First Comes Baby... by Christine Rimmer

Author:Christine Rimmer
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2021-11-15T21:02:26+00:00

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At four that afternoon, Josie walked down a slate-rock aisle bordered by giant ferns toward Miles, who looked nervous and so handsome in a black suit. Beside him stood the minister from the Heartwood Methodist Church. Because the gathering was so small, the guests stood. They formed a half circle behind the minister and the groom. Hazel held Davy, who was sound asleep.

“You look beautiful,” Miles whispered when she reached his side, his blue gaze sweeping over her, from the top of her head to the hem of her long dress of white lace. Her wisp of a veil didn’t cover her face, but flowed back over her hair, which the stylist had gently gathered into a low thick cloud of a ponytail woven with boho braids and bound with jeweled bands. Her bouquet consisted of freesia, ranunculus, sweet peas and tulips in colors ranging from pale pink to the most delicate lilac.

“Ashley, Hazel and David, please join us,” said the minister. Miles’s daughters stepped forward and turned to flank Josie and Miles on either side. Gently, carefully, Hazel passed the sleeping baby to Josie and accepted her bridal bouquet in exchange.

The minister spoke some more, of the new family they were making, a blending of Miles and his daughters with Josie and Davy. He spoke of kindness and respect and the gentle patience of enduring love.

Love, Josie thought, and her heart felt full. Because there were all kinds of love, really. And she did love Miles, she truly did. Maybe it wasn’t romantic love. But it was steady, her love for him. Since her son’s birth, she’d come to love him as a true friend.

And now, today, her love had a new dimension. She loved him as her partner in life.

Davy slept on as she passed him carefully to Miles, who handed him into the arms of his new big sister, Ashley.

Miles took Josie’s hand and said his vows first. He slipped a platinum band on her finger, a match for her circle of diamonds.

She’d found a similar band for him. “With this ring, I marry you, Miles Halstead,” she said when her turn came, and she slipped her ring on his finger. “With this ring, I bind my life to yours.”

When the minister said Miles could kiss his bride, Josie’s heart seemed to rise, to reach for him. It would be good for them, this marriage. It would make all their lives better, to go forward together.

She sank into her new husband’s deep, arousing kiss, losing herself in his arms. At some point, everyone started clapping and cheering.

The minister laughed, a deep, happy sound. “Clearly a match made in heaven,” he said.

All the noise woke Davy. He gave a startled cry and then began yowling. Ashley lifted him to her shoulder and rocked him, but he kept crying.

Josie opened her eyes to see Miles gazing down at her, a soft smile on those kissable lips of his. “Somebody wants his mama.”

She lifted up to kiss him one more time, quick and sweet.

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