“Better half,” he said with a wink.

“It is clear to me now that everything in my life has led me to you. I think back on all my choices and consider even the bad ones blessed, because if I had done even one thing differently, I might never have met you or be standing here witnessing my dreams come true in real time. You are my family, and I want to be there for you in all things. I am so excited to be your wife and share in every moment—not only the good times, but the learning experiences too. I vow to take from every moment the opportunity to love, to nurture, and to grow, and to never forget how lucky I am.”

Trex’s lips formed a hard line, the corners slightly turning up. Love you, he mouthed.

“The rings?” Reverend Lewis asked.

Harbinger bent down, carefully untying my ring from one pillow, then Trex’s band from the other. He opened his palm, allowing me to take Trex’s first.

I held the gold band at the tip of his left ring finger.

“Repeat after me, Darby,” Reverend Lewis said.

I repeated him in sections. I was nervous and had to ask the reverend to say the words again.

“You’re doing great, babe,” Trex said.

I relaxed, eventually making it through. "I give you this ring as a sign of my vow, and with all that I am, and all that I have.

“I honor you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

"With this ring, I thee wed, and all my worldly goods I thee endow. In sickness and in health, in poverty or in wealth, till death do us part."

I pushed the ring over Trex’s knuckle to secure it at the base of his finger, and he beamed.

“Trex, repeat after me, please.”

Trex took my ring from Harbinger and did the same, sliding the champagne gold band and diamonds over my knuckle to secure it next to my engagement ring. He closed his eyes as he kissed my knuckles.

“Trex?” I said, watching his lashes pop up as he looked at me. “I need to tell you something.”

He smiled, a little nervous. “What is it? Wait. Let me kiss you first.”

He leaned in, but I pressed gently against his chest.

Trex fidgeted and shifted his weight, all in the few seconds after I stopped him from completing the ceremony.

He lowered his chin, speaking low. “Everything okay?”

“You tell me,” I breathed out.

The guests began to murmur.

Trex looked back at his clueless groomsmen, then leaned over to peek at Naomi. His brows pulled together as he met my gaze again.

“Darby…?” he began. He shook his head, clueless.

Instead of an exciting build up to the news, Trex looked tortured.

“I’m pregnant,” I blurted out.

He blinked. “You’re what? Really? I mean … really?”