Epilogue Faith

March

This weekend has been absolutely amazing.

Shayne is the most beautiful bride, and I'm certain I'll never forget the way my brother looked at her when he first spotted her walking down the aisle. It was the type of scene you read about in romance novels. They were pronounced husband and wife, had a million photos taken, enjoyed a delicious meal, and are now wrapped up in each other's arms as they sway to another slow song.

And me?

I'm gently moving to the beat with my own arms wrapped around the man I love.

My husband.

There's no place else I'd rather be, except for maybe naked in bed with him, but we can get to that later.

Smiling, I keep watching my brother and sister-in-law. Part of that is because they're so stinking cute and lovey-dovey, but there's another reason. Every time I look at my husband, I want to blurt out the secret I've been keeping since right before we left to fly home for the wedding. As much as I want to tell him, I don't want to ruin anything for anyone else, so I'll keep my mouth shut until we get home.

"What's wrong?" he murmurs, his warm breath tickling my ear.

"Nothing," I insist, letting him pull me closer against his hard body.

He gently places his fingers below my chin and lifts so our eyes connect. The moment they do, a wave of guilt sweeps through me, and I almost blurt it out.

Suddenly, we stop dancing, and he takes my hand in his. He escorts me off the dance floor and out the door of the reception venue. The cool March air hits us, and a chill slides through my body. We walk to the side, away from the door, and stop. He spins around, taking his suit jacket off and hanging it over my shoulders. The warmth feels good, and I instantly give him a grateful grin.

"Thanks," I tell him, breathing in the scent of his cologne clinging to the jacket.

"Always, love." He levels me with a stern look. "Now tell me what's wrong."

I open my mouth and shake my head. "Nothing's wrong. I promise."

"But there's something. I can tell."

"How?"

He flashes me a cocky grin. "I know my wife. I can tell when something's bothering her or causing her concern. You worry your bottom lip, which you've been doing all weekend. So, what gives?" Chad pulls me into his arms and places a kiss on my forehead.

I sigh, relaxing into his embrace. "I wasn't going to tell you until we're back home Monday," I mutter, resting my cheek against his chest.

"Tell me now."

I meet his concerned gaze. There's no way he's going to let this slide. Straightening my spine, I speak the words I've been holding on to since I peed on the stick Thursday morning. "I'm pregnant."

His face remains completely impassive for what feels like a thousand years, but in reality is probably two seconds. It's as if realization hits him when he whoops and hollers in excitement and throws his arms up in the air. He smiles widely, picks me up around the waist, and spins me around twice. In the excitement, his suit jacket falls from my shoulders.

"You're pregnant? Really?" he asks the moment he sets me down on the ground.

"Yes," I tell him, laughing.

Chad slams his lips against mine, kissing me soundly. "I can't believe it," he murmurs, reaching down and placing both hands against my still-flat stomach. " My baby . My baby and my wife." He's smiling so big, it might border on painful.

"I just found out Thursday. I was a few days late, and I got a little… excited."

" My baby ," he practically sings, pulling me into his arms and kissing me once more. "We're having a baby."

"I was going to tell you, promise, but I didn't want to take anything away from Shayne and Ford's wedding weekend. I figured I'd tell you when we got home, and then we can tell everyone else in a few weeks."

The door to the reception hall opens and behind us I hear, "I told you they probably slipped outside for nooky," Ford grumbles.

I snort and shake my head. "Aren't you two supposed to be receptioning right now?" I ask.

The newlyweds stop in front of us, Ford holding his wife firmly against his chest. "Shayne was worried, so we thought we'd come make sure everything was all right."

"Worried?" I ask, giving her my attention.

"I saw the looks on your faces when you quickly walked off the dance floor. I could tell something was wrong," she says reasonably. "Spill."

"It's nothing," I say, repeating the same thing I had said to Chad.

Problem is, Chad speaks at almost the exact same time. "Faith's pregnant."

I gasp and spin around to face him. "We weren't saying anything," I whisper-yell.

He's smiling ear to ear and laughs. "I'm not sorry. I've been waiting months to say those words," he states with a cocky smile.

"You're pregnant?" Shayne asks.

I quickly turn back around and face my brother and sister-in-law. "Yes, but that doesn't matter. This is your weekend. We won't say a word to anyone," I reassure her, hoping she doesn't think I'm trying to upstage her.

"You're pregnant?" she asks again, seeming a little shocked. "Holy crap, we're going to be pregnant together?"

"Yes, but—wait, what?" I gape at her, trying to understand exactly what she's saying.

Shayne smiles. "I found out last week, but we decided not to say anything until after the wedding."

My twin steps up, pulling her into his arms again and adds, "This way we can tell everyone it was a honeymoon baby."

I chuckle and throw my arms around them. "Oh my God, I can't believe it! You're pregnant too?"

"Yep! This is going to be so amazing," she replies, hugging me tightly as Ford goes to shake Chad's hand.

"Knocked up my twin sister. I'm not sure how I feel about this," Ford teases, giving him the eye.

"Knocked up my wife, Gregory," Chad corrects. "Congrats," he adds, pulling his friend into a hug.

"Wow, I can't believe this. Both pregnant at the same time. Our babies are going to be not only cousins, but the best of friends," Shayne says, linking her arm through mine and slowly walking us back to the reception.

"Hey, you two go on in. I need one more minute with my wife," Chad says as we reach the door.

"Fine, but no nooky," Ford grumbles, taking Shayne's hand and leading her back into the reception.

"No promises!" Chad hollers, earning a middle finger right before Ford disappears through the door.

"Come here, wife," he says, pulling me into his arms once more. "Are you happy?"

I nod. "Very. I know we weren't actively trying, but I guess we weren't preventing it either."

"No, we were trying. I was very much trying to put a baby in your belly. The moment you stopped taking birth control, it became my mission."

Smiling, I shake my head and rest my cheek against his chest. I can hear the pounding of his heart and revel in the strong beat. "Well, whatever you want to call it, it worked."

He grins wolfishly. "It was that night against the kitchen table. I gave you all my best moves that night, baby."

My cheeks flush at the memories his words evoke. I'd never pictured myself getting bent over our table, but I'll definitely never forget it anytime soon. Slipping my hands up his jaw and into his hair, I press my lips against his. "I love you, husband."

"Love you, wife. More than ever."