Logan: New Crusaders MC (29 page)

Everyone cheered and toasted to that.  Then Logan stood up, carefully sliding Nicole off his lap, feeling sure of himself for the first time in days.  He instantly had everyone’s attention.

“I made a promise to Cork right before he died,” Logan told the room.  “He asked me to live my life.  That was his dying request.  And I promised him I would.  I told him I was going to be the father to my child that he was to me, that I was going to make a life for myself.”  He paused and turned to Nicole.  Her hand was in his.  Her smile was only for him.  “I promised him one other thing, something I’m sure he would have wanted for us.  I’m gonna make good on that now.”

Logan carefully lowered himself to one knee, resting on his good leg.  Nicole’s free hand went to her mouth.

“Nicole Hamilton,” he said, looking up into her eyes.  “Will you marry me?”

There was a moment of silence.  It was so quiet Logan could hear his pulse roaring in his ears.  For just a second, he worried that he was about to be rejected in front of his entire club.  Then Nicole dropped to her knees, kissed him long and hard, and said, “Just call me Mrs. Kirkwood.”

Logan bounced a little on the balls of his feet.  The months had flown by, and he couldn’t believe how quickly this moment had come.  He thought it would be agony to wait this long, but that hadn’t been the case at all.  Nicole had finished her first year of college, and had already applied to transfer to a new school for next year.  It was much closer to home, and she was going to be able to take some online courses so she’d be able to spend more time home with their son.  Hailey had promised to visit often. 

She was the maid of honor.

Logan looked down at his son for a moment.  He was in his car seat, which was situated on the floor in front of the altar.  Someone had decorated the handle with curls of ribbon, which had amused the baby to no end. 

L.J. was currently sucking on the fabric of his baby-sized denim kutte.  The words “New Crusader in Training” were stitched onto the right shoulder.  His initials were stitched onto the left shoulder.  L.C.K.  Logan Cork Kirkwood.  Nicole had chosen the name.  Logan Junior, or L.J. for short.  He was a reminder to Logan of everything he had promised Cork.

The music started up, and Logan quickly looked down the aisle.

“Here she comes,” Father Truesdale said.  “Are you ready, son?”

“More than ready,” Logan whispered.

Chuck was walking Nicole down the aisle.  She was wearing a simple white dress, with no veil.  Her hair was done up in a bun, with auburn ringlets cascading down from it.  When she saw him, her face lit up with a smile, revealing that single dimple.  He smiled back as Chuck placed a kiss on her cheek, patted Logan’s arm, and went to take his seat.  Logan pretended not to notice the tears in the old man’s eyes.

Father Truesdale welcomed the guests, but Logan barely heard him.  He was too focused on Nicole.  She wore her mother’s ring on her finger.  Chuck had gifted it to them shortly after Logan proposed.  It was a perfect fit.

When it came time for the vows, L.J. began fussing a little.  Logan didn’t mind.  His son just didn’t like being on the floor, where he couldn’t possibly be the center of attention.  He knelt down and carefully lifted L.J. into his arms.

“I guess he wants to say his own piece,” he said, making Nicole and the assembled guests laugh.  “I… uh… I didn’t want to write vows, but as long as L.J. has given me an opening, there is something I want to say.”  He looked at Nicole, still unable to wrap his head around the fact that she was standing at the altar with him.  “If this kid is anything like me, the next eighteen to twenty years are going to be a nightmare for us.”  More laughter.  He wished he was joking.  He may have had two exemplary father figures, but that hadn’t prevented him from causing his fair share of trouble.  “That said, I can’t wait for this.  For our lives together.  I can’t promise an easy life with me, because I’m…
me
, but… I promise a family.  No matter what, you’re going to have family.  And then some.” 

Logan looked out over the crowd as they cheered for his last statement.  Nicole took his hand and squeezed it.  Behind her, Bells – one of the bridesmaids – was dabbing at her eyes.  When she saw Logan looking, she quickly straightened up and pretended nothing was happening.

Logan looked back at Father Truesdale, who was smiling to himself.  He seamlessly resumed the ceremony, as if that impromptu speech had been planned.  Nicole only let go of Logan’s hand for the ring exchange.  Then she laced her fingers through his, and when Father Truesdale asked her if she vowed to accept Logan as her husband, she leaned forward and kissed L.J. on the forehead. 

Then she looked up at Logan and said, “Fuck yeah.”

Father Truesdale was unfazed.  “In that case, I now pronounce you husband and wife.  Logan, you may kiss your old lady.”

With his son still cradled in his arms, Logan leaned down and kissed his bride.  So much of his life was still uncertain, and was going to remain that way.  That was the MC way.  But the one thing he was sure of was his family.  He’d taken a rocky path to get to this one perfect moment, but as he stood there at that altar, he knew that it had all been worth it.

He was all in.

THE END