Ready to Wed by J. L. Berg Page A

performer. I played for myself, so I took a deep breath and tried to focus.
    “I hadn’t planned on entertaining everyone tonight, but one of Clare’s favorite things lately has been listening to me play the guitar. So, today…on our wedding day, I wanted to sing her something special.”
    It had been a song I’d been working on for a while now. I’d heard it on her iPod a few weeks ago and I knew she loved the band, but probably didn’t know I knew.
    I started strumming the opening of “I’m Yours” by The Script and her eyes sparked in recognition.
    Leaning into the microphone, I sang each word like they were written for her.
    When I finished, there wasn’t a dry eye in the house. Except for Maddie who came bounding up to me and jumped in my lap the moment I set the guitar down.
    “I liked that song. It’s pretty.” she said.
    “It is. A pretty song for your pretty mommy.”
    Clare came up to us, her eyes still wet from tears and she kneeled down in front of us, completing our new little family.
    “You married my Mommy.”
    “Yes, I did,” I answered, grinning at Clare.
    “Mommy said that means I can call you Daddy.”
    Clare smiled and my full attention turned to Maddie who was looking at me with her big brown eyes. I couldn’t put words together fast enough so I just nodded.
    “So, can I call you Daddy now?”
    Still nodding, I choked out a yes and pulled her to me. She’d been my daughter since the moment I committed myself to Clare, but this? This was more than I ever expected. I never wanted to replace the father she lost, but I also didn’t want to go through life being known as Logan, the stepfather.
    Tears I couldn’t contain anymore broke free and I felt Clare lean in to join us. I pulled my two girls closer, and thanked every deity known to man for bringing them into my life.

 
     
    ~Clare~
     
    After cake, which we very nicely fed to each other, and many well wishes later, we were set free. Maddie gave us hugs and said she was sorry she was leaving us to spend the night with Grandma and Grandpa. We laughed and told her it was okay and we’d survive one night without her.
    As soon as we made our way up to the top floor and into our extravagant honeymoon suite, I gasped. He’d had the entire room covered in flickering candles and roses.
    “You’re crazy.”
    “Yes. Maybe a little,” he said, “But only about you.”
    “This is over the top.”
    “I’m trying to make up for earlier.”
    “What do you mean?” I asked, confused.
    He pulled me towards the bed, which was covered in red rose petals. There was a bucket of champagne chilling in the corner, and chocolate covered strawberries on the windowsill.
    “I wanted every moment of today to be special for you. When we came together for the first time as husband and wife, I wanted you to know exactly how much I love you. I wanted to spend hours worshiping you and loving every part of you.”
    “So, you’re worried that I’m going to look back and remember our first time as less than ideal?”
    He cringed and nodded, “Yes, basically.”
    I pushed him down on the rose covered bed. He looked a bit startled but quickly grinned.
    “The only thing that will make this night less than ideal is if you don’t continue what you started in that ballroom and take me right now.”
    “Yes, Ma’am.”
    “Yes, what?” I asked, as he stood and slowly walked behind me.
    “Yes, Mrs. Matthews,” he whispered in my ear and began making quick work of the buttons and sash of my dress.
    He rotated me around, brushing his hands around my waist as I turned until we were once again facing each other.
    “You’re so beautiful,” he said. His fingers slipped under the fabric of my dress at the nape of my neck and gently began pulling. When his eyes collided with the lacy top of my blue corset, he sucked in a breath and his hand dug into my hip.
    It really was a beautiful work of art. Sapphire blue and ivory colored lace, with tiny pearls