Majestic

28.

"Once upon a time there was a boy who loved a girl, and her laughter was a question he wanted to spend his whole life answering."

-Nicole Krauss

One week till the wedding:

Josh left early to pick up his family for the wedding and I stayed back and picked up the house. I was nervous to meet the rest of his family, but his mom keeps telling me not to worry.

"Addy Hunny? Where do you keep your cleaning supplies?" I took a deep breath and Julia pulled me into a hug, "They will love you," we both finished cleaning and cooking dinner.

"Joshua, my bag is still in the car," I heard Julia laugh behind me and I looked through the window.

"That would be Oliver's mother," I gulped and opened the front door, "Hi Mom," Julia spoke and walked outside.

"Julia you look amazing dear," Josh's green eyes met mine and I followed his mom.

"Gran this is my fiancé, Addyson," his grandmother looked me up and down, but never smiled.

"I've been so excited to meet you," I smiled and she pulled me into a tight hug. Josh wrapped his arm around my waist and we watched his grandma walk into the house.

"I'm Josh's Grandpa and I expect you to only call me Grandpa," I smiled and was wrapped up in another hug.

"This is my Auntie Cami, she is one of my mom's sisters," I smiled and she set down her bag.

"It is so nice to finally meet you. Julia has not stopped talking about you and Josh doesn't leave a conversation finished with mentioning you," I watched Josh's cheeks turn a dark shade of red.

"Awe you talk about me," I said in a baby voice and he ran his fingers through his hair.

"Thanks, Aunt Cam," she laughed and hugged me tightly.

"Anything to embarrass you," she patted his back and walked into the house.

"She is super funny," I laughed. Josh nudged me and made me laugh harder.

"You must be Addyson! I'm so excited to put a face to all the wonderful stories JD has told us!" Josh turned quickly and I held in my laughter. I smiled and looked at Josh, "I'm Auntie Grace, this is my husband who you can call Uncle Jess, and this little man is Ethan," I smiled at the cute sleeping baby on her front.

"Hello little man," I cooed.

"Did Josh tell you he wants three kids? When he was little all he wanted was to be a dad," I heard Josh shift next to me and I held in a laugh.

"We better get inside because it's close to his lunchtime," Jess stated and Grace nodded quickly.

"So nice to meet you!" She hugged me quickly and they walked into the house.

"You never told me you wanted three kids," he shrugged and wrapped his arms around me.

"That was when I was younger. I'm happy with however many you want," I kissed him softly and we heard a whistle in the distance.

"Hey, Ran!" I shouted and Steph passed Logan to him.

"Sorry, we're late. I couldn't find anything that fits."

"It's okay. How is the little man doing?"

"He's good. Ready to be out."

"Three more months," they walked inside quickly.

I placed my hands on his chest and he smiled down at me. "When is your family arriving?"I looked at his watch and smiled.

"Any minute now," his smile vanished and was replaced by fear, "Don't be nervous."

"Addyson Marie!" I turned around and Josh looked at the man running up the driveway.

"Uncle Lewis!" I shrieked and ran down the driveway. He picked me up and spun me around.

"I swear you are still that baby," I rolled my eyes and Josh joined us, "You must be the man who has swept my niece off her feet," Josh smiled and shook his hand.

"Josh," Uncle Lewis pulled him into a hug and winked at me.

"It is so nice to finally meet you. Addy talks about you all the time," I punched his shoulder and Josh started to laugh.

"Where is the rest of the crazy Barnes and Anderson family?" I shrugged and all three of us looked at the four cars arriving quickly.

"Found them," I watched my two other uncles walk up the driveway with their wives and children, "Uncle Jake and Auntie Marie, it's so great to see you," I pulled Josh with me and hugged them both, "This is my fiancé Josh," they smiled at us and hugged Josh, "These are my cousins Michael and Jeffrey," Josh crouched down and extended his hand towards my identical twin cousins.

"It's nice to meet you both," they shook his hand and ran inside. Josh stood up and we continued onto Jake's identical twin brother Markus.

"Uncle Markus and Auntie Carri," I hugged them both, and Aunt Carri rubbed her hands over her belly, "When's the due date?" She smiled and grabbed my hands.

"Two months," I smiled and Uncle Markus looked at Josh.

"You must be Josh. Get ready because this family is a lot to commit to and Addy is one of the craziest," I gasped and started to blush while Josh started to laugh, "You have more people to greet, we will sit down and talk over a beer, Josh," they shook hands and I made eye contact with my Aunt Emily and screamed again.

"Auntie Emily!" I pulled her into a hug and she returned my hug.

"Hi Addy Cat," we pulled out of the hug and I grabbed Josh's hand.

"Josh, this is my Dad's sister and she is my best friend and my other half," Josh shook her hand and she pulled him into a hug.

"Addy Cat, he is such a cutie," I laughed and Josh took her bags, "Let me help you with those," I watched her mouth drop and she smiled at me giving a thumbs up.

"I have to call the shuttle," I pulled out my phone and frowned at the texts displayed on the screen.

"Why the frown?" Josh wrapped his arms around my waist from behind.

"My grandparents aren't coming to the wedding because they're in Spain," Josh tightened his loving hold and rested his chin on my head, "They're the only ones I have left and they couldn't even bother to come," my memory instantly went back to the day of the car crash when they told Randy and me that our parents were killed along with my mom's parents.

"I'm so sorry. Screw them, Addy. They lost out on an amazing woman," I wiped off my face and rested my head against his chest.

"Part of me just wishes they would care the slightest bit," Josh rubbed my back and I took a couple of calming breaths.

"Babe, let me call the shuttle, and then we can go inside," I nodded and he sat down on the steps.

"Hello sir." he paused and then continued to talk, "Josh Carter," I sat down next to him listening to the conversation, "Thank you and we need two shuttles to the Hilton hotel," Josh smiled and then hung up the phone, "We have a lot of people in the apartment," I nodded and looked through the window.

"We should ditch," we said at the same time. I started to laugh and Josh joined me quickly. I was wiping up my eyes from laughing so hard when Josh's mom opened the door.

"You both should be inside," she looked between us and Josh started to laugh again.

"Don't you dare start again," I warned before starting to laugh again. Julia rolled her eyes and whacked Josh on the back of the head.

"Ouch, Mom, quit it!" I covered my mouth to stop laughing audibly.

"Come on you two," I stood up and held out my hand for Josh.

"Come on, JD," I started to laugh and he poked my sides.

"Don't you start," I stuck my tongue out at him and he kissed my nose, "Come on Addy Cat," I gasped and pushed his arm, "It was only fair, babe," he laced out fingers and we walked inside.