Chapter 260

Chapter 260
Emma

I smoothed down the front of my ivory dress with trembling fingers, my heart fluttering like a caged bird as I watched my reflection in the ornate mirror of St. Thomas Church's bridal suite. Three days had passed since Noah and I had signed the papers at city hall, making our marriage officially legal again. But today was different. Today was about celebration, about promises made in front of everyone we loved.

And about the tiny human who had changed everything.

"Mama pretty!" Sarah cooed to Mike, who was perched on her hip, his chubby fingers reaching enthusiastically for my veil. My heart didn't just melt—it positively dissolved into a puddle of pure maternal love as he giggled,.

"Careful, sweetie," I laughed, gently capturing his tiny hand in mine and kissing his fingers. "That's attached to Mommy's head. Though for you, I'd happily let you have it as a toy."

My mother entered the room carrying a small velvet box, her eyes already glistening with tears. "Emma, you look absolutely beautiful." She opened the box, revealing a strand of pearls I recognized immediately. "These belonged to your grandmother. I wore them at my wedding, and now..." Her voice caught.

"Mom," I whispered, emotion thick in my throat as she fastened the cool pearls around my neck. I reached up to touch them, feeling the connection to generations of women in my family. "I never thought I'd have this moment," I admitted softly, my voice wavering. "A real wedding, with love and family and..."

"And a grandson who's stealing everyone's hearts," my mother finished, wiping a tear from her cheek before it could fall.

A soft knock at the door interrupted us, followed by Noah's voice. "Is everyone decent in there? I have an important delivery from a very impatient groom."

"Noah York! The groom isn't supposed to see the bride before the ceremony!" Tara called out, rushing to adjust my veil with exaggerated panic. "It's bad luck, you corporate disaster!"

"I just want to check on my son," Noah replied, but I could hear the smile in his voice, that special warmth he reserved only for Mike and me. "Mike? You in there, buddy? Dad's missing you like crazy out here."

At the sound of his father's voice, Mike let out a delighted squeal that made us all laugh, his little body practically vibrating with excitement.

"See? He misses me," Noah said through the door. "Emma, I think our son is playing favorites today."

"Someone's ego is getting out of control," I called back, but my voice betrayed my feelings, soft and filled with an affection I couldn't hide if I tried. Even after everything we'd been through, Noah York could still make me feel like a teenager with a crush, my cheeks warming at just the sound of his voice.

Tara stepped back to admire her handiwork with my dress, dramatically wiping pretend sweat from her brow. "Looks like a certain little man is just as excited about today as we are," she said, nodding toward Mike, who was bouncing enthusiastically in Sarah's arms. "God, Emma, when I think about where we started—you signing that ridiculous contract—and now here we are with the most gorgeous baby and a man who's actually worthy of you..."

I reached for my son, an overwhelming need to hold him close washing over me. As Sarah transferred him to my arms, careful not to wrinkle my dress, he looked up at me, his tiny face suddenly serious for a moment, studying me with an intensity that reminded me so much of Noah. Then, as clear as day, he said: "Mama."

The room went silent, time freezing around us.

"Oh my God," I whispered, tears springing to my eyes unbidden, my heart expanding so rapidly I feared it might burst from my chest. "Noah! Noah, did you hear that? He said 'mama'! His first word!"

The door burst open, Noah's eyes wide with excitement and disbelief, propriety completely forgotten. "He what? Did I miss it?"

"His first word!" I cried, tears now streaming down my face, not caring about my makeup. "Say it again, sweetie. Say 'mama'."

Mike looked from me to Noah, then broke into a gummy smile that showcased his two tiny bottom teeth. "Mama!" he declared again, this time with even more enthusiasm, his little hands patting my cheeks.

Noah crossed the room in three strides, wrapping his arms around both of us so tightly I could feel his heartbeat, completely ignoring the wedding superstition. His eyes, too, were suspiciously bright. "That's right, buddy. That's your mama. The most amazing woman in the world. The woman who gave us both a second chance at everything."

I leaned into Noah's embrace, my body fitting against his as perfectly as it always had, as if we'd been designed as two pieces of the same puzzle. "I think he's trying to upstage our wedding," I whispered, my voice thick with emotion.

"He gets that from you," Noah murmured into my hair, his lips brushing my temple. "Always stealing the spotlight."

I looked up to see Violet standing in the doorway, phone raised, her smile wide and genuine. "Now that," she said with a satisfied nod, "is the best wedding photo you'll get today. Forget those posed portraits—this is what family looks like."

Sarah approached with Mike's tiny tuxedo, complete with a miniature bow tie that made my heart squeeze with its adorableness. "I hate to break up this moment, but we have a ceremony in thirty minutes, and this little man needs to get dressed. He can't upstage his parents looking like this."

As Sarah gently took Mike to prepare him, Dr. Ethan Reed peeked in, his usual mischievous grin in place. "Hope I'm not interrupting the pre-wedding chaos," he said, then whistled appreciatively at the sight of Noah in his tuxedo. "Looking sharp, York. Though I think your son's going to upstage you with those cheeks and eyelashes. The kid's a heartbreaker already."

"Story of my life since he was born," Noah replied with a dramatic sigh, but his proud smile—the one that reached his eyes and softened his entire face—said he didn't mind one bit. "Best demotion I've ever received."

"Out, everyone with a Y chromosome!" Tara announced, shooing the men toward the door. "The bride needs her final touches, and you've already broken enough wedding traditions for one day!"

Noah's eyes caught mine one last time before the door closed, filled with such naked love and promise that it stole my breath away.

The church filled quickly with guests, the air fragrant with white calla lilies and soft pink roses. Henry Walsh and Sebastian Cole immediately gravitated toward Mike, each trying to outdo the other in making him laugh. Henry tossed him gently in the air, earning squeals of delight, while Sebastian made increasingly ridiculous faces.

"At this rate, his first sentence will be 'Uncle Henry is cooler than Uncle Sebastian,'" I heard Henry declare confidently.