Page 143 of Rumor Has It

“Mackenzie, do you take this man to be your husband?” He barely gets it out before I blurt my answer.

“Yep! I do, always.” Our guests giggle and chuckle along with us.

“By the powers vested in me in the great state of North Carolina, I now pronounce you man and wife.” The minister waves his hand. “You may kiss the bride.”

“They’ve already done that today … several times.” Maisyn waggles her brows.

“Maisyn! Shut up.” Boone chuckles, hauling me into his arms and taking my mouth.

He holds me in his arms, kissing me the way any man in love should kiss their women. Long and hard, and with every ounce of love he has. We spend the night dancing it away.

***

“Hey, love.” Boone walks through the house, dropping a box by the door and falling on the couch beside me. “How are you?”

“Better.” I nibble on a cracker. “I’m as sick with this one as I was Rumor.”

“Did you make the reservations?” His eyes dart to the stairs, checking to see if she was around.

“Yes, we’re good to go.” I take his hand. “Don’t worry, you love her so completely, she’s gonna be fine with this.”

“We haven’t had enough time.” He kisses my hand about the time we hear her coming down the stairs. “You finished?”

“Almost.” She sighs heavily, standing with her hand behind her back. “I’ve put all but one box of books up.”

Boone side-eyes me, and I’ve got the same feeling. Something’s up. “What’cha got there?” Praying it isn’t our ultrasound.

“I found this, and it has my name on it.” She juts her hand out in front of us. It does. It has her name on it, and the hospital’s.

Boone takes it from her, wide-eyed and speechless. I smile, straightening up to face her. “Where was that at?”

“The Bible from your wedding.” Her chest lifts and falls like there’s weights on it. “Is that what I think it is?”

My head whips around to Boone, begging him to do something. He does. “Would you like for me to read it to you?”

She wallows her bottom lips between her teeth. “Why haven’t you already?”

“It doesn’t mean you’re my daughter or that you’re not. I love you either way.” He takes her hand, pointing at her ring. “This means more to me than this letter. But if you want, we’ll read it together.”

She twists her mouth. “I don’t want to if it will hurt your feelings.”

“Never, you’ll forever be my Boo Baby.” He places a soft kiss on her head.

“Will people know or just us?” she asks, fidgeting.

“If we don’t tell them, no one will know,” he reassures her.

She chews on her nail. “But we’ll have to know for me to get your name or go to court with Reed.”

“Yes, we’ll have to know by then.” I swallow hard.

“I want to know before other people do.” She looks from me to Boone.

He nods, his hands trembling as he rips the paper. “This … that’s your mom. This one is mine, and this is yours.” He points at the paper, following it with his finger. His eyes snap to mine, tears spilling from them, and I gasp.

“Nine-nine dot nine-nine match.” She wrinkles her nose, staring at the paper. “What does that mean?”

“When we go to the courthouse next week, and we’re changing your name to Rumor Mckenna Hatcher.” Boone’s so emotional, he’s hugging and kissing us both.