Chapter 152 #152

Chapter 152 #152
Chapter 152

~Third Person~

The beach was perfect.

Luke had checked three times to make sure everything was exactly right. The candles were lit, protected by glass holders so the ocean breeze wouldn't blow them out. White roses scattered across the sand, creating a path toward where he stood waiting. The sunset painted the sky in shades of orange and pink, reflecting off the water.

His hands wouldn't stop shaking.

"She's going to be here any minute," he muttered to himself. "Don't mess this up. Just say what's in your heart. Simple."

Nothing about this felt simple.

A car pulled up in the small parking area behind him.

His heart nearly stopped.

Hannah stepped out, wearing a simple white sundress. Her hair was down, blowing slightly in the wind. She looked confused as she walked toward him.

"Luke? What's all this?"

"Come here," he said, his voice already unsteady.

She walked down the path of roses, looking around at the setup. "Did you do all this?"

"Yeah. With some help from Dwayne."

"It's beautiful. But why…" She stopped as she reached him, seeing his face. "Are you okay? You look like you're about to pass out."

"I might." He laughed nervously. "But I need to say something first. Before I lose my nerve."

"Okay?"

He took both her hands. Took a breath.

"Hannah. When I met you two years ago, I thought you were just Shailyn's friend. Just someone else caught up in the Belmar chaos. But then I got to know you. Really know you. You're smart and funny and fierce. You call me out when I'm being an idiot. You make me want to be better. Do better. And somewhere along the way, I fell completely in love with you."

Tears were already forming in Hannah's eyes.

"I know I'm not perfect. I work too much. I'm terrible at remembering to text back. I leave my coffee cups everywhere…"

"You really do," she said, laughing through the tears.

"But I love you. With everything I have. Everything I am. And I want to spend the rest of my life making you as happy as you make me."

He dropped to one knee.

Hannah's hands flew to her mouth.

"Hannah, will you marry me?"

He pulled out the ring. It was simple and elegant. Exactly what Shailyn had suggested.

Hannah was full-on crying now. "Yes. Yes, of course yes!"

Luke stood up, hands shaking so badly he could barely slide the ring onto her finger.

But he managed it.

And then she was kissing him, very hard and desperately. Like she'd been waiting her whole life for this moment.

When they finally pulled apart, both were crying.

"I love you," Hannah said. "I love you so much."

"I love you too. So damn much."

They stood there, wrapped in each other's arms, as the sun dipped lower on the horizon.

"I have something to tell you too," Hannah said after a moment.

"What?"

"I was going to wait. But this seems like the perfect time." She took his hand, placing it on her stomach. "We're having a baby."

Luke froze. "What?"

"I'm pregnant. About three months now."

"You're…we're…" His face went through about fifteen different emotions. "We're having a baby?"

"We're having a baby."

He dropped to his knees again, this time in front of her stomach.

"Hey there, little one," he said softly. "I'm your dad. And I promise I'm going to do everything I can to be good at this. To be worthy of you and your mom."

Hannah was sobbing again. Happy tears streaming down her face.

Luke stood up, pulling her close. "This is the best day of my entire life."

"Mine too."

"We're getting married. Having a baby. Building a family."

"We really are."

"I need to call Dwayne. Tell him."

"He already knows. About the baby, I mean. Shailyn too."

"They do?"

"Yeah. I told Shailyn a few days ago. She's pregnant too, actually."

"No way."

"Yes way. Our kids are going to grow up together."

Luke laughed out loud. "This feels so surreal."

"That's what we said."

They stood there, swaying slightly in each other's arms.

"Can I tell you something?" Luke asked.

"Anything."

"I was terrified you'd say no."

"Luke, I love you too much to leave you. How could I possibly say no?"

"You have terrible taste in men."

"The worst." She kissed him. "But you're stuck with me now."

"Best kind of stuck."

\---

Thirty minutes later, car headlights appeared in the parking lot.

"What's that?" Hannah asked.

"That would be the celebration committee."

"You invited people?"

"Just Dwayne and Shailyn. And the twins." Luke grinned. "I wanted to share this with family."

Dwayne got out first, carrying a cooler. Shailyn followed with Lily and Rose in a double stroller.

"Congratulations!" Shailyn called out, practically running toward them.

She hugged Hannah so tight they both nearly fell over. With Dwayne and Luke shouting careful.

"Let me see the ring! Let me see it!"

Hannah held out her hand.

"Oh my God, it's perfect! Luke, you did amazing!"

"I had help," he admitted, looking at Shailyn.

"Just a little guidance. You picked it out."

Dwayne set down the cooler and pulled out sparkling cider. "Sorry, no champagne for the pregnant ladies."

"This is perfect," Hannah said.

Luke poured glasses for he and Dwayne and juice for Hannah and Shailyn.

"To Luke and Hannah," Dwayne said, raising his glass. "May your marriage be filled with love, laughter, and way less drama than ours."

Everyone laughed.

"To Luke and Hannah," Shailyn echoed. "The best friends anyone could ask for. We love you both so much."

They clinked glasses.

Luke was crying again. "I told you I'd be emotional."

"Oh grow up big boy." Dwayne said, but his eye teary too.

The twins were getting fussy in their stroller.

Shailyn unbuckled them, setting them down on a blanket on the sand.

Lily immediately grabbed a handful of sand and tried to eat it.

"No, baby. We don't eat sand." Shailyn redirected her toward a toy.

Rose was staring at Luke with big curious eyes.

"Hey, Rose," Luke said, crouching down. "Want to see Auntie Hannah's pretty ring?"

Rose reached out, touching the ring gently.

"Ring," she said clearly.

They spent the next hour on the beach. Watching the twins play. Talking about wedding plans and baby plans and everything in between.

"So when are you thinking for the wedding?" Shailyn asked.

"Soon," Hannah said. "Before I'm too pregnant to fit into a dress."

"How soon?"

"Maybe three months? Is that too fast?"

"For you two? It's perfect." Shailyn was already making mental notes. "We can do something small. Intimate. Just close friends and family."

"That's what we want," Luke confirmed. "Nothing big or fancy. Just people we love."

"Where were you thinking? Beach? Garden? Indoor venue?"

"We haven't decided yet," Hannah admitted. "Any suggestions?"

"What about the estate?" Dwayne offered. "The gardens are beautiful this time of year. And it's private. We could set up everything exactly how you want."

"The Belmar estate?" Luke looked uncertain. "Are you sure?"

"It's our estate now. And I'd love to host your wedding there. Make new memories. Good memories."

"That would be amazing," Hannah said. "If you're really sure."

"I'm positive. We'll transform those gardens. Make them beautiful. Perfect for your day."

"Thank you." Hannah hugged Shailyn again. "For everything. For being amazing friends. For helping plan this. For just, being you."

"Always. You're family now. Officially."

The sun had fully set now. Stars were starting to appear.

Lily yawned, rubbing her eyes.

"Someone's getting tired," Shailyn noted.

"Mama," Lily said again, reaching for her.

"I know, baby. We'll go home soon."

"Dada," Rose echoed, not wanting to be left out.

"We should probably head back," Dwayne said. "Before they get too overtired."

"Yeah, we should too," Luke agreed.

They packed up the candles and flowers. Loaded everything into the cars.

Before getting in, Hannah grabbed Shailyn's hand.

"Thank you. For everything. I couldn't have done any of this without you."

"Are you kidding? You've been my rock through everything. I'm just returning the favor."

"Still. Thank you."

"You're welcome. And Hannah?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm so happy for you. You deserve all of this. The love, the family, the happiness."

"So do you."

They hugged one more time.

"Alright," Shailyn said, pulling back. "Up next is planning your wedding. And I promise to be the most helpful, least annoying maid of honor ever."

"You could never be annoying."

"Oh, I definitely could. But I'll try to restrain myself."

Everyone laughed.

As they drove home, Lily and Rose both fast asleep in their car seats, Shailyn reached over and took Dwayne's hand.

"Today was perfect," she said softly.

"It really was."

"Our family is growing. Luke and Hannah. The babies. Everything."

"Everything's coming together."

"Finally." She squeezed his hand. "After everything we've been through, we get to have this. Peace. Love. Family."

"We really do."