I pull myself off of Greyston’s lap, my lips curling up into an exultant smile as I slowly cross the waiting room to my dad. There’s a tiny movement beneath the pink blanket, and an even tinier squeak as I reach out and pull the blanket away from her cheek to have a better look. Greyston places a hand on my shoulder, and I look up at my dad expectantly.
“Juliette, meet your baby sister, Clara.”
Carefully, he leans forward, and I instinctively hold my arms out to accept her. I’m nervous, sure, but more than that, I’m excited. I can’t get over how small she is, and my emotions get the best of me. I don’t cry, but I definitely swallow a lump in my throat. Completely awestruck by this itty-bitty human in my arms, I take in her features. From the dark tuft of hair that peeks out from beneath the knitted pink beanie on her head, to her long eyelashes and button nose, and right on down to her pouty lips that are moving in a suckling motion while she sleeps. She’s absolutely precious.
I haven’t stopped smiling since Dad arrived with her, and when Greyston leans in and kisses my cheek, wrapping his arms around my waist, I relax into his embrace.
Dad explains that Mom’s doing great and that the doctor is just in there stitching her up—a very sobering comment that quickly disappears when Clara wriggles in my arms again. I sigh contentedly, and Greyston kisses the shell of my ear, his lips curling up into a smile against it before he whispers, “Seeing you holding a baby is probably one of the sexiest things I’ve ever seen.”
Still grinning, I turn my face to him. “Just wait until it’s our child.” I can’t believe my lack of filter, and I’m prepared to backpedal as Dad takes Clara from me and excuses himself to go see Mom, but Greyston surprises me.
“Marry me, Juliette.”
Epilogue
Announcing the celebration
of our love when we,
Juliette Foster
and
Greyston Masters
pledge our love as one
on Saturday, the 19th of November
A fresh new day, and it’s ours.
A Day of happy beginnings.
The Camby Hotel
Phoenix, Arizona
I stare at the ad we placed in the paper for a few minutes. We both knew it was old-fashioned, but considering how we met, we also felt it was kind of perfect.
My hands shake with nervous anticipation as I set the paper down on the table. I can’t believe the day is actually here. The last year and a half has been busy with wedding planning while I finished my final year of University and Greyston traveled more for work. His increase in work wasn’t exactly ideal, but he still helped from afar, and he was so into making this day about the both of us.
That’s not to say I didn’t have a few bridezilla moments. I did. But he was super understanding and was always able to talk me off the ledge in his own special way. Our FaceTime chats were my favorite.
Music plays down the hall—the band that Greyston’s parents insisted we hire for the processional. It was one of the many extravagant pieces to our wedding.
I look around the small room I’m in and smile. Daphne is in the corner with Callie, helping pin her blonde hair off to one side. Callie laughs at something Daphne said while rubbing her belly. Did I forget to mention Toby and Callie are having a baby? Well, they are, and it’s so exciting. She’s about five months along, and has the perfect little bump protruding from beneath the satin lilac-colored gown she’s wearing.
Katie is sitting with them, sitting casually on the small couch along the wall and sipping champagne. All three of them laugh together, and I smile. Before I met Greyston, my friend pool was…limited. Most of my friends from high school had moved away for college, and we were so busy with school and our lives, that we simply fell out of touch. But these three? They were there for me through everything. Daphne and Katie were my rocks through my breakup with Ben, and I bonded with Callie instantly. It only made sense to include them on my special day.
“Oh, honey.” I turn away from the girls just in time to see my parents and baby sister enter the room. “You look gorgeous,” Mom says, pulling me into a one-armed hug while she holds Clara in the other.
When we part, Dad steps forward and wraps his arms around me in a tight hug. My fingers curl into the back of his tux jacket and I close my eyes. I can feel his reluctance to let me grow up in his embrace.
“You look so grown up,” he murmurs into the top of my head. “I can’t believe you’re getting married today. Where’s my sweet little girl?”
We loosen our grip on each other, and I take a step back. “I’m still here, Daddy,” I assure him softly.
With tears in his eyes, he leans forward and kisses my forehead. “I didn’t think I’d be this emotional.”