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Nella cries louder, and they pull away from each other and shoot me and Nella an annoyed glance.
I snuggle her into my chest, and whisper against her head, “Wow, Nells. How rude. Have they never seen a crying baby before?”
She grunts, as if agreeing with me. Her big green eyes look up and meet mine, holding my gaze for a long moment. It’s funny how she can look just like her mother, but there’s something wholly different about her. She’s entirely her own little person with her own personality.
“Can you believe the nerve of those two?” I whisper again since she seems to like it. “As if they’re more important than you.”
She makes a gurgling sound, with her mouth full of drool.
“You, Nella, are the most important person in this building. I don’t think they realized that.”
She coos in response.
“Take comfort in the fact that I, Ford Remington, know how important you are and that your demands must be met—and met immediately.”
Nella grins, reaching for my face and grabbing at my chin.
Amber laughs softly, and I realize she’s been watching us and listening intently this whole time. “I see how it is. You two already ganging up on me? Teaming up?”
“Never,” I say, looking into her eyes. “The three of us, we’re a team. No man—er, woman—left behind.”
“Amber Park?” A middle-aged woman, her hair pulled into a low bun and dressed in a black pantsuit, calls from the doorway. I’m assuming the double door behind her leads to the justice of the peace.
“That’s us,” Amber says, lifting an eyebrow as if giving me one final chance to escape.
I hold out my free arm to her, and she slowly drapes hers through mine as we walk into the room where everything is about to change.
We follow the lady with the bun into the large courtroom, and the judge is already standing at the front of the room. The woman looks at the door and then back at us. “Will you have any witnesses? Or would you like me to stay and witness?”
“Does the baby count?” Amber teases, her voice sounding strained, like she’s nervous.
Of course she’s nervous, because she’s not in love with me. This whole situation is probably way more nerve-wracking for her. I’m marrying the woman I love, and I don’t have to have surgery. Therefore, I’m not nervous. My chest feels tight, and I want to comfort her, but I don’t know how, so I just continue silently holding Nella, who’s still playing with my chin and thankfully, not crying.
The woman laughs softly. “I’m afraid not. No matter how adorable she is, she’s under eighteen. But that’s okay, I’ll stay as witness. I’m Susan, by the way, Judge Carter’s assistant.”
We smile and she ushers us to the front of the room to stand near the judge. “Well, aren’t you all the cutest family,” the older gentleman says, his grey hair swept neatly to the side and his black legal robe perfectly pressed. “I’m Judge Carter,” he smiles. “I’m assuming you’re Amber Park,” he looks at Amber, and then glances over at me. “And you’re Ford Remington?”
“Yes, sir,” I answer.
His eyebrow quirks. “You look familiar…” He taps his chin with his index finger. “Do you play hockey?”
Amber laughs. “I can’t take you anywhere, Ford. Isn’t the wedding day supposed to be all about the bride?”
I feel my cheeks and ears heat. The total lack of anonymity is something I’ve never gotten used to—and probably the hardest part of being in the NHL. The good outweighs the bad, but there are still times I hate that I can’t hide and be invisible.
“Yes, I play for the Eagles,” I respond. “But today is all about my beautiful bride.” I wink at Amber, something Colby does to Noel a lot, and she seems to like it.
Amber beams at me, so she must be okay with it.
The judge laughs heartily. “Good man. You already know how marriage works, my boy. Happy wife, happy life.”
Amber bats her lashes at me, and I hold back a laugh.
We go through the basic vows of a wedding ceremony, and I realize we don’t have rings. The Judge smirks, probably thinking we couldn’t wait to marry each other and forgot rings because we’re too in love to think straight. He’s probably right, on my end, but not on Amber’s.
Judge Carter wraps up the vows and announces, “It’s my honor, by law of the state of Ohio, to pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride.”
My brain goes a little hazy, and for whatever reason, I look down and notice Nella is still in my arms. I think I was so distracted by the ceremony I didn’t realize I was still holding her. She gives me a gummy grin, then I glance back at her gorgeous mother. Who’s now my wife. And I’m supposed to kiss her.
