Epilogue
Madeleine
Eight Months Later
A warm breeze flows through the open French doors, and the pink and gold sky reflects off the pristine lake, evoking a scene worthy of a museum painting.
It’s a beautiful day—perhaps the most beautiful day of the year.
And it’s time.
“You look so stunning,” my mom says as she greets me, holding out my bouquet of white roses. She gazes at my ivory mermaid-style off-the-shoulder lace dress with admiration in her eyes. “This dress was made for you, sweetheart.”
“Thank you.” I bring the flowers up to my nose and inhale their perfume.
She reaches out, gently tucking a loose strand of hair back in place. “I know your father is watching over you. He’s here right now. I can feel it.” Her eyes glisten with tears, and mine follow suit. “And I know he’s so proud of the woman you’ve become.”
I nod, my throat tightening. “I can feel him here too.”
She smiles, wiping carefully under her eyes. “Well, I better get out there.”
“I’ll be right there.” I pull at the top of my dress; the bodice suddenly feels tighter than it did when I last tried it on a week ago. Or was it always this snug?
Just as she steps outside to head toward the dock and take her seat, Vin approaches, lost in thought, peering down at the grass.
With every step he takes, it becomes increasingly difficult to hold back my tears. I suddenly don’t feel like a twenty-five-year-old woman, but rather like a little girl—one on the brink of having to say goodbye to the man who has been the missing father figure in her life for the past eight years.
Which is silly, of course, because I’m not going anywhere.
And neither is he.
But there’s something about weddings that bring out the damn tears.
As he walks through the door, he looks up and smiles with tears in his eyes, and I can’t hold back anymore.
“Ugh, Vin.” I wave a hand over my eyes in a futile attempt to dry the tears.
He pinches the bridge of his nose. “Oh, fuck, Madeleine. Why is this so hard?”
“Because we love each other, idiot.”
We both share a lighthearted laugh as he approaches my side.
“You’re the most beautiful bride I’ve ever seen,” he tells me with sincerity in his voice.
“You probably say that to all of the brides before you walk them down the aisle,” I tease, knowing he walked Scarlett down the aisle only a couple of months ago.
He chuckles, rubbing his chin. “I guess it’s turning into a new tradition, huh? Me walking the brides of this family down the aisle.”
“I wouldn’t want it to be anyone else.”
He clears his throat. “I’m sorry that Dad’s not here to do this part.”
I roll in my bottom lip, holding back every emotion. “He may not be able to walk with me down the aisle, but he’s here.”
“You’re probably right.” He grins. “A bird shit on my jacket earlier. Do you think that was him?”
I press the palm of my hand over my mouth as a laugh bubbles out of me. “Most likely. Probably getting you back for wrecking his favorite car when you were a teenager.”
Vin laughs and pats his pocket before retrieving a letter, which he holds out for me to take. “Eli asked me to give this to you to read before we meet him out there.” I accept the letter, curiosity taking over. “I’ll go make myself a drink and give you a minute,” he adds as he walks away.
I place my bouquet on a side table and carefully tear open the envelope. Pulling out the folded piece of paper, I hold it in front of me.
“Oh my God,” I say softly as tears steadily fall down both cheeks. I place a shaking hand over my wildly beating heart, overcome with so many emotions.
This man is the best thing that has ever happened to me.
How I ever doubted that… I shake my head.
There’s no use in looking back on the past when my future is so clear.
It’s one with Eli by my side.
“Thought you might need this.” Vin hands over a tissue, which I take, carefully dabbing at my face.
“Thank God for waterproof mascara.” I chuckle as I tuck the letter back into the envelope and replace it with my bouquet on the table.
“I’m so fucking happy for you, Madeleine,” he tells me just as the quartet outside begins playing, signaling to me that it’s time. “You ready to go get your happily ever after?”
“I’ve never been more ready for anything in my life.”
With my heart racing, we step out the door, leading to the path of white flower petals that extend all the way to the dock. Lanterns hang in a row on each side of us, guiding our route.
To the left of the dock, Scarlett and Alina stand on the grass, both looking absolutely beautiful in their champagne satin dresses and dabbing at their eyes. On the right, Leo, Mauro, and Alex are dressed in matching black suits with champagne-colored ties.
As we get closer to the dock, all the guests stand, and Eli turns to face me, his eyes taking in every inch of me as if seeing me for the very first time.
That’s my husband.
He fights back tears but loses the battle the moment I mouth, I love you.
I love you, he mouths back, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he quickly wipes at his face.
Vin leans closer to me, whispering so only I can hear, “If he hurts you, just give me the word, and I’ll kill him.”
I elbow him inconspicuously in the ribs, and he lets out a grunt as we take the final step.
Vin places my hand in Eli’s, who gently tugs me to his side, intertwining our fingers.
The officiant speaks, but his words blur in the background as Eli presses our temples together.
“Why do I feel like you’re going to make me cry again?” I ask, closing my eyes.
He grins. “I take it Vin gave you my letter.”
“He did.” I open my eyes. “Why didn’t you tell me any of that before?”
“It didn’t feel right. But I don’t want anything between us anymore. No secrets. Big or small. I don’t want to risk anything ever coming between us again.”
“Nothing ever will,” I promise him. “We found our way back to each other. And this time, I’m never letting you go.”
“Good, because I have plans for us.” The corners of his lips curve up. “Starting with creating a mini you.”
My smile drops. “But what if—”
He cups my cheeks. “If it happens, it happens. If it doesn’t, well, you’ve already made me the happiest man in the world just by being my wife.
There’s nothing I need more in my life than you, love.
Anything beyond that is just a bonus. But this time, I’ll be by your side through the whole journey.
You won’t ever have to go through anything alone again. ”
Tears crawl down my cheeks. “God, why can’t I stop crying? I’ve never been this emotional in my life.”
Eli’s thumbs wipe away every tear before they have a chance to fall to the ground.
I’ve never been this emotional in my life.
…the bodice suddenly feels tighter than it did when I last tried it on a week ago…
My body goes still while my heart races in anticipation as I quickly do some mental math.
And then it hits me.
“I’m late,” I whisper, the realization suddenly striking me.
Eli’s brows furrow. “Late for what?”
I raise an eyebrow in response.
His eyes widen, his lips parting. “Late as in…late?”
I nod in disbelief, a smile taking over my face, one I find impossible to contain.
Two months ago, I stopped taking my birth control, knowing that both of us dream of starting a family.
I assumed it would take some time for the medication to leave my system, so I never imagined it would happen this quickly. “I think I might be—”
“And do you, Eli Lyon, take Madeleine Alarie to be your lawfully wedded spouse, to have and to hold from this day forward, in sickness and in health, in poverty and in wealth, for as long as you both shall live?”
“I do,” Eli rushes out with a giant smile that reaches his eyes.
“And do you, Madeleine Alarie, take Eli Lyon to be your lawfully wedded spouse, to have and to hold from this day forward, in sickness and in health, in poverty and in wealth, for as long as you both—”
“I do,” I interject, too impatient for the man to finish his words.
“Then, by the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”
Eli wraps an arm around my waist, dipping me as the audience cheers excitedly around us.
“I plan to. Every day. For the rest of my life,” he says right before capturing my lips in the most tantalizing kiss of my entire life.
The end.