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NATALIE
Five months later
The noise of crashing waves filters in through the open balcony doors, and I take a deep breath of the salty air. Today is my wedding day. I’m getting married to my best friend. Sometimes, I can’t believe my life turned out like this.
The past few months have gone by in a blur of activities after Noah started kindergarten. It’s been a huge adjustment for everyone, so this little mid-winter vacay was the perfect time for the wedding.
A knock on the door pulls me out of my thoughts, and I look up as the girls filter into the room.
“Holy shit, Nat! Look at you!” Sara says, her eyes wide as she takes in my dress. I picked out a sparkly beaded wedding dress that is to die for. It’s tight around my hips, but the bottom is gauzy and is perfect for the beach. I knew as soon as I put it on it was mine.
I have half of my hair pinned back and curled so it’s still flowy but out of my face. With the heat of St. Thomas, I knew I’d want it pulled back to some degree.
The girls all file in wearing sundresses and sandals, ready to traverse the sandy beach.
Since we did a destination wedding, we decided to forgo the wedding party. The only people coming were people we’d want in the party, so we thought it’d be silly to have them stand up there with us.
“You look beautiful,” Megan says, giving me a hug.
“I brought celebratory booze!” Sara says, waving a sweaty bottle of champagne over her head. They quickly fill up glasses for those allowed and we clink them together. I only take a small sip, and of course, the girls notice.
“Nat, you wanna tell us something?” Lucy asks, her eyebrow raised in suspicion.
I just smile and put my hand on my stomach. I took the test this morning. Mom is the only one who knows because she got the test for me. Tucker doesn’t even know since we stayed apart last night. He insisted on that one wedding tradition, saying he didn’t want to jinx anything since we weren’t doing many of the others.
The girls all squeal when they see where my hand is and start another round of hugs.
“When did you find out?” Quinn asks, her little pregnant belly looking adorable under her flowy dress. At almost thirty weeks, she’s glowing and beautiful.
“Just this morning. Tucker doesn’t even know yet.”
Lucy claps her hands. “This is the best news!”
My mom peeks her head into the room. “It’s time to go, girls!”
We all walk out of the bedroom and into the living room where Steve and Cindy are waiting for us.
“Look at you! You’re glowing!” Cindy says with a huge smile.
I look at my mom who winks at me. “Thank you, Cindy. I’m so glad you guys are here!”
“Let’s get going. We’ve got a wedding to start,” Steve says.
I thought about asking Steve to walk me down the aisle, but in my heart, I knew I needed it to be my mom. She’s played mom and dad almost my whole life; to have anyone else by my side just doesn’t feel right.
We walk as a group through the hotel, and Mom and I hang back as everyone else walks out to the beach where the ceremony will be.
“I am so proud of the person you’ve become, Spark,” Mom says, pushing my hair off my shoulder. She has her red hair pinned back on one side and a pretty silver dress on. “You’ve overcome so many obstacles in your life, and it brings me so much joy to see you get your happily ever after.”
“You have to know it’s because of you, right?” I ask because I honestly wouldn’t be the woman I am now if it wasn’t for her.
She just shakes her head. “I may have been here to support you, but who you are now is because of your perseverance.”
“I love you, Mom.” I lean in and hug her, doing my best to hold in my tears.
“Okay, enough of the mushy. Let’s go get you married.” She grins.
We walk out of the hotel and down the beach toward the loves of my life. Tucker is standing at the arbor with Noah right next to him. They look so handsome in their matching khaki pants, linen shirts, and suspenders.
