“I love you too, Gage, and I’ll be cliché right with you because even though I always wanted to have a baby, I never thought that would happen because I always intended to put Collins first in everything.”
“Is that why you were so hesitant about trusting me?” I asked her.
When she nodded, I respected this woman even more.
“Well, thank god for you coming to your senses,” I said as I smiled down at her and then pressed a kiss to her lips.
And that one kiss led to other parts of her body being kissed, which then led to clothes being removed, and then that led to the most erotic sex I have ever had while making love to my woman in front of the bathroom mirror.
That night in bed I asked, “Do you want a big wedding or a small one?”
“Well, I don’t really care as long as you are at the end of the aisle and Collins and I have your last name.”
***
And that’s just what we did. A week later, we stood in front of Judge Salazar with my brothers, the ole’ ladies, and the kids present as I married my best friend. My soul mate. My life. I made her my wife.
And when I not only made my vows to Conleigh, I made them to Collins, too. Right smackdown to a matching ring to her mother’s that I slipped on her ring finger on her right hand.
After we signed everything, I was then handed the paper that would make Collins mine.
It was a good thing that we handled everything we did, because when we left the clubhouse, Collins asked, “So this really means that I am your daughter?”
She held that piece of paper in her tiny little hands where it would be recorded that her name was now Collins Elise Marshall.
I dropped to one knee and pressed a kiss on her little ring that I had put on her right hand and nodded. “Yes, Buttercup, that’s exactly what this paper means. And I swear to you, I will be the best daddy you have ever seen. I love you, Collins. With every beat of my heart. It’s not just your momma and the baby she carries, but you as well, that owns me.”
I heard gasps from everyone around us.
Then I looked over at Conleigh and gave her an apologetic grin. Collins knew she was going to become a big sister, but we had wanted to wait until her first trimester was over before we told anyone, and like the fool I am when these two are around, I spilled the beans.
“I knew it.” June clapped loudly.
“Yeah girl, I saw the signs on that run. Who wants peanut butter and a grilled cheese sandwich at once?”
We all laughed as I stood after I wrapped Collins in my arms and carried her with my arm wrapped around Conleigh to the new SUV I bought for her so we could easily transport Collins and the new baby and any more that she blessed me with.
Sadly, we hadn’t been able to celebrate our wedding night because an immediate rescue for a dove came through as we were loading up.
With a tender kiss and an understanding look lit up Conleigh’s face, she told me to be careful and to hurry home to her.
***
Walking into our house, it was to see Collins sitting outside of the bathroom with her head in her hands, which nearly sent me to my knees. Hearing the wrenching that was taking place caused my stomach to roll.
Normally Collins would be in there with her, however, she had enough of dealing with puking her guts up when she was sick.
Bending down, I placed a kiss on her forehead and then walked into the bathroom.
Walking over there to her, grabbing a washcloth, wetting it, then ran it over the back of her neck. “Hey there, Baby girl.”
“Hi.” she croaked weakly. If I could swap places with her, I would do it in a heartbeat.
As soon as she was done, I wrapped her in my arms after she swirled some mouthwash and then sat down on the floor with my back against the wall while Conleigh laid her head on my lap.
Then Collins scooted closer and ran her hand through her mama’s hair.
That was when she started to sing softly to Conleigh, and I started to join in with her.