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CLAIRE

Six Months Later

“ W hy so glum, honey bun?” Vaughn asks. The cheery way with which he speaks isn’t evident on his face at all. He looks at me with deep concern twisting his face and extends his arms out for a hug. “We’re two days out from the biggest day of our lives. I thought you’d be over the moon.”

I flop against his body and hold back my tears from spilling all over his silky, soft white shirt.

“It doesn’t fit anymore,” I mutter against his chest.

“What doesn’t fit?” He strokes my back tenderly, speaking in the calmest voice he can muster.

“My wedding dress.” I wipe my face against his chest in frustration. It isn’t because I’m angry at anything in particular. I knew it didn’t fit this morning, and I wasn’t nearly as bothered by it. But now it seems like the whole world is about to end because I can’t close the zipper on that white dress.

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. Hormones are a bitch.

“Then we’ll get it resized.” He pecks a kiss against my crown and squeezes me tightly into the hug.

“There’s no time. We’re a few days out and—” I cut myself off before I get lost in a panic. “I just want it to be perfect.”

“You’re going to be there. You’re going to become my wife. And we’re going to spend the rest of our lives together as the happiest of families. How could it get any more perfect?”

“But what about everyone else? It’s a wedding. They’ll be expecting?—”

“Screw everyone else.” Vaughn’s turn to still my ever-growing nerves. “They can count themselves among the lucky ones for being invited. It’s not their day, it’s ours.” His hand slides under my shirt and over my swollen tummy. “Well, ours and this little fella right here.”

“You really mean it?” I look up at him. Vaughn moves his hand out from my shirt and cups my cheek, using his thumb to wipe away a few straggler tears that managed to fall.

“More than anything in the world,” he says. “Because I love you. I want to spend the rest of my days at your side. It wouldn’t bother me if you were in a stunning dress or oversized sweatpants and one of my T-shirts. You’re perfect from head to toe, and nothing’s going to change that.”

“I love you.” I swing my arms over Vaughn’s shoulders and pull him down to me for a kiss.

I don’t know how Vaughn manages to do it every single time. Easing me out of my woes and leaving a smile where a quivering lip used to be. That’s got to be a sign of true love, right? That no matter how hard things become, your partner can show you the silver lining.

“But it’s your fault, you know?” I say with a humph. “If you put this baby inside me a few weeks later, we wouldn’t be having this little problem.”

“Yeah, but how could I wait?” He smirks, starting to sway his hips in a slow dance to non-existent music. “And I’d be a terrible father if I didn’t let our child be part of such a monumental day.”

I move with him, dancing across our entire apartment, giggling freely now. In some ways, I suppose he’s right. We’re starting our family off the right way. Together for every special occasion right from the start.

And what a wonderful family it’s going to be. I stop our dance and pull him against me for another hug. Vaughn gives in without any fight, stroking the back of my head as he holds me close.

The future is bright, and it’s only getting brighter with Vaughn Valentine in it.