Page 31 of Librarian for the Jock

PAIGE

It had been just about a year since that magical night under the oak tree, and if anyone had told me back then that I’d be planning a wedding now, I would have laughed and told them they were crazy. But there I was, standing in the middle of my living room, surrounded by swatches of fabric, color samples, and pages torn from wedding magazines, feeling a mixture of excitement, nerves, and pure, unfiltered happiness.

Jenny and Brandon were sprawled out on the floor with me, flipping through pages and pointing out things they liked. It was a warm, sunny afternoon, and the light streaming in through the windows made everything feel golden and perfect. My heart felt so full it was about to burst.

Chet was on his way back from a game; he had texted earlier to say his flight had landed on time and he’d be home soon. Home. I smiled at the word. It was amazing how quickly he had become such an integral part of my life—of our lives. It felt like he had been there forever, like he had always belonged here, with us.

“Mommy!” Jenny exclaimed, pulling me out of my thoughts. “Look at this! What do you think about these flowers for the tables?”

I glanced at the picture she was pointing to—a gorgeous arrangement of white roses, sunflowers, and greenery. My heart skipped a beat. “Oh, Jenny, that’s perfect,” I said, feeling tears prickling at my eyes. “You know how much I love sunflowers.”

She beamed, pleased with herself. “I knew you would. And Chet loves roses because of his Baba, right?”

I nodded, my smile widening. “He does. You two are going to be the best wedding planners ever.”

Brandon grinned from beside her. “I’m in charge of the music,” he declared proudly. “No boring stuff. It’s going to be fun—dancing, and good songs, and maybe even a little bit of karaoke.”

I laughed, my heart swelling with love for my kids. “I wouldn’t have it any other way, Brandon.”

He gave me a thumbs-up and then went back to his list of potential songs. I couldn’t help but smile, watching them so engaged and excited. They had been so supportive, so wonderful through all of this. When Chet had proposed a few months ago, right there under the old oak tree, with his hands shaking just a little, they had been the first ones to jump up and shout, “Yes!” before I could even get the words out myself.

It hadn’t been a flashy proposal; it was simple, heartfelt, and full of love—exactly like Chet. And exactly what I had wanted.

Now, as I looked around at the mess of wedding plans and the happy faces of my children, I felt a sense of peace settle over me. This was real. This was happening. I was getting married to the man I loved, the man who had brought so much light and laughter back into my life.

A knock on the door pulled me from my thoughts, and my heart did a little flip. “That must be him,” I said, standing up quickly and heading for the door, my pulse quickening with excitement.

I opened the door, and there he was, standing on the front step, his duffle bag slung over his shoulder, a tired but happy grin on his face. “Hey,” he said, his voice warm and full of that familiar softness I had come to adore. “Miss me?”

I laughed, stepping forward to wrap my arms around him. “Always,” I whispered into his chest, feeling his arms tighten around me.

He pulled back just enough to look into my eyes, brushing a strand of hair away from my face. “How’s the wedding planning going?” he asked, glancing over my shoulder at the chaos inside.

“Good,” I said, laughing. “A bit overwhelming, but good. The kids are helping a lot.”

“Good,” he said, smiling. “I can’t wait to hear what they’ve come up with.”

I pulled him inside, and he was immediately swarmed by Jenny and Brandon, who both started excitedly telling him about their ideas. I watched as he listened, nodding and smiling, his hand never leaving mine, and I felt a wave of gratitude wash over me. This was my family. This was my future.

**Eight Months After the Honeymoon…**

I never thought I’d be there again—feeling the flutter of tiny kicks inside me, my hand resting on my swollen belly, a mix of nerves and excitement coursing through me. But there I was, sitting on the couch with a cup of herbal tea, feeling that familiar, wonderful anticipation of what was to come.

We were expecting a boy. Our boy.

I smiled to myself, rubbing my belly gently. We had found out a few months ago, and Chet had been over the moon. I remembered the way his face had lit up when the doctor told us—it was like he’d just won the biggest game of his life. He had immediately started talking about teaching our son how to throw a football, how to be a good man, how to love fiercely and laugh often.

Jenny and Brandon had been just as excited. They had been busy picking out baby names, arguing over who would get to be the favorite older sibling, and insisting on decorating the nursery themselves. It had been chaotic, but it was a beautiful chaos, one filled with so much love and joy that it was hard to believe it was real sometimes.

Chet walked into the room, fresh from a morning jog, a smile spreading across his face when he saw me. “Hey, you,” he said softly, coming over to sit beside me.

“Hey,” I said, leaning into his side. “Did you have a good run?”

He nodded, his arm wrapping around me. “Yeah, but I couldn’t wait to get back to you. And our little guy,” he added, placing his hand on my belly.

I smiled, feeling the warmth of his hand, the strength and gentleness in his touch. “He’s been kicking up a storm,” I said, laughing. “I think he already wants to be on the field with you.”

Chet laughed, his eyes lighting up. “That’s my boy. Already getting in some practice.”

I laughed too, feeling that familiar swell of happiness. “I love you, you know that?”

He looked at me, his expression softening. “I love you too, Paige. More than anything.”

I rested my head on his shoulder, feeling peace settle over me. Soon we would be welcoming our son into the world. It was a lot, but I wouldn’t have had it any other way. I knew there would be challenges, and there would be tough days, but we were in this together.

We had built something beautiful, something strong, something I never thought I’d find again. And as I sat there, with Chet beside me and our future growing inside me, I knew that whatever came next, we would face it with love, laughter, and a whole lot of joy.

And I couldn’t wait for all of it.