Claire tells her about the store and the desserts that we got and Emma tells us about school and all of the valentines that she gave out.
I stare at my wife, at the family and home she’s given me, and I send up a silent thank you to the world for bringing the two of us together.
After dinner, we put Claire down for bed and I wrap my arms around Emma’s swollen belly.
“Happy Valentine’s Day, Emma,” I whisper, backing her toward our bedroom.
“Happy Valentine’s Day,” she whispers against my lips.
THIRTEEN
Emma
Ten Years Later…
“I can’t believewe’re doing this again,” I say with a laugh as Declan and I herd our three kids and our parents over to the waiting SUV’s.
“You don’t want to renew our wedding vows?”
“You know I do,” I tell him, wrapping my arms around his waist and staring up at him.
“The kids are so excited to be a part of it,” Declan says with a grin as we slide into the SUV.
Claire, Erin, and Owen have been talking about the wedding nonstop since Declan brought it up two weeks ago.
He surprised me with the trip right before our fifteenth wedding anniversary. His mom had been sick over Christmas, so I think the excursion was a fun thing for us to do to get away and spend some time together.
I cuddle up next to Declan as we drive down the congested Las Vegas streets. We drive past the High Roller and the Bellagio Hotel and Fountain, and I smile as old memories start to come back.
Declan points out some new stuff they added and I lean against him, enjoying our time alone before we have to entertain the kids and our parents.
We drive past Cupid’s Chapel and I smile when I see Frank outside, waving goodbye to a newly married couple. They look so in love and I can’t help but smile.
I guess the myth about every couple who gets married at Cupid’s stays together forever is true.
We pull up outside of the Luxor a few minutes later and we both laugh when we can hear the kids shrieking about how cool the place is.
“Are you ready for this?” Declan asks, kissing the top of my head.
“Oh, yeah. Let’s go!”
We both climb out of our SUV and I head over to the kids as Declan talks to the drivers. We hired them for the whole weekend, but it’s getting late now and I don’t think we’ll need them again until tomorrow when we head to Cupid’s Chapel.
“Mom!” Claire says, pointing up at the light shooting out of the top of the pyramid that is the Luxor Hotel.
“I know! It’s cool, huh?” I ask, grabbing hold of Erin and Owen as they try to dash inside.
Declan joins us and helps me with the younger kids as Claire joins her grandparents and walks ahead of us. We rented three suites and I get us checked in while Declan shows everyone around the lobby.
I watch as he tries to corral the kids and drag our big suitcase behind him. He’s still just as handsome as the day I married him. Me, on the other hand, I’ve only gotten curvier.
Giving birth to three kids has changed my body over the years, but Declan still tells me every day that I’m the most beautiful woman he’s ever seen. He makes me feel loved and cherished, and is always doing small things to show me how special I am to him.
My mom is going to stay in a suite with the kids. They’re all so excited to have a sleepover and Declan and I are happy to have some time alone.
We ride up in the elevator, listening as the kids go on and on about how awesome the hotel is. I help my mom get the kids settled in their suite as Declan helps his parents. We both exit the rooms at the same time, meeting out in the hallway, and I smile wide when I see the lust in my husband’s eyes.
He wraps his arms around my waist and backs me up against our suite door.