While my sister and Jenny started quietly grilling me on details, Kellan finally composed himself. Approaching the microphone again, he let out a long exhale. “Well, I can honestly say that this is the best day of my life.” When the cheers died down, he told the crowd, “I want to thank every single person who has ever supported us. Your dedication has meant the world, and we wouldn’t be here without you. I may be overly emotional right now, since I’m about to be a father, but I really do love each and every one of you. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.”
I couldn’t tell from where I was sitting, but I was pretty sure tears were in his eyes when he waved and stepped away from the microphone. I knew this emotional moment was going to be replayed on every show playing Grammy highlights tomorrow. It was going to be talked about on every radio station. It was going to be mentioned around every water cooler. And for once, I was glad. I wanted this moment to live on. I wanted to be constantly reminded of this memory. I wanted to replay this video in twenty years so I could remember the look on his face when Kellan found out he was going to be a father. And I wanted to show it to our son or daughter—so they would know, without a doubt, that they were loved. From day one, they were loved.
Chapter 31
Epilogue
Denny spared no expense when it came to giving Abby her dream wedding. Everything was picture-perfect, straight out of a bridal magazine. It was breathtaking. The ceremony took place at the impressive Fairmont Olympic hotel in downtown Seattle. With twenty-foot ceilings, crystal chandeliers, arched floor-to-ceiling windows, white brocade linens, table skirts, and china place settings, the place was top-notch.
Kellan and I were both in the wedding party, him as a groomsman, me as a bridesmaid. Standing next to the altar wrapped in pink flowers and twinkling lights brought tears to my eyes. Of course, that could have been the pregnancy hormones kicking in. I didn’t think so, though. It was watching Denny marry his sweetheart. It was the look on his face when he said, “I do.” It was seeing Kellan just over Denny’s shoulder, beaming at his friend. It was the trace amount of moisture in my husband’s eyes. It was remembering my vows from my own simple ceremony.
After the lengthy nuptials, long lines formed to congratulate the happy couple. Dressed in an intricately embroidered, long-sleeved, gleaming white wedding gown, I’d never seen Abby look more radiant. And I’d never seen Denny more joyful as he proudly stood by her side. When it was finally my turn to hug him, I could barely speak through my emotions. I think I told him I was happy for him as I squeezed him tight. Wiping a tear from my cheek, he told me, “I’m so glad you’re here. I love you, mate.”
That did me in, and chuckling as I started falling apart, Kellan escorted me away so I could sit down, maybe get some water in me or something. God, if I was this emotional now, I’d never make it through the next seven months.
“Keep it together, you,” Kellan murmured as he rubbed my back. This wedding was a lot fancier than ours had been, and all of the groomsmen were in full-on tuxedos. Kellan looked jaw-droppingly good. I’d spotted more than a few guests in the audience who had been watching him during the whole ceremony, ignoring the bride and groom.
Pulling out my chair, Kellan helped me sit down. He’d been doing that ever since the Grammys, like he thought I was already feeble. I let him, though. He was still reeling from my surprise announcement. I was too, but I’d had just a tiny bit longer to get used to the idea.
Each table setting had silver name tag holders with cards written in elegant calligraphy. Seeing my new name, Mrs. Kiera Kyle, spelled out made me tear up again. Anna and Griffin sat to the left of us at the table, Evan and Jenny to our right, and Matt and Rachel completed the circle by sitting across from us. The rest of the tables seemed to be filled with friends and colleagues of Denny and Abby’s.
After a five-star meal, toasts, and the bride and groom slicing the wedding cake, the D-Bags performed. It had been a really long time since I’d seen the boys perform at a venue this size. It was like being back at Pete’s. The feeling was more intimate than a concert, the sound crisp and clear; it was incredible. Kellan played with the crowd, riling them up and getting them to dance. By the end of the night, no one was sitting.
As a gift to Denny and a surprise to Abby, and also, I think, because Kellan didn’t like her song choices, he wrote them a song for their first dance. It was an amazing piece about finding someone who opened you up, about falling in love with them more and more every day, about feeling breathless when they were gone and out of breath when they were near. Like Kellan, the song was scintillating, sexy, and also exceedingly heartfelt and romantic. Even though he’d written it for Denny and Abby, I knew the inspiration for it had come from us. It made me cry again.