Epilogue
Isla
I sla squeezed Vera’s hand. “And, well, here we are.”
Her comment was met with laughter and applause from everyone. No matter how many times they told their love story, Isla would never tire of it. It was full of life, heartbreak, and happiness and that was all Isla could ever ask for.
Looking over at her wife, Isla was overcome with emotions. She loved Vera more than anything or anyone in the world. Vera was her rock. Her other half. Her soulmate. Standing, Isla pulled Vera to her feet as they embraced.
“I’m sorry that you had to keep saving me from my own demons.”
“You never needed me to save you.” Vera tucked a strand of hair behind Isla’s ears. “You needed me to fight them with you.”
“To Mom and Mama.” Mason held her glass high as everyone else did the same. “Happy anniversary, you two. We couldn’t love you more if we tried.”
“Thank you, sweetie.”
“And,” Mason smirked, picking up a card off the table and handing it to them, “this is for you two.”
Isla narrowed her eyes at Mason as Vera opened the envelope. It was a card signed by all their kids along with two tickets. They looked like plane tickets, and Isla’s eyes quickly scanned them. She couldn’t believe her eyes when she saw it was two handmade tickets that told them they had an all-expenses paid vacation to Greece for just the two of them.
“Are you serious?” Vera laughed, seemingly in shock as she looked at Mason. “This is for us ?”
“Of course, Mama.” Mason had tears brimming her eyes. “You and Mom have done so much for us that we wanted to do a little something for you.”
“I picked the destination,” Everleigh grinned up at them.
“You did so good, Evie.”
Their youngest was one of their most observant kids, along with Mason. She could read Isla and Vera like a book, so it was no surprise she’d remembered they had been talking about a romantic trip to Greece. Of course, it had never happened because their kids always came first.
“We don’t deserve this,” Vera shook her head, but Mason held up her hands.
“I never want to hear you say those words again. You and Mom deserve this. And you’re going. We have everything under control. I promise.”
“Mace,” Vera pulled Mason into a hug that quickly turned into a large family hug. Isla savored having all of her babies together as she made sure to kiss each one of them and tell them how much she loved them.
After their family moment, Isla cleared her throat and put her arm around Vera’s waist.
“Thank you all for coming. Each and every one of you all mean so much to me and Vera. Thank you for making our day so special.”
“Thank you for making our lives so special,” Vera added with a smile.
“We love you all so much. Thank you for coming to our surprise party.”
“Well,” Mason buttoned her blazer, “that’s not the only reason they’re here.”
Mason held her hand out to Chase, her girlfriend of over two years. Chase stood slowly, an injury from years ago making it hard for her. But the help of Mason and her service dog, Scout, was always nearby. It wasn’t until Chase and Mason were standing side by side that Isla noticed how they were dressed. Not only was Mason wearing a dapper blazer and black pants, but Chase was in a cream-colored pantsuit with her hair braided into an intricate bun. Even Scout had a cream-colored bow tie clipped to her harness.
“Oh, my God.”
“What?” Vera looked at Isla, confused, then back at Mason and Chase. “What am I missing?”
Across the yard, Mason motioned for Blake and Emily Crawford to change the sign. When they did, it said Congratulations Mason and Chase.
“Are you two getting engaged?” Vera asked, but Mason shook her head.
“No,” Mason’s eyes sparkled, “we’re getting married.”
“How? What?” Isla was grasping at words as she pulled her daughter into a hug. “When?”
“We’ve been planning it for months.”
“We wanted to get married on your anniversary,” Chase beamed with happiness as she spoke, “but we knew if we told you, you wouldn’t take a moment to yourselves to enjoy the day.”
“So we planned all this.” Mason waved her hand around the backyard. “How surprised are you now?”
“Is my jaw off the floor?” Vera sobbed as she pulled both Mason and Chase into a hug. “Oh, my babies. I’m so happy for you two.”
“Let’s get this show on the road,” Blake called out as everyone laughed. Mason ushered them into the house and Chase and her parents went to the garage apartment. It seemed everyone knew the script except Isla and Vera.
“Chase’s parents are walking her down the aisle first, then it will be us.”
“Us?” Vera asked, almost unsure.
“Us,” Mason confirmed with a nod. “You two are the reason I’m able to stand up there and profess my love for Chase. You’ve shown me what true love is, and I can’t wait to have a love like yours.”
“Oh, Mason. We love you and Chase so much.” Vera hugged and kissed her cheek. “I’m so happy for you.”
“And now you know why,” Mason paused for a moment, narrowing her eyes at Isla, “do you know?”
“Know what?”
Mason looked at Vera, her eyes still narrowed. “Does she know?”
“Perhaps,” Vera responded sheepishly.
“It’s okay, Mama. I figured it wouldn’t be kept a secret for long anyway. This town is too small.”
“In my defense, I’ve only told your mom.”
“But,” Isla swallows the lump in her throat, “I’d love for you to tell me.”
Mason’s smile spread wide across her face. “Chase and I are going to make a baby.”
“Ah! Sweetie!” Isla wrapped Mason into a bear hug. “I’m so happy for you both.”
“Thanks, Mom.”
“And this explains why you changed your mind.”
“What do you mean?”
“We wondered why you changed your mind about not having kids until after you're married.” Vera wiped tears from her cheeks. “But we get it now.”
“We just wanted to surprise you both. You’re not mad, are you?”
“Honey, no,” they answered in unison.
“We love you and want you and Chase happy.”
“We’re honored,” Isla tried to stay composed as she spoke, “that you chose today to be your wedding day, too.”
The back door opened as Blake peeked her head inside. “Are you all ready?”
“Ready,” they all answered in unison.
Isla and Vera flanked Mason as they held onto her arms. Somehow, Isla had missed the tables being arranged in such a way they made a V-shaped from the garage to the archway to the main house. It was the perfect double aisle for Chase and Mason to walk down. The local pastor, Tamara Ridley, stood by Chase at the end of the aisle. Beside Chase, as usual, was Scout, followed by her cousin Charlie and her daughter Sadie. Blake and Ellie were serving as Mason’s bridesmaids it seemed and Isla wondered how everyone had done such a good job keeping it a secret from them.
At the end of the aisle, Isla kissed Mason’s cheek and hugged her once more before Vera did the same. Emily motioned for them to take a seat at a nearby table so they could have front row seats to the ceremony. Vera reached out, taking Isla’s hand as the ceremony started. Isla didn't have to look at her to know she was thinking about their own wedding day, too.
“Mason, I never thought this day would come,” Chase’s comment was met with a round of laughter. “We fought being together for so long but I can’t imagine my life without you in it now. You’re my rock, my world. I love how you’ve taught me to love myself in spite of my flaws and how you remind me every day how much you love me. Even if you do sometimes take showers that last way too long and take up all the hot water.”
More laughter echoed out as Isla wiped a tear from her eyes.
“I love you more every day, Mason Mackenzie, and I cannot wait to spend the rest of my life with you.”
Isla couldn’t get over how in love both Mason and Chase looked. Their love was palpable, and Isla prayed they would have a long happy marriage just like her and Vera.
“Chase, I can’t believe I’m about to be your wife. I’ve always known what true love was because of my parents, but I never expected to find it. Not until you. You’ve turned my world upside down for the better, Chase. I’m a better person because you are in my life. I love you to the moon and to Saturn. Always and forever. I cannot wait to start this next chapter with you, Chase. I love you.”
Isla clasped her hands together in anticipated excitement as Tamara announced them married. Everyone at the party erupted into cheering as Mason tenderly dipped Chase and kissed her. Even Scout decided to celebrate by barking her excitement.
“I now present to you, Mrs. and Mrs. Mackenzie!”
“The second ones!” Mason added with a laugh. She held out her hand toward Isla and Vera as they joined them under the archway. “Thank you all so much for coming tonight and for keeping it a secret for us. Chase and I,” Mason’s voice cracked, and she looked to Chase for help.
“Mason and I are so honored to share this wedding day with such an amazing couple. Isla and Vera have been the best role models we could have. Thank you.”
“Thank you, Mom.” Wrapping her arms around Isla’s neck, Mason clung to her. Vera joined in on the hug, holding them both close. “Thank you, Mama. For everything.”
“Always, Mason. Always.”
A few more hours of celebrating continued with dancing and partying before Isla and Vera found themselves alone in the backyard. The kids had gone to bed and everyone else had gone home for the night. Mason and Blake had told them not to touch a thing cleaning-wise, they had it all under control the next day. Isla topped off Vera’s glass with wine before topping off her own with the rest of the bottle.
“I can’t believe tonight actually happened.”
“I can’t believe they all kept it a secret.” Isla picked up her glass and took a sip. “I mean, our kids kept a secret. Can you believe it?”
“I really can’t,” Vera yawned. “But I’m glad they did. This was perfect.”
“It was, wasn’t it?”
Reaching out, Vera twirled a strand of Isla’s hair around her finger. “Isla?”
“Yeah?”
“Would you marry me again? Knowing everything we know now?”
“I’d marry you a thousand times in a thousand different lifetimes.” She kissed her, savoring the way their lips fit together. “You’re my soulmate, Vera.”
“And you’re mine, Isla.” They kissed again before Isla got an idea. Standing, Isla walked over to the table they had been sitting at earlier with friends and picked up her phone. “What are you doing?”
“We’re going to dance.”
“But there’s no music,” Vera laughed.
Isla searched for a moment longer for the perfect song before selecting it to play. The opening notes of Shania Twain’s ‘You’re Still the One’ began to play as Isla held her hand out to Vera.
“May I have this dance, Mrs. Mackenzie?”
Vera smiled up at her, the same amount of love behind her eyes that had always been there. “Always, Mrs. Mackenzie. Always.”