Summer reached over to give her a half hug—one cognizant of not smearing any makeup. “I’ve never had a sister. And I was an orphan. I don’t know if you knew that or not. I never really had a family except for the Wilsons. So anytime I get to grow my new family is really special to me.”
Ruth glanced down at Summer’s belly. “I guess you’re growing it in more than one way.”
“Shh.” Summer’s cheeks were pink, and she put her hand on her stomach. “We’re not telling anyone else until after the wedding. We are not going to let our news compete with your big day.”
“That’s really sweet, but it’s okay if—”
“No, no, no. We’re not going to do it. Lincoln never should have spilled the beans so soon.”
Lincoln had announced a few nights ago that he and Summer were expecting their first child. She was three months along in the pregnancy. Ruth was really happy for them, and she didn’t think it was a problem if more people found out on the day of her wedding. But it was incredibly considerate of Summer to make a point of not drawing attention away from her today.
“He’s just excited,” Ruth said with a smile. “I don’t know Lincoln all that well yet, but it seems like if he feels something, he doesn’t hold it in very well.”
Summer laughed. “That’s pretty much true.”
“Then he’s like me. I can totally empathize.”
“But he’ll keep the secret today. I promise he will. Today is just about you and Carter.”
Unable to resist the impulse, Ruth said rather primly, “And Jesus.”
“What?”
“Today is about Jesus. It’s his birthday after all.”
Summer broke into more laughter. “Exactly right. Today is about you and Carter... and Christmas.”
THE WEDDING CEREMONY was at five o’clock in the candlelit marble foyer of the house. Kayla, Summer, and Ruth processed down the formal staircase accompanied by the music of a string quartet. Kayla and Summer wore deep green, and Ruth wore white with a bouquet of red roses. She walked from the stairs to where Carter was waiting in his tux beside the pastor and Lincoln and Lance, who were his groomsmen.
The ceremony only lasted about twenty minutes. It was beautiful and simple and traditional, and Ruth loved it.
Afterward, Savannah took some photos (she did that for a living), and then they all gathered around the large table in the dining room to eat dinner.
Ruth couldn’t have asked for anything better. More fitting. Or anything that felt closer to family for her. They ate and drank and talked and laughed and toasted and even did a little dancing for several hours until the guests finally left.
Carter had offered to take Ruth to a fancy hotel for their wedding night. After all, they were leaving for a honeymoon trip to Hawaii the following day, so it would have been perfectly natural.
But Ruth had told him she’d rather just stay there. In the house. Where it felt like home. They had plenty of privacy, after all. They had the whole wing to themselves. And the day had been plenty special.
She didn’t need a strange room in a fancy hotel to make tonight feel special too.
She took a bath and changed into a slinky, ruby-red nightgown. (She should have worn white for her wedding night, but she looked better in red and it was Christmas.) When she came out, Carter had sprinkled rose petals on the bed and poured them both glasses of champagne.
“You did not,” she said, feeling rather sappy at Carter’s preparations.
He chuckled and stepped over toward her to offer her the glass. “Well. I felt like I had to do something to mark the occasion.”
She took a sip of the champagne. “I love you, Carter Wilson. You know that, right?”
“I’m starting to suspect it’s not just a figment of my imagination.” His lips were turned up in a small smile. His eyes were very tender.
“It’s not. I love you. And it feels like a Christmas miracle that I get to be your bride.”
He stepped over to kiss her. “It’s a miracle to me too.”
When he pulled away, she took another sip of the champagne as an idea popped into her head. “I want to have sex with my husband tonight.”
“Well, good. Because your husband definitely wants to have sex with you.”
Before he could reach for her again, she said, “But first I’m hoping you’ll give me one more present.”