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“Thank you. I wanted to look beautiful. It’s an exciting day. One we’ll remember for the rest of our lives. I just want everything to be perfect.”
“I’m sure it will be fine.” He had a guilty look on his face, and I searched his eyes as he averted them and went back to shaving.
“Why did you say it like that?”
“Like what?” He shrugged and leaned in over the sink closer to the mirror.
“Is there something you’re not telling me?” My heart started to pound out of my chest. Chance had a bad habit of trying to protect me in ways I didn’t need protecting. “You don’t think there will be a problem with us getting her, do you?”
He turned around and gripped my shoulders. “It’s nothing. I just might have a little surprise, is all.”
“What did you do? You say surprise, but you look like it’s the kind of surprise that might blow up in our faces.”
It had been such a hard process, with me having to walk a tightrope line to keep from being rejected, and with all the hell Nick had put me through, and all the drama when I’d run, I was afraid they’d dig up something and not allow us to have her.
Not only was my past picked over with a fine-toothed comb, but so was Chance’s. He’d been questioned about his recovery and even his own childhood, which has been much worse than I had imagined.
Star’s own past had been brought up as well, and we’d been holding our breath for months that her mother wouldn’t clean up her act or change her mind.
“No, no one is going to keep our daughter from us. I just wanted it to be a special day, too, and I might have invited a few guests. I told Liza and Brady to meet us before.” He shrugged, and I let out a sigh of relief.
“Is that all. Jesus, for a second I thought we weren’t getting her. Don’t do me that way.”
“Yeah, well, don’t tell Liza I told you she was coming, okay. She wanted to surprise you.” He kissed my lips, carefully not to mess up my lipstick and then patted my bottom as I turned to go find my shoes.
We got to the courthouse, which was a small building considering the kind of business taking place inside its walls and while we stood in the front hall, Liza and Brady walked in with big smiles. Brady ran up to Star, and the two hugged, and she took the little boy’s hand and found him a seat on the nearest bench.
Chance tucked himself close to me and spoke over my shoulder into my ear. “You should get off your feet.
“I’m fine. I’m too excited to sit, and I’ll just sit there tapping my foot anyway.” I stepped away from him and turned to put my arm around his waist as the front doors opened, and in walked a man who looked like Austin. I did a double take and realized who it was, and Lola was steps ahead of him on her way over with a big grin and a baby bump protruding from her slim figure.
My face lit with a smile as I walked forward to meet her halfway with a hug. “Surprise,” she said.
“This is a wonderful surprise. I didn’t think you two were going to make it.”
“We wouldn’t miss it.” Lola stepped away but only long enough to give Star a big hug and greet the others as Chance and Austin shook hands.
“Come here, man.” Austin pulled Chance into a hug and patted his back. “I couldn’t let you get too far ahead of me.” He stepped over beside his wife and patted her bump.
“Yes, and he made me wear this dress to show it off.”
“You look radiant.” I missed those early days of pregnancy when I could show off a cute bump. I was so bloated and swollen that it didn’t have the same effect.
“You’re the one who is glowing. I can’t believe it’s almost time!”
“Thanks, but I hope you have a better time than me. These last months have dragged, and the swelling is horrible. I just want my body back, and I honestly don’t know if I can go another two weeks.”
“You can do it, baby.” Chance kissed my head, and I gave him a smile, tucking closer to his side.
“You gave me a nice surprise, thank you.” It was then that his face fell and I knew that the surprises weren’t done. Since Cynthia had ridden in with us and was now sitting at the small courthouse diner having coffee while she waited, I knew who it had to be.
“You didn’t,” I said beneath my breath as the front doors swung open and my father and mother strolled inside looking around like they’d just walked into a garbage dump.
