The next day, I had our family and friends flown in for our wedding. Eleanor was the one who handled it all and I couldn’t have been more grateful for her help.
Our ceremony was held during sunset since it was during one that I realized that all along, I had been in love with Stella. I wanted to see the sun set on her again as we shared our love.
It was an intimate gathering. One that was sealed in my heart. This time, when I spoke my vows, it was spoken with truth—my truth.
That very same night, we were out on our bedroom’s balcony, draped only with a sheet, staring out to the sea, the moon and the stars above as we cooled our heated bodies in the hammock when Stella broke the silence.
“You know what I thought when I first saw you?” She cocked her head sideways, reminiscing.
This ought to be interesting. “Love to hear it.”
“I thought you were the most beautiful thing I had ever seen and I wanted to you for myself. When I told Richard, what I thought, he laughed me off, saying that maybe someday, if I let fate do its own will, it just might.” Stella crawled a little closer to my face. “I love you, Callum Kensington.
I paused, looking at her grinning beautiful face as my heart squeezed tighter. “Well, I’ll be damned.”
Epilogue
Callum
“Your baby is so beautiful.” Stella cooed at Ally’s newly christened baby girl named, Elizabeth.
“Here, why don’t you try to burp her? I need to go and check on something in kitchen.”
Stella looked skeptical. “Uh—yeah. If you really want me to.”
“I’ll hold her if you like.” Blake Knightly offered Ally as he placed his drink on the coffee table, who was sitting next to Sienna on the outdoor settee.
Ally reddened. “You would? Thank you, Blake,” she muttered, not looking him in the eye as she moved closer to pass the small cute bundle over.
I hid back a smile as I took another sip of my wine. Blake Knightly and I weren’t really friends since I loathed his cousin’s guts, but since our wives were friends and colleagues, we had to interact. The man wasn’t all that bad actually.
Elizabeth looked so tiny in Knightly’s arms and he seemed to be absorbed in the baby in his arms, studying her facial features. When Elizabeth let out a tiny, cuter-than-anything-that-I-had-ever-seen small sleepy yawn, the rest of us cooed and melted.
“I want one of these soon, cara.” Blake addressed Sienna without even giving his wife a glance because he looked so enthralled at the now sleepy form in his arms.
A round of laughter was shared while I reached for Stella’s hand and kissed it. My wife glowed as she gave me a smile.
Stella, after months of being married to her, still took my breath away.
Sienna on the hand only shook her head. “Talk to me about babies after you’ve potty trained both dogs, hmmm?” She then looked at us grinning. “He’s spoils them rotten and doesn’t seem to know how to control the urge to keep giving them treats for no reason. If the dog looks cute sitting down, he hands a treat. If one is acting all sweet and cuddly, hands another treat. I don’t even want to imagine how he’ll be with babies.”
“How many children did you guys plan to have?” Stella asked Sienna, piqued.
Before his wife had the chance to respond, Blake did it for her. “Five.”
“You two better get on that then.” I teased, but deep inside, I wanted to start my own.
The number didn’t really matter to me. I know Stella was young and she was busy with her business, so I hadn’t really sad anything because I didn’t want her to feel pressured. Maybe next year…
That’s how our Sunday went.
It was spent with a group of friends. Luciana and Mark later joined us. I must say that married life was suiting us both well.
I was deep in thought, driving us home in the motorway when I felt Stella hand reach out for me.
“What’s that smile for?”
I was smiling? I didn’t even notice. Taking hold of her hand, I kissed it again and placed it against my heart for a few seconds before placing it on thigh. “I was just thinking how much I love being married to you. I’m deliriously happy, wife.”
“That’s always good to know.” She glanced at me before looking out the window, then back at me again. “How do you feel about babies?”
Funny how our thoughts were in the same subject, I thought as I approached the subject that I had wanted to discuss with her. “Cute little monsters.”
She snorted, squeezing my hand tight. “They’re cute, aren’t they?” she murmured much to herself, before directing me the next question. “How do you feel about making one when we get home?”
Did I say how much I loved my wife? “Don’t joke about that if you aren’t serious, my love.” I darted her a quick glance.
We haven’t been on this particular subject really. I wanted Stella to be happy and as much as I wanted to start expanding our family, her needs came first.
This might sound odd for some, but I’d choose my wife over my children. Yes, I would love my offspring’s madly, but my wife is world. Without Stella, life would hold no meaning for me. Other parents, I knew chose their kids over their spouses…but for me, it was the other way around.
My wife is my other half. Take that piece away, then I would be half a soul.
I was hers—unequivocally, forever was too soon, loving her was my reason for breathing kind of being owned.
Stella shook her head. “I wouldn’t joke about such a subject, Cal. Not only do I want one, but I also want to feel your baby growing inside me. When I said I want your all, I meant the whole thing. If you’re not so confident about your baby making skills, I would understand.” She lightly teased, but knew she was undoubtedly serious about having a child.
Pressing the gas peddle on my sports car, I gave the love of my wife a heated-can’t-wait-to-get-you-writhing-underneath-me-gaze. “You better take the next few days off because you wouldn’t manage to walk, my dear wife. And as for my skills, they’re legendary.”
We didn’t say a word until we were united in bed. The thought of Stella baring my baby brought me to my knees.
No matter what happens in the future, my wife came first—forever and always. Her needs were my own. Her desires were mine to deliver. Her wishes were mine to achieve.
Stella was the best thing that’s ever happened to me. When I agreed to marry her when she was eighteen, I didn’t know then… but I just realized that she Richard’s last gift—he gifted us love, each other.