"Invite them for supper, Kip," Dorie Turner said. "Mandy, you invite them over."
Mandy waved her hands. "No, no. They have people with them as well. We'll just slip over there for a bit. Say hi and then head back to the hotel room. The trip has been exhausting. We'll be here for almost ten days, there's plenty of time to visit with everyone."
Kip ushered Colton into the bathroom and closed the door. Five days until Mandy was going to marry him. Five days until all the pieces in his life had come together, finally. He'd proved his ability on the ice. And he'd gotten the girl. It had only taken fourteen years.
Five days later, he was standing on the school grounds. They hadn't opted to marry in the school library, which Mandy had wanted. Thankfully it was being renovated this summer and it made it impossible. It seemed like the least romantic place to have a wedding, well besides maybe a shopping mall. The school grounds were okay. Nothing special, and it had taken some maneuvering not to have all the outside sports stuff in the pictures.
He stood there, his heart in his throat, waiting for her to come down the aisle. To Kip's left, stood Corey and Doug. He watched as the ring bearer, Colton and the flower girl, his eldest sister, Jamie's eldest daughter, 10 year old Marie, came down the make shift aisle. Sophia and Maggie were the bridesmaids dressed in purple, came next. And then, Mandy, dressed in a simple gown.
She hadn't insisted on taking the diamond back, much to his surprise. So, getting the matching wedding band had been easy for him.
His voice shook a little as he spoke his vows. His hands shook as he attempted to put the ring on Mandy's finger. He felt overwhelmed by good fortune as he kissed her. He picked up Colton and held him for the cameras.
Mandy leaned in and whispered to the boy. "I hope you're ready to be a big brother, Cole."
What the hell? They both stared at her.
"I know it's a cliche. To have a happily ever after complete with a baby, but I really just did the test this morning."
Kip snorted. He turned to the small crowd gathered before them. "Fourteen years it took me," he shouted. "But I finally got the girl."
Everyone laughed and clapped. He let Colton to the ground and wrapped his arms around Mandy, ready to move forward with her, while he had waited for so long for his life to begin. Everything was perfect, even if it was just for this moment.