Page 37 of Silent Promises

“Shh.” I took her hand in mine and smiled up at the woman who would hopefully share the rest of my life with me. “Aoife, you already have my last name because you couldn’t wait for me to find you again and propose.” Everyone stood around andlaughed. “Will you do me the honor of making it official and tying your name and your heart to me forever until death do us part?”

“Yes, of course,” she whispered.

A tear slipped free from her eyes as I slid the ring on her finger and stood. I wrapped one of my hands around the back of her neck and the other around her waist to pull her close to me so that I could seal her “yes” with a kiss.

“When are you two going to tie the knot?” Calista called out as she continued to point her phone our way.

“How about now?” I whispered the question into Aoife’s ear and she immediately snapped back far enough away from me that she could look up and gauge if I was being serious or not.

“It just so happens that I am an ordained minister in this fine state,” Miles announced.

“Did you plan this?” Aoife asked as her eyes continued to leak.

“I might have set up a few contingencies.”

“Can we do it right here in front of the Christmas tree with our family around?”

She didn’t even have to ask since that was always the plan, but I’d do anything in my power to make her happy. “Of course,” I insisted as Miles moved into his position and our family lined up on the other side of us as witnesses.

“Too bad Grandma Aine couldn’t be here,” Aoife said.

“I’m here, darling,” her voice came through Calista’s phone loud and clear. Aoife turned and offered the woman a watery grin.

“Then this is perfect.”

We said our vows with Miles guiding us through the traditional ceremony and as I kissed the bride after we both said I do, someone played “I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm” byDean Martin. I took Aoife in my arms and swung her around before we started to dance to the old Christmas song.

“I have a present to give you as well,” my new wife said.

“Yeah, what is it?”

She left me standing there just long enough to grab a long, slim box that looked as though it might contain a necklace or something. She brought it back and held it up as her eyes drifted above my head. Instead of handing over the gift, my woman lifted up onto her toes and planted a sweet kiss on my mouth.

“What was that for?”

“Mistletoe,” she announced before placing the box in my hand. “Open it.”

I ripped the paper enough to slide a box out and then flipped the lid open to find… “What is this?” I asked as I pulled the blue and white stick out of the box. It wasn’t until I flipped it over that everything registered. I hadn’t heard the audible gasp from the other women in the room who clearly knew what it was on sight. I hadn’t heard my brother Adrian laugh at me. None of that sank in as I stared at the one word:PREGNANTclearly visible in the window.

“I’m going to be a dad?” I asked. Aoife nodded her head excitedly. “We’re going to be parents?” As if there was a need for clarification, she continued to nod her head and smile so widely at me it must have hurt her face to show such immense joy. I picked her up and spun her around again.

“Might want to tone down the spins with the pregnant lady,” Adrian cautioned. “I guess if you don’t mind buying a new pair of shoes when she hurls on yours, it won’t be a big deal.”

“Don’t care,” I called back to him as I set Aoife back down on her feet and kissed her again. “We’re having a baby,” I whispered against her lips.

“We are.”

“I’m so fucking happy,” I told her.

“That’s good because I am, too.”

“As soon as you have this one, I’m going to do everything in my power to put another one in your belly. We have a lot of lost time to make up for.”

“I’ll take any size family we can manage as long as you’re in it with me, Lo. I love you.”

“I love you with everything I am, Aoife.” I slipped down to my knees for a second time that night and kissed my wife’s belly. “I love you, too, little one.”

THE END