Happily Ever After?? (Third in the Through The Dark And Free series)

Chapter 20

"So, Harry has pretty much thought of everything." Amanda said following Anne and Gemma into their cabin with the rest of the women. "But first things first, we need to pick a dress." She stepped aside so Julie could see the large rack of dresses hanging along one wall of the room.

"What is this?" Julie asked trying to stop the tears from filling her eyes.

"Harry talked to a few of his designer friends who talked to a few of their friends, and this is what we were able to get." Amanda said taking Julie's hand and walking her closer. "You should have seen all of the options. We picked the ones we thought you would like best. And now, you're to try them on and see what dress you'll be getting married in."

"I just, I didn't, I just thought I'd get married in something I already had when he said we'd get married tonight." Julie shook her head. "This is crazy."

Anne walked up and put her arm around Julie's shoulder. "Are you kidding? Harry has it all worked out. As a mum, I'm pretty proud."

"He's used to getting what he wants." Julie sniffled and wiped her cheek. "Doesn't surprise me."

Anne laughed. "That's true."

Julie untied her jacket and took it off her shoulders. She smiled when her mom walked over to her and looked at her stomach. "Yeah, can you believe it's real?"

"Can't say that I expected it. Or any of this really, but you have a pretty special man in your life. So even though so much is happening, I think I'm less worried about you now, then I have been in a long time." Donna smiled and put her hand on her daughters stomach. "You've gone through a lot. Some I'm sure I don't even know about. But all a mom wants to see is her children happy. You'll know that soon enough."

"Ok, it's easy to make me cry these days. Be easy on the lovey dovey sappy stuff." Julie shook her head and wiped her eyes and gave her mom a quick hug. She looked around the room at the women standing with her. Besides Panda, her mom, and her sister-in-law, these were all women in Harry's life that accepted her into theirs. Ones who were in the small group that knew about the baby, and every single one was immediately supportive. She wasn't used to any of that. She was happy to be back on good terms with her mom and her immediate family after the debacle that was Johnny, but she'd never had that large circle of those who automatically loved and supported her, and she was gaining that; well, she had already gained that because of Harry.

Julie was so deep in thought that she had to physically clear her throat and shake her head when she was handed a glass of sparkling grape juice. She smiled as she was toasted by her group of friends before looking through the rack of dresses. She set aside a couple she liked more than the rest on the end of the rack and went and grabbed one of the sandwiches that were left on the counter. She looked around the room taking in the laughter and lightness in the conversation being had by all.

"So, you're really going to do it, huh?" Amanda asked as she walked up and sat on the stool at the counter next to Julie.

"I guess so. Unless I find a way to talk myself out of it. Figures he wouldn't give me long to do that." Julie shrugged and raised her eyebrows.

Amanda laughed. "Yeah. He may have known what he was doing with a shot gun wedding." She looked at Julie. "JJ, that man loves you to bits. He would have married you long ago, and he would have waited years if he needed to. That's when you know it's right."

"I know. I mean, I said yes, didn't I? That's pretty shocking in itself." Julie took a deep breath. "I never saw myself here." Julie gestured to the room. "Physically here, with all these amazing women, or here as in, in love with an amazing man, having a baby, getting married. But, I wouldn't want it any other way. He's everything I ever needed, even though I never wanted it."