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“By the way, the doctor also said no telescopic bars for the next few weeks.”
She laughs. “That’s bad advice.”
37
ISABELLE
After weeks of being confined to bed and bringing my right leg back to health, Clayton proposed to me at the Franklin Canyon cottage—on the same boat that had taken us to the middle of the lake, gotten us soaked, and led us to our first surrender.
With my conditions, being the responsible man that he is, he went through everything with my doctors—the shoulds and shouldn’ts, the okays and not okays. Needless to say, he had to can the skydiving and mid-flight proposal ideas he’d conceived prior to knowing my pregnancy.
It was a down-to-earth engagement, just how I loved it. The water was calm, allowing him to get down on one knee and present me with a stunning emerald platinum ring.
It wasn’t just a proposal. The big man, on bended knee with sincerity in his eyes and a firm hold on me, gave himself to me. I wish I could’ve knelt in front of him, too, because I would give myself to him for all eternity.
But the life growing inside me made up for that missed chance—I’d already given myself to him long before that moment.
Today, as our pregnancy enters our last trimester, we’re about to seal our promise with our vows. And we’re back to where we started.
The Franklin Canyon cottage lakeside is lined with tables intricately dressed in white and purple. The only exception is my and Clayton’s table, which is covered in a stunning traditional Kenyan cloth, gifted by Mr. and Mrs. Makena, who have flown all the way here to attend our wedding. Only when Clayton and I were sorting out our guest list did I finally find out who he was dining with that night at the Giraffe Manor.
My husband-to-be may be a billionaire, but I’m relieved to hear that he was looking at a low-key wedding. Truly, I had no fuss about how it was going to be as long as Clayton and his family are here. But knowing I wouldn’t have to deal with hundreds of people I don’t even know, I’m a calmer bride.
With my growing belly, Amber lent a hand in choosing a dress for me. It’s a Verona gown with a divine empire line overlaid in delicate lace. Who knew that she herself was five months pregnant when she married Rob? What is it with the Hartley boys and their timing?
“Stay still, babe!” Thomas commands as he fixes my veil, helped by Pippa. “What do you think?” he asks her.
“A bit more to the right, maybe?” Pippa proposes. “The middle flower isn’t centered.”
“Well, the pin is asymmetric, babe. I think it’s perfect like that,” Thomas insists.
“Okay… you’re the expert,” Pippa relents.
“I think it looks great like that.” Amber shows it to me in a mirror, seemingly happy to be the deciding vote.
Pippa helps me stand up, watching me striking a pose—as elegantly as I can with my bulging belly. She then starts crying. “Look at you, Gizzy Belle.”
Like a domino effect, Thomas sheds errant tears. “I wish you were my bride…”
“Easy, babe. Just remember that I stole your soulmate.”
Thomas giggles, sniffling away his cry.
Amber looks out the door and then says to me, “It’s time.”
As soon as I step out of my room, Simon Blake greets me. He doesn’t usually give away anything with his blank paper expression, but this time his smile widens as he presses a gentle kiss to my forehead. “Damn that boss of mine is a lucky man.”
He’s not old enough to be my father, but as I found out, he was a faithful advocate for me and Clayton, even when we were at our lowest point. That’s got to be a good enough reason for him to give me away. Besides, in his police uniform, he looks sleek—like Tom Ford runway sleek.
“Wish me luck,” I whisper to Thomas, who leans on Pippa, still in tears.
“You’ve got a gun concealed somewhere?” Blake teases me as he takes my arm. “Clayton had better behave today!”
I chuckle. “I’m a peaceful mother now, Simon.”
As we stride forward, I can’t take my eyes off of the man waiting for me at the end of the aisle. Clayton Hartley. He looks dashing—oh my, I’m weak all over seeing him in his Air Force uniform—but he is the home where I belong. There’s nowhere else I’d rather be.
He takes my hand, presenting a platinum band to me. “Isabelle… I’ve flown high, I’ve roamed wide, but I’ve never found another person whom I love more than you. Now that we’ve found each other, fallen for each other, and bound to each other, I promise I’ll be your pilot and navigator of our life’s adventures and be the wind beneath your wings when you need me. I love you, Isabelli Luna Martins. From now on, and for the rest of my life, you will have the best of me without reservation.”
