Epilogue #2
The string quartet began a new song. At the first few slow and haunting notes of “Clair de Lune,” the crowd rose to their feet, turning to see Lettie on her father’s arm.
The bride’s dress was nearly an exact replica of the wedding dress Audrey Hepburn wore in Funny Face .
Lettie’s mom, a gifted seamstress, had sewed it, and Anne Darcy had embroidered the hem with white almond blossoms. The shorter hemline showed off the floral-embroidered Manolos I picked out just for her—a playful pop of color and whimsy that suited Lettie.
A long Belgian lace veil trailed behind her.
With the veil covering her face, Lettie appeared as the vague promise of a beautiful woman.
But it was enough to make Liam cry happy tears.
Charlie passed him a handkerchief. Liam dabbed his eyes, then handed it back to his best man, who also wiped his eyes.
It was all so sweet. I leaned on Wyatt’s shoulder, and he wrapped his arm close around me.
Here I was watching someone else get married, and I felt nothing but joy.
The ceremony was lovely and sweet; the dinner was delicious and full of so many nods to Liam and Lettie. There were almonds in the green beans and violets in the salad. And William Darcy’s famous garlic rosemary roasted potatoes. A reminder of Liam’s dad, who had died three years before.
Freddy West and April Rain sang a duet of their famous wedding song, and there was not a dry eye in the audience.
I saw Dean Elliot foxtrotting with Liam’s aunt, Dr. Katherine Debourgh.
She wore her famous diamonds and was well matched dancing with the TV star.
It was a pleasure to watch them move across the dance floor.
As we sat on the sidelines, nibbling macarons and swallowing mouthfuls of marzipan cake garnished with candied violets. Wyatt told me about all the business leads he had made at the party. Dean had asked him to put him on his wait list, as well as Freddy West and September’s husband, Carlos.
“Who knew weddings were such a good place to do business?” Wyatt exclaimed as we watched Jane and Charlie shimmy. Jane wasn’t letting her pregnancy or the fact that she’d been on her feet all day stop her. It made me tired just watching her.
“I told you, you needed a tux,” I said.
“You were right. You were also right that dressing a little more strategically would help my business.”
“Of course I was.” I gave him a smug smile.
“I love that you agreed to my dad’s cockamamie plan. But what I will never get is why you did so in the first place.” Wyatt had told me how his dad had played matchmaker. “Why did you do it? I mean, you hated me.”
“I did. But . . .”
“But...” His face lit up with amusement.
“You couldn’t stop thinking about that kiss.
” He was teasing me, but he was closer to the truth than I had ever admitted to myself.
My stated reason to help Mo was to get revenge.
But when I really thought about it, my motivation made no sense.
If Wyatt was really the player I believed him to be at the time, a silly makeover wouldn’t convince him to settle down with Emma.
No, if I were being honest with myself, I knew my motive was much more basic.
I might have detested Wyatt Knox, but..
. he was right. I couldn’t stop thinking about that kiss. And hoping for another.
“Could you?” he asked.
“Nope, never.”
Wyatt stood up. “C’mere, Your Majesty, I need to dance with my girlfriend.” I readily agreed. He led me to the dance floor. “But first, I need to kiss her.” Wyatt nuzzled up close. His lips found mine, and we kissed slowly, savoring sweet kisses that tasted like macarons.
A tap on the shoulder from Jane brought me back to reality. “Caroline, you’re needed on the dancefloor.”
Dean Elliot stood in the middle of the dance floor. His game show host voice boomed through the party.
“It’s the moment we’ve been waiting for! All the single ladies gather on the dance floor.” Dean Elliot was relishing his job as master of ceremonies. “It’s tiiiime for the bouquet toss!”
“I don’t really need to go,” I said to Wyatt, who stood behind me with his arms wrapped around me.
Skipping the bouquet toss was a complete 180 from Jane’s wedding, when I practically fought one of her young cousins for the bouquet.
I lost, but only because Lettie held me back and wouldn’t let me elbow the girl still in braces.
At the time, I was searching for some sort of good omen—some sign suggesting that someday I might get my happily ever after.
This time around, I had no interest in catching the stunning bouquet of wildflowers.
I went to the dance floor only to be a good sport.
I no longer craved reassurance that things would work out.
I had already seen my dreams shatter when my plans came crashing down—the loss was real.
I knew from experience that life didn’t always go according to plan and that could really suck.
But also, when plans fell apart, they left space for new possibilities, and that was often when the best things happened.
I glanced at Wyatt, smiling at me from the sidelines, so devastatingly distracting in his tux.
He mouthed something to me, but I couldn’t read lips.
He said it again and then pointed urgently.
I turned to see what he was pointing at.
WHACK! The bouquet hit me on the side of my head.
Stunned, I somehow caught the flowers, which were heavier than they looked.
I held up the bouquet in victory. All the other single women cheered. Dean Elliot declared. “We have a winner!” Wyatt ran out to the dance floor, picked me up, spun me around, and gave me a celebratory kiss.
Wasn’t that just like life? When you least expected it, the most wonderful, astonishing surprise smacked you in the head and fell into your lap. And when that happened, the only thing to do was to take hold and make the most of that startlingly beautiful, unexpected gift.