Читать книгу Brides, Babies And Billionaires - Мишель Смарт, Rebecca Winters - Страница 98

Epilogue

“You don’t think she’ll run, do you?”

Seth shot Bobby a dirty look as the judge cleared his throat. “Shall we begin?”

Jack Roy began to strum his guitar as Julie walked into the judge’s chambers, strewing rose petals before her. Davey walked next to his cousin, intensely focused on the rings he was carrying. Clara, Eliza and Connie giggled while their mothers shushed them.

Billy smacked Bobby on the arm and Ben made a noise of warning deep in his throat. Seth ignored them all because just then, Kate walked through the double doors, holding a sleeping Madeleine in her arms instead of a bouquet.

Seth’s heart clenched at the sight of his family. Not that he hadn’t seen them this morning—he’d gotten up with Madeleine at two so Kate could sleep.

But his aunt Stella had worked her magic, designing a simple cream wedding gown that clung to Kate’s ample chest and flowed softly away from the waist. Compared to the monstrosity that Kate had almost gotten married in the first time, Seth was thrilled to realize this dress wouldn’t require three lady’s maids to remove.

Madeleine wore a similar outfit, although her fabric had been dyed with the faintest pink. Seth couldn’t see his daughter’s feet because the dress flowed well past Madeleine’s legs.

“Beautiful,” Billy whispered, sounding almost wheezy about it.

“Mine,” Seth replied.

“I’m proud of you, son,” Billy went on, his voice low enough that no one else could hear him. “I knew you’d do the right thing.”

The last six months had been a whirlwind of change. Kate had moved into their home and Seth had given her free rein to decorate it as she saw fit. Madeleine had come two weeks early, healthy and beautiful. Seth had been with Kate for the entire twenty-two hours of labor.

He’d personally hired a man he’d worked with in LA who, it turned out, spoke semi-fluent Mandarin to spearhead the Shanghai showroom.

And Seth? He’d stayed in Rapid City, overseeing the museum expansion.

Expanding his family.

Today, not only would Kate become his wife, but Madeleine would legally be his daughter. He and Kate had debated getting hitched immediately—Seth’s preference—but Kate had decided she wanted to wait until Madeleine could be a part of the ceremony.

Seth caught the eye of his future in-laws. Kate’s dad was scowling, but he’d put on a boutonniere and he was here, so that was something. Kate’s mom was dabbing at her eyes. Seth hoped that for Kate’s sake, they could have a cordial relationship, if not a close one.

Then Seth turned his attention back to his bride.

The judge, it turned out, was an old riding buddy of Billy’s. He’d been happy to combine a wedding and an adoption.

Kate made her way up to Seth and handed Madeleine off to Jenny. Then, before their families, God and the state of South Dakota, he married his bride and adopted his daughter.

He was a Bolton and this was his family. By God, he would do anything for them. They were the right thing. They always would be.

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