Page 274 of The Baby Bargain

Now… well, she does eat, poop, and cry an awful lot. But she's already an explorer. She's already trying to learn everything she can about the world.

Dad nudges me. Motions to the closed doorshall we?

God, this is really happening.

I nodwe shall. Let him lead me out the door, around the corner, all the way to the ceremony site.

The sun shines over the well-dressed guests, the purple bows, the rose covered arch.

It's a beautiful afternoon. Bright blue sky. Big puffy clouds. Ocean for miles.

We're on the Malibu cliffside. We're so high above the ocean we're practically in the clouds.

It's pure California indulgence.

Mom would have loved it.

But then she would have loved anything. Her heart was always so big and full. It was always expanding.

She used to say the more you love, the more capacity you have for love. I didn't believe it. Not after she died.

But the first time I felt Charlotte kick—

I didn't think it was possible to love that much. I still have trouble believing it. But, somehow, my heart gets bigger and fuller every single day.

For a moment, my eyes move over the crowd. There are almost a hundred people here. Chase's family. Mine. Friends from work and school. Every tattoo artist we know.

And Charlotte.

Holden is standing there, at the back of the bridal party, holding my daughter.

She's fussing. Of course. She likes to move on her own. And she hates wearing fancy dresses.

But, God, she looks so cute in that royal purple dress. She's going to throw it off the second she can. I need to appreciate it now.

I swallow hard. Tune into the music. Focus on moving one foot in front of the other.

Walking in heels is hard.

Walking in heels on the grass—

Those little plastic things that stop shoes from sinking into soil only work so well.

The sun fills my eyes. Casts the world in bright white highlights.

Then I take another step and Chase comes into view.

My groom.

My husband to be.

My other half.

His blue eyes meet mine. He smiles the widest smile in the history of the world.

The rest of the world falls away.

All I can see is Chase's smile.