The Proposal (27 page)

She trembled at his words. “Okay,” she murmured.

He grinned down at her. “Good.” When he plunged back
inside her, he was rewarded with a low moan from Emma. Bringing his hand
between them to stroke her while he moved in and out caused her to shriek and
then scream. He closed his eyes and threw his head back as Emma’s cries were
music to his ears. It wasn’t long before she went over the edge, calling out
his name over and over again. He continued thrusting in and out of her as her
walls convulsed around him. He wasn’t ready yet. He wanted to prolong his
pleasure as long as possible. But when he felt Emma tightening herself around
him, his eyes snapped open. She smiled triumphantly at him as he started to let
himself go. Now it was his turn to emit deep, throaty cries and groan.

Once he finished shuddering inside of her, Aidan
rolled over on his back, collapsing beside Emma on the bed. His chest heaved,
and he fought to catch his breath.

She snuggled up to him and kissed his cheek. “I love
you, Aidan.”

“I know,” he panted. The loud smack of her hand
coming down on his thigh echoed through the room along with his deep chuckle.
He turned to catch her outraged expression. “And I fucking
love
you too,
Emma.”

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Three Weeks Later

Emma surveyed her reflection in Grammy’s full length
mirror. Turning left and right, she let the poofy layers of her bridal gown
twirl around her. In her mind, the dress had been the most beautiful thing she
had ever seen with its empire waist flowing into yards of satin along with the
intricate pearl and sequined encrusted beading of the bodice. She never
imagined finding such a beautiful maternity bridal gown, especially on short
notice.

But now that the big day had arrived, she wasn’t so
sure. “Ugh, I think it’s safe to say I look like the Stay Puff Marshmallow
Man,” she moaned.

“Oh hell no, you do not!” Casey argued, adjusting
the glittering tiara at the top of Emma’s head.

Emma’s cousin, Stacy, nodded as she helped to fluff
out the long veil. “Don’t be silly, Em. You’re absolutely gorgeous.”

“If I were straight, I’d totally want my bride to
look just like you,” Connor said, with a wicked grin.

“Oh God, you’re starting to sound too much like
Aidan,” Emma replied.

“Now you listen to them, sugar. You look stunning!”
Grammy cried from behind Emma. She hadn’t even looked up from digging around in
her jewelry box for one of Emma’s “borrowed” items. The blue lace interwoven
into her garter counted for her something “blue” while the dress and veil
completed the “new”. Carefully concealed under the yards of fabric was her
“old” in the form of a pair of cowboy boots. Today she was going for comfort as
well as shoes that fit on her swollen feet and wouldn’t make her trip and fall.

Emma sighed. “I appreciate you guys trying to make
me feel better, but seriously, it’s a toss up between the Stay Puff dude and
The Michelin Tire guy.”

Casey snorted. “Stop fishing for compliments.”
Grasping Emma’s shoulders, she turned her around. “You are the most beautiful
bride I have ever seen in my entire life, and I’m including myself in that
figure! It doesn’t matter if you’re seven months pregnant. The moment you start
down that altar, you’re going to take Aidan’s breath away.”

Tears welled in Emma’s eyes at Casey’s compliment.
“Oh shit, don’t start the waterworks now and mess up your makeup!” She waved
her hands frantically in front of Emma’s face.

Emma pushed them away. “Okay, okay, I won't cry.”

“Good.”

With a strand of pearls in her hand, Grammy stepped
over to them. “Can you all give us a moment?”

Casey smiled. “Sure. We’ll go get the bouquets out
of the fridge.”

“Don’t even think I’m letting you put on my
boutonnière.”

“And just why not?”

“Because you always end up stabbing me!” Connor
cried. They continued bickering as they went out the door.

Once they were alone, Emma arched her brows
expectantly. Grammy’s expression was so serious it made Emma uneasy. Trying to
lighten the mood, she joked, “You know you don’t have to have the sex talk with
me, right?”

Grammy waved her empty hand dismissively. “I should
hope not. Of course, I assume that ship sailed back with Travis.”

Emma’s face warmed as she nodded. Without another
word, Grammy moved to stand behind Emma. She brought her hands over Emma’s head
and then slipped the strand of pearls around her neck. They rested a little
past Emma’s collarbone.

After she fastened the clasp, Grammy gripped Emma’s
shoulders and then caught her gaze in the mirror. “All my life, I wanted a strand
of real pearls. For our third wedding anniversary, your granddaddy worked two
extra jobs to buy these pearls for me after he did something much like Aidan
did.”

Emma gasped in horror. “Oh Grammy, I can’t believe
Granddaddy would ever do something like that!”

“He thought he could run from marriage and
commitment, but when he did, he realized his mistake. It’s something I’ve never
told anyone, not even your mama.” Grammy smiled. “Of course, our making up
after his affair was the whole reason why she was here in the first place. I
guess I got these pearls and your mama out of the deal.”

“So you forgave him?”

“I’m still with him, aren’t I?”

Emma fingered the pearls while thinking of all the
happy years her grandparents had together. Never once had she ever seen a crack
in the façade. They were what she aspired to be when it came to a married
couple.

Grammy patted Emma's back. “I wanted to tell you
this today so you would understand that no marriage is perfect. There’s going
to be good times and bad times and heartache and joy. Don’t ever think that
because of what happened before that your love isn’t as strong or as beautiful
as anyone else’s. It's the love that goes through the hardest trials and
survives that is worth having.”

“Thank you, Grammy.” She leaned over and kissed
Grammy’s wrinkled cheek. “Do you think Aidan and I will be as happy as you and
Granddaddy have been?”

Grammy smiled. “I think you will.”

“I hope so.”

“Time flies so fast when you’re happy and in love.
One minute you’ll be young, and the next minute you’ll be standing in front of
your granddaughter, who looks so much like her mama did on her wedding day.”

At the mention of her mother, Emma’s eyes misted
over again. She would have given anything for her mother to be standing beside
her, adjusting her veil, and telling her she made the most beautiful bride.

When she met Grammy’s eyes again, Grammy shook her
head. “The last thing on earth your mama would want is for you to be sad today.
She would want you to be happy and to embrace the wonderful future ahead of you
with Aidan and with Noah.”

“I know she would. It’s just hard.”

Grammy stepped around to touch Emma’s cheek. “I
know, baby girl. She was my only daughter, and I’d give anything to have her
here. But she’s never very far away. She’s always right here.” Grammy placed
her hand over Emma’s heart. “She’ll be there with you today, and when that
sweet baby boy comes into this world and is put into your arms for the first
time, she’ll be right there too.”

Emma bit down on her lip to stifle her emotions
before throwing her arms around Grammy. “Thank you for being here with me
today.”

“It’s my pleasure honey.”

Granddaddy cleared his throat in the doorway. “All
right, that weddin’ plannin’ woman said to tell y’all it’s time.”

Emma pulled out of Grammy’s arms. For a flickering
second, she saw Granddaddy in a different light for the mistakes of his past,
but then she thought of Aidan and of forgiveness, and a smile curved on her
lips.

She walked over to him and kissed his cheek. When
she pulled away, she grabbed the lapels of his suit and smiled. “Look how
handsome you are.”

Granddaddy beamed. “It’s my best suit. I hoped it
would do.”

“I’ll be honored to be on your arm.”

As they started out the door, he stopped her.
“Virginia told you about the pearls, didn’t she?”

Emma’s mouth gaped open. “How did you know?”

“The look on your face when I walked in.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be, Emmie Lou. I’m just surprised that Aidan
didn’t tell you.”

Her eyes widened in disbelief. “You told him? When?”

“The time he came up here to get the food while you
were on bed-rest.”

“But why?”

Granddaddy grimaced. “I wanted him to understand
that I knew where he was coming from, but at the same time, I wanted him to
fight like hell to get you back.”

“You like him that much?”

“I do.” Granddaddy grinned. “I think I might even
love him.”

Emma jerked her head up to stare at him in surprise.
“Seriously?”

“I’m happy for you, Emmie Lou. I think ol’ Aidan’s
gonna make you a mighty fine husband.”

“Oh Granddaddy,” she murmured, her eyes filling with
tears.

“Don’t cry now.”

“They’re happy tears, I promise.”

“Yeah, but you’ll get me in trouble with all the
hens around here if you mess up your make-up.”

She giggled. “All right then. I wouldn’t want to get
you in trouble.”

“Good then.” Eying Emma’s dress, he scratched his
head. “Let’s see how we’re gonna get you out of here in that thing.”

She giggled as she turned to the side and slid out
of the bedroom doorway. As she swept out into the living room, she found the
wedding planner organizing the bridal party. “How do I look Aunt Emma?” Georgie
asked, spinning around in his tiny tux.

She grinned. “You look so handsome and so grown up.”

He thrust out his pillow. “I thought today I would
get the real rings.”

“I’m sorry, sweetheart, but Casey and your Papa
Patrick are in charge of the rings.”

Georgie cocked his head. “Then why the hell am I the
ring-bearer?”

Emma’s eyes widened while Casey tried to hide her
laughter behind her bouquet. “George Byron Parker! Don’t you dare say a naughty
word like that!” Emma chastised.

“Is hell a naughty word?”

“Yes, it is.”

Georgie shrugged. “Oh, I just heard John and Uncle
Aidan using it.”

“Well, let them be in trouble, not you.” She patted
his back. “You have a very important job as the ring bearer, even without the
real rings. You’re part of our wedding party, and that makes you very special.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

Georgie seemed momentarily appeased. Then his face
clouded over again. “Do I really have to walk with her?” he jerked his chin
over to Emma’s cousin, Sarah, the flower girl.

“What’s wrong with Sarah?”

Georgie rolled his eyes in exasperation. “She’s a
girl
!”

Emma bit her lip to keep from grinning. “I promise
she’s a very nice girl, and you won’t have to hold her hand or anything.”

“Good!”

Marie, the wedding planner, clapped her hands. “Okay
then. It’s time. Georgie, Sarah, you’ll go out first. Then I need Connor,
Stacy, and Casey…oh my, that rhymed,” Marie giggled.

Casey rolled her eyes as she handed Emma her
enormous bouquet. “This chick has seriously got to go.”

Emma welcomed the laugh that bubbled from her lips.
It helped to ease the nerves she felt. Drawing in a few deep breaths, she tried
to calm herself down. After all these years, it was finally happening. She was
getting married. As she felt Noah kick beneath her yards of fabric, she shook
her head and smiled. God had certainly blessed the broken road of heartache and
loss to get to this point of extreme joy.

As they stepped onto the front porch, Emma glanced
up at the sky. It was like God had smiled down on their special day by blessing
them with not only a beautiful cloudless sky, but one of Georgia’s unseasonably
warm days for late January. She leaned on Granddaddy’s arm as they took the
path around the house. Memories flashed through her mind of taking the same
turn with Aidan as they snuck away for their midnight skinny dipping escapade.

The grassy aisle leading up to the altar was covered
with intertwining red, pink, and yellow rose petals. Emma’s heart warmed as it
was a special touch, not just to liven up the dying winter grass, but it was a
reminder of happy times with rose petals in the hotel room on their first
baby-making venture as well as their engagement. It brought a beaming smile to
her face. But her smile grew even wider at the sight of Aidan standing at the
front of the altar. He peered down the aisle, trying desperately to catch a
glimpse of her.

The string quartet finished playing
Canon in D
and then changed over to the first strains of the
Bridal March
. “It’s
show time, Emmie Lou,” Granddaddy said, a mixture of amusement and regret
vibrating in his voice.