Epilogue

Jill

Two months later

I’m in the back room of a beautiful little country church. Today we’re getting married. Mariah is outside right now with Cici’s mom, running her ragged, I’m sure. Cici just finished with my hair, and Mary is holding up my dress for me to step into. Valerie is standing off to the side with the camera and a sweet smile on her face. Judy is on the other side with tears in her eyes and a camera in her hand, waiting for me to be covered up before she starts snapping pictures.

My dress is an off-white, strapless, column sheath with intricate beading all over the bodice. I had planned to find a simple white summer dress to wear, but Johnny insisted that I get an actual dress and we have an actual wedding. His exact comment was, “Hon, we are not going to the justice of the peace to get married. We’re having a real wedding in a real church, and then we’re having a real reception to celebrate it. When that’s done, we’re having a real honeymoon. We’re only getting married once in our lives, so we are doing it right.”

I confessed to him later that night I was sad that I wouldn’t have anyone on my side of the church, an embarrassment for me. That’s when he told me there is no bride and groom’s side at our wedding, and the ushers would seat everyone evenly down both sides. Since our family is the same, there is no need to separate them. I couldn’t argue with that, so I didn’t.

Cici and Mary helped me throw together a wedding in record time. Judy is done with chemo and radiation, and although it was a difficult road for her, she’s been given the all-clear. She’s in remission.

Johnny won’t tell me where we are going for the honeymoon, only that he’s taking care of it. Mary, Steve, Judy, and John are taking turns watching Mariah while we are away, so everything is taken care of. Now, I just have to step into my four-inch high heels and walk down the aisle toward my soon-to-be husband.

The double doors leading into the sanctuary are opened by our ushers, Denton and Eduardo. I have John on my left side. He’s giving me away since my father and I still aren’t on speaking terms. On my right, holding my hand is an antsy Mariah in a light pink, chiffon flower girl dress. She had a cute flowered headband on, but being a year old, she decided she didn’t want that so it’s currently in Judy’s purse, and her little brown ringlets are wild on her head. Johnny insisted that she join us for the vows since he’s getting both of us with this ceremony. Johnny filed the paperwork to adopt her last week. The plan is for her to walk down the aisle with John and me, so we will see if that fits with her toddler agenda once we get in the sanctuary.

Right as the music starts, I hear the door from the outside behind me close, and I glance back to find my mother standing there. Her hand is covering her mouth as she stares at me, and her eyes glisten with tears. She’s in a homely floral dress and has her hair in the same severe bun that she’s worn all of my life. I’m shocked to see her, but I try not to let that show.

Before I can say anything, Mariah breaks loose from me and runs to my mom, crashing into her legs and grabbing hold. That kid is too friendly for her own good. This will be the first time she’s seen my mom since the hospital room. I’ve only talked to her twice and both times, I hung up not sure what to think. I didn’t realize she was coming today; she never RSVP’d one way or the other.

The bridal march music is playing, and everyone is standing inside waiting for me, but I’m rooted to the spot watching this unfold in front of me. John speaks up and calls Mariah to him. She runs straight to his arms, and he picks her up. Then he turns to my mom and says, “I’m glad you could make it. Go on in ahead of us and have a seat. You can see the girls after the ceremony.”

My mom nods and walks up next to me.

She leans in and kisses my cheek and whispers, “You really are beautiful.”

Then she turns the corner and finds a spot to sit a few pews up. John hands Mariah to me. I put her down on my right side again and grab her tiny hand so we can make our way down the aisle.

Halfway down, Mariah breaks free of my grip and does a toddler sprint to Johnny who scoops her right up and nuzzles her neck. By the time I’m standing in front of them, she’s pulling on his goatee and smacking his face, the same thing she’s done since the day he met her. He’s smiling with tears in his eyes as the preacher asks, “Who gives this woman in marriage?”

John answers, “My wife and I do.” The pride in his voice causes my lip to quiver a little as he places my hand in Johnny’s. With a chaste kiss to my cheek, he steps away and takes his seat next to Judy.

We wrote our own vows. Mine are good, but Johnny’s take the cake. He addresses his vows to both Mariah and me, and promises to love and cherish us both always. The whole time we are reciting them, Mariah is perched on his hip between us. One minute she’s pulling his goatee and the next she’s plucking at the beading on my dress. I’m sure some people think it’s tacky, but to me it means the world.

At the reception, I notice my mother dancing with Mariah and I almost fall over. She has always been against dancing of any kind, but apparently, all it took was a toddling grandchild to change her mind about that. It’s the first time I’ve seen my mother smile since I got the Bible Verse Reciting Award in second grade. I’m happy, but also afraid to hope that things will be different with her now.

****

It turns out that Johnny booked us at an all-inclusive adult-only beachside resort in Jamaica. The place is amazing, but we don’t spend much time enjoying the sights, instead we stay naked and tangled in each other the entire time. It’s the most romantic, relaxing week of my life, and I have a feeling that with Johnny’s determination we should see the fruits of our labor this week in about nine months’ time.

****

Johnny

One year later

We were already running late because she had to finish a paper she’s been working on for two weeks. I’m so glad that she chose to go back to college to finish her degree, even if she stays working with me forever. I feel like she deserves to file a bachelor’s degree as another accomplishment in her self-worth folder. She needs to realize that she can do whatever she sets her mind to. I’m really proud of the hard work she’s put in, but now I have to get her butt moving.

“Mariah and Melissa are strapped in. Get a move on, or we’ll have two screaming kids for the car ride. I’m not sure I can deal with that again,” I yell to my wife as I lean in through the door from the garage to the house.

“I had to change shirts. Melissa spit up all over me, and I was not going to see my brand new nephew covered in puke,” she yells back to me.

“Jesse is a newborn. He doesn’t care what the hell you’re wearing. He will care if his cousins are screaming banshees, now come on.”

I go back to the garage and get in the car. I’m only waiting for about thirty seconds before my wife hustles through the door, hair flying behind her, a scowl on her face.

“I hate being rushed,” she complains.

“I know, honey. I just want to be able to enjoy this day without screaming kids to start it.” I smile at her, hoping to disarm her. “You are beautiful.”

Her scowl slips away and she leans over to kiss me.

“Thanks, baby. Let’s go to Steve and Mary’s. I can’t wait to get my hands on their little boy.”

****

Later that night, once both girls are in bed and we are curled around each other quietly exploring with our hands and fingers, she whispers, “I love our life, Johnny.”

“Me, too, honey.”

I lean up on an elbow and slide my hand up to cup her plump breast. Each is larger than I’ve ever seen because she’s breastfeeding Melissa, and it’s so damn sexy I can’t stand it. She says she feels like a milk cow and not a sexy wife, but I tell her she’s wrong and go about worshiping her curvier body, licking her nipples lightly before moving south on her. Me sucking on them at this stage freaks her out, so I settle for using my mouth at the juncture of her thighs instead. It seems after having our baby that her body is more sensitive all over. Just breathing on her sex has her arching and moaning for me. I part her lips with my fingers and slowly lap at her inner folds, never quite hitting her sensitive bundle of nerves. The begging starts. I live for the begging. It’s the reason I haven’t made direct contact yet.

“Please, Johnny. Please, Johnny. Don’t make me wait tonight. I need it.” She continues to beg, so I give in and suck on her clit hard, working it with my tongue as I do. I haven’t made it a whole minute, and she’s falling apart underneath me. When I’m certain she’s wrung dry, I pull my body up even with hers, nudge her legs farther apart with my knees, and enter her as slowly as I can.

Her eyes flutter open and make contact with mine. I roll my hips into her as I stay back on my heels ready to watch the action from this vantage point. She breaks eye contact first and hoists herself onto her elbows so she can watch, too.

Her eyes flare when I withdraw and push back in again. “Harder, baby. You know I like it harder.”

I smile at her and comply, adjusting myself so my arms are on either side of her, giving me the leverage to power into her. I lower my face into her neck and inhale her natural scent that seems laced with baby lotion these days. I lick my way up her neck and suck on the tender spot behind her ear. Goose bumps spread across her skin and her legs lock tighter around my hips.

“I love you, baby,” she tells me in a soft, sweet voice and that ends my control. Unglued, I pump into her hard until I feel her tighten around my cock and a strangled sound rolls out of her mouth. Her limbs stay locked around me, but her rigid muscles have gone limp, so I power into her for a few more strokes before I erupt inside her.

“Keep that up, baby and you’re going to knock me up again,” she says on a giggle.

“You’re on the pill. That won’t happen, but if it did, that would be okay by me. You’re fucking hot pregnant.”

She playfully smacks my arm and says, “I looked like a house pregnant. It was not attractive.”

“Yeah, it was. I loved nothing more than to see your naked, round belly sticking out from our sheets in the morning. I’ve never seen anything more amazing than your body change as you carried her. I love you, Jilli. Don’t ever forget that, with a baby or without a baby. There’s never been a more beautiful woman or two more lovely girls than mine.”