Claire grabbed the wedding bouquet before climbing into Bo’s car. It was an assortment of purple irises and white lilies—exactly what Rebecca had requested. In fact, aside from wanting to marry before her baby was born, the flower preferences were the only other thing Rebecca had asked for.
After a short drive, Bo parked in front of the labor and delivery wing, and they hurried inside. Claire clutched the arrangement tightly as she walked beside him toward the elevator. Pastor Phillips had driven separately. Hopefully he wasn’t far behind.
“What’s wrong?” Bo asked. “You were talking as fast as I could drive on the way here.”
Claire shook her head. “A hospital isn’t exactly my favorite place. I watched my grandmother die here.” And ever since, Mount Pleasant Memorial had carried nothing but bad memories for her.
They stepped inside the elevator, and Bo reached for her hand. He didn’t let go once the door opened on the second floor. The feel of his skin against hers distracted her from the repetitive beeping sounds and the smells of disinfectant as they walked.
“Let’s make a few happy memories here today, shall we?” he asked, giving her a wink that short-circuited all the negativity in her mind.
“There’s nothing more joyful than a wedding. I’ve always thought so.”
His smile wobbled just a little as they walked.
“I’m sorry. I guess weddings hold as many bad memories for you as hospitals do for me.”
“I used to think I never wanted to go to another wedding again. But there’s nowhere I’d rather be tonight than at this one with you.”
Her heart fluttered. “Same. Even if it is at a hospital.”
They stopped behind Rebecca’s door, and Claire knocked softly.
A moment later, it cracked open, and Pearson Matthews peeked out at her. Claire had seen him many times over the years. His presence was always confident and commanding. Now he looked like a man juggling half a dozen emotions: excitement, fear, anxiety, exhaustion, confusion, joy.
“How is Rebecca feeling?” Claire asked.
In response, they heard Rebecca groan in the background.
“The baby is coming fast,” Pearson said. “What are you two doing here?”
“You couldn’t come to the wedding so we brought the wedding to you,” Bo answered. “Do you think Rebecca is up for it?”
Pearson smiled at his son, a dozen new emotions popping up on his face. “I think that will probably make her really happy…Thank you, son.”
Claire’s eyes stung just a little as she watched the brief father-son interaction. “Great. Can we come in?”
Pearson swung the door open wider. “Becky, look who’s here!”
Rebecca looked between Claire and Bo and then to Pastor Phillips, who stepped up behind them.
“Do you still want to get married before the baby arrives?” Claire asked.
“Yes.” Rebecca shifted and tried to sit up in bed. She was wearing a hospital gown instead of a wedding gown. Her hair was a little disheveled, and the makeup she’d put on for tonight’s ceremony needed a touch-up. Even so, she was as beautiful as any bride Claire had ever seen.
Rebecca flinched and squeezed her eyes shut, moving her hands to her lower belly. “But we better do this fast,” she gritted out.
Pearson went to the head of Rebecca’s bed as Pastor Phillips opened his Bible to read a short passage. Afterward, he looked up at the bride and groom and read off vows that they repeated.
Bo never let go of Claire’s hand as they stood witness to the happy union. It was quick, but no less perfect. A tear slid off Claire’s cheek as Rebecca said, “I do.” Then Pearson dipped to press his lips to Rebecca’s—their first kiss as man and wife.
Claire would’ve wiped her eyes, but one hand still carried the bouquet and the other was held by Bo. He squeezed it softly as he glanced over. There was something warm in his gaze that melted any leftover resolve to resist this man.
Rebecca pulled away from her husband and turned to her guests, which had expanded to include two nurses. “My bouquet, please.”
Claire finally broke contact with Bo and handed the arrangement over.
“Okay, ladies. Arms up,” Rebecca said. “Bouquet tossing time!”
“Oh, no. I’m already married,” one of the nurses said with a laugh.
Bo stepped off to the side, leaving Claire and the second nurse in the line of fire. Claire usually removed herself from this moment at weddings too. Fighting with a bunch of single ladies over a superstition had always seemed so silly, albeit fun to watch. As the bouquet went sailing across the room though, Claire lifted her hands reflexively and snatched it from the air, much to the second nurse’s disappointment.
“You’re next!” Rebecca said with a laugh. Then she flinched again as another contraction hit her.
“Okay, that’s it,” the married nurse said. “I think your baby wants to join this party.”
Rebecca opened her eyes. “Okay.” She looked at Claire. “Thank you. For everything. This was absolutely perfect.”
“You’re welcome. But I couldn’t have done this without Bo.”
Rebecca looked at him with tears in her eyes. “Thank you too.”
“That’s what family is for, right? Welcome to the Matthews clan.”
Pearson stepped over and reached out his hand for Bo to shake. He shook Claire’s hand as well.
“We’re going to give you two some privacy now,” Bo told him.
“Don’t go too far,” Rebecca called from across the room. “Your baby brother will be excited to meet you.”
Bo seemed a little stunned by the invitation to stay. He looked at Claire.
“I’m in no hurry to go home,” she said. Nor was she in a hurry to leave Bo’s side right now.
“That was amazing!” Claire said, leaning back against the headrest of Bo’s car as he drove her to his home three hours later. “And your baby brother is adorable. I can’t believe I got to hold a newborn who’s only been on this earth for an hour. That was such a rush. And the wedding was perfect, even though we were the only ones in attendance.”
He glanced over, feeling a sense of pride and accomplishment at helping to put that contented look on her face. “You pulled it off.”
“We pulled it off.”
From his peripheral vision, he saw her turn and look at him.
“You said it yesterday, and it’s true. We make a pretty good couple.” Her relaxed posture stiffened. “Team. We make a good team,” she corrected.
“I liked it better the first way.” He’d been waiting to talk to her all day. The hospital hadn’t seemed like the right place, but now he couldn’t wait any longer. He pulled into his driveway, parked his car, and then looked across the seat at her.
Her contented, dreamy look was gone, replaced by a look of confusion. It was just last night that they’d kissed in this very car, but it felt like a lifetime ago.
“I like you, Claire Donovan. I liked you last spring, but I was a coward. I’ll admit that.”
“Sounds about right,” she agreed.
“I’d just watched my best friend marry the woman I thought I wanted. But I was wrong. I was so wrong. You’re the woman I want, Claire. And I want you like I’ve never wanted anything in my entire life.” His heart was thundering in his ears as he made his confession.
Her eyes became shiny for the hundredth time that night.
“The last few days have breathed new life inside me. I don’t want to think about waking up tomorrow and not knowing if I’ll see you.” He ran a hand through his hair to keep from reaching out and touching her. “Claire, I want another chance with you. If you say yes, I promise I won’t mess things up this time.”
She was so still that he wondered if she was okay.
“Say something,” he finally said.
“I’m hungry.” After a long moment, her lips curved ever so slightly.
He cleared his throat and turned to look out at his yard. “Well, there’s probably still some food left over from the reception. The guests each took some, but it’d be a shame for the rest to go to waste. I even think I saw Janice Murphy spike the punch on her way out,” he said.
Claire gave a small laugh and nodded when he looked at her. “There’s also a place to dance under the stars.”
“The evening is set for romance,” he agreed.
“So let’s enjoy it and see where the night takes us. On one condition.” Her expression contorted to something stern with just a touch of playfulness lighting up her eyes. “If it ends up leading somewhere nice, you have to promise you’ll call me tomorrow.”
He chuckled. “I promise that it will lead somewhere nice, and when it does, you might never get rid of me.”
She looked up into his eyes and smiled. “I might never want to.”