Page 22 of Our Unexpected Beginning (Club Surrender #4)
THREE MONTHS LATER
Julia
L exi’s house was brimming with laughter and nervous energy as the women gathered the night before Mia and Nolan’s wedding.
“I think we have everything ready for tomorrow, right?”
“Yes. We finally managed to get your fiancé out the door.” Julia teased Melody who flashed her new engagement ring.
She bounded in before everyone showed for the bridal shower and spilled the news to Julia, then the rest of the group. Melody would never want to make the day about her.
“How did you know?” Julia questioned, sitting around the coffee table on the floor of the living room, stuffing last minute wedding favors.
“Waffles.” Melody beamed, entranced by her engagement ring .
“Our brainwaves aren’t connecting correctly today. I require further explanation please.”
“Wes eats the bad waffles I make. I mean, they don’t taste any different than the rest of them. Sometimes the blueberries stick and the waffle pulls apart. Or the edges are too done. Those are the ones he gets first. He loves me when I’m not perfect.”
Tears welled up in Julia’s eyes. “I can’t tell you how happy I am for you.”
“Everyone’s getting their shit together…”
“Everything is falling into place.” Mia grabbed her hand. “For you too.”
Julia’s eyes brimmed with tears, and a sharp burn flared in her nose as she pressed her palm gently against the underside of her belly, feeling the warmth of life beneath her hand.
She inhaled slowly, drawing in a deep breath as if gathering the metaphorical bones that had held her together for so many years.
The ache in her chest was not a hollow emptiness; it wasn’t haunted by ghosts or filled with the shadows of grief.
Instead, she sensed a shift, a subtle transformation—perhaps even healing.
Out of the ashes of the long-buried secrets of her past, Julia realized this was an ending she had never anticipated.
It wasn’t the love of a man that completed her, nor was it his presence that made her whole. Graham’s unwavering faith in her, his strength, and the encouragement he offered allowed her to be unapologetically herself, no matter the circumstances .
“Jules, you’re quiet. Are you going to tell us what’s wrong?” Mia’s voice was gentle, probing the silence that enveloped them.
“I don’t know,” she replied, her voice barely above a whisper.
“That you’ll tell me or that you want to play more twenty questions?” she asked with a hint of playfulness.
“Ever since my brother died, I’ve been waiting,” she confessed, her words weighted with years of unspoken pain.
“For what?” she inquired, her curiosity sincere.
“To be done. Finished,” she admitted, her tone heavy with the burden of the past.
“Cookie dough. Like cookie dough?” Melody interjected, teasing with a light-hearted TV reference, attempting to weave a thread of levity into their somber conversation.
“No…” Julia responded, her voice trailing off.
“Oh,” Melody replied, understanding the depth beneath her friend’s simple answer.
“My whole life, I’ve felt as though hope is something that gets taken, snatched away, or deflated,” Julia explained, her voice tinged with the rawness of vulnerability.
“But now?” Mia prompted softly, sensing a shift in her demeanor.
“Now I’m supposed to be in charge of this tiny human,” she said, her hand resting protectively over her belly .
“There is such a thing as life after loss. It’s called living,” Mia reminded her. Her words were a balm to her wounded spirit.
“I didn’t think I’d get to this part,” she admitted, a glimmer of realization dawning in her eyes.
“What part?
“Excited for tomorrow,” she said, her voice filled with a newfound sense of anticipation and hope.
*
Jules:
Hey daddy
Graham:
* looking eyes * are we teasing or have you rethought your kinks?
Jules:
You’re insufferable * laughing *
Graham:
I have to keep your interest, kitten
Graham:
Hello * winky face *
Jules:
So.
Graham:
Don’t tell me you want a quickie before Mia comes down. The boys are already down here.
Graham:
I know I can be quick…
The thought was tempting.
Jules:
If only there was time. * kissy face *
Graham:
Don’t worry babe, I’ll be sure to dirty you up tonight.
Jules:
That’ll be hard to do.
Graham:
Oh, is that the game we’re playing tonight? * devilish emoji *
Jules:
I think we’ll be busy packing.
Graham:
… * looking eyes *
Jules:
Graham?
Graham :
Wait.
Graham:
Look up.
Julia looked through the doorway to the venue. She looked over the heads of the seated guests and spotted Graham at the end of the aisle, off to the side with Noah and Zander standing beside him.
The three wore light grey and stood behind Nolan who wore a dark blue suit. He bounced on his heels, idly chatting away while fixing Zander’s collar.
She looked at Graham, who looked amazing in his suit jacket and tie. The charcoal accentuated his tan and she was entranced with his smile. He’d shaven and slicked his hair back. She couldn’t wait to thread her fingers through it.
Graham met her gaze and straightened his spine. He gripped the lapels of his jacket and smiled wickedly. She watched as he brought his phone close to his face.
Her phone chimed with the incoming voice message. She hit play.
“Whatcha got in mind, kitten?”
Hitting the microphone she brought the phone to her lips. “Let’s go on an adventure. ”
Graham’s cheerful whoop turned a few guests’ heads. Julia’s laugh rang in the small hallway. She clamped her hand over her mouth and ducked around the corner, her cheeks flushed red.
Graham:
Okay, this isn’t the wine talking?
Graham:
I won’t hold it against you.
Jules:
I can’t have wine silly.
Jules:
No. I think having two cribs is sweet in theory. But I want the package, Graham. I know you’ve been waiting for me, I’m ready and we’ll leap together.
Graham:
You’ll end up with the bigger closet.
Jules:
I’ll take the third bedroom, you keep the closet.
Graham:
I’ll be perfect to bolt some restraints
Jules:
That sounds promising.
Graham:
The possibilities are endless, kitten
The reception was beautiful. Lexi had picked a subtle color scheme and the cream-pearled beads Julia had sewn into Mia’s dress sparkled in the lantern lighting. The teal undercoat could be seen as Nolan twirled his new bride around the dance floor, her laugh bubbling through the tent.
“Mama! Mumum Da!!” Penelope giggled and cheered in Julia’s arms, pointing at her dancing parents.
She held the toddler against her hip, swaying to the music and enjoying the night air. Melody had managed to talk Zander into dancing so Wes could dance with Sarah standing on her father’s toes.
“Hey, beautiful.” Graham wrapped his arm around her, leaning in and kissing her cheek. “Would you girls like to dance?”
“I don’t think the dance floor is big enough.” She was thankful Mia had chosen flats for the wedding party. Her son was currently doing somersaults off her bladder, she’d already scoped the distance to the restrooms.
“Haven’t we talked about the negative speaking, Julia?” Oh, his dom voice never failed to make her wet and her body tingle in all the right places.
“Memory is a bit hazy, Sir. ”
“Little girls get s-p-a-n-k-e-d in the mirror doing affirmations with a s-o-r-e b-u-t-t. “ He spelled the salacious parts for the sake of the toddler repeating. “I’m sure Wes has some ginger.”
She shivered. “Yes, I remember.”
“So, I’ll ask again. Would you beautiful ladies do me the honor of swaying on the dance floor for the length of a song? Two if you’re bribable with the promise of cake and a foot rub.”
“You do have a persuasive argument.” Julia turned and smiled up at him. She allowed him to pull them onto the dance floor. He pulled her close and kissed the top of her head, then Penny’s. They both responded with a giggle.
Julia rested her cheek against his chest, careful not to squash Penelope between them. His arms wrapped around her waist, and he absentmindedly twirled a lock of hair between his fingers.
“Today was beautiful.” Julia sighed wistfully.
“Yes, it was. I’m glad we got to be a part of it.”
“A lot of things changed this year.”
“It did.”
Julia lost herself in the syncing beat of his heart against her ear. She hadn’t heard Graham the first time he spoke.
“Hey,” he whispered, concerned and worried, lacing his tone. “Do you want to go, have you had enough?”
“No, I’m good, I promise. I got lost in thought.”
“Alright.” He cleared his throat and nervously scrubbed the back of his neck. “So, about what you said before. ”
“I’m ready to take the next step. I love you, you’ve proved time and time again that you love me for me and not the idea of me or what I can provide you. You have loved me through the highs and lows. You’re an amazing partner and you’ll be an even more awesome dad.”
“You surprise me at every turn. When I think I can’t love you more, you prove me wrong.” Graham grabbed her face and kissed her hard, squishing a giggling Penelope between them.
Julia poured her heart into the kiss. A silent vow and promise that whatever life decided to throw at them they could handle it together.
Her fingers threaded in his hair at the nape of his neck, she sighed softly against his lips. Julia’s chest filled with warmth and love.
Caught in the moment with Graham she paid no attention to the cramp until she felt warm and wet between her toes in her flats.
“Oh! Goodness!” Penelope squeaked, her arms waving from her perch on Julia’s hip. “JuJu splash!”
Julia’s heart beat loudly in her chest, filling her ears with the whoosh of her blood rushing through her. It was time.
It wasn’t time to panic.
It wasn’t time to fall apart.
It wasn’t time for sadness and anxiety.
Julia grabbed Graham’s arm and looked at him wide-eyed. “Hey.”
“Hey. Oh god. Are you okay? We’re not panicking.” He most certainly was .
Her eyes didn’t leave Graham’s as Melody plucked Penny from her arms. She grabbed his other wrist and smiled.
Together they took a slow, steady breath. He followed her lead.
Julia reached up and pulled Graham in for a quick kiss. She whispered against his lips with a smile. “It’s time.”
*
Thank you so much for reading!