I nod. Damn straight I’m going to make it. I inhale deeply through my nose and blow out through my mouth as I count to sixty. When I reach sixty, I start again. Nine more times. I got this.
“I now pronounce you husband and wife,” the preacher announces. “You may kiss the bride.”
The crowd claps as I scream. “Thank God!”
“A chair!” Frankie shouts. “Someone bring us a chair.”
“Um, Violet. Why is there water at your feet?” Shelby points towards my shoes.
Well, there’s only one explanation. “I think my water broke.”
“Your water broke?” Luke shouts and rushes towards me. He picks me up. “We need to get you to the hospital.”
“No. Not yet.”
Bailey rushes over to me. “What’s wrong?” Her eyes widen when she notices the mess on the floor. “Are you in labor?”
“I’m sorry.” Tears well in my eyes. “I didn’t mean to ruin your wedding.”
“You didn’t ruin anything. I’m Mrs. Cadwell.” She raises her left hand and wiggles her fingers to show off the ring. Her other hand is attached to her brand-spanking-new husband.
“I’ll have my car brought around.”
I stop Roman from calling anyone. “No. I’m not ready.”
“Um, hate to break it to you, but your contractions are less than ten minutes apart. Now is the time to go to the hospital.” Shelby waggles her phone at me. As if her phone has all the answers in the universe in it.
“I want to get married first.” I can’t believe the words coming out of my mouth, but it’s true. Standing here watching Bailey get married made me realize I don’t want to have this baby before I’m lawfully wed to the man I love, the father of my baby.
“Not a problem. I have the marriage license in my pocket.”
“You what?” I stare at Luke the loon. “You brought our marriage license to Bailey’s wedding?” I didn’t even want to get the stupid license, but someone insisted. He was convinced I would change my mind. Damn him. He was right.
“We booked the church for the entire day,” Roman says. “I’m sure the preacher would be willing to marry you.”
“I can’t get married looking like this,” I wail. “My dress is ruined and my shoes…” I’m not talking about my shoes.
“Do you have your outfit for the reception here?” Frankie asks. I nod. “Okay, let’s get you changed.”
“No,” Luke growls. “She is not getting changed. We are getting married as fast as possible and then we’re going to the hospital.”
“Relax, dude. The hospital is a block away.” Shelby has the gall to show him her phone where the route to the hospital is marked on google maps. “We can make it there in less than five minutes walking.”
“Let her get changed, man. Otherwise, you will never hear the end of it,” Brodie points out.
Jackson arrives pushing a wheelchair. Grandma rushing after him.
“What’s going on,” she asks. She squeals when she realizes I’m in labor. “Yeah. We’re having a baby.”
I growl. There is no we in this situation. I’m the one who has to push a basketball out of her.
“Someone wants to get married first,” Shelby explains.
“How exciting! Two weddings and a baby in one day.”
“Nothing’s happening until Luke unhands Violet.” Jackson glares at Luke and nods towards the wheelchair.
“I’m okay, Luke. I promise.” I manage to smile at him. “But I am not getting married until I can get changed.
“You have five minutes,” he says and sets me in the chair.
Shelby grabs hold of the handles. “Let’s get this party started.”
“I thought it already started when I got married,” Bailey grumbles.
“Shit, Bailey.” I almost forget the reason we’re in a church in the first place. “Your reception. Get out of here.”
“You think I’m going to miss your shotgun wedding? Not for the world, girl. Not for the world.”
Chapter 38
Is it still a shotgun wedding if no shotguns were involved? ~ Violet’s Secret Thoughts
Shelby takes off down the aisle with everyone following. She rolls the wheelchair at breakneck speed, and I hang on for dear life and try not to piss my panties in fear. Although who would honestly notice at this point?
“Come on.” Bailey helps me stand once we reach the bridal room. “Let’s get you changed.”
“I bet helping a pregnant woman get out of her soiled panties was not on your list of things to do on your wedding day.”
She rolls her eyes. “Stop it. I don’t care. I’m married to Roman. And as soon as we get you hitched, I’ll be off to the reception.”
“What?” Grandma asks. “We’re not going to the hospital with her?”
My eyes widen and I search out Frankie. Please, please, I beg her with my eyes. Do not let Grandma come to the hospital with us.
“You can’t go to the hospital, Grandma. Remember? You and Rosemary, Eleanor, and Alma have the karaoke contest all set up.”
Grandma frowns. “What a pickle. Do I see my first great-grandchild being born or do I redeem my crown as karaoke queen?”
Bailey helps me into the bathroom attached to the room. “Karaoke at your wedding?” I whisper.
“Don’t worry. We’ve got her set up in a separate room.”
Between the two of us, we manage to get me out of my soiled panties and into my dress. By the time we exit the bathroom with me in a clean dress and panties, Frankie is set up at the counter with make-up. I’m fairly certain make-up is a lost cause at this point.
“You better hurry,” I warn her. “The longer it takes the more likely it is Luke loses his shit.”
“Sweetie.” Bailey pats my shoulder. “Your soon-to-be husband has already lost his shit. Brodie and Jackson are holding him down as we speak.”
“Your husband’s not helping?”
Bailey rolls her eyes and picks up a brush to do something with my hair while Frankie does my make-up. We have to stop once as another contraction hits me.
“Nine minutes apart,” Shelby declares as she shows us the stopwatch on her phone. “We need to get mamma married.”
Like we’re not working on it or something? Shelby grabs hold of the wheelchair and starts pushing me out of the restroom.
“Why is Shelby the one pushing the wheelchair? Shouldn’t someone with two arms being doing this?” I really don’t care how many arms she has, but I would prefer someone who doesn’t wheel me at a terrifying pace. Is she trying to scare the baby out of me or something?
She snorts. “You grow up in and out of hospitals, you learn how to push a wheelchair no matter how many limbs you have.”
I gasp when we turn the corner and I see who’s sitting in the front row of the pews. My mom and dad are here. “How did you guys get here?”
Dad points to Roman. “He sent a limo to pick us up.”
“Good thing we were already in town. I don’t think we would have made it from Florida in time for your wedding or the birth of the baby,” Mom adds.