Epilogue Violet
Epilogue
Violet
“This is so you,” Montana said as she slipped a few flowers in my long French braid before turning and doing the same to Harper’s hair.
“Yep. Not many people get married three days after they get engaged.” Blakely chuckled. “But it’s very on brand for you.”
“What’s ‘on brand’ mean?” Harper asked.
I bent down to get eye level with her. “It just sort of means your style and your personality.”
“Oh. Then I love your brand, Vi. I want my brand to be just like your brand,” Harper said, and my chest nearly exploded.
“I love your style and your personality too, Harps. Are you ready to go get married?”
“I’m ready!” she shouted.
We were wearing matching floral maxi dresses with our boots.
We’d decided to get married on the patio at the Moose Brew, overlooking the water.
Benji had closed the place down. It was just supposed to be Charlie, Harper, and me, but of course Montana insisted on being a witness, and Myles said he’d officiate, and Blakely and Benji both said they’d be the token guests.
It was small and intimate. No frills or stress.
No invitations or worrying about family squabbles and who would show up.
Harper and I picked wildflowers earlier that day, which we’d hold as Charlie and I said our vows.
We walked hand in hand out of the restroom and headed for the patio.
Country music was playing through the speakers, and I looked up to see Charlie watching me walk toward him, with his daughter’s hand in mine.
She felt like our daughter at this point, but that would all come in good time.
Montana, Blakely, and Benji sat in the few chairs we’d placed on the patio, and my best friend already had tears streaming down her face. I leaned down and kissed Harper on the cheek, and Charlie did the same, before she walked off and sat with our friends to watch.
“Hey, Firefly,” he said. “You ready to make it official?”
“Absolutely.”
Myles read from his script about the bond between a husband and a wife, and we all listened intently, trying not to chuckle at how serious he was being. And then he turned to us and asked if we’d like to read our vows.
I nodded for Charlie to go first.
“You know I’m a man of few words, but I’ve got some things I’d like to say to you,” he said, holding my hands in his.
I nodded, encouraging him to continue. “For a long time I thought it would just be me and Harps against the world.” He paused and winked at his daughter.
“I couldn’t imagine room for anyone else.
And then you stood on a stool in a pair of panties and high heels in the guesthouse, fighting with a smoke detector, and everything changed. ”
Everyone chuckled, including me, as I swiped at the single tear rolling down my cheek.
“You light up every room you walk into, Firefly. But you lit something in me that had been snuffed out for a long time. My heart beats for you and Harper. I want to do forever with you. I want to fight with you and laugh with you and maybe even renovate a few homes with you. Because I’d rather argue with you than get along with anyone else.
I want to grow old with you. Every part of you.
As corny as it sounds—you complete me, baby.
Hashtag ‘love you.’” He leaned down and whispered in my ear. “Mean it.”
For a man of few words, he’d managed to bring me to tears.
I sniffled, and Myles told me to take my time.
I opened my paper as a tear fell from my eye and the ink bled out like a spiderweb. I didn’t really need to read what I’d written. I knew what I was going to say, but I held the paper just in case.
“Charles,” I said, smiling up at him, “I never thought I’d be standing here, reading my vows to a man.
I never thought I’d find someone who I knew was the love of my life.
The other half of my soul. A man I’d trust with my heart.
A little girl I’d call my own,” I said as my voice wobbled, and I glanced over at Harper.
“And then I made some pink pancakes and tied a whole lot of balloons, and I couldn’t get enough.
” I sniffed as he chuckled and used the pad of his thumb to swipe the tears on my face away.
“I never believed I would fit somewhere. I spent my whole life trying to find my place. My home. My people. I’d been so wounded at a young age that I didn’t actually believe in happily ever after.
And then I met you. And I couldn’t run from it, because you’re a part of me now.
Thank you for showing me what love looks like.
Thank you for making me believe in forever.
” I kissed his cheek and whispered in his ear. “Hashtag ‘love you, mean it.’”
I turned to face Harper. “Harper Penelope Huxley, you are also the love of my life. I promise to show up for you every day, the way that you deserve. I promise to tie pink balloons until my fingers bleed, and to hold your hand when you need me beside you. I promise to never take you on the demon slide again,” I said as everyone laughed.
“We did it, Vi. You and me.” Harper shook her head as tears streamed down her little face.
“Any slide other than the demon, please,” Charlie said with a laugh.
I nodded. “I love you, Harps.”
“I love you, Vi. You’re the most real mama I ever had.”
“Well, let’s keep doing that, okay?” I blew her a kiss and turned back to face Myles.
“For fuck’s sake,” he muttered under his breath so only we could hear him as he blinked several times, and a single tear rolled down his cheek. He shook it off quickly. “Okay. Let’s finish this off right.”
He continued to read from his script as we nodded and repeated the words he read.
Most of it was a blur to me as I just stared up at Charlie.
I couldn’t believe I was here.
I’d found my other half.
I remembered hearing Myles say the words, “I now pronounce you man and wife, you may kiss the bride,” just before Charlie scooped me into his arms and kissed me senseless.
Our friends cheered and clapped their hands together, but we just kept on kissing.
Because Charlie and I knew we’d found forever.
We’d never quite fit anywhere else, but together, with Harper—we were a perfect match.
Love you, mean it.