Whiskey Lullaby

Chapter 20-Ashton

Chapter 20

Ashton

I can’t believe Izzy’s pregnant. We’re lying in bed; she’s sleeping in my arms, and I can’t help but smile. I have the woman I love; we’re getting married and we’re growing our family. I feel Izzy start to stir. I kiss the top of her head, and she kisses my chest. “Good morning baby.” I say softly. “Good morning Ash.” She says and I love hearing her call me that. “How are you feeling?” I ask. “I’m okay I think.” She tells me. She sits up in bed and I sit up with her and she gets her bearings. Once she sees she’s not going to get sick, she stands, and I admire her naked body. I lay back and put one hand behind my head and my other hand on my stomach and just watch her.

She slips into a pair of panties and starts slipping on her shorts. “What?” she asks when she sees me watching her. “Just watching my woman.” I tell her. “I was thinking about something.” She says. I sit up and ask, “What’s that?” she takes her tank top and pulls it over her head and says, “Can we go to the courthouse and get married?” I stand and start pulling on my underwear and ask, “That what you want?” She nods. “I don’t have any family except for you and Nancy and Linda.” She tells me. “How about this. You call Linda, take Nancy with you and get you a pretty white dress and when you get back, I’ll have everything here for us to get married tonight. Get your hair and makeup done too.” I tell her. “Are you sure?” she asks. “Baby, I just want to marry you. The sooner the better.” I tell her. “We should wait at least until you can call Charles. You want a prenup right?” she asks. “Hell no. Didn’t have one with Karen. Won’t have one with you. I trust you.” I tell her and she kisses me softly. “I trust you too.” She tells me.

An hour later, she’s out the door and I call Megan. “What can I do for you Ashton?” she asks. “I know it’s Saturday and you’re off work, but I could use your help with something for Izzy.” I tell her. “Is she okay?” Megan asks. She loves Izzy just like the rest of us do. “Yeah. Can you come to my house? I can send a car.” I tell her. “I can drive. What’s going on?” she asks. “I need help planning out a wedding.” I tell her and she says she will be here shortly.

Megan knocks on the door and I let her in. “When are you planning the wedding for?” she asks. “Tonight, and money is no object.” I tell her. “Let me make some calls.” She tells me and we move to the living room, and she starts making calls. I call and have Charles bring over a marriage license and Megan finishes up her calls. “Let’s move to the garden. My people will be here in a few minutes.

Thirty minutes later, we are standing in the garden, and everyone is working. A couple of people are putting up a flowered arch. A few other people are stringing up fairy lights around the garden and overhead. Three hours later, everything is in place and the wedding cake is in the kitchen. “I can’t thank you enough for this Megan.” I tell her. “It’s my pleasure. Lucas will be here in a few minutes to be my date.” She tells me. “It will be good to see him again.” I tell her. “So, who’s going to give her away?” Megan asks. “s**t. I hadn’t thought of that.” I tell her. I pick up my phone and call Nick. “Yeah boss.” He greets me. “How far out are you?” I ask. “We will be there in about half an hour. They are finishing her makeup now. Is there anything you need?” he asks. “Yeah. Izzy doesn’t have anyone to give her away.” I say and he sees what I’m asking. “I would be honored boss.” He tells me and I smile. They all love her.

Half an hour later, I’m in the garden and they walk in the front door. Megan greets her and hands her a bouquet. “Thank you Megan.” She says. “You’re very welcome. Are you ready?” Megan asks and Izzy nods her head yes. “But who’s going to give me away?” she asks. Nick walks up and says, “It would be my honor Ms. Izzy.” Izzy smiles and takes his offered arm, and they head to the altar.

I see Izzy walking towards me, on Nick’s arm and can’t help but smile. She looks amazing. The Justice is standing next to me, and I have Linda standing on Izzy’s side has her matron of honor and Rico as my best man. The Justice is standing with us and as soon as Nick walks her to me, the Justice asks, “Who gives this woman away to be married?” Nick smiles at him and says, “Her family does.” And Izzy looks up at him with tears in her eyes. He leans down and kisses her cheek and whispers “We are your family.” Before placing her hand in mine.

She moves to stand in front of me and we join both of our hands. “When two hearts that are meant to be together, find each other, it’s a beautiful thing. It doesn’t mean that it will always be easy, but it will always be worth it. That being said, Ashton Montgomery, do you take Isabelle James to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, until death do you part?” he asks. “I do.” I say and Izzy smiles wide. “Isabelle James, do you take Ashton Montgomery to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, until death do you part?” he asks and Izzy says, “I do.”

“Now for the rings. Both the bride and groom will say their own vows.” He says. I take the ring and say “Izzy, I vow to be the husband you deserve and the father our children deserve. I vow to love you, honor you, and cherish you until my last breath.” I say as I slip the ring onto her finger. She takes the ring and places it on my finger, saying “Ashton, I vow to be the wife you deserve, the mother our children deserve. I vow to love you, honor you and respect you until my last breath.” She says as she lips the ring the rest of the way onto my finger. “By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride.” The Justice says. I pull Izzy closer and kiss her deeply and as we separate, we hear everyone cheering and I whisper, “I love you Mrs. Montgomery.” She smiles and whispers “I love you Mr. Montgomery.” Before I kiss her again and we turn to look at the people we see as family.

We move into the house to celebrate, and I don’t let her go far. Linda walks up and hugs me and whispers “Karen would love her.” I smile and nod my agreement. I look at my wife and she’s glowing. “Did you tell her?” I ask and Linda looks at Izzy and she smiles. “I’m pregnant.” Izzy tells her. “Oh my God! Our kids are going to be best friends.” She tells Izzy and we all laugh. Her husband, Brian, shakes my hand. “Good to see you happy man.” He says “Thank you. It feels good to be happy.” I tell him before Nancy steps up in front of me. “I am so proud of you Ashton. You are a good man, and your father would have been proud of you. He would have loved Izzy.” She tells me and hugs me tight.

After cake and food and seeing everyone out, Izzy and I move to our bedroom. “How are you feeling baby?” I ask. “I really don’t think I’ve ever been this happy.” She tells me. “Good. I only want you to be happy.” I tell her. “How did you pull all of this together?” she asks. “Megan did everything. She’s a miracle worker.” I tell her. “I really need to thank her.” She tells me. “She was happy to do it. Everyone was happy to help.” I tell her. “They all really are my family aren’t they?” she asks. “They are. We all are.” I tell her and kiss her softly. “And they will be our baby’s family.” I tell her. “They will. Ashton, we’re married and having a baby.” She says, still in shock. “We are. And we will have even more babies after this one.” I tell her. “We will.” She tells me.

I pick up my wife and carry her to bed. Lying in bed, after stripping off all of our clothes, we make love. After reaching our release, she is laying on her side with her back to me and I have my arms around her, my hand on her stomach, where our child is growing and we’re talking. “What are you thinking about?” I ask softly as I place soft kisses on her shoulder. “Jason.” She tells me. “Want to talk about it?” I ask and she brings my hand to her lips and kisses my knuckles. “I was thinking about his furniture. I want to use his crib and furniture for this baby.” She tells me. “Are you sure?” I ask. “I am. And I want the baby to have their brother’s teddy bear. It will help me feel like they are close.” She tells me. “I love that idea baby.” I tell her and she turns in my arms. “Have you thought about names?” she asks. “I have. If we have a boy, I want to name him Henry after my father.” I tell her. “I love that name. What about a girl?” she asks. “I don’t know.” I tell her. “How about Carolyn?” she asks. “I love it.” I tell her and we just snuggle up in bed.

The next morning, we get up and head downstairs for breakfast. “How are you feeling?” Nancy asks her. “I’m great Nancy.” She says and they hug. “Can I ask you something?” she asks. Nancy looks at her concerned and says, “Ask me anything sweetheart.” Izzy looks at me and then back to Nancy. “Will you be the baby’s grandmother?” Nancy looks at her shocked before looking at me and seeing me smiling wide before she hugs Izzy and says “I would love that sweetheart. Now, let’s feed my grandbaby.” Before leading her to the dining room and plating our food for us. After we eat, we head out to the patio to drink our coffee and she asks, “Are you okay with me asking Nancy to be the baby’s grandmother?” I smile before taking her hand and lacing my fingers with hers and say “I couldn’t be happier about it. She’s always been like a mother to me so it’s only right.” I tell her and she smiles. We spend the rest of the morning relaxing on the patio and talking.

That evening, we are sitting in the library when her phone rings. “Hello?” she asks. “Oh my God. Are you serious?” she asks and smiles. “That’s great news…Yeah, I’ll let him know…Congratulations…Love you…bye.” She says and looks at me with a smile on her face. “What is it?” I ask. “That was Linda. They had her gender scan today. They are having a little girl. She said Karen is doing just fine and is just perfect.” She tells me and I just smile. “That’s great news.” I tell her and she looks at me for a minute. “Are you okay?” she asks. I pull her over into my lap and kiss her softly. “I couldn’t be better. I have a beautiful wife, child on the way, and a perfect niece that will carry her aunt’s name to honor her. Life couldn’t be more perfect.” I tell her and we snuggle up and just sit.