, green beans, rolls, and of course, the wedding cake that Courtlynn made for us.
Once everyone is seated, Baylor and I remain standing.
“Thank you all for being here for us today.” I glance over at Baylor. “My wife and I have some news we’d like to share with all of you.”
“We already know you knocked her up, McBride!” Courtlynn calls out, and everyone laughs.
“Yeah,” I say. “But did you know we’re having twins?” I counter, and the tent goes silent, until it’s not. Cheers, laughter, tears, hugs, handshakes, slaps on the back… it’s chaos in the best kind of way.
I try to hold on to my wife, but her sisters manage to pull her away, with baby Lainey in the middle of their smiles and happy tears.
“Congrats, my man. Welcome to the family,” Copeland says, stepping up next to me. He nods to where the four girls and Lainey are huddled together, smiling and wiping at their eyes.
“That’s a thing,” Copeland says. “They’re really close after losing their parents.”
“I know.” I nod.
“Just wait,” he tells me. “They’ll pull us in.”
“You think so?” I ask him.
He shrugs. “Most of the time, if I’m close, that’s what happens.”
Sure enough, not even a minute later, Baylor lifts her head and searches for me. She nods for me to come to her, and I’m on the move. I don’t have to look to know that Copeland is right behind me.
Stepping up behind her, I wrap my arms around her, my hands resting over her belly, over our babies. She relaxes into my hold. “Love you,” I whisper in her ear. Her hands rest over mine with a soft squeeze.
“Welcome to the family, Macklin.” Ellison smiles. “I can’t believe you married my little sister.”
“Right? Who would have thought I’d ever be this lucky?” I reply.
“Aw.” Leighton smiles.
“Are there really two babies in there?” Courtlynn asks. “Twins?”
“You said we needed more babies, one for each of us,” Baylor tells her.
“You missed the mark by one,” Leighton teases.
“I can’t let the two of you off the hook so easily,” Baylor says. “You two have some work to do.”
“Yeah, well, with the lack of decent eligible men in this town, don’t hold your breath on that front,” Courtlynn says dramatically.
“What she said,” Leighton agrees.
“Just wait,” Baylor tells them. “One of these days, it’s going to happen out of nowhere, and you won’t even know what’s hit you.”
“You promise?” Leighton asks. There’s so much hope in her voice, I almost want to start searching for every eligible bachelor in town and screen them for her. Leighton is the quietest of the four. I can see my wife and her sisters getting involved in doing some matchmaking.
“There are a couple of single cowboys here,” I remind my sisters-in-law.
Leighton wrinkles her nose. “They’re always on the road, though, right?”
“Yeah, but it only takes the love of a good woman to convince them to settle down.” I kiss Baylor’s cheek. I don’t know how much of our story she’s told her sisters, but this woman, my wife, I would have given it all up for her years ago, but it just wasn’t our time.
“They’re not all like you, Mac,” Leighton says. “You’re one of the good ones.”
My chest warms at her words. I would do anything for my wife, and I’ll love her with every breath I take for as long as I live, hell, beyond life on this earth. This woman owns me.
“We don’t have to marry them, Lei, but we’re single. They’re single, and we can get our groove on. It’s a day to celebrate, after all. We have a new brother and two new babies in the family.”
“I do like to dance.” Leighton chuckles.
“That’s the spirit. Come on, let’s go grab us a cowboy.” Courtlynn takes Leighton’s hand and pulls her away from our group. We all turn our heads and watch them as they approach Hank and Brad, pulling them to the side, where a small dance floor has been set up.
Lainey squeals, pulling our attention, as she leans in toward her dad. Copeland takes her from Ellison’s arms and starts zooming her around the room like an airplane, and she squeals with delight.
That’s going to be me, but I’ll have two babies to spoil and love, and while that sounds overwhelming, my heart expands, telling me everything is going to be just fine.
Dixon and Bowen join us. “You ready?” Bowen asks me.
I glance at Copeland and Dixon, and they both nod. “Yep.”
“Ready for what?” Baylor asks, glancing at me over her shoulder.
“Something,” I say. “Let’s get you ladies seated, and I’ll show you.”
“What are you up to, husband?”
“You’ll see.” I take her hand and lead her to the dance floor. Dixon is there with a chair for her, and I nod for her to sit. She does with a look of confusion on her face. “Patience, baby.” I lean in for a kiss before Copeland, Dixon, Bowen, and I take the dance floor.
Leighton and Courtlynn look confused as Brad and Hank lead them back to their seats. All eyes are on us, and I can’t wait to see Baylor’s reaction to what’s about to happen.
“My wife’s favorite movie is 8 Seconds. I like to think it’s because of me, but—” I shrug, and everyone laughs. “Anyway, the boys and I planned a little something for you.”
I nod to Grandma Ruby, who has my phone, to hit Play on the Bluetooth speaker.
As soon as the beat drops, we start shucking and jiving, doing the line dance from the wedding in the movie.
Baylor’s mouth drops open in shock. Then she begins to laugh.
Her sisters and their best friends bring their chairs over to sit with Baylor to enjoy the show.
Lainey is on Leighton’s lap, giggling and babbling, watching her daddy and his best friends—well, her new uncle, that’s me—dance for them.
Brad and Hank jump up and join us. Their steps are not as fluid as ours, but they haven’t been practicing the way the four of us have since the day after Baylor’s sisters helped us set a wedding date.
The song ends, and Baylor jumps out of her chair and rushes toward me. I catch her easily, spinning her around as a slow song starts. I pull her into my arms as we begin to sway to the music.
“I can’t believe you did that.”
“Good surprise?” I ask her.
“The best. Court recorded it on her phone.”
“I wouldn’t expect anything less.” I chuckle.
“I can’t believe this is my life. I don’t ever remember being this happy.” My wife smiles up at me with tears in her eyes. “Thank you for loving me, for being patient with me, and for giving me the life and the love I’ve always dreamed of.”
“Loving you is as easy as breathing. Never thank me for breathing, baby. I love you. I love our life, and these babies—two babies, Bay. Two.”
“Overachiever,” she sasses.
“Always when it comes to you.” I grin down at her.
“I love you.” She smiles.
“I love you more. Thank you for giving me a chance. For letting me show you how it would be to be loved the way that you deserve.”
“I tried not to need you, but your big heart made that impossible.” She smiles, tears in her eyes, and she rests her head against my chest.
I hold her close, her and our babies. My entire world is in my arms. This is the life I’ve dreamed about, but it was always so out of reach.
I don’t know if it was her parents looking out for us, or if the universe just knew, but there won’t be a day that passes that I won’t be thankful for this life, for this woman, and for the family we’re creating.