Epilogue
Paige
The Honeybrook Inn’s reception hall had never looked prettier. Twinkle lights draped from the rafters, flowers spilled over the tables in mason jars, and Piper’s cake—three tiers of lavender buttercream perfection—stood proudly in the corner, already making my mouth water.
It wasn’t a huge wedding. Just family, and a few close friends. But it was more than enough. It was everything I’d ever wanted, even if I’d never let myself admit it before.
My kids stood at my side, all three of them glowing in their own way.
Lark sniffled openly into a tissue Piper had shoved at her. “You look so pretty, Mom.”
Briar rolled her eyes, but her mouth curved. “Obviously.”
Noah grinned, adjusting the tie Hunter had insisted on buying him. “Took you guys long enough.”
I laughed, blinking fast against the tears threatening to ruin my makeup. “Thanks. I love you all so much.”
When the music started, I turned—and there he was. Hunter Cassidy, standing at the end of the aisle in a suit that fit him like sin and salvation, his eyes locked on mine like no one else existed.
My heart tripped over itself as my kids walked me up the aisle, because this was the man who had waited for me, who had shown up when everything else was falling apart—the man who had kept every promise he’d ever made to me.
The vows were simple. Honest. We didn’t need elaborate speeches—we already knew what we meant to each other.
When it was over, as he kissed me in front of everyone we loved, the room erupted in cheers.
But it was the kids who got me.
Briar’s arms locked around my waist the second I stepped off the little platform. Lark squeezed Hunter’s hand like she never planned to let go. And Noah leaned in, voice low but steady.
“I’m so happy for you, Mom. You look peaceful. Thank you, Hunter.”
Hunter’s arm slid around my back, pulling all of us in closer. “I love you guys,” he said as we slid into a group hug.
The reception was loud and joyful—music blasted through the hall, people danced, Piper’s cake was being devoured like it was the last one on earth. Then Hunter caught my hand under the table and tugged me to my feet, then toward the back door.
We slipped outside into the cool night air, the sound of laughter and music muffled behind us. Twinkle lights framed the porch, casting everything in a golden glow. He backed me against the railing, his forehead resting against mine, his breath warm and steady.
“Just needed a minute with my wife,” he murmured, his voice low and rough in a way that made me shiver.
I smiled, my hands sliding up his chest to loop around his neck. “Your wife, huh? I love how that sounds.”
“My wife,” he repeated, and then his mouth was on mine—slow and sure, a kiss that tasted like forever.
The town could have disappeared, the lights gone out, the music faded to nothing, and it wouldn’t have mattered.
Because right there, in the quiet glow of the night, I had everything I’d ever wanted.