Epilogue
One month later.
Victoria looked at herself in the mirror, at the diamond-and-pearl teardrop earrings Kyle had given her and the matching necklace he’d sent over as a wedding gift. She’d wanted to give him a special gift, too, but he’d insisted that she was his gift. She and their baby.
Ironically, in the days following his proposal, they hadn’t seen much of each other.
Kyle had been working seven days a week, some days for nearly twelve hours.
But he’d always come home to her. They’d spent those nights in bed, talking, then holding each other and making love, cherishing every single moment.
Since he’d proposed, Kyle had done so many beautiful things for her she thought her heart would burst.
First, he’d packed up her meager belongings and moved them into his house, then he’d given her the news he was putting the house on the market, so they could pick out another home—together.
His final gift was to pay for her psychology doctorate, so she didn’t have to wait to fulfill her four-year agreement with Brad.
“I can totally see you as a blond.” Gina’s face appeared in the mirror over Victoria’s shoulder. “I’m not convinced, but they say blonds have more fun.”
Victoria turned her head from side to side, examining the natural blond roots that had begun to make an appearance.
Since she no longer had to hide from anyone, she’d started growing it out.
She smiled at her reflection. “In that case, I’m looking forward to more fun in my life.
” Something that had been lacking for so long, she’d forgotten what true fun really was.
“No Champagne for you.” Gina poured sparkling cider into a crystal flute and handed it to her. Surprisingly, she also filled another empty flute on the table with cider.
“Can we talk for a second?” Victoria asked.
She’d wanted to say something earlier, but there’d been no opportunity.
“I didn’t mean to detract from the importance of your own wedding.
I know it’s barely a month away. It’s just that, uh, I’m kind of in a hurry.
” She gave Gina a hesitant smile as she pointed to her belly.
“Don’t sweat it.” She squeezed Victoria’s shoulder and smiled. “I understand. Really, I do.”
“Thanks. Really.” Gina and her friends had become such a big part of her life lately, she’d worried about offending her.
Gina winked, then set the cider down and picked up an open bottle of Champagne and topped off everyone else.
“Ladies,” Victoria said, holding up her glass , “I want to thank you for all that you’ve done. Your support has been endless, and you’re nothing short of miracle workers.”
What they’d all contributed was truly amazing. In fact, the last month had been a crazy whirlwind of activity. With all their charitable and socialite connections, of which there turned out to be many, a general thanks to the six women and one child in the room would hardly suffice.
“Gina,” she said, smiling at the woman it was impossible not to like, and who’d quickly become one of her newest and closest friends, “I don’t know how you found this venue on such short notice.
It’s beyond my wildest dreams. I feel like a princess.
” The beautiful Briarcliff Manor estate did look more like a castle, with its ivy-covered turrets and stone walls.
The inside was equally stunning, with white marble floors and enormous crystal chandeliers.
“Thank you,” she said, barely able to keep from shedding a few tears.
Gina pressed a hand over her heart, her dark brown eyes also shimmering. “You are more than welcome.”
“Margo, the flowers are stunning,” she continued, indicating the blond-haired woman, whom she’d learned was the steadfast, pragmatist of the bunch. “All the bouquets, boutonnieres, flowers for the tables…it’s like a flower garden out there.”
Margo held up her flute and smiled. “It was my absolute pleasure to do this for you.”
“Annabelle, how can I ever thank you for tasting all the food for the reception?” Like Gina, it had been impossible not to like the woman with bright green eyes and curly red hair. When she’d been in the throes of morning sickness, having someone else sample reception food had been a godsend.
“That was truly my pleasure, as well.” She grinned. “Food is my specialty.”
“And Kinsey.” Victoria held up her flute as she smiled at the tall, statuesque woman with long, shiny dark hair. “Without you, we wouldn’t have these beautiful dresses.”
Miraculously, Kinsey, whom she’d met only two weeks ago when she’d flown back from Kenya, had somehow procured the sleek white sleeveless fit-and-flare wedding dress, with a draped cowl neckline and deep V-back.
Though her pregnancy still barely showed, the lightweight stretch satin would allow her to eat for two at the reception and dance comfortably.
Even Tracee’s and Gina’s ivory satin short sleeve bridesmaids’ dresses were perfectly fitted, as was the knee-length cream lace sheath dress Elaina—Kyle’s mother—wore.
“Elaina,” Victoria said, gazing warmly at her soon-to-be mother-in-law, at this point, barely able to choke back the tears. “Thank you for accepting me so graciously into your family.”
“And thank you, dear.” Elaina grinned. “For giving me my first grandchild.”
Gina coughed, taking a quick sip of cider.
Right after proposing, Kyle had driven her to meet his mother. While they’d explained everything, Elaina had listened wordlessly. Then she’d wrapped Victoria in a big, warm hug. No one could ever replace her own mother, but Elaina helped alleviate the sadness of not having her here.
She rolled her lips inward, wishing her mother had lived to see her marry the man of her dreams, but was comforted by the firm belief that she was there, watching over her and smiling in approval.
Victoria cleared her throat before continuing.
“To my dearest friends, Tracee and Ruby.” She leaned down to cup Ruby’s adorable little face.
“Thank you for helping me pick out a white chocolate wedding cake with raspberry filling. I couldn’t have decided without your professional expertise in cake tasting. ”
“It was my favorite, and I like a lot of cake!” Ruby giggled, and everyone laughed with her. “Thank you for the dress.” She twirled around in the smaller version of a bridesmaid dress Victoria had insisted on.
“Last, but by no means least, Tracee. Thank you for taking care of the invitations. You’ve been my friend, my colleague, my rock.
The only reason I’m alive is because you broke a promise to me.
” If she hadn’t called Kyle the night Yuri had kidnapped her, there was no doubt in her mind he wouldn’t have arrived in time to save her.
“I did, didn’t I?” Tracee grinned unapologetically. “It was the best promise I ever broke.”
After giving Tracee a warm hug, she turned to the other women, taking them all in and having an epiphany, of sorts.
“When you put your mind into a project, you go all out.” Only a week ago, these women had told her the whole story about how they’d stolen from the Italian Mafia and given the money to a women’s shelter.
That same night, she’d confided her own story about stealing from the Bratva and giving the money to charity.
“I think it was fate we all met. We have so much in common!”
For a moment, no one said a word, then Gina snorted, and they all laughed, joining together in the middle of the room to clink glasses.
After the laughter had died down, Gina asked, “So, are you ready to get married?”
She took a deep breath. “I’ve been ready for this moment for over a decade.”
Gina winked. “I’ll go tell the boys. I’ll give you a few minutes.”
“Thank you.” Her eyes brimmed with tears of joy.
She had always loved Kyle. Her only regret was for the time they’d spent apart. Today was all about new beginnings.
For her. For Kyle. And their new family.
Kyle stood with his brothers and their boss at the front of the estate’s event room.
Two sections of chairs lined up on either side of a long white runner. Yellow and white flowers tied with ribbon hung everywhere, including on the twelve-foot-high arch beneath which he and his brothers waited for the bridal party.
Nearly every seat was taken by his family, friends, and agents and support staff from his office.
In the years since Victoria had fled Chicago, there hadn’t been much opportunity for her to make lasting friendships, but along with his mother and Gina and her Band of Merry Women, they’d welcomed her into their fold.
The low hum of voices, laughter, and music played by the small orchestra set up in the back corner floated in the air.
“Nervous, bro?” Jack handed him a tumbler with two fingers of whiskey.
“No.” He was as un-nervous as a man could be.
This wasn’t his first marriage, but he was older now, wiser, and crazy in love with his fiancée. He glanced at the doors through which Victoria would soon come through.
Warm light streamed in through the arched windows, bathing the room in a glow of sunshine. Truthfully, he could care less what the weather was outside. It could be cloudy, raining, snowing, a blizzard could move in, and he still wouldn’t care, because he was marrying the woman he loved.
Mike clapped him on the back. “You’ve been waiting a long time for this.”
He nodded. “No reason to wait any longer.”
A flash of ivory caught his attention as Gina wended her way down the aisle.
“You know,” Deke said, elbowing Kyle in the ribs, “I’ve never been to a shotgun wedding before.”
Jack snorted.
“Be nice,” Kyle warned. Though his brothers knew the circumstances of how Victoria had become unexpectedly pregnant, he wouldn’t allow them to disrespect her. If anyone else had said that besides Deke, they’d be lying on the floor with a black eye.
“I just never expected you to get married again before Jack,” Deke replied. “No disrespect intended to Victoria. She’s great. You’re a lucky bastard to have her.”
“That I am.”