Page 165 of Disgrace

“Your turn,” Andino said.

Yeah, it was his turn.

He promised, after all.

She wouldn’t walk alone.

John made his way down the aisle in a quick stroll. Siena stayed still at the very end, waiting for him.

He probably should have waited until the end of the ceremony to do what he did.

It was the custom.

Tradition.

John didn’t care about any of those things. The second he met her at the end, he bunched her veil up, flipped it back, and kissed her hard.

Laughter lit up the room.

Siena’s smile curved against his.

“I love you,” he told her.

“I love you, John.”

“Are you ready?”

Siena nodded. “I have been ready.”

They turned to face the now-standing guests.

A future was waiting.

Finally.

EPILOGUE

Three years later …

IF THERE WAS one thing—above all things—about her marriage and John that Siena thought was most important to remember, it was that surprises were not welcomed. Especially if said surprise meant a huge change in their lives, or something that could cause a massive emotional upheaval.

For other people, a change could be a good thing. A little stress, and a bit nerve-wracking, sure. They would, however, roll with the punches and accept the change.

For John, though, a change that could and would impact his entire life often led him to overthinking, panicking, and more. It almost guaranteed a hypomanic episode would be on the horizon, and once that was controlled, a short bout of depression to battle.

Siena never blamed him for these things.

She never wished for anything different.

Oh, she loved John.

Every part of him was hers to love.

So as she sat on the edge of the tub in their master bathroom, and stared at the little strip of plastic in her hand … she couldn’t help but think of what this would mean, and what would come of it.

The pregnancy test flashed with the word pregnant.

Over and over.