Baby On Board ✓

Chapter 25: The Wedding

"You look beautiful, Heather." Autumn fluffed her veil out before she let it fall gently to her sister's back. "Absolutely beautiful."

Heather turned to her. Her eyes were burning with excitement. "You look beautiful too."

Autumn laughed. "Thanks but I know I look like a beach whale."

"Stop it, you don't." Heather pressed her hands against Autumn's bump. "You both look beautiful."

As if hearing them, there was a sharp kick where Heather's hand was.

At her gasp, Autumn chuckled. "Yes, they can finally hear you now."

"Hi!" Heather smiled. "I can't wait to spoil you rotten."

Autumn rolled her eyes before the door behind them opened. Willow and some more of Heather's friends entered in the same soft misty pink bridesmaid dress.

Instantly, Willow's eyes started to mist up. "Heather, you look beautiful."

She moved in for a hug, causing Autumn to step back. Her gaze flickered out the window. Today was supposed to be the biggest event of the year but Autumn couldn't help but feel like she's been torn into two. Feeling a tear slip, she hurriedly wiped it away.

"Hey," Heather squeezed her hand. "Gian will be ok."

Giving her a weak smile, Autumn nodded. "Yeah, I'm sorry. It's your big day. I should be focused."

"Hey, it's ok to be worried about him." Autumn bit her lip as Heather gave her hand another squeeze. "You love him don't you?"

She did. Autumn wiped another tear away. She really, really did.

The rest of the wedding went off without a hitch. Tears were shedded as their mother walked Heather down the aisle, I do's were exchanged, and husband and wife kissed. The bridal party was dragged away for pics and now with the cocktail hour starting, Autumn wanted nothing more than a chair and some ice cream with fries.

As if reading her mind, Autumn grimaced when another kick was delivered to her side. Easy there. She rubbed at the spot. Just a little longer and we'll eat. Pulling out her phone, she glanced at Gian's contact. Come on, come on, Gian. Pick up.

She sighed when her call went straight to voicemail.

As she was about to redial the button, a voice spoke up. "Autumn?"

She glanced up and froze. Right there, looking older than she remembered was her father. His red hair was peppered with gray that matched his beard. Disbelief remained fixed in his gaze as he looked at her then at her bump. For a minute neither of them said anything, too focused on each other.

FInally, her father spoke again. "Autumn." At the pain in his voice, Autumn finally snapped out of it. She shot up, instantly regretting it when the sudden force nearly sent her tumbling over. As her father held out to help, Autumn recoiled away. Her hand cupped her bump protectively.

Her gaze flickered around, searching for any sign of her sisters. With no sign of them among the guests, she turned back to him. "What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be with Heather."

"I wanted to see you."

"Well, I don't want to see you." Her voice dripped with venom. "I told Heather I wanted nothing to do with you." Her father flinched but she didn't care. Years of anger, regret, and resentment bubbled like a burning ball of rage in her gut. "So don't think you're going to get a warm welcome from me like you did with Heather."

"I...honestly didn't expect you too." He hesitated. His hands clenched and unclenched as he snapped his gaze away from her. "In fact, I understand if you hate my guts right now. And I know I have no right to ask you to listen to me. Not with what I put you and your mother through. I just wanted to see you."