Silent Love(29)

When Pachelbel's Canon D started, Sean realized he hadn't seen any of  the women walk down the aisle. Craning his neck, he looked for his bride  but couldn't see her. The congregation stood.

Ryan gasped behind him. "Dear God."

Sean shot a warning look over to his brother.

"No wonder you fell so hard," Ryan whispered.

Scowling, he wasn't exactly patient enough to wait for her to come into  view. He went to take a step to the side, but Ryan grabbed him. "Just  wait."

A moment later, Beth stepped into his line of sight, and he swore his  world tilted as he lost his breath. On her father's arm, she was a  vision is white. A form fitting, long sleeved, floor length white satin  gown with crystals sewn around the scoop neck front, showed off her  amazing figure. A small train and a veil that dropped to the back of her  knees hung off a diamond headpiece made her look like royalty.

When Beth reached him, his eyes refused to leave her. Tears slid down  her cheeks. Desperately he wanted to wipe them away, but they had the  ceremonial part to get through first.

The music stopped and the officiant spoke loudly, "Who gives this woman to this man?"

"Her mother and I do," Michael proudly answered. He kissed his daughter on the cheek. "Love you, baby girl."

"Love you too, Daddy," she said softly.

Turning to Sean, he took his hand in a firm shake. "Take care of my girl or you'll answer to me," he said for only their ears.

Nodding, Sean said, "Absolutely."

Handing his daughter over to Sean, Mr. Connors went to his wife, who quietly sobbed while seated in the front pew.

Wiping the tears from his girl, Sean smiled adoringly. "You are gorgeous."

In a gesture of a woman who was relieved, in love, and nervous, she  leaned her head onto his shoulder and sighed while she looped her hand  in the crook of his arm. That was what he wanted. For Beth to know she  could lean on him for the rest of their lives, and he'd be there for  her. He'd help her through all her internal and external struggles. He'd  pick her up when the world seemed like it was out for her, then beat  the shit of whomever he had to. Gladly and dutifully, he vowed to excel  at the title of husband for the rest of their lives together.







When the ceremony was finished and the order to kiss the bride came,  Beth looked into the eyes of the man she loved and knew she'd be  treasured every day of her life. He'd kissed her gently, then they made  their way back down the aisle together as husband and wife. Positioned  at the bottom of the steps, they waited for the guests to start the exit  from the church and give their congratulations.

But before the crowd started to descend upon them, Beth turned and looked up at her husband. "I'm pregnant."

"What?" His stunned look was priceless.

"I'm pregnant."

"How...what...how did that happen? You're on birth control," he asked softly.

"My doctor said they gave me IV antibiotics in the hospital. I didn't know," she said.

"Oh, lord, I forgot. Beth, I'm so sorry," he apologized, his face growing concerned.

She took his hands into hers. "It's all right. There's nothing we can do about it now except handle this change of events."

Watching her husband take a deep, cleansing breath and close his eyes,  then nod, she was amused that she could shock him. Good bit of info to  store away for a later time.         

     



 

Opening his eyes, they blazed with desire and heat. He took her mouth in  an assaulting kiss. When he pulled back, he held her face gently in his  hands. "I love you."

"I love you."

"We're going to have a family, Mrs. Millen."

She beamed. "Yes, we are, Mr. Millen."

"Thank you, Beth. Thank you for giving me you," he said sincerely.

"Thank you for finding me, Sean," she said.

"Oh, honey," he breathed. "You found me."





Epilogue





"Ryan, please take her to her doctor's appointment. I can't get out of  here, and I don't want her going alone. She's going to find out the sex  of the baby," Sean pleaded.

Sighing, Ryan said, "All right, all right."

Rolling his eyes at his younger brother, Sean knew better. Ryan loved  babies, and this would be an honor for him to witness the first  ultrasound before the father did. In fact, Sean might never live it  down.

Beth waddled into the office. "I'm so fat."

Smiling, Sean stood from his desk and went straight to her swollen  belly. Yes, she was larger than what was normal, but it wasn't unusual  for a woman to gain a lot of weight, so long as she was healthy. Rubbing  a hand over the bump where his unborn child resided, he bent down and  kissed her belly then stood up straight and kissed her hard on the lips.  "You're beautiful."

"Fat," she complained.

"Beautiful," he said firmly.

Those eyes glistened with joy. "Thanks," she said softly and leaned into  him, resting her head on his chest. He absolutely relished her need for  his comfort. Nothing else in the world made him feel a hundred feet  tall than his wife leaning emotionally and physically on him.

"You're going to be late," he scolded and pulled away.

"We're leaving," she placated.

Ryan picked up her purse and groaned over the weight. "What the hell do you have in here?"

"A brick," Beth retorted.

Sean laughed and Ryan smirked at her. Tossing an arm around her  shoulders, his brother kissed her on the top of the head. "Let's get  going. Lunch is on me afterwards."

"Good, I'm starved."







Lying on the table, Ryan watched the ultrasound tech squirt gel on  Beth's stomach, which caused her to jerk. She squeaked, which caused  Ryan to chuckle, which gifted him a shooting glare.

Placing the ultrasound wand onto her stomach, the tech began small  circular motions around her belly. Beth strained her neck to see  something on the screen. Then the sound of a heartbeat echoed throughout  the room.

"Oh," Ryan breathed. He'd heard that sound so many times, but the fact  that it was his brother's child's heartbeat shot straight to his gut.  He'd love this baby as if it was his own. He grasped her hand and  squeezed. He leaned down and kissed her forehead. "That's our baby."

The echo grew louder, sort of like the heartbeat was echoing itself.  Ryan stiffened and straightened. The tech stopped the wand, struck keys  on the board, then zoomed in.

"Is that..." Ryan trailed off.

"Give me a moment," the tech said.

"Is that what?" Beth panicked. "Is everything all right?"

"Yes, sweetheart, it is," Ryan said distracted, staring at the screen.

"Ryan?"

"Just a minute, honey," he said.

Another few long, silent minutes of the ultrasound only slightly moving  more keystrokes, Ryan grinned from ear to ear while the tech took  pictures. Oh, man, his brother was going to lose his ever lovin' mind.

"Mrs. Millen, I'm going to have the doctor come in and talk to you," the tech finally said.

"What is going on?" Beth asked, her voice shaking and tears filling her eyes.

Ryan finally tore his eyes from the screen, glanced at her and blanched.  Shit, he was supposed to be taking care of her. "Honey, there's nothing  wrong. There's two heartbeats."

"What does that mean?" she asked, confused.

"Twins, Beth. You're having twins."







Arriving home later than he anticipated, Sean stepped through the front  of his home, anxious to find out about Beth's doctor's visit. Shutting  the door behind him, he juggled a dozen red roses, a gallon of milk, two  large pizzas, and a chocolate fudge cake. His girl's chocolate  addiction ramped up two fold since she became pregnant.

Closing the door behind with his foot, he made his way to the kitchen  only to find it empty. In fact, the house was unusually quiet. Ryan's  truck sat in the driveway, along with Beth's sedan, so they had to be  home.

"Ryan?" he called out.

"Upstairs," his brother answered, his voice muted by the floors.

Dropping everything on the island, he snagged the roses and went  upstairs to find his wife and his brother standing in the center of one  of the three, empty spare bedrooms.         

     



 

"How did it go, baby?" Sean asked.

His Beth beamed at him and shoved an ultrasound picture in his face. "Great. Everything is perfect."

He handed her the roses and gave her a peck on the lips then took the  photo and studied it closely. Neither his wife or his brother spoke  while he gazed at the picture. "This is our baby," he mused.

No response.

Wait. What the...? His head snapped up. "Beth?" His eyes bounced between his wife and his brother.

"Twins," Beth said softly.

"Tw...twins?" he asked dumbfounded.

"Good for you, man," Ryan said and slapped him on the back. "You're shootin' doubles."

Sean jabbed his brother in the stomach. Grasping Beth's shoulders, he asked, "Are you all right?"