Page 60 of Bound Hearts

“Come on then, the judge is going to be at home in half an hour,” I remind her, stepping to the side as my driver pulls up. I open the door for Sutton and let her slide in before I retract the umbrella.

When we arrive home and walk into the kitchen and living room, Sutton immediately notices the counter with a bottle of non-alcoholic champagne and flowers. “Ooh, someone in this room had their assistant go the extra mile.”

I laugh because she isn’t wrong. “The perks of having an assistant who signed an NDA.”

Sutton gives me a skeptical glare. “Really? Because I’m confident that all Julian would have to do is remind her he is CEO in order to get intel.”

“Nah, Vicky has been with me for years. Discretion is her strength.”

“Okay, so where are we doing this?” she asks, glancing around as my phone rings. I answer the call from the front desk while Sutton waits and listens. After I confirm with the front desk that the judge is here, I hang up. Sutton rolls in her lips, an almost shy smile lifting her cheekbones. "Time to start the show?"

I nod. “I guess… the living room overlooking the city?”

She ponders for a second. “A better idea… the still-empty nursery. Your little kingdom up here means every bedroom still has a view of the city. Then, when the baby is here, we can remind him or her every day that this is where we got married. An extra detail for their room. A special place that hopefully encourages dreamy sleep for a baby.”

Stepping to her, I plant a soft kiss on her forehead. “Sentimental. Look at you,” I tease her in passing to go let the judge in. But actually, it is sentimental. Everything we’re doing is for the baby; everything in our future revolves around our child.

But as I glance back over my shoulder, I know with growing certainty that even without the baby, Sutton would still be the center of my world—she’s always on my mind, in and out of the office. She’s my perfect match. It is blatantly clear.

When I let the judge in, I have zero nerves. Pete is my father’s age, a friend of my lawyer, and also a retired judge. Apparently, he owns a diner in Lake Spark near Everhope. He’ll make this quick and legal.

After quick introductions and giving him the file with our marriage license, he smiles at both of us.

“Shall we begin?”

Sutton outstretches her arm to lead him back into the hall. “Yeah. This way. We decided we want to get married in the baby’s bedroom. It’s still empty.”

“That doesn’t matter. It’s about the space,” he reassures us as we walk. “Besides, I have had some odd locations for weddings. Once, there was a couple insistent on marrying on the corner of the street. Although it was where they met, construction on the sewer was underway at the same time. I tried to hurry that wedding along.”

My face squinches from that story. Sewers and weddings are perhaps too far, but romance is romance, I guess.

“Luckily, we’re opting for a warm and noise-free location,” I say.

We walk into the empty spare bedroom. Floor-to-ceiling windows let in cloudy light, and the pale floor brightens the room even more. I cleared everything out last week so we can start setting things up.

“I guess by the window,” Sutton suggests while she scans the room.

“It’s your special occasion,” Pete reminds her.

She looks at me to check that she’s on the right track. “It’s perfect,” I approve.

“Okay, if you both can stand here.” Pete motions for our spots, and we stand facing each other. “This won’t take long.”

Sutton straightens her shoulders and clears her throat before she meets my eyes. She comes across more as awkward than nervous, unsure of the protocol in such a simple ceremony. But her eyes flick up to meet mine, and an angelic smile accompanies it.

I reach out to take her hands in mine, unable to hide my smile.

“We can do this as quickly as possible. Illinois doesn’t require much; I only need to hear that you both agree to this. Or we can add a little more. Up to you.”

I study Sutton, trying to find out what she’s thinking. But it’s simple. She deserves more than a few words.

“Sutton, this is the start of a connection that has nothing to do with the baby. It’s us.”

Her smile changes. Still present, but she shows how she is soaking in my words.

“Foster, I believe that we can make this work,” she admits.

Our eyes are still set, my chest pounding. This is happening right now. “It’s already working,” I point out.