Reece held his eyes.
Then he jerked up his chin and moved to his wife, leaving the worse behind and joining the better on the dance floor.
* * *
Zara
Thirty seconds later…
The piano intro to The Zac Brown Band’s “Colder Weather” began as Ham pulled me into his arms.
“I just had to,” I whispered in his ear as my arms slid around his shoulders. “It says it all. But, just to say, I sure am glad you got out of colder weather.”
Ham made no reply. He just held me close and started swaying. Maybe he was listening to the words (at least I hoped so). Maybe he was just putting up with me.
As our friends and family looked on, I stood in my wedding gown, swayed in my husband’s arms, and I knew Ham was listening to the words and not just putting up with me when his arms got super-tight and his cheek slid down and pressed to mine.
My eyes unseeing on the ceiling, everything that was me focused on my man’s big bearness engulfing me. Dominating me. Making me feel safe as the song flowed around us, his warmth beating into me, his cheek pressed to the softness of mine. I reveled in the feeling of being where Ham promised me I’d be and knowing my man was no longer stuck in colder weather.
Cookie, pay attention. I’m gonna give you everything.
That was what Ham had promised.
And, since that day, and even before, that was what Ham delivered.
When the song began to die away, my lips close to his ear, as I’d planned for that very moment since I found out two days before, I gave that feeling to Ham.
“Just thought you’d wanna know, baby,” I whispered. “I’m pregnant.”
The song died away but Ham didn’t move. Not an inch. Not even to twitch. He just held me close, tight, his cheek pressed to mine as the song ended and silence surrounded us.
And that felt so good, it would take a moment before I felt it.
When I did, I knew I was wrong, as I’d been wrong day in and day out from the day Ham told me he loved me.
I didn’t have everything.
Because, if you worked hard for it, if you didn’t give up, even when you found your way and you thought you had everything, life found a way to give you more.
And I knew this when I felt the wet coming from Ham’s eyes gliding along my cheek.
And I again had more.
* * *
Thirty-two hours later…
Outside the bungalow with its big windows open, the breeze wafting through the filmy curtains, if you walked through the heat of the sun beating on the soft sand and out into the cool, blue water, all the way up to your neck, and you looked down, you could see your feet as plain as if you were standing on shore.
The couple in the bed in the bungalow hadn’t experienced this yet.
They were sleeping. The big bear of a dark-haired man on his side, his small, blonde woman tucked close in the curve of his body.
But even in slumber, his big, calloused hand with the wide, platinum wedding band on his ring finger rested lightly, splayed wide on her belly.
And he appreciated the soft silk of her hair.
Seeing as he had his face buried in it.
* * *
One year, five months later…
Outside the apartment with its arched windows wide open, over the tile-floored balcony, down a story, the gondoliers glided their gondolas gracefully through the canals.
But the family in the bed in the bedroom of the apartment hadn’t experienced this yet.
They were sleeping. The big bear of a dark-haired man on his side, his small, blonde woman tucked close in the curve of his body, their baby boy tucked close to her belly.
But even in slumber, his big, calloused hand with the wide, platinum wedding band on his ring finger rested lightly, splayed wide on his son’s diapered behind.
And he appreciated the beauty of what lay in that bed.
Seeing as he slept the peaceful, dreamless sleep of a man who had everything.