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“You okay, man?” Thatch asked, giving him a careful appraisal. “You seem nervous. Normally you love being the center of attention.”
“I’m fine. This day isn’t about me.” He did a visual check on Aiden, who sat between him and Thatch at one of the reception tables in the barn Kyra had had renovated for this day. “You good, man? Anything you need?” He and Thatch had flipped a coin to determine who would run point on this co–best man thing, but right about now Silas was sure Thatch would’ve been a better fit.
“I’m good.” Aiden didn’t seem to be sweating nearly as much as Silas.
“Good. That’s great.” He stood, too antsy to stay still anymore. “I’ll go check on… stuff.” There had to be something he could do to keep busy until the ceremony was supposed to start. Other than thinking about popping the biggest question he would ever ask anyone in his whole life. He swore that Tess’s ring and the girls’ necklaces were burning holes right through his pockets.
He stepped outside and walked to where the ceremony was set to take place. Rows of fancy white folding chairs faced a wooden arbor in front of a breathtaking view of the mountains. Everything looked ready. Many of the guests had already arrived and taken their seats. Was he supposed to do anything else before the ceremony? He couldn’t seem to think as clearly as he usually did.
“Silas!” Morgan called his name and he spun, searching for her.Thank God. There she was, with Willow and Tess on the front porch of Aiden and Kyra’s house. He really needed to see his girls right now. Leaving his nerves behind, he hurried to where they stood.
They looked beautiful. All three of them. Morgan and Willow in their fluffy pale pink flower girl dresses and Tess in a long light green dress that hugged her silhouette perfectly. “You three are the loveliest ladies I have ever seen,” he said as a greeting.
“And you’re the handsomest.” Willow held on to his hand. He still wasn’t used to the feeling that came over him when one of the girls reached out to him. A mixture of gratitude and resolve and hope and purpose so overwhelming his eyes stung.
“You really are the handsomest.” Tess reached forward to straighten his tie. “Is everything okay? You look a little nervous.”
She knew him so well.
“I’m good.” And he’d be even better when he could sneak these three away from the reception for a few minutes to make their little family official.
“It’s almost time.” Tess’s lips touched his cheek in a lingering kiss. “I’d better go see if Kyra needs anything before we walk out there. Can you hang out with the girls for a second?”
“I would love to.” This was exactly the opportunity he needed to go over their plan once again.
Tess disappeared inside the house and then Silas knelt so he was eye level with the girls. “Remember the plan?” he whispered.
Excitement gleamed in both Morgan’s and Willow’s eyes.
“Of course we remember.” Morgan let out a squeal. “I’ve been waiting for today forever and now it’s finally here!”
“Why do you have to wait until the reception to ask Mommy to marry you?” Willow asked. “Why can’t you do it right now? Keeping secrets ishard.”
“I know.” He quickly checked the inside pocket of his suit coat to make sure their necklaces were still safely stashed inside. Between that surprise for them, Tess’s engagement ring, and Kyra’s wedding band he had to keep for Aiden during the ceremony, he was holding on to a lot of precious cargo today. “We don’t want to distract everyone from Kyra and Aiden though, right?”
Both girls shook their heads.
“Good. Now let’s go over the plan again.” So he could be sure everything would go smoothly.
“At the reception, you’re going to request that one song.” Morgan squeezed her eyes shut as though trying to remember.
“‘Lucky,’” he filled in. Tess loved that song by Jason Mraz and Colbie Caillat.
“Yes! The song ‘Lucky.’” Willow hummed a few bars. “And then you’re going to dance with Mommy and when the song ends—”
“We’ll all step outside the barn together so you can tell Mom you love her and want to marry her,” Morgan finished triumphantly.
“Exactly.” And then he would also give them their necklaces and tell them how honored he was to join their family. But they didn’t know about that part of the plan yet.
“This is gonna besomuch fun.” Willow danced around him. “We’re gonna get married too someday and then we’ll all get really dressed up and you’ll become our daddy.”
Silas’s heart stopped beating. In all the time they’d spent together, he hadn’t talked with them directly about his role in their lives, other than telling them that he loved them and wanted to be there for them. He hadn’t wanted to push or displace Jace as their father…
“Are you going to be our dad?” Morgan asked quietly.
He took his time answering so he could choose his words carefully. “I would love nothing more than to be your dad.” He gathered them both in closer. “But you girls can choose. Jace will always be your first dad, and an important part of our family. Even after I marry your mom. No matter what you decide, that won’t change.”
Both girls nodded but didn’t have the chance to say anything before the door opened and Tess rushed out. “Time to get a move on, girls.” She playfully shooed Silas away. “Go make sure my brother is ready for this.”
