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“You’re going to be the most amazing husband ever,” she whispers, her words filling the space between us with warmth. “And the most amazing father too.”
I swear to God my heart stops. “Father?” I manage to stutter out, my eyes widening as I stare down at our joined hands over her stomach. “You…you’re pregnant?”
She nods. “I only found out this morning.”
“Fuck, I love you.” I’m unsure of how to explain the utter joy I’m feeling in words.
There aren’t any, so I kiss her instead, our hands trapped between our bodies, our future pressed tightly between us.
EPILOGUE
DAHLIA
18 Months Later
The music starts up, and excited butterflies erupt in my chest. My grip tightens on my dad’s arm, and Harry turns to give me a grin. In his arms, Daniel babbles and claps his hands, hearing the music.
“Ready, not-so-little sister?” Harry asks, readjusting his hold on my son so that Daniel can play with his tie.
I grin at the sight of them both, my big brother holding my baby, ready to walk down the aisle as my bridesman. Officially, Daniel is the page boy, but at only ten months old, he’s really just adding cute factor.
“So ready,” I tell him, and the front door opens, the music growing louder. From over Harry’s shoulder, I can see the rows of guests on either side of the aisle, but Harry’s blocking my view of Dylan.
The aisle is lined with wildflowers, and the familiar sight of our garden is even prettier than usual thanks to the decorations my mom spent ages on. When we were planning the wedding, I couldn’t think of any place more perfect than the home that meant so much to us, especially with the gorgeous background of the Scottish landscape. It’s as perfect as I knew it would be.
I take a deep breath as Harry begins his walk down the aisle, the guests all cooing at Daniel. My son reaches his hands out, shouting “Dada!” as they get closer to Dylan.
Then it’s my turn. My dad pats my arm, kisses my cheek, and then we walk.
The second my sight locks onto my soon-to-be husband, they fill with happy tears. I blink, determined not to ruin my makeup immediately. Dylan takes Daniel from Harry, and my heart is so full it might burst. I barely see the faces of our guests, my entire world narrowing to the loves of my life waiting for me at the altar.
Dad kisses me on the cheek again as we pause at the end of the grassy aisle.
“Who gives this woman away?” the celebrant asks with a smile, and my dad answers happily before releasing me, taking Daniel from Dylan, and stepping to the side to stand beside Harry.
“You look…there are no words,” Dylan whispers as I take my place across from him, taking his hands in mine and squeezing.
“So do you,” I say back, heart pounding. He looks incredible in his suit, his hair pinned back from his face and his beard carefully trimmed. Still my wild lumberjack but tidied up for the occasion. The flowers in his button-hole match the lace roses on my dress.
“So, are you two ready to make this official?” the celebrant asks, and the guests chuckle as Dylan and I nod in sync.
We decided to write our own vows, not feeling as though any of the ones we found online worked for us. The celebrant prompts Dylan to read his vows, and he drops one of my hands to unfold a piece of paper before he begins to read.
“Dahlia, my petal,” he starts, and shit I’m about to cry again already. “When Harry called me and asked me to help you out with the house, I had never imagined how much it would change my life for the better. I did not know this much happiness was possible. You have given me the greatest gifts I could ever imagine—your love, your light, and our son. Being your partner and Daniel’s dad is the best adventure of my life.”
He pauses, exhaling a little shakily, and I squeeze his hand, feeling his emotions as though they’re my own. “I’m not very good at words, but I promise to show you every day how grateful I am for you, to look after you in every way I can, to spend the rest of my life trying to be worthy of you.”
When it’s my turn to speak, I’m not sure I’ll be able to get a word out with the way Dylan’s words have turned me into a pile of mush. I try anyway, pushing through when my voice shakes with emotion.
“Dylan, since I saw that photo of you online, I’ve loved you. You are my comfort, my protector, my strength. More than that, you are my home. You make me feel safe and cherished, and there is nowhere I’d rather be than right here with you and Daniel. I promise to always annoy you by singing pop songs at the top of my lungs,” I say, laughing when Dylan’s eyes crinkle with humor. “I promise to look after you the way you look after me, even when you say you don’t need it. I promise to kiss you even when you’re covered in paint and sawdust from whatever new project we take on. Above all, I promise to prove to you every day that you are worthy of all the love and happiness in the world. I promise to love you endlessly because my heart is yours, Dylan. It always has been.”
“If the bride’s brother could pass the rings,” the officiant prompts and Harry steps forward to hand over the wedding rings we entrusted him to look after.
“Told you I wouldn’t lose them,” he whispers to Dylan as he steps back. Dylan rolls his eyes but he’s smiling wide at his old friend, about to be his brother-in-law.
“Dylan Dixon, do you take Dahlia Jenkins to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better and for worse, for richer and for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do you part?”
“I do,” Dylan says without hesitation, slipping the warm band of silver onto my finger.
