Melissa was next.
Torie and Tamara walked together, since Bailey couldn’t make up her mind. Matt loved the idea of having two bridesmaids on his arm.
The music changed.
Everyone stood.
The back doors parted, and there she was.
Stunning. Beautiful. My life.
Bailey was smiling so wide, she was literally glowing.
Chrissy was walking beside her.
I was about to cry.
She started toward me.
Three years after that
“I hate you!”
I cringed, holding my wife’s hand as her legs were pulled up into stirrups, spread wide. A sheet was over her legs, with the doctor’s head angled between them.
“Push again. Almost there, Bailey!”
“I’m almost there. Did you hear that?” She squeezed again, glaring at me, gritting her teeth. Sweat was rolling down her face. “I’m almost there.Famous fucking last words. Pretty sure that’s the same words you said nine months ago.”
I sighed, running a thumb over her hand. She could crush it all she wanted.
I closed my eyes, knowing it was a matter of seconds, and then…
Our son’s wails filled the room.
Then Bailey remembered she loved me, and we named him Matthew Curtis Colello.
Two more years later
Chase Peter Colello was born.
Three years more
Christina Seraphina Colello entered the world.
Another ten years even later
“Come on. Don’t be shy.”
We were sparring at one of my gyms. We had reserved it just for this afternoon, the two of us. Chase had just flown into town and I wanted some time with him. Matt would join us later, but only to heckle us, and he’d talk us into having a drink at his new bar. It was our routine.
Bailey was doing her thing, but unlike the days when I knew what she was doing, she no longer could tell me. The government paid her well to keep creating more programs, though she didn’t do it for that reason. She did it for the thrill. A year after she graduated with her master’s degree, she wrote a cybersecurity program that became the top seller among cybersecurity experts. She kept perfecting it, and once she sold the license for it, her net worth nearly rivaled mine.
The kids were with their grandparents, so we had all day if we wanted.
Bailey had plans to meet up with the girls, so I knew we’d be joining them at either Naveah or Matt’s newest club. We’d find out wherever the girls went and would just go there, but they were always at one of our places.
Drake and Josh were still with us, and they’d send a text to report in. As usual.