Epilogue
Mike and Rachel
Six months later
Mike stood in Esther’s garden, pulling at the collar around his neck. “Damn, I hate wearing these things. I told Rachel we should’ve eloped and gone to Vegas or something.”
Ash snorted. “And have Esther miss the wedding of her only granddaughter?” He raised a dubious brow. “Surely you aren’t that stupid?”
True. Esther was like his grandmother, and he’d never do anything to hurt her. Rachel had told him her childhood dream was to marry in her grandmother’s garden, and Mike couldn’t refuse her a thing.
“No, you’re right.” But it didn’t make standing in the sun wearing a tie any easier.
“Besides, they’re almost ready. Look, here comes Jordan.”
Jordan hurried over with Luke a step behind. “I’ve got the rings right here. Are you ready?” He grinned. “I still can’t believe you’re the first one to get married.”
“And she said yes.” Drew slipped his arm around Ash’s waist. “That’s the one I’m trying to figure out.”
Mike crossed his arms. “Very funny, hah fucking hah. Go on, have your fun. Get it all out of your systems now, especially you, D, since you’re going to be my brother at the end of the day.”
Drew’s eyes grew soft. “You’ve always been my brother, you and Jordan since we were little. I couldn’t ask for a better man to marry my sister.”
Mike’s throat grew tight. “The feeling’s mutual, brother.” He pulled Drew to him in a bear hug. He knew how lucky he was, marrying Rachel. She made him feel like a whole man again, despite his injury and the nightmares of the attack. There was no one else like her, and he had no problem spending the rest of his life making sure she knew how special she was.
“Drew, it’s time.” Ash tapped him on the back, and Mike released him. “I see Tina and Louisa waiting in the doorway.”
Ever the emotional one in their group, Drew wiped his eyes. “All right, this is it.” He turned to Ash and touched his chest. A light brush, nothing more, but Ash’s eyes flashed brightly in the sun.
Mike watched them kiss. There was something different about the two of them today. Always deeply connected, they seemed to not even need to speak and could communicate with a glance.
Drew hurried off down the flower-edged path. When Rachel told Esther about their plans, Esther went into full wedding mode. She, Louisa, and Tina planted beautiful impatiens and azalea bushes in the garden, certain to be flowering in time for the wedding. The chuppah, or canopy under which Mike and Rachel would be married, made a perfect arch thick with pink and white roses.
He couldn’t have cared less about all the plans and only wanted to marry Rachel and start their lives together.
“Hey, you guys, we aren’t late, are we?” Brandon rushed up with Tash. “We got stuck in some stupid traffic.” He greeted his brothers and Mike.
“Nope, you’re fine.” Soft music began to play from the outside patio. Mike saw his parents approach. “As a matter of fact, you should probably take your seats, ’cause it’s time.”
Jordan kissed Luke. “I’ll see you afterward.” As best man, Jordan would be the first one to walk up the aisle. Rachel’s best friend from college was her maid of honor and would follow him.
Mike took his place in between his parents.
“Ready, Son?” His father smiled at him, and his mother squeezed his arm. “You know, we’d always hoped you would marry Rachel. We couldn’t be happier to have her as a daughter.”
“Hopefully, you two will be giving us lots of grandchildren to spoil.” His mother kissed his cheek.
“Carol, really, let the boy get married first.”
“I promise we’ll work on it as hard as we can, Mom.” He kissed her cheek, and she laughed.
“I’m sure you will, sweetheart.”
He watched Jordan walk down the aisle to the strains of Pachelbel’s “Canon,” and then Rachel’s friend Jennifer followed, taking her place under the chuppah. The rabbi was next.
“Here we go, Mikey,” his mother whispered to him as they walked down the aisle. Mike had always liked the Jewish tradition of both parents walking with their child for the marriage ceremony. He faced the guests sitting in the rows of cushioned gilt chairs they’d all set up this morning.
And suddenly there she was. In between Drew and Esther, Rachel stood out like a princess with her shining dark hair curling around her shoulders and a sparkling tiara in her hair. Her strapless dress showed off her beautiful figure.
She was gorgeous and his, and he couldn’t take his eyes off her. They walked up the aisle three-quarters of the way and stopped. Mike went down to meet her and lifted the sheer veil.
“Hi, sweetie.” He kissed her cheek.
“Hi.” Her green eyes glowed with happiness.
Drew shook his hand, and Esther hugged and kissed him. “You always were like my grandchild; now I get to keep you.”
He and Rachel walked up to the rabbi and listened to the age-old words of the ceremony. They sipped the wine and then Jordan gave him the ring. When Mike slipped it on her finger, a feeling of contentment settled over him. Grounding him. Rachel slid his ring on his finger and looked at him.
“I feel it too.”
He squeezed her hand and let the rabbi finish speaking. Along with his parents, Drew and Ash stood together, hand in hand under the chuppah with him, Jordan, Esther, and Rachel’s friend Jennifer. Everyone dear to him was in this house.
The rabbi placed the glass wrapped in a napkin on the ground. “Go ahead, Mike. You know what to do.”
He stomped on it, hearing the satisfying crunch under his feet.
“Mazel tov!”
He and Rachel kissed and faced their guests.
“I love you, Rachel. I always have.” He kissed her again, deep and hard, to the delight and whistles of the crowd.
“I love you too, honey.”
Forever. It sounded like a damn good plan.
~ ~