22. Epilogue
Chapter twenty-two
Epilogue
Catherine
Excitement and nerves jangle through my body. Somehow, even though I ought to be a mess with how much emotion is warring inside my body, I’m calm.
Well. Maybe calm isn’t the right word.
Certain.
I know with more conviction than I have ever felt before that this is where I want to be.
Standing in front of the door of Grandma’s house, waiting, I can hear the music playing as guests take their seats.
Beside me, Katherina keeps taking peeks of herself in the mirror. Her eyes are bright with excitement.
When we bought her bridesmaid dress, she had broken down crying. It was the most beautiful dress she had ever seen.
Katherina turns to me, her eyes filling with tears again. “You’re beautiful, Cat.”
Next to me, Grandma chuckles. “You really are.”
Heat rushes to my cheeks but I smile all the same. The dress is nothing fancy. It’s loose and flowy… and it makes me feel like a mermaid-fairy princess.
My hair is clasped with silver shells. My bouquet is roses from Grandma’s garden.
“I’m so happy that you and George found your way back to each other,” Grandma says, fixing my short veil around my shoulders. She hugs me lightly.
I turn, hugging her fully. Tears fill my eyes, but I fight them. I don’t want to ruin my mascara.
“Thank you, Grandma. For always being there for me.”
“Oh, it’s time,” Katherina squeals. She grabs the door handle and looks to me for confirmation.
I laugh and nod at her.
She opens the door and steps out. She walks with a somber step that makes me smile.
Just a couple months ago, she was walking across the stage for her high school graduation. Katherina has decided on a gap year rather than jumping right into college. She’ll be working full-time for George.
Grandma loops her arm through mine. We start walking down the aisle together.
Our guests beam at us as we pass. Several people whisper to each other, tears in their eyes.
I barely see them.
George stands at the end of the aisle, wearing a black suit. He’s under an arch of greenery, and the smile on his face has his dimples in full force.
I nearly melt away just looking at him.
He’s handsome all the time, but the effect of his figure against the blue sky and rolling ocean is so beautiful it makes me want to weep.
The old feelings, that I’m not worthy of his love, have long gone dormant.
Day by day, George has shone his love like a light on me. He’s shown me just how much light I have to share all on my own.
When I think about the course of events that brought us to this point, it makes me want to weep.
Any misstep along the way could have changed our destination.
And yet, here we are.
We reach the end of the aisle. I kiss Grandma’s cheek and walk the last few steps to George’s side.
Edwina and Jason are in the front row. Grandma sits next to them.
Tears are streaming down Edwina’s face as she beams at us. Even Jason pats his eyes every so often.
Our relationship is tremendous. George’s parents have taken to heart everything he’s said to them.
Edwina still does overstep sometimes, but she is very conscious about apologizing when we bring it up.
Jason has started to be more active in changing up their home décor. It seems to me that they’re both more comfortable in their own home now.
“Welcome, family and friends,” our officiant greets. “We are here for the joining of Catherine Hart and George Callahan. Marriage is about unity. These two have decided to unite their lives into one life, one family.”
I grin at George. My heart beats faster as we join hands. Tears glimmer in his eyes, too. I attempt a wink at him,
We have a bet. I say he’s going to be the first to cry. He says I am.
The winner gets breakfast in bed every Sunday for a month.
“The couple has chosen to write their own vows,” the officiant says.
George takes the mic. “Catherine. I love you so much. I can’t believe that I’m lucky enough that you want to build a life with me.”
Oh no.
He’s being so sweet!
His face blurs and I flap my hands at my eyes.
“You’re only saying that to win our bet,” I sniff.
George laughs as he reaches out, dabbing my eyes with his handkerchief. “Then I better keep going. You are the most amazing woman I’ve ever met. Words can’t express how much I love you. I promise that I will always be here for you. I will always look after you.”
He laughs as his voice breaks. “Look at that—I lost the bet.”
I half-laugh, half-sob with happiness. I wipe the tear from his eye.
“George, you have shown me what it means to trust another person. You have stood for me even when I didn’t know how to stand for myself. I swear, I will stand with you throughout all of our challenges. And I promise I’ll try not to steal all the blankets at night.”
Our guests laugh.
“Thank you,” I whisper. “For everything.”
The officiant takes back the mic. We exchange rings, the silver tones sparkling in the sunlight.
“I now present George and Catherine, husband and wife,” the officiant declares.
Everyone starts cheering. George and I lean forward together. Our lips press together for the first time as a married couple.
***
One wonderful party and lots of celebrating later, George and I retreat to our honeymoon bliss.
The tide pools are currently beneath the tide. I look forward to seeing them in the morning.
George checks the air mattress and nods in satisfaction. “Looks like it’s holding the air after all.”
I turn the hot dogs over our beach fire. The driftwood we collected earlier sparks in hues of blue and green.
The whole thing is magical.
“Katherina told me that she doesn’t understand why we would want to camp on our own property for our honeymoon,” I tell George as he rejoins me.
George chuckles. “What did you tell her?”
“That this is our mini-moon, and we’ll be going around Europe later in the year.”
George puts his arm around my shoulders, and I rest my head against his shoulder. The ocean rolls in and out, a calming sound.
“I’m not going to lie. I think this might just be the best honeymoon we could have,” I sigh.
George takes the hot dogs off the fire to check them. The skin is bubbling, but not quite enough.
“Better than Europe,” I continue. “Just you and me here, on the beach. We have so much privacy here, away from our neighbors.”
“What neighbors?” George laughs. “We have a lot of privacy all the time.”
I pull slightly away from him. “Yeah, but here we can make love in the ocean and on the beach. You can’t do that in the city.”
“I never thought about trying it in the city,” George quips.
I kiss him, cupping his chin with my hand. “Thank you.”
“For this beautiful fire?” he asks, quirking one eyebrow up.
“For everything you’ve done these past two years.” I comb my fingers through his strawberry-blond hair. “Absolutely everything.”
He grins and takes the hot dogs off the fire. Then he tackles me.
We fall into the sand, laughing. George rolls over me, kissing me up and down.
“If anyone is thanking anyone, I’m thanking you,” he growls. “You’re the one that took a shot on me.”
I sigh, enjoying the sensation of his body so close to mine. My eyes slide shut. The fire crackles nearby, with the scent of the hot dogs reminding me that I haven’t eaten in hours.
Reluctantly, I remind George of this.
He groans and rolls up, then helps me sit. We make ourselves food.
“Huh. Lynn forgot to pack the champagne I asked for,” George says as he rifles through the cooler. “All she sent was sparkling apple juice.”
My eyes widen. “She knows!”
“Knows what?” George starts to open the apple juice.
I chew my lip, a new excitement washing through me. “Well… that it’s a good thing your company has good parental leave for employees.”
George stops.
He carefully sets the glass bottle aside. His green eyes are alight as he turns back to me. “Catherine?”
“Yes, George?”
“Is there a specific reason that’s a good thing?” The hope on his face makes me want to laugh.
So I do.
I nod, unexpectedly crying. “I’m pregnant.”
George’s smile is blinding. He places a light hand on my belly, then leans to kiss me again.
“Oh, Catherine. I’m so happy right now.”
I press my forehead to his. “Me, too.”
We sit there, the sun playing on the water, lost in this world that belongs to just the three of us.
And all I can think of is how excited I am that I can raise a family with the man I love in this place I love.
END