15. Epilogue 2 – Ben
Six months later…
“Are you afraid Colleen’s going to pull a runaway bride?”
Before I could say anything to Sean, Father Leo shushed us. I leaned closer to my soon-to-be brother in law and whispered, “Stop getting us in trouble, man.”
Sean and I had been spending some time together since I started dating his sister, and he’d become a good friend. I liked all the O’Malley siblings, even though I didn’t understand their family dynamics very well. As an only child, their ways were new to me, but all the siblings treated me like I was one of them, so I was happy.
Of course I wasn’t the only newcomer to the family. Both Erin and Sean had fallen in love – with a huge push from their mother and aunt – and despite their resistance to being fixed up by the elder matchmakers in the family, I wouldn’t be surprised if either of them was up here getting married next.
Music started playing and Tara walked up the aisle, looking beautiful in a dark red dress that off-set her olive skin and dark hair. The maid-of-honor sent me and Sean a wink as she took her place on the altar.
Then the music changed, and everyone stood as Colleen entered the church on the arm of her father. She was wearing an ivory lace dress that hugged her curves, her auburn hair down around her shoulders in a riot of curls.
She was the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen in my life. I really was a lucky man.
I blinked rapidly, trying not to cry. Colleen’s siblings and cousins would never let me live it down if I got emotional up here. They were all ruthless that way.
My fiancée kept her eyes on me the entire walk down the aisle. Then her father gave her a kiss, shook my hand, and I wrapped my hand around hers, pulling her close to my side.
I was too distracted to listen to what Father Leo was saying during the ceremony, but I guess I spoke in all the right places because thirty minutes later, he gave me permission to kiss my bride.
“I love you,” I whispered against her lips. “I can’t wait to spend the rest of our lives together.”
“I love you too,” Colleen said, blinking away tears. “Now and forever.”
I pulled her into my arms and gave her a kiss that was a little longer and more passionate than was appropriate for church, but I didn’t care. I was finally marrying the woman of my dreams.
As we walked back down the aisle to the applause of our family I couldn’t help the wide smile on my face.
It was time for us to have our happily ever after. Finally.
***
Next up, Colleen’s sister Erin is matched up with someone a little off-limits in “Matched with the Teacher”.