Chapter 32

Chapter Thirty-Two

Ashley

“Y ou look so pretty.” Ashley smiled down at Amelia, JJ’s daughter, who was their bridesmaid at their wedding.

“Thank you.” She spun, her dress twirling as she did. “Catherine gave me this.”

Ashley looked down at the tiny wrist being held up for her. A beautiful silver bracelet adorned her arm.

“It’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.” Ashley smiled at her.

Amelia and JJ had quickly become part of their everyday lives. It was going to be sad when the house was finished and they moved out.

“She’s the most adorable thing,” Catherine said.

“I don’t want to know how much you spent on that bracelet for a child.” Ashley sighed and turned to her sister.

“All girls should have at least one nice piece of jewelry.”

“She’s four.”

“And so sweet.”

“That she is. Where’s Paisley?”

“Calming your brother down somewhere.” Catherine laughed. “You’d think he never attended a wedding before.”

“Well, he is walking me down the aisle.”

“He was stressing over his suit being perfect when I walked away. Cade was trying to help calm him and the others were laughing at him. It’s a mess.”

“I can’t believe I’m getting married today.” Ashley took in her white dress in the long mirror. It felt surreal to be here.

“You deserve to be happy forever, and I think Carter will make sure that happens for you.”

“Don’t.” Ashley waved at her face. “You’re going to make me cry.”

“Why would you cry?” Amelia asked.

“Because I’m so happy,” Ashley assured her.

“Go find your daddy, little one. We will be starting soon.” Catherine urged her from the room. “Are you ready?”

Ashley nodded. “I’m ready to begin the rest of my life with Carter.”

The wedding couldn’t be held at the pond because it was too cold outside now, so they were holding it in the house instead. Catherine had hired people to decorate that had pretty much taken everything from Ashley’s hands, thankfully.

Ashley hadn’t seen it yet, but she knew it would be perfect. Trudy had worked with caterers that Catherine had insisted on to plan a reception. Those two had butted heads, but Catherine had been determined the older woman attend as a guest and not be working.

Paisley had helped pick out flowers, and that had worked perfectly. She was a bit of a minimalist when it came to big events like Ashley, so it had been easy. They had chosen blue and white as their colors, and from there it had all come together.

“I can’t wait for you to see everything.” Catherine walked out of the room before her. “Remember to wait for Luke to walk you.”

Ashley giggled. “He better hurry then.”

“Who?” Luke called up the stairs. “You didn’t think I’d be late, did you?”

She smiled as she met him at the bottom and took his arm. “No. I knew you’d come through for me.”

His son, Garrett, was in his arms. “I thought maybe all the men in your family could walk you down?”

Cade stepped around Luke. “Only if you’re okay with it.”

Having a bigger family was still so new to her, but Cade and Catherine had embraced her immediately. They treated her as family, not someone they’d just found out about.

It was strange but so welcoming. Her family was growing so quickly in less than a year, and she had a surprise for everyone that she’d deliver at the reception that would expand their family again.

Carter knew she was expecting. It wasn’t like they’d been doing anything to prevent it. He’d been thrilled when she’d taken the test and had spun her around the room. They’d decided to keep it a secret until the end of her first trimester, which had been yesterday.

“Stop. You can’t surprise women on their wedding day. We spend too much time on out makeup for you fools to ruin it,” Catherine scolded, but the tears in her own eyes showed her real feelings.

Ashley took Cade’s arm, now sandwiched between her brothers. “I would love to have all my guys walk me down the aisle.”

They turned as Catherine opened the doors to the emptied grand entryway. All of their friends and family turned to face her, but she only saw Carter.

With a smile and the cue of the music, they began to walk. She scanned the room and noticed giant photos everywhere. Catherine had gotten someone to make giant canvas prints of their favorite space by the pond and they were adorning the walls.

It was like they were outside but not freezing to death. Behind the preacher and Carter was the perfect view of the pond, as though they were standing right in front of it. Carter smiled back at her.

As Amelia reached the end of the aisle, she panicked and stopped. Wondering what could be happening, she watched as Amelia shrugged and dumped all the remaining petals out on the floor before skipping over to Catherine.

Everyone laughed, and it only made things better. All the smiles were exactly what the occasion called for.

Luke and Cade handed her over to Carter, and she stepped beside him to face the preacher.

The wedding was short and sweet. She didn’t want to do their own vows or anything like that, just wanted to get married. Carter had agreed with her, and it worked out.

After the preacher announced them to the party, Carter walked her down the aisle and into the dining room that was equally decorated with the photos.

“Did you know about this?” she asked Carter.

He shook his head. “It was a surprise to me this morning. Catherine is magic.”

“They way she brought the pond to us is everything.” Ashley blinked back tears again.

They greeted each and every person that came as they took their seats. Once everyone was seated, they walked to their spots.

“Thank you all, again, for coming and making our day perfect. Before we eat, Ashley and I have something we want to announce.” Carter smiled over at her.

Ashley took a deep breath and dropped her hands to her still-flat stomach. Women got it right away, and excitement ran through the guests. “It has been a wild year of expanding my family to gain more siblings, a father I never knew, and now a spouse. But we have one more coming. In about six months, Carter and I will be expanding our family with a baby.”

Cheers erupted as people clapped for them. Even more congratulations were passed around, and Ashley was hugged by both her brothers.

“I can’t believe it,” Catherine gushed.

“More cousins,” Paisley said. She hugged Ashley and then moved for April to do the same.

“I’m so excited all these kids get to know each other and be welcomed into such an amazing group of friends and family,” April whispered.

Ashley gave up trying not to cry and keep her makeup intact. Tears spilled over as she hugged everyone again.

The rest of the reception time was filled with all the same excitement. The food was great, and everyone ate. Amelia couldn’t take the excitement and passed out on JJ’s shoulder. Soon, she’d be in school, and there was much more to come for her.

“This has been the best day of my life,” Carter whispered in her ear.

Her cheeks hurt from smiling as she agreed with him. “Nothing could have been better.”

His hand rested on her stomach. “There’s so much more to come for us.”

They were working on the buildings for the next stages of Guardian Legion. Christian, Liam, and Nate had moved to town, and Ashley was already working with clients.

Video conferencing had been a genius invention and allowed her to work from home while the office was being built. Carter was there with her for most meetings, talking logistics with her.

She worked closely with Ryker to come up with pricing and business models. Everything was working out well. JJ had even started to work with them, some of which was unexpected but not unwelcome.

“I love you,” she whispered to Carter.

“I love you.” He smiled over at her as he picked up his glass of sparking grape juice because he insisted if she couldn’t drink, then he wouldn’t either. “To forever.”

She held her own glass up, tapping his. “To forever.”