“You’re gonna make me crazy thinking about it.”
After we cut the cake, I noticed someone began setting up instruments on a little stage at the end of the tent.
Two people took the stage, and as I got closer I recognized that it was Mia and Will Ryan, a musician couple that I had been following for a few years. They had their two young sons sitting at the front of the stage, their little legs dangling over the edge. One held a tambourine and the other had some sort of shaker. Will spoke into the microphone.
“Good evening. My family and I are honored to be a part of this day.” He spoke confidently and clearly as he made eye contact with Jamie and me. Mia gazed over at him with the most tranquil and loving smile. “To exist in each other’s souls so strongly that you are bound without a physical tie is the greatest mark of love, and Jamie and Kate are lucky enough to be blessed with it.” He held up a champagne glass, as did the rest of the guests. “May your heaven be here on earth with each other always. To Jamie and Kate!”
The whole group yelled, “To Jamie and Kate!” and clinked their glasses along with us. We kissed and then Mia took to the piano and Will picked up his guitar and they immediately went into an original upbeat song. Someone else played the bongos and another musician played the stand-up bass. The little boys played their instruments at the front of the stage as if they had done it a million times. It was a true family affair. Jamie took me in his arms, spun me around, dipped me, and then kissed me very seriously.
“What do you think?” he said after catching his breath.
“I am truly amazed. What did you have to pay to get them here?”
“They were on the West Coast and needed very little convincing. They’re genuinely good people.”
“Well, this is amazing.”
He stared down at me, mesmerized. “I like this,” he said, pointing to the wreath that held my veil. “Truly, my angel, aren’t you?”
“I’ll be whatever you want me to be, Jamie Lawson. I am so in love with you.”
After Mia and Will wrapped up their set, we said our good-byes to them and then to the rest of the guests. Jamie seemed very eager to get back to our little house in the barn.
We walked hand in hand through the dark vineyard until we reached the single light outside the door to our home.
“Here we go,” he said as he swooped me up in his arms. Once inside, he kissed me near our bed, a very tender and loving kiss. He took my veil off and set it aside while he kicked his own shoes off. He unzipped my dress slowly and cautiously. I wore a white silk and lace slip underneath. “Wow, this is even better than the black.” I helped him remove his clothes and then I marveled at Jamie in all of his naked glory. There was one warm, soft light silhouetting him and shining on me. I traced his broad shoulders and defined arms. He kissed me on the mouth and traveled down until he was kissing me through the silk, down my side to my hip.
“Jamie?” I said quietly.
He was on his knees at that point as I stood in front of him. His hands traveled up the back of my legs and slowly pulled my lace panties down. Between kisses through the silk, he said, “Yes, what is it?”
“I want to tell you about your gift.”
He still had not looked up at me. He pushed me to sit on the edge of the bed and then began kissing a trail up my inner thigh. “Okay, tell me, baby,” he whispered.
“You’re going to be a father.”
He stopped kissing and looked up at me. There was so much love in his expression. I wished that I could bottle it. “Really?” Tears quickly filled his eyes.
I smiled and began crying myself. “Yes. We’re going to have a baby.”
He stood up, reached for the hem of my slip, and pulled it over my head, then he moved us up onto the bed together. He kissed everywhere and then stopped near my stomach and spoke quietly. “I loved you before you existed, and I’ll love you after I’m gone.” I felt a tear hit my belly. He kissed it away and then looked up at me. “Thank you. I’m the happiest I’ve ever been.”
“Me, too,” I whispered.
Epilogue
* * *
Jamie