Love Survives (Love's Suicide #2)(123)

I wasn’t really sure how much the crowd could understand through Kat’s sobbing, but as I turned to look at them, most were shoving tissues into their faces. To avoid losing it completely, I looked back to Kat. Even as a babbling mess, she was still gorgeous. “There’s nothing that I can say to you that you don’t already know, Brooks. I’ve already given myself to you in every way. You give me comfort and support and your love is more than I could ever deserve. I’m in awe of you, and I thank God every day for giving us this life. I love you so much.”

She couldn’t say anymore, and she didn’t need to. We could have stood there staring at each other all day. We were already married in my eyes.

I glanced at the guests and flashed a half-smile. “How about we make this official and get to the celebrating?”

“It gives me great pleasure to announce the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Brooks Valentine.” The officiator leaned in for only us to hear. “Go ahead and kiss her now, Brooks.”

My lips were on Kat’s before he finished his sentence. She was mine in the eyes of the whole world and I let her know exactly how happy I was about it in our embrace. At first people clapped. Then some whistled. Then my brother started making perverted remarks. When our kiss ended, half of the guests had gotten up and were already in line on the other side of the heated tent.



I wiped away her tears. “You’re my wife.”

She smiled and leaned her cheek against mine. “I know.”

Bug came up and wrapped her arms around my legs. I acknowledged her by rubbing her head.

We couldn’t stand there for the whole day, so I grabbed Kat’s hand as we turned to face everyone, knowing that after they’d all gone home and went about their lives, we’d have forever to spend together. Knowing that made me the happiest man in the world.





Epilogue


July 17th 2014

“Promise me that you’ll keep your phone turned on all day?” Kat asked while still sitting in our bed. I was busy trying to adjust my tie in the mirror, focused on a presentation I was giving in a few hours.

“I told you I won’t turn it off.” I spun around to face her. She had her hands sitting on top of her huge belly as if it was a snack tray. “Do you want me to reschedule the meeting?”

“No. It’s fine. I just don’t want you to miss anything.”

“I won’t. I promise. I’m ten minutes from the hospital. As soon as your contractions get within five minutes of each other I want you to call me.” We’d been up half the night counting the time between each one, hoping they wouldn’t last much longer. Kat was miserable. She’d organized the house three times since we moved in, and for the past week she’d been crying about everything. Just the night before she cried because B didn’t want to eat her vegetables. It was insane.

“My bag is still in your car, right?”

I leaned over and kissed her. “Kat, calm down. We’ve got this. I have a nine o’clock presentation and then I’m coming home. I’m using my two weeks vacation as soon as you give me the order to report to the hospital.”

“I don’t want you to miss anything.”

“I won’t. I promise. Our son or daughter is going to see my face first. Stop worrying. Stay in bed and wait for me to get home.”

Kat agreed and told me goodbye before I walked back downstairs. It was a good thing B was still asleep, otherwise I’d have to go through a whole ordeal with her before getting out the door. What my girls didn’t understand was that the sooner I got to work, the earlier I could get back home. I wouldn’t miss this delivery for the world.

Two blocks was as far as I got before I stopped the car and pulled over to the side of the road. The phone rang twice before she answered. “Did you forget something?”

I clenched my jaw and considered what I wanted to say. “What do you want for breakfast?”

“What? Is your mom asking?”

“No, I am. Do you want pancakes?”

“Brooks, why do you want to know? I thought you left.”

While she spoke I turned the car around and started driving home. “I did. Now I’m coming back.”

“What’s wrong?”

“Kat, I’m not missing a single second of this. I want to be there for every contraction, every scream, and all of the pushing. Nothing is more important than that.”

“What about the security presentation?”

“I’ll email it to my boss and let him give it. We’ve already gone over the software several times. It’s not a big deal.”

I was already home before we ended our call. After kicking off my shoes, and changing into something more comfortable, I called work and let them know my wife was starting to go into labor. I forwarded my calls to my boss and emailed him the information he needed. My last stop was crawling into my warm bed with my beautiful, expecting wife. “I’m back.”

“I can see that.” She leaned over and closed her eyes. “How comfortable are you right now?” she asked.

“Why?”

“I have to pee and I need help getting out of this bed.”

I’d never been so happy of a choice I’d made before, because when Kat stood up and soaked the floor I realized that coming home was the best decision I’d ever made. We both looked at each other in shock. “Tell me you peed yourself.”