Chapter Twenty-Nine
Tommy's POV
My wife was the most beautiful woman that I'd ever seen. Well, she wasn't my wife yet, but she would be soon, and I loved her so much that it hurt. She'd been worried that she would have to waddle as she made her way down the grass aisle that was strewn with white flower petals, which would, in her words, make her look "awkwardly ugly", but she was graceful and lovely and she seemed to glow from within…even though she did have the tiniest bit of a waddle.
I was standing beneath an arbor that was made of twisted vines, with a picturesque lake in the background, struggling to catch my breath as I watched her make her way toward me on her father's arm. Aw, hell…I sounded like a bad romance novel, didn't I? Oh, well, what did I care? I was the only one who knew what I was thinking and that was the way that it was going to stay, though I had a bad feeling that the big, cheesy grin that was making my cheeks hurt was going to give me away.
"Your lady is very pretty, Uncle Tommy," Manny Jr. said softly, with a touch of wonder, the sort that a boy possessed when he realized that girls could be more than the bearer of cooties.
"Yes, she is, little man," I agreed. "Lily is the prettiest of the pretty."
The boy narrowed his eyes in concentration as he studied Lily, watching her for several moments before he slowly began to shake his head in disagreement. "No, Uncle Tommy, I think that you are wrong," he said, glancing up at me in a way that said that he felt sorry for me. "Your lady is very pretty, but she can't be the prettiest lady, because my Mama is."
I smiled and nodded my head, thoroughly pleased with his response, because it was just what I'd wanted him to say. A little boy ought to know, without a doubt, that his mother was the most beautiful woman in the world. He should swear that she was the prettiest who'd ever lived and that she was the loveliest who'd ever live, or at least he ought to say that she was, because that was his job as her son.
I was so glad that Pilar had made it to the wedding, with Manny Jr. and Sofia. I would have liked to have been married with my best friend standing by my side, I wouldn't have thought that it could feel right, to take my vows without him, but now I knew better. I saw my dead brother in his son, I could see him in every move that he made and hear him in every word that the boy spoke and it made my heart hurt less, to know that my best friend, my other brother, would live on through his son.
There'd been too many possibilities where the best man and the matron of honor were concerned, not to mention the ring bearer and the flower girl, and in the end we'd decided to scale down the roles and fill them with those who weren't family members. It could have qualified as a risky move, given that Pilar might not have been able to make the trip, but everything had worked out great in the end, and Manny Jr. was pleased to stand with me as my best man, while his little sister danced down the aisle ahead of Lily, beaming happily in her role as the maid of honor.
My sweet girl had just passed the thirty-second week of her pregnancy, which meant that there were still eight weeks to go, but I couldn't imagine her getting any bigger than she was. She looked like she was ready to pop already and I was starting to worry that Li'l Conlon might be getting too big. The idea of childbirth was already terrifying to me, but it got a hell of a lot worse for me when I thought about her having a C-section…..
What the hell was I doing? This wasn't the time for me to be worrying and getting all worked up about problems that might never come my way. My life was on a good path now, after all of the years of pain and darkness I was finally walking in the light and there was no reason for me to ruin that. The woman who was the other half of my heart and soul was moments away from being my wife. I had a baby on the way, I was finding out what it meant to be a part of a family, and my name had been cleared. There was no reason for me to worry or be scared, but unfortunately it was habit for me to do so, no matter how much effort I put into not doing so.
Watching her walk down the aisle helped me to ignore that little voice that insisted that it was only a matter of time before everything blew up in my face and looking into her eyes, once she was standing beside me, made my forget that I even knew how to worry. Her face was covered by a sheer veil that had embroidered flowers running along the hem, and the material enhanced the way that her eyes sparkled. I forgot that I'd spent so much of my life feeling scared as I stared into her eyes, for that moment I forgot that such a thing was even possible, because it seemed that there couldn't be anything bad, or anyone, not so long as she was there.
Yeah, that was real cheesy, real sappy, the sort of mush that would make most people want to puke, but I didn't care. There was no shame to be found in being in love. There wasn't anything wrong with indulging in a little sentimentality every now and then. I liked to think that it was part of the process of falling in love, to give in to the need to be a little schmaltzy now and again. It seemed to me that it was something that made you lose your inhibitions, the ones that would hinder your efforts to be a good father, because you didn't have the ability to show everything that you felt, all of those corny, unmanly emotions.
I could see that Lily's dad was struggling against those sorts of feelings; I could tell that he wanted to cry, but he was doing everything in his power to resist the urge. He was the father of the bride, he was giving his baby away, and that meant that he had every right to break down, but he wouldn't do it, because he'd probably been told all his life that only girls cried. Hell, there was no doubt in my mind that I would have been sobbing if I'd been in his place, but he wouldn't shed a tear…not until Lily placed a hand on his shoulder and rose on her tiptoes to kiss his cheek, and that was all that it took to burst the dam.
I found myself fighting back my own tears as I watched the two of them together. I wondered if it ever occurred to Lily, or any of her siblings, how lucky they'd been to grow up the way they did. Did they know how blessed their lives had been, to have parents who didn't always get along, but who always loved one another? That was the sort of marriage that I wanted to have, I wanted to be a good husband, I wanted to be the sort of father that Li'l Conlon deserved, and I was bound and determined that my child would never doubt, not even for a moment, that there was a whole lot of love in our home.
I heard the preacher clear his throat before he began the service, but most of his words were lost to me to begin with, because I was too busy filling my eyes with Lily. She pulled a handkerchief out of her cleavage, of all places, and handed it to her father, who, thankfully, hadn't noticed its point of origin. That was all that it took to draw my attention to her breasts, which had always been generously proportioned and were now so rounded and full that they jiggled all over with the slightest movement. Below them was, as Lily would say, her "bellyful of Li'l Conlon", hugged tightly by her white dress…a white dress that also skimmed over, and almost, but not quite, enhanced the curve of her ass in a way that made my cock stand up and salute…..
Okay, this was not good. I did not need to get a hard-on in front of all of these people. I was pretty sure that Lily wouldn't mind that I had, but the same could not be said for everyone else. I needed to think about something else, I needed to put my mind on other things. It dawned on me that it wouldn't be a bad idea to pay attention to what the preacher was saying; after all, it had to have been important. As it turned out, I'd tuned in just in time, because he'd moved pretty quickly through the whole "we're gathered here today" bit, and had reached the moment when he asked the "who gives this woman to be wed" moment. That was an important time for me, it was my chance to make up for something that I hadn't done, and I just hoped that Lily's dad wouldn't take offense at being interrupted by his soon-to-be son-in-law.
"I'd like to say something, please," I told the preacher, moving to stand in front of Lee. I could still remember the conversation that we'd had in his office on Christmas, the one and only time that he'd pointed out that I hadn't asked him for his daughter's hand, and the more I'd thought about it, the more I'd realized that I was in the wrong. I suppose that it was something that would have been better rectified at another time, but I'd never found the perfect moment…and I still hadn't, but I didn't have any other choice, did I?
"I love your daughter, sir," I told him, looking away for just a moment, to smile at Lily, who clearly believed that I'd lost my mind. "And I promise that I will always do everything in my power to make her happy. I promise that I will never hurt her on purpose, that I'll never take her far away from her family and that I'll always be the husband that she deserves and the father that our child deserves. Knowing that, and knowing me, would you be willing to allow me to marry your daughter, sir?"
There was a moment of silence that fell over the gathering once I finished speaking, one of those awkward types of quiet that are always eventually accompanied by the sound of a cricket chirping in cartoons. I could feel my face turning red as Lee continued to stare at me, clearly bewildered and at a loss for words. We stayed that way for several agonizing moments, until my soon-to-be father-in-law finally took notice of his daughter's elbow jabbing him incessantly in his ribs, and shook his head, then smiled as he reached out to take hold of my hand with his own.
"You're the only one who's allowed to marry my baby, son," he said warmly, tightening his grip on my hand, so much that I would have sworn I heard my bones being rearranged, to seal the deal between us. "I know that I speak for Alice, and for all of our children as well, when I say welcome to the family, Tommy, we're proud to call you one of our own."
Oh, boy. There went the first of the tears that I'd been fighting to hold back. Thankfully it was only a couple that had escaped, as opposed to a deluge, and everyone had the good grace to pretend that they hadn't noticed them as the preacher picked up where he'd left off without missing a beat. Lee finished his part, and then kissed Lily's cheek before he took his seat beside his wife, who was beaming from ear to ear, even as she wiped away her tears.
I turned to look at Lily and held my breath as she reached out to wipe away the tracks of my tears with her thumb. For that one moment, no one else existed. It was a world where we lived and loved and everyone else had faded from sight and sound. I lost the ability to breathe as she smoothed her thumb over my cheeks, and then shakily regained it as she rose on her tiptoes to touch her lips to the spots that she'd just caressed. I lost myself in the feel of her mouth, in its softness and its warmth, I reveled in that moment…and then I wondered why she had to stretch so far to reach my cheek.
I looked down and saw her bare feet, which were supposed to be enclosed in the dainty slippers that she'd had fallen in love with. She'd had her sisters give her a manicure and pedicure the night before, and as a result, her toes were perfectly groomed, though they weren't bound to stay that way for long, given the way that she was curling them into the grass and pulling bits of it free from the soil.
I shook my head a little bit, and then smiled down at her. It was a little odd; maybe even kind of kooky for her to be going barefoot beneath her dress, but that was my Lily, wasn't it? She was an odd little woman, in the best way possible, and she made kooky sexy, so much so that I had to wonder why I'd never appreciated that quality in a woman before I'd met her. I guess it was because there was no other woman who brought odd and kooky to life the way that she did and there never would be another one who managed it so well. There'd been one model made in that line, there would only ever be one Lily, and I thanked God that she belonged to me.
I heard the preacher clear his throat again and blushed as it dawned on me that we'd literally been ignoring him, along with all of the guests, for several moments. "Sorry," I whispered, giving him all of the attention that he deserved, which wasn't easy, given that my bride was having a good, but quiet, giggle at my expense. He cleared his throat, again, and looked at me sternly, then turned his attention to Lily, who promptly lost the urge to laugh, after which she swiftly kicked me in the shin, as punishment, I suppose, for having the nerve to laugh at the expression on her face.
"Hold hands, please," he instructed, "Now, Lily, please face Thomas, and hold his hands, palms up, so you may see the gift that they are to you."
Lily did as she was told, using her hold on me to pull my palms up, until they were resting in front of her face.
"These are the hands of your best friend," the preacher said, "young and strong and vibrant with love, that are holding yours on your wedding day, as he promises to love you all the days of his life. These are the hands that will work alongside yours, as together you build your future, as you laugh and cry, as you share your innermost secrets and dreams. These are the hands that you have placed with expectant joy against your stomach, until he too felt his child stir within you. These are the hands that look so large and strong, yet will be so gentle as he holds your baby for the first time. These are the hands that will work long hours for you and your new family. These are the hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years, for a lifetime of happiness. These are the hands that will countless times wipe the tears from your eyes, both tears of sorrow and tears of joy. These are the hands that will comfort you in illness and hold you when fear or grief wrack your mind. These are the hands that will tenderly lift your chin and brush your cheek as they raise your face to look into his eyes, eyes that will be filled completely with his overwhelming love and desire for you."
Lily's bottom lip was wobbling and I could see tears brimming in her eyes, swelling and growing, before they tumbled down her cheeks. I was doing my best to hold myself together, but the sight of her crying had always been enough to send me to my knees, and it wasn't long before I lost the fight and had to turn loose of my own emotions.
"Thomas, please hold Lily's hands, palms up, where you may see the gift that they are to you."
I lowered my hands and took hold of hers, then raised them until they were eyelevel.
"These are the hands of your best friend," he continued, "Smooth, young, and carefree, that are holding yours on your wedding day, as she pledges her love and commitment to you all the days of her life. These are the hands that will hold each of your children in tender love, soothing them through illness and hurt, supporting and encouraging them along the way, and knowing when it is time to let go. These are the hands that will massage tension from your neck and back in the evenings, after you've both had a long, hard day. These are the hands that will hold you tight as you struggle through difficult times. These are the hands that will comfort you when you are sick, and will console you when you are grieving. These are the hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years, for a lifetime of happiness."
It wasn't part of the ceremony, but it seemed like the perfect moment for me to press a kiss to each of her palms, and then I raised my own hands, so that she could do the same to me. It was a good thing that the preacher was so laidback, given that we insisted on interrupting him so many times, and he was happy, once more, to let us add our own touches to the mix…though he did give us that stern look again.
"Let us pray," he said, and every head bowed and every eye closed…well, that is, they did for a moment, but then I had to peek, and found Lily doing the same. "God, bless these hands that You see before You this day. May they always be held by one another. Give them the strength to hold on during the storms of stress and the dark of disillusionment. Keep them tender and gentle as they nurture each other in their wondrous love. Help these hands to continue building a relationship founded in Your grace, rich in caring, and devoted to one another. May Thomas and Lily see their four hands as healer, protector, shelter and guide. We ask this is Your name, Amen."
The soulful voice of Mama Cass swelled and filled the tent as the couple began their first dance in the center of the dance floor. The bride and groom both wore their engagement rings on their right hands now, because their matching wedding bands, etched with Celtic designs, gleamed in their place on the left. She was beaming with joy as he slipped his arm around her waist and took her hand in his own, and he answered with a smile of his own, then lowered his head to kiss her softly, as he slowly moved her across the floor.
"I love you, Mr. Conlon," she whispered, snuggling against his chest. "And Li'l Conlon loves you too."
His bottom lip wobbled a bit before he smiled, then grew still as he took a deep breath. "I love you too, Mrs. Conlon," he murmured, then moved his hand to her stomach, to cradle his child. "And you as well, little one…all the way to the moon and back."
They moved to the music, completely content, and then when the song ended the bride led the groom off of the floor, to take his place at their table. Another song started to play and people began to move toward the dance floor, but they stopped when Lily called out for them to do so and lingered on the edge, whispering theories to one another about what was going on.
"Now, Tommy, there's something that I need to do," she said, "and I don't want you to be jealous, okay?"
She gave him a quick kiss before he could answer and turned to move through the throng of guests, stopping briefly to speak to the DJ, before she turned to the table where Mr. Owens was sitting. She and Tommy had danced to the song that was now theirs, but it had belonged to her and Mr. Owens first and as such she felt that he deserved a dance as well. The elderly man was clearly in his element, surrounded as he was by all of the little old ladies from Tommy's self-defense class, but his eyes brightened further, and his cheeks turned red, as Lily bent and whispered her request for a dance in his ear.
They slowly made their way to the dance floor, and he held her close as he could, and dared, as the music began. It had been years since he'd danced, now that he thought about it, he realized that he hadn't done so since his Lois had passed on, and a lump rose in his throat as he lost himself in the sensation of holding a woman in his arms, while her scent rose and settled in his nose, and being held in return.
"I like that young man you married," he said, glancing across the floor at the one who'd wooed Lily away…at least he thought it was him, though it was questionable, given that he had cataracts covering both of his eyes. "I don't like the fact that he stole you from me, but I know that he's a good man. He'll be a fine husband and father…that is, he'd better be, otherwise he'll have to answer to me."
Lily smiled at her former suitor, and made his year by rising to press her lips against his weathered cheek. "I like him too," she murmured, then kissed his other cheek. "And I'll be sure to tell him that he's being watched, so he'd best mind his p's and q's."
Lily's POV
The ritzy hotel room was ours for the weekend, a gift from our siblings and their spouses, and I was standing in the center, in front of the bed, blissfully naked, as I stared out of the window at the lights of the city. My hands went instinctively to my belly, just like they always did, smoothing over my flesh, wincing at the stretch marks that had blossomed in spite of my best efforts to keep them at bay, then smiling happily when Li'l Conlon shoved a hand…or was that a foot…against my palm.
I'd found the envelope that our family had left between the pillows, the one that held the keys to our wedding gift from all of them, and it had taken all of my self-control to hide my joy from Tommy, but I was bound and determined to do so until we woke up in the morning. This was our first night together as man and wife, and the only thing that we were going to think about or talk about was the hours of red-hot loving that we were going to have. It was thrilling, to know that we had a house waiting for us when we left, a four bedroom, two bath, honest to goodness home with a front and backyard, but that news could wait until morning…provided that I didn't burst from holding in the secret that long.
I heard the bathroom door open and I waited for him to vocalize his shock that I was standing there, bareassed nude, where anyone might see, but surprisingly he didn't say a word. He crossed the room soundlessly and stood behind me, smoothing my hair off of my neck and touching my nape with his lips…while something else pressed against my backside, to show me that he was just as naked as I was.
Some women claimed to lose all of their sex drive when they were pregnant, but I was not one of them. If anything, my libido had grown, so much so that I'd taken to jumping Tommy at all hours of the day. I ached for him night and day and day and night. My arousal had been a constant companion since I'd awakened this morning, and all that it took was one touch to make me come to life. I tried to turn, to throw myself at him, the way I usually would, but he stopped me before I could do my best to climb him like a tree and dropped down on his knees in front of me.
It occurred to me that my stomach might look a little terrifying from that angle, but Tommy didn't seem to be scared…or, if he was, he did a good job of keeping it to himself. He reached up and placed his hands on my belly, smiling as he traced each and every stretch mark with his fingertips. My breath caught in my throat as he followed his fingers with his lips, and then left me, in a shuddering rush, as his tongue slid out of his mouth and caressed each and every one of the imperfections.
"You're so beautiful," he murmured, kissing his way down my belly, and circling my navel, which was an outie now, instead of an innie, with the tip of his tongue. "So lovely, so soft, so warm, so sexy, so gorgeous…and you're mine, baby girl, you're mine, all mine."
His mouth was so close, it was almost there, so near, in fact, that I could almost, but not quite feel how soft and warm it was. I knew that I would explode when he touched me, all that it would take was the softest brush of his tongue and I would go off like a firecracker. I wanted it so bad, I needed it so much that I was almost whimpering. I knew that I would feel it at any moment, I would be soaring in a second…but then he moved away from me and used his hand to turn me around, so that my backside was facing him instead.
I was on the verge of questioning him, while I protested, as sweetly as I could manage, against his choice to change venues, but all of the words died a swift death as I watched, over my shoulder, as he crouched down closer to the floor. He stayed still for just a moment, and then moved to place his hands on my backside, cupping it for just a moment, before he moved them, one to my legs, first the left, then the right, moving them further apart, while he placed the other hand between my legs. He used his first and middle fingers to part me and then moved his head, to a place where I couldn't see him…though I had no trouble feeling him.
I took a deep breath, one that left me in a whimper of his name, as he caressed me there with his knuckle, at the same moment that he surrounded his tongue with what he'd described as my "perfect, silken warmth". It was just as I'd known it would be, because I shattered with that first touch, even as it was nothing like I'd known it would be, because he'd decided to turn the tables on me and introduce me to an angle that ought to have been embarrassing, but wasn't. I hurried to clamp my hand over my mouth before my cries escaped me and prompted our neighbors to call the police to report a murder in progress, but one shriek made it past me anyway. I worried, for maybe half a second, that they were dialing 911, but then he started to move his tongue in a way that touched me there deep inside and I decided that I didn't really give a damn whether they heard me or not.
Disclaimer: I did not take Tommy and Lily's vows from my own imagination. I filched them off of the internet, and made a couple of changes and omissions as I placed them in this chapter.
