Songbird (43 page)

As the wedding flows into the reception, Devin holds me close to his side while, one-by-one, we thank our guests for coming. I force a smile when the last person in line—my mother—makes her way to us. She leans in to kiss Devin’s cheek before offering me a nervous smile.

“You look beautiful, Callie.”

“Thank you.”

“And happy.”

“I am.”

Devin wraps his arm around me and kisses my temple. Mom’s eyes soften when she sees the loving gesture.

“Could we talk? Not right now, of course.”

“I won’t let you upset her today,” Devin warns.

Mom smiles. “So protective. I promise not to upset her.”

Oliver interrupts us then, his camera in hand. He casts a sideways glance at my mother before smiling at me. “Your bulldog wedding planner is insisting on pictures before the first dance.”

I grin. Megan wore so many hats today. I have no idea how I’ll ever thank her.

“We’ll talk later, Mom.”

She nods and congratulates us before heading to the bar.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen my mom that nervous.”

“She should be. I swear, Callie, if she upsets you . . .”

“I won’t let her. Not today.”

From across the room, Megan waves frantically. Devin and I laugh as he takes my hand and leads me to my crazy wedding planner.

“Your home is beautiful,” Mom says as we make our way upstairs.

“Thank you.”

The party is finally starting to die down, so I’d taken the opportunity to get the talk with my mother out of the way. It’d taken some negotiating, but I’d finally convinced Devin to dance with his mom while I gave mine a tour of the house.

She gasps with surprise when we pass the nursery.

“May I?”

I nod and follow her into the baby’s room. Happy to have an excuse to get off my feet, I sit down in the rocking chair while she marvels at the furniture and decorations.

“We still need to put up the curtains, but it’s pretty much ready.”

“It’s a lovely nursery. Have you chosen a name?”

“Elizabeth Shyann.”

“That’s pretty. Beth?”

“Yes.”

She nods and sits down on the loveseat. “What a great idea.”

“It was Devin’s. We didn’t see the need to buy two rockers, but we know there will be times we’ll both want to sit in here with the baby.”

“He’s going to be a good husband, I think.”

“Yes, he is.”

“And you’re going to be an amazing mother.”

I bow my head and play with the soft pleats of my dress.

Mom sighs and leans back against the couch. “I owe you an apology. Actually, I owe you a lifetime of them. I’ve let the bitterness I feel about my choices in life tarnish my relationship with you. The decisions your father and I made were our decisions. I never meant to punish you for them, but I know I did. Getting married so young is the worst thing that’s ever happened to me, but you . . . you are the
best
. Can you see the distinction?”

For a moment, I can. I’d had my own mini breakdown when I found out I was pregnant. I wouldn’t call it the worst thing that’s ever happened, but the idea definitely took some getting used to. Still, I will never regret it, because my unexpected pregnancy has brought me here. To this beautiful day, in this gorgeous house, where I just married the man I love.

“Seeing you and Devin together reminded me of how much I used to love your father. That might surprise you, but it’s true. I just didn’t love him enough to spend the rest of my life with him. We were just two kids, crazy in love. Your dad and I tried to make it work, but we’re two very different people, and sometimes, those differences drive people apart. That’s what happened to us.”

“But Devin and I aren’t you and Dad.”

“I know.”

Mom sighs softly and looks around the room. “This really is a lovely nursery. And I would love to be part of my granddaughter’s life . . . if you’ll let me.”

I study her face, trying to make sense of everything she’s saying.

“Mom, you have to understand that I won’t let you be a negative influence in her life.”

“I understand.”

“She’s not ruining my life. She’s making it complete. She’s not taking my dreams away. She’s making them all come true.”

I watch as she wipes a stray tear from her eye.

“She’s going to be spoiled rotten with
stuff
. It’s inevitable. But she will be taught that those are just
things
and there’s more to life than just material possessions. I won’t have you trying to convince her otherwise.”

“Like I did with you.”

“That’s right. And you will love her because she’s your granddaughter. Not because she’s pretty or successful or smart. But because she’s your granddaughter. That’s all she has to be.”

“I love you because you’re my daughter,” she says softly. “Not because you’re pretty, successful, and smart. You’re all those things, but I love you because you’re mine. I will love my granddaughter just the same.”

It’s the first heartfelt compliment my mother has ever given me.

“I’m sorry, Callie. For everything.”

For all I know, these are just words. My mother’s made me cynical and untrusting of every syllable that comes out of her mouth. But, for my daughter’s sake, I’m willing to give her the chance to make a believer out of me.

I can accept her apology, but I can’t forgive her.

Not yet.

Maybe someday.

The house is finally empty, and I’m nestled in the lap of my husband while we sit in the nursery’s love seat.

“Wow,” he whispers when I finish telling him the story. “Do you think she’ll disappoint you?”

I shrug. “I have zero expectations. If Mom keeps her promise, then I’ll be pleasantly surprised. If she doesn’t, I’m no worse off than I am now. It’s all good.”

“Still, it was quite the wedding gift.” He lifts my hand and kisses my knuckles. “And that’s quite a ring, Mrs. McAllister.”

Without another word, Devin helps me to my feet and leads me to our bedroom. With it so close to my due date, we’d decided to forego the honeymoon for now, choosing instead to spend our wedding night and the rest of the week wrapped in the quiet solitude of our new house.

“You looked so beautiful today,” Devin murmurs. Standing behind me, he runs his hands along my arms before slowly unzipping my dress. The flowing fabric slides down my body and pools at my feet. A sigh escapes my throat when he brushes my hair to one side and peppers my bare shoulders with soft kisses.

“I can’t believe you’re my wife.”

“I can’t believe you’re my husband.”

I feel him smile against my heated skin.

Reaching for his vest and shirt, I unbutton both and let them fall to the floor. As always, our never-ending need for each other consumes us, and he gently lays me down on the bed. Breathless, his lips leave mine and immediately latch onto my neck. I have to close my eyes, overwhelmed with the sensation of his hands as he touches every part of me.

Megan and Simon had told us that married sex is so much better. We’d laughed, neither of us believing it could be better than it was before.

We were wrong.

“Will you always drive me this crazy?” he pants against my skin.

I find his eyes in the darkness and whisper the truest words I’ve ever known.

“For as long as we both shall live.”

T
hey say the first year of marriage is the hardest, but if the first month is any indication, I can honestly say they’re a bunch of morons.

Marriage is
unbelievable
.

I’m a married man.

Callie’s my wife.

I’m going to be a dad.

I can be having the shittiest day in court and those three little sentences can instantly remind me that life is freaking amazing. Whether I’m dealing with a frustrated client, an ill-tempered judge, or an inflexible jury, none of it matters because I am a happy man.

After the week-long honeymoon at home, I went back to work while Callie started her leave of absence from the paper. With so much free time, she’s become Betty Crocker, and each day, I come home to dinner
and
dessert. Sometimes, dessert is peanut butter cookies. Other times, it’s my sexy, beautiful baby mama in lingerie.