Steph's POV
This was it. Today was the day that I would become Mrs. Stephanie Holmes. There were no nerves, no questions, no hesitation. Just a sense of complete peace and excitement.
Neither Cal nor I had wanted a long engagement or a huge wedding, so we'd chosen a Saturday a few weeks away from the night Cal asked me to marry him and invited our closest family and friends to celebrate our wedding with us. Much to my surprise, my mom had immediately been on board with the small affair and she and Carol had stepped right up to help with planning and logistics. While Cal and I worked on all of the things that needed to happen to get our business off the ground, our moms hired the caterer and florist and saw to all of the little details that would go into tonight.
We had a beautiful floral archway set up on the beach outside the beach house and a smattering of tables and chairs for our guests. There was a small dance floor and a beautiful boston creme cake. It was simple and perfect, and perfectly us.
Mary Lou and my mom came into the master bedroom to join me just as I had finished my hair and makeup. I had kept my makeup natural and my hair was loose in curls with the sides pulled back to keep it out of my face. I was wearing a white robe and the pearl earrings and necklace my mom had worn for her wedding.
"You ready for this?" Mary Lou asked when she shut the door behind her. She was wearing a blush pink dress and sandals, and Les was in a matching blush pink shirt and gray dress pants.
"I'm so ready," I gushed. My mom, Carol, and I had gone to a bridal store and found the most beautiful, perfect wedding dress. It was a light cream with a lace overlay, a plunging neckline, and an open back. It was fitted in the bust and then flowed down past my hips to my feet, which would remain bare.
"Well, let's get you dressed, dear," my mom replied, trying to hide the tears that were brimming in her eyes.
Mom and Mary Lou got my dress out of the garment bag and gathered it at my feet for me to step into. I carefully stepped in and shimmied the dress up my legs and hips, gathering my robe as I went so I could pull it off without flashing my white lace thong and lack of bra to my mom and best friend.
The dress slid into place and Lou zipped me up. I took a deep breath and stood in stunned silence when I saw myself.
"I…wow," I whispered, trying to keep my emotions at bay.
"You do look wow!" Mary Lou chuckled.
"I look like a bride."
"That's a good thing, because there's a groom down there waiting anxiously to say his vows. You ready to get this show on the road?" she asked.
"Yeah, let's do this!" I agreed happily.
Mom kissed me on the forehead and left to be seated and Mary Lou gave me one last smile.
"You look gorgeous, Steph. I'm so happy for you," she said quietly.
"I'm so happy. Let's go," I replied.
We walked downstairs together and I stopped out of sight while Mary Lou went to meet Les and walk down the makeshift aisle to the place Cal and I would say our vows. I picked up my wildflower bouquet and walked to the back doors, ready to go meet my handsome groom. I had opted to walk down the aisle alone, my dad having already given me away once. I saw Mary Lou and Les arrive at the archway and opened the door to the back deck to make my way to my soon-to-be-husband.
I slowly made my way across the deck and stopped in my tracks when I saw Cal standing there looking at me. He was in gray dress pants and a cream shirt, his feet bare and his smile blinding, and I couldn't keep the tears from pooling in my eyes anymore. I forced myself to take slow, measured steps, but I couldn't wait to pledge my life to that man.
Cal's POV
I stood anxiously at the arch, waiting for the love of my life to make her way to me. When I saw her appear on the deck I choked back tears and covered my mouth. Steph looked gorgeous. Gorgeous didn't even begin to describe how she looked in all honesty.
Les saw my struggle to hold it together and patted me on the shoulder. "Look at her - that's your woman, coming to make her vows to you," he whispered. Dammit, Les. I was trying to hold on but that made a few tears stream down my face.
Steph locked her eyes on mine the second she was safely off of the stairs and didn't look away. When she arrived next to me, I took her hands in mine and kissed her forehead.
"You look gorgeous," I whispered.
"I love you," she returned with a huge smile.
Mayor Juniak cleared his voice and we turned toward him.
"Family and friends, we are gathered here today to witness Cal and Stephanie as they pledge their lives to each other. It's the wish of the bride and groom that the ceremony is short and sweet, much like their courtship. Cal, you may make your promises to Steph," he finished.
I swallowed hard and willed myself to get through this without turning into a sobbing baby.
"Steph, from the moment we met you've held my heart. I was captivated instantly and almost drove myself crazy trying to find you when fate seemed to be keeping us apart. Since that night I found you for the third time, you've been my world. I promise to love you faithfully and stand by you for all of my life. I promise to encourage you and to help you fly. I will spend my life by your side as your husband, your lover, your partner, and your best friend. I love you, Steph," I spoke out as clearly asI could with all of the motions I was feeling.
Steph choked back a sob and smiled at me. "Cal, you are my other half and my strength, my safe place and my love. I am so thankful that fate brought us together until we finally got it right and you asked me on our first date. You have made me a stronger, more confident, more grounded woman. I promise to love you with everything I have, to give you all of me, to keep myself for you only, and to stand by you for the rest of my life. I will be your biggest encouragement, your constant in this changing world, and your partner in everything. I love you with all my heart," she promised.
We quickly exchanged rings and then I kissed my wife for the first time as Mayor Juniak introduced us.
"Family and friends, Mr. and Mrs. Calvin and Stephanie Holmes."
Bliss. This is what bliss felt like.
Epilogue - 18 months later
Cal's POV
"Hey, baby girl," I soothed. "It's okay. Just a few more minutes and we'll be out of here."
I was whispering and bouncing our four month old daughter, Maddie, as the christening ceremony was in its last few minutes. She'd been none too amused when the priest had sprinkled water over her head while her godparents, Les and Mary Lou, held her. She'd remained upset since then and I knew she wouldn't settle until she got a few minutes alone with Steph to feed.
As soon as the priest dismissed everyone Steph took Maddie from my arms and we walked into the nursing room.
"Hey hey, it's okay," Steph shushed Maddie. Steph pulled her shirt up and unhooked her nursing bra and Maddie latched on quickly, always as enthusiastic about eating as her mom. Seeing Steph nursing our daughter hooked something primal in me and always made me want to beat my chest and declare that these two ladies were my whole world. It was so sweet and tender as Maddie made those little satisfied noises and Steph sang lightly and rubbed her little cheek.
I grabbed the water bottle out of the diaper bag and popped the top and then handed it to Steph as a reminder to stay hydrated. She took the offered water bottle from me and took a big drink and then handed it back.
"Thanks, baby," she said softly, stroking Maddie's cheek again.
"What are you thinking?" I asked. She had a wistful smile on her face and I could tell she was thinking about saying something.
"Just how happy I am," she answered. "And how fast she's growing already."
"Before we know it she'll be walking," I chuckled. "We'll go from having a baby to a toddler."
Steph laughed and smirked at me. "Actually, it looks like we'll go from having a baby to having a baby and a toddler," she replied softly.
"You mean…" I trailed off.
"Looks like it will be a family of four for the Holmes crew," she confirmed.
I leaned down and kissed Maddie on the head and then kissed Steph. In every moment with her, I was right where I'm supposed to be.
