Page 90 of Forever Endeavor

CHAPTER 29

Six months later

Billie gazed dreamily at Sonny, standing tall and proud and looking movie-star handsome in his tux. His dark hair was cropped short and styled neatly, one corner of his fur-free lips curled into a half smile as he looked into her eyes with so much love it made her heart flutter.

“By the power vested in me by the State of Wisconsin, I now pronounce you husband and wife,” the minister said beneath the flower-covered archway. “By all means, you may kiss your bride.”

With a gleam in his eye, the groom swept his new wife into his arms and planted a zealous kiss lasting so long that it earned catcalls from everyone gathered on the farmyard lawn. When they finally came up for air, the minister addressed the dearly beloved. “Ladies and gentlemen, it’s my great honor and privilege to introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Hayes.”

Applause and heart-shaped confetti rained down on the happy couple. The first celebratory notes of music played as Billie handed over the bundle of ivory roses and periwinkle forget-me-nots she’d been holding. “Congratulations, Liona,” she said, kissing the blushing bride’s jasmine-scented cheek. “Welcome to the family.”

“Thank you, darling Billie. For everything.” Liona glowed, grasping her bouquet in one hand while she clutched Cal’s hand with the other. Together, they walked into the cheering crowd of well-wishers.

Sonny strode across the aisle and offered his arm to the matron of honor. “Seems like only yesterday that was us, remember?”

Billie slipped her hand around his bicep and squeezed. “How could I forget? It was only the best day of my life.”

“Mine too, Mrs. Hayes,” he said, smiling as they walked behind the newlyweds.

“Hey, I just realized that Liona now makes three Mrs. Hayeses in Janus Lake,” she remarked. “Aunt Bernice will have to make us matching club jackets or something.”

All evening, champagne flowed like the kisses between Cal and Liona. Invited guests mingled and photos were taken. Under the massive white wedding tent where speeches had been made and the gorgeous four-tier cake had been cut, caterers now busily rearranged the tables to make space for a dance floor while the band played. Billie stood off to the side, taking it all in, when Roydon strolled up to her.

“Beautiful wedding,” he said, smiling as he sipped his bubbly.

She nodded and smiled back. “That it was. A perfect day for a perfect couple.”

“Look, Billie, I wouldn’t blame you one bit for hating me for trying to keep them apart. I thought I was acting in my mother’s best interests, but obviously, I was wrong.”

“I couldn’t hate you Roydon. After all, we’re family now. And I do understand you did it out of love for your mother, as misguided as your efforts might have been,” she said. “You can’t stand in the way of true love.”

“So, I’ve learned,” he said with a chuckle, pointing out Cal and Liona feeding one another cake. “Now look at those two. My mother is radiant, and Cal is practically bursting his buttons.”

“He’s a good man and he’ll never, ever hurt her. Cal proved that by sacrificing his name to protect her privacy, and then again when he insisted on having that pre-nup drawn up. You can trust that he doesn’t want a dime of your family’s money. With your mother by his side, he has everything that he needs. He’s already a man rich beyond measure.”

“I see that now, and I am genuinely glad they found one another. I only wanted to protect my mother’s heart, and I couldn’t be happier that she has a husband who will cherish it.”

“Speaking of husbands, here comes mine now,” Billie bubbled, her heart skipping a beat as Sonny walked towards her with the kind of swagger James Bond only wish he had. The two men shook hands as they passed and Roydon made his way back inside the tent.

“It’s almost time for the first dance, and Cal and Liona have requested that we—” Sonny stopped mid-sentence to stare at her. “Wow, Billie, have I told you how sensational you look tonight?”

She nibbled her bottom lip. “Many times, but I’m still not tired of hearing you say it.”

“I mean, you’re always beautiful, but I don’t know…there’s just something about the way you look in that dress. I haven’t been able to take my eyes off you.”

“Oh really?” she purred, draping her arms around his neck. “Well, don’t stop there, best man. Tell me more.”

“Maybe it’s the moonlight or all the romance in the air, but you’re absolutely radiant. You look so soft and lush I could just sink my teeth into you,” he growled, eyeing the rounded cleavage squeezed into her lavender silk gown. “And good God, woman, your boobs look particularly tantalizing. It’s killing me to keep my hands to myself and not cop a feel right now.”

She giggled, her fingertip tracing the pastel petals of his boutonniere. “I’m glad you find them so appealing, my love, because in no time, they’ll be growing another cup size or two.”

He blinked slowly, as if the spinning circle in his buffering brain had downloaded the information and was now stuck processing...processing...processing. “Wait. Wh-what?”

“I know we just got settled into the house and that we wanted to wait another year before starting a family, but once again, life is determined not to play out the way we planned.”

“Billie, it sounds like you’re saying that…are you? Are we…? Really?”

She looked down and smiled as she rubbed her belly. “Who’s your Daddy?”

Sonny let out a jubilant whoop and hugged her with so much gusto her feet lifted off the ground. “We’re having a baby!”

Billie squealed with joy. Floating on top of the world, she held tight to the man she loved and thanked her lucky stars that sometimes, the best things happen unexpectedly.