"My Katherine, you'd better get used to fancy, because I need to spoil you. You're my queen."
Joseph pulled her tightly against him in the unfinished space of their home and he spent the rest of the night with her safely cradled in his arms as he whispered his love in her ear.
"Joseph and I were both such fools for a very long time. Now, you should realize why we've wanted you to find your own true loves," George said as Katherine finished speaking.
"Wow," Jessica said, her voice filled with awe.
"I can't believe how much you two went through," Amy said as she dabbed her eye and sniffled.
"You had a huge wedding, though. I've poured over those pictures. Your dress is right out of a Cinderella story," Emily said with confusion.
"You all know Joseph. He may have said he wanted a quick wedding, and believe me, he did, but that man wouldn't settle for anything less than the best. We married in two weeks' time, and it was a fairy tale, with the perfect dress, location, and decorations. It was the most romantic day of my life. Looking back, I'm truly glad he made it special. Back then, I only wanted him, and everything else was just a bonus. The best part of the day was the kiss he gave me after they pronounced us man and wife. It was in that moment that I knew we'd be together forever. He's never stopped telling me how much he loves me," Katherine said as she wiped away another tear.
"And I never will," Joseph whispered.
The room went silent as all eyes turned to the bed where Joseph lay, his eyes cracked open, gazing at his wife.
"Joseph?"
"I love you, Katherine, today, tomorrow and always." His voice was hoarse, but his words were clear.
"You're awake!" she cried, joy and relief evident in her expression.
Kinsey jumped up, immediately calling for the doctor, then getting to work, checking his vitals, moving around the bed, looking in his eyes.
Joseph batted her away as he weakly lifted his hand to press his fingers against Katherine's face. She lay in his arms, smiling as gentle sobs racked her body.
"I've missed you so much, Joseph. Please, please don't ever leave me again. I need you," she begged.
Such and intimate moment, Kinsey thought as she dreamily sighed and stepped back. Their love so obvious, it brightened the room. Everyone was awed as they watched the two of them reunite, their love stronger than ever before.
The rest of the day was a flurry of activity as the doctor rushed over and did a complete work-up on Joseph. He'd said from the beginning he could wake anytime, but he looked surprised to see him not only awake, but so alert.
Joseph had trouble speaking, his throat sore from non-use, but as the day wore on, he was picking up strength. Because of the physical therapists, who'd been working his muscles daily, he wouldn't be wheelchair bound when he climbed from the bed.
The doctor warned him not to exert himself too much, though. It would take a while before he was climbing up and down stairs and running around. Joseph didn't care. He only cared that he was awake. He and Katherine couldn't take their eyes or hands off each other.
"Congratulations, brother. I'm so happy for you," Joseph said with a smile.
"Thank you, Joseph. We've been waiting for you to wake up. We'd like to have a small ceremony here, where we met for the first time," George told him.
"I think that's perfect. Now, are you sure about the small ceremony … "
"Joseph Anderson, don't you try and railroad me like you do your kids. I'm an old man, who's lived a full life. I want a simple ceremony with my beautiful bride. She wants the same," George said.
"Can you get me drink?" Joseph asked in a weak voice.
"Don't you think that sick card will work on me either, Joseph. I'm not changing my mind. A small ceremony, do you hear me?" George said with a smile.
"Fine, I get it," Joseph grumbled, his voice stronger.
"That's what I thought," George said, chuckling.
Once Esther joined them, the three planned a simple ceremony that had Joseph grumbling here and there, but he didn't fight them too much.
George was thrilled that in two weeks, Esther would be his wife. He needed nothing more than that.
Chapter Twenty
Kinsey gazed at the pregnancy test, looking back and forth from it to the box it had come in, then re-reading the instructions. She looked at the two other tests next to it, as well. All of them with the same answer. Her eyes spilled over as the results were irrefutable in front of her.
She needed Cassie.
Cassie would tell her it was okay. Tell her she wasn't alone. She'd be there for her no matter what. Kinsey didn't know what she wanted any more. She was certainly surprised by her reaction.
She laid her head on the table and cried, then laughed, then cried some more. Maybe she was losing her mind. It sure felt like it.