Epilogue
The sun shines brightly above King Mountain as Wes and Kira stand before each other, exchanging the vows they’ve written for each other. They’re holding each other’s hands and looking deeply into each other’s eyes.
“Kira, do you take Wes to be your lawfully wedded husband?”
“I do,” she replies, her voice filled with pure happiness. She slides a gold ring on Wes’s finger and he grins like he’s just won the lottery.
“And Wes, do you take Kira to be your lawfully wedded wife?”
“I do,” he responds, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. He slides Kira’s ring on her finger and looks at her with such love it’s like looking directly at the sun.
“By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”
They lean in for a passionate kiss, and then the crowd erupts in applause. I glance at Clark, knowing that one day it will be the two of us exchanging vows. We’re both certain of our love for each other, but I can’t help wanting to make it all official sooner than later.
“Beautiful ceremony, wasn”t it?” I say softly.
“Absolutely,” he agrees, his gaze locked onto the happy couple.
As the newlyweds make their way down the aisle, I glance around at the smiling faces of our friends and coworkers. Mack stands off to the side, ever the bachelor, while Roman stands with his fiancée Marsha and his teenage daughter. Quincy, a notorious ladies man, has a beautiful woman on his arm – someone none of us recognize. Probably another short-lived fling. I’ve stopped trying to keep up with the number of women that man dates.
“Ready for the reception?” Clark asks, his hand warm in mine.
“Definitely,” I reply, beaming up at him. The live band starts playing as everyone gathers under the large white tent, and soon, we”re all dancing and celebrating Wes and Kira”s love.
After several energetic songs, I excuse myself from a group of friends and sit down beside Clark, resting my head on his shoulder. He wraps an arm around me, pulling me closer, and whispers in my ear.
“Hey, what do you say about walking to the overlook and taking a moment away from everyone?”
“Of course,” I smile, feeling like he’s reading my mind.
We walk away from the bustling party, hand in hand, until we find a quiet spot where the music is just a soft murmur in the background. Clark turns to face me, his eyes filled with sincere emotion.
“Betty, I—” he begins, but seems to lose his words, hesitating slightly before continuing. “I want you to know how much you mean to me.”
“Clark,” I say, touched by his vulnerability, “you mean the world to me, too. You know how much I love you.”
We stroll to the edge of the clearing, finding a bench that overlooks a vast valley. The sun casts a golden light on the lush greenery below as birds sing sweet melodies in the distance. Nature”s beauty surrounds us, and I can”t help but feel at peace.
“Isn”t it beautiful?” I ask, taking in the view.
“Almost as beautiful as you,” Clark replies, his eyes locked on mine, filled with warmth and love.
He takes my hands in his, their calloused texture offering a comforting grip. “Betty, from the moment we met, you”ve brought so much joy into my life. You”re strong, ambitious, and you have this amazing ability to make me feel alive.”
“Clark,” I whisper, my heart swelling with love for this incredible man.
“I’m not always sure how a beautiful young woman like you fell for a grumpy old man like me, but I thank heaven every day for your love. I want to spend the rest of my life with you, Betty. I love you more than I ever thought possible, and I promise to always be there for you, to protect you, and to cherish you.”
Tears well up in my eyes, threatening to spill over. “I love you, too, Clark. So much.”
“Betty,” he says, his voice wavering with passionate emotion, “will you do me the incredible honor of being my wife?”
As he pulls a velvet box from his pocket, and my breath catches in my throat. He gets down on one knee, revealing a stunning ring nestled inside. My heart races, and I find myself at a loss for words.
“Yes,” I finally manage to choke out through joyful tears. “Yes, Clark! A thousand times yes!”
Joy washes over his face as he slides the ring onto my finger. It glimmers in the sunlight, shining almost as brightly as the love Clark and I share.
Clark stands up and, without a moment”s hesitation, pulls me into a passionate kiss that I feel in every bit of my soul. Magic is the only way to describe how I feel when I’m with Clark.
“Betty,” he breathes against my lips, “I can”t wait to spend the rest of our lives together.”
“Me, too,” I reply, feeling a pure joy that takes my breath away in the best possible way.
Hand in hand, we make our way back to the wedding party. As soon as we approach the crowd, Kira calls out to the women for the bouquet toss.
“Come on, Betty!” one of my friends exclaims, pulling me towards the group.
“Alright, ladies, get ready!” Kira announces, glancing over her shoulder as she holds her bouquet above her head. A thrill runs through me as I position myself among the other women.
“Three, two, one!” Kira turns her head away from us as she counts down, her voice full of excitement.
She throws the bouquet, and with a surprising burst of competitive energy, I leap into the air, my hand outstretched. To my amazement, the bouquet lands squarely in my grasp, and I can”t help but let out a triumphant shout.
“Betty caught it! She”s next!” someone cheers, and I can”t help but beam with pride.
I grin as I scan the crowd for Clark.
“Clark!” I call out, catching sight of him and grinning.
“I think this means I’m the next to get married,” I laugh, leaning in and giving him a big kiss.
Clark’s eyes light up with amusement and he wraps his arms around me, lifts me off the ground, and then swings me in a circle.
“Damn straight you are!” He puts me on the ground and kisses me so deeply my knees go weak. I can’t wait to get home so we can be alone and make love. I never realized being in love would be so consuming and that every moment of every day, all you want to do is be with the man you love and bask in the happiness that you create together. There’s nothing better in the world and I can’t wait to experience that each and every day with Clark.
His eyes widen, and then he breaks into a grin that matches my own. The joy in his eyes mirrors mine, and I know we”re going to have a love that will last forever.
* * *
The sun is settingover the mountains as Clark and I walk hand-in-hand toward his truck. Exhaustion settles in my bones, but my heart is light and full of love.
“Betty,” Clark says, squeezing my hand gently. “I love you so much.”
“I love you, too,” I say, squeezing his hand. “You make me so happy.”
By the time we finally arrive home and pull into our driveway, a new wave of anticipation fills me. I’m excited to take our relationship to the next level. I never had any doubt that Clark and I are committed to each other, but being engaged makes it more real in a way. My heart feels ready to burst with how excited I am to become Mrs. Edgar.
“Ready?” Clark asks as we stand outside our front door.
“More than ever,” I whisper, my voice steady despite the butterflies in my stomach.
He unlocks the door, and we step inside, enveloped by the familiar warmth of our home. Slowly, we make our way toward our bedroom, each step carrying us closer to a new beginning.
“Betty Cole, soon to be Betty Edgar,” Clark murmurs, standing beside me as we face each other. “I love you.”
“I love you too, Clark,” I reply, my eyes never leaving his.
Clark reaches for me and pulls me close. His hands slowly travel down my body, unfastening each button of my dress. My body pulses with desire as he caresses my skin and undresses me. My heart pounds in my chest as I reach for his shirt, feeling the heat radiating from his body with every touch of my fingers.
“Clark...” I breathe, my heart racing as we finally come together, united by our love and commitment to one another.
“Betty,” he whispers, his voice filled with emotion as we move to bed. “I love you forever. You are going to make me the happiest man on earth.”
“And you’re making me the happiest woman on earth,” I say, pulling Clark onto the bed with me. I’m aching to feel him inside of me. “I love you, too, Clark. Always.”
* * *