“I did it,” he said with a smile that took over his chubby little cheeks.
“You sure did, buddy.”
For the next hour, he stood before me, insisting on drilling every hole and screwing in each screw as I absorbed every excited laugh and toothy grin he gave me. We didn’t accomplish as much as we would have, had I gone solo, but the time I got to spend with my son was the best part about my day. These were times I would always remember, times I would treasure.
The woman I loved was by my side to witness it all too. And that just made everything that much better.
Epilogue
The Wedding
Alena
After long, grueling hours and after pricking my thumb hundreds of times with more than a few needles, Bailey looked absolutely gorgeous. The wedding dress she and I created together fit her flawlessly.
“It’s perfect,” she whispered. I looked up toward the mirror, and my eyes met hers in the reflection. “I knew it would be amazing, Alena, I never doubted that.” She swallowed hard and closed her eyes for a moment as if to gain control of her emotions. Slowly, she opened them and met mine once again. “There isn’t anything I would change about this dress. It’s truly gorgeous.”
Amber stepped up to her left side, and we all admired the dress and the beautiful bride wearing it.
“Ladies,” Tammy said softly from behind us.
When we turned around to face her, I noticed the skin around her eyes was red. She had been crying. I could only imagine how much she wished her husband could have been here for her son’s special day.
She took a step closer and suddenly wrapped us all in a group hug. “I thank the Lord every day that you beautiful girls came into our lives. Not only have my sons fallen in love with each one of you, but I have too.”
The love of a mother was something I rarely received. My mom felt showing any kind of emotion was just a sign of weakness, so I’d stopped trying long ago to get her to give me just a small sign that she had a sliver of love for me. So when Tammy got all loving and caring on me, I accepted it without even the smallest hesitation.
“We love you too,” Amber replied, and Bailey and I quickly agreed.
“Now let’s dry our eyes and get out there. Wedding number two is here, only one more to go,” Tammy added with a bright smile as she looked over at me and winked.
Being Noah’s wife was something I often daydreamed about. And one day maybe that dream would become a reality.
***
Noah
I had tried to focus on the wedding, I truly did. The only problem was the little fact that Alena looked un-fucking-believable. She never carried herself as if she thought she was gorgeous, but she truly was. She had that mesmerizing beauty, the kind that sucked you in and lost you in its orbit if you looked too long.
Austin was off with Ma, who was parading him around the room, introducing him to everyone, and from where I was sitting, I had a perfect view of the entire reception. Alena was on the dance floor with Bailey, Amber, Trinity, and Olivia, who were forming their own little dance circle in the center. Ryan and Jackson stood near the bar, carrying on with Aunt Bess and Uncle Trent. The room was overflowing with family and friends who came to celebrate with Bailey and Jackson.
But no matter how often I scanned the crowd, my gaze would always float back to Alena. Her smile was captivating, and it did something to me each time I saw it.
When the music changed to something slow, my legs moved on their own accord. I had a sudden urge to hold her in my arms. Jackson and Ryan must have had the same idea, because they too were moving across the room in search of their wives.
When I had gotten within just a few feet of her, Alena looked up and met my gaze. The sweetest smile spread across her lips, and I felt it deep within my stomach. Each time she smiled at me, the effect her happiness had on me grew more intense. I tilted my head to give her that longing, sexy grin, the one she’d told me on more than one occasion that she loves. I wove my fingers through hers and locked them together tightly. When I pulled her toward me, she followed without any hesitation.
“Hey, beautiful,” I whispered as I lowered my lips to hers. When a soft whimper fell from her, I only grinned wider. I pressed my forehead to hers and took a moment to just hold her in my arms.
“Dance with me?” I asked, and she nodded her head against mine.
I led her toward the center of the room, where my brothers were already spinning their women around. For the first time in a long time, I felt like I had it all. I had a loving, supportive family, a son who had now become my best friend, and a woman I loved and adored. I felt like I could finally breathe and let go of all the hate I’d felt for years.