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“Yes. He talks to my stomach every single morning and night and any time in between when we’re alone. He’s madly in love with this baby already.”
“That’s because he’s been madly in love with the baby’s momma for many years.”
“Yeah.” With a chuckle, I said, “He’s reading this book, What to Expect When You’re Expecting.”
“I read that. It’s a good one.”
I smiled. “He reminds me so much of you, Daddy. The way he loves me. Looks at me. It’s how you look at Mom.”
“Oh, pumpkin, that boy has been looking at you like that since y’all were about ten years old.”
My cheeks flushed. We sat in silence for a few moments.
“I’m going to be a mom.”
“I’m going to be a grandpa.”
We both exhaled.
“I hope Rip and I are half as good as parents as you and Mom are.”
He kissed my forehead. “You will be an amazing mother. I know you will. And Rip is going to be an amazing dad. He comes from a good family.”
Squeezing his arm, I said, “We should go back in. I’m sure Rip is freaking out and worrying that you hate him.”
Dad stood and then helped me to my feet. I was capable of getting up on my own, but Daddy was a true southern gentleman.
“Maybe I’ll let him sweat it out for a bit before I make nice.”
“Daddy!” I said, hitting him lightly on the arm. The front door opened, and Rip stood there. Looking every bit as worried as I knew he was.
“Steed, sir.”
Holding up his hand, Daddy shook his head. “Son, I’m damn happy for both of you. I just needed a minute or two.”
“He was fixin’ to cry and didn’t want to do it in front of your dad,” I said, causing my father to glare.
Rip laughed, which made Daddy send the look to him, but he made it ten times scarier.
“Not funny. Got it,” Rip stated.
As my father walked by, he held out one hand to shake while squeezing Rip’s shoulder with the other. “Congratulations, son.”
There was no way I could stop the flood of happiness that hit me. We spent the rest of the evening helping Kristin unpack some Christmas boxes and organize the decorations. It was a fun night, and it kept my mind off of tomorrow’s wedding. I had no idea why I was nervous. I was already married. But this time we would be doing it in front of our family. And it wouldn’t be just me and Rip. This time it was me, Rip, and our baby.
Renee ran around in a circle as she laughed. Shannon, one of my old college friends turned professional photographer, was snapping pictures. She’d gotten me before I got ready, as I got ready, and was now waiting for the big moment when I got on my horse, Lizzy, and rode over to the chapel.
“Chloe, lift your dress just a bit, let me see the tip of your cowboy boot.”
I did as she said. A light knock on the door had my stomach dropping.
Aunt Scarlett popped her head in and smiled. “Rip and Mike are at the chapel. Are you, Alyssa, and Renee ready to go?”
Taking in a deep breath, I said, “Yes. Very ready.”
Shannon gathered up all her stuff. She would be driving behind me in the ranch four-wheel drive Mule. Alyssa climbed up on her favorite horse here at the ranch, Pepsi.
With the help of Uncle Trevor, I got up on my horse. Shannon and Scarlett made sure my dress was laid out perfectly. No one would see me walking up to the chapel, since they would all be inside, but Shannon was snapping pictures.
“Ready?” Trevor asked, a giant smile on his face.
“Ready!” I glanced around. “Wait? Where is Renee?”
“She went on ahead with your Daddy. They’ll be waiting outside the chapel,” Scarlett said.
“Perfect. Let’s go!” I said.
The ride to the chapel wasn’t long, but it felt like it took forever to get there. Trevor, Scarlett, and Shannon went ahead so that they could get to their seats, and Shannon could get me and Alyssa coming up on our horses.
“Well, I guess now you get to finally call yourself Mrs. Rip Myers in public,” Alyssa mused.
“Yes! Finally.”
I looked her way. She was beaming. “Are you thinking about your own wedding?” I asked.
“Yeah, about that.”
I almost brought my horse to a stop. “What do you mean…about that. Are y’all having problems?”
“What? No! Gosh, no. It’s just, after seeing you and Rip elope like that, well, it got us thinking.”
Nearly letting out a scream, I covered my mouth.
Alyssa giggled. “We’re eloping.”
“Shut up! Where?”
She shrugged. “We haven’t thought about it just yet.”
“What about the big wedding y’all were planning?”
“I don’t want a big wedding. I want it to just be me, Mike, you and Rip.”
“Oh, Alyssa! Where? When?”
She giggled. “We’ll talk about it after you come back from your honeymoon. We have to work around your little baby.”
