Epilogue
EPILOGUE
Six months later
E rin pulled the faux fur shrug around her shoulders. The December air carried a chill that was too cold for the simple white gown Erin had chosen to wear for this special day. She was thankful that Aunt Betty had agreed to let Erin borrow the warm wrap. Turning this way and that, Erin looked at her reflection in the mirror above her dresser.
“How are you feeling, sweetie?” Aunt Betty asked, coming up behind her. She smiled warmly at her in the mirror.
Erin took a deep breath and exhaled slowly as she met her eyes. “Good.”
Aunt Betty raised her brows. “No jitters?”
Erin shook her and turned around to face Aunt Betty. “No jitters.”
Aunt Betty put her arms on Erin’s shoulders and gave them a gentle squeeze. “You don’t know how happy that makes me. I’m sure you two will make lots of good memories together.”
Erin was sure there would be plenty of wonderful memories. After six months of taking things slow with Logan, she had no doubts about marrying him. They’d spent the time since the fundraiser rekindling their friendship and uncovering their romantic feelings toward one another. Aunt Betty had agreed to watch the children every Friday night so they could go out for weekly dates, and when Logan finally decided to pop the question, he did so only after asking Samantha and Parker for permission first. He’d done everything right, and Erin couldn’t be more thrilled that this day was finally here.
The door to her bedroom opened, and Anne Marie’s head poked inside. Her eyes widened when she saw Erin, and she gasped. “Oh, my goodness.” She stepped inside the room and shut the door behind her. “Logan is totally going to cry when he sees you.”
Erin laughed. “What are you talking about?”
“You look amazing.” Anne Marie waved her hand at Erin. “He’s going to get choked up when he sees you.”
Erin brushed a curl back from her face. She really hoped Logan liked the way looked with her hair pulled back in a simple bun and her simple makeup. “You think so?”
“Oh, yeah. It’s going to be sweet.”
Sweet seemed like an appropriate word for today. They’d opted for a small ceremony in the backyard with just a small crowd of close friends instead of something grand. Erin imagined Logan standing under the flower arch they decorated for today. Her heart skipped a beat. “Have you seen him?”
A sly smile crossed Anne Marie’s face. “Yep. He looks so handsome, and you’re totally going to cry too.”
Erin’s mouth fell open. She turned to Aunt Betty, wide-eyed.
The woman nodded slowly. “You’re going to cry.”
Erin sighed as she plopped down on the corner of her bed. Great. She hadn’t even seen her husband-to-be and she could already feel the tears forming in her eyes. She pressed the backs of her fingers to them to wipe the tears away without smearing her makeup. She wasn’t crying because Logan was going to look handsome—though she was sure he was going to look amazing—but because she still couldn’t believe she was marrying her best friend.
By God’s grace, they’d been able to work through their past hurt and found a second chance in each other. Erin knew he was going to be a great husband and father to her children. She couldn’t wait until they said their vows.
“I’m so sorry I made you cry,” Anne Marie said, walking over to Erin. She rubbed her hand over her back. “That’s not why I came up. I’m actually here because everyone’s ready.”
Erin nodded and stood. She smoothed out the front of her wedding dress. “Samantha?”
“I had to bribe her not to walk down the aisle yet. She’s practically bouncing up and down at the back door.”
“And Parker?” Erin asked.
Anne Marie pressed her lips together as she smiled. “He’s having a heart-to-heart with Logan. I only heard a few snippets, but it was adorable. He’s going to be a great dad.”
The tears were back. Erin waved her hands in front of her face to keep them at bay. She was too afraid to ask any more questions, or really speak at all, for fear that the tears would transform into full-flown crying before she’d even left her bedroom.
“Are you ready?” Aunt Betty asked.
Erin dabbed her eyes once more and nodded.
Anne Marie led the way down the stairs, keeping a lookout as they made their way into the kitchen, to make sure no one saw the bride before they were supposed to.
“Finally,” Samantha said when she spotted Erin. “I’ve been waiting for forever.”
Erin laughed as she bent down and pulled her daughter in for a hug. “I’m glad you’re excited.”
Samantha wrapped her arms around Erin .
Aunt Betty and Anne Marie gave Erin’s back a gentle rub as they walked outside to find their seats. That gave Erin a moment alone with Samantha before they walked down the aisle.
She held her daughter at arm’s length and looked her in the eyes. “Are you sure you’re doing okay? I know this is a big day, and it’s normal to feel a little nervous.”
“Nope.” Samantha shook her head. “I can’t wait for Logan to officially be a part of our family.”
“Me too, sweetie.” Erin’s heart warmed as she brushed some of Samantha’s hair back from her face.
“I bet he’ll be excited not to live in the guesthouse anymore,” Samantha said.
Erin laughed. “I think you’re right.”
After the ceremony, Logan would no longer be living in the guesthouse. He’d move into the main house with Erin. Over the last week, he’d started moving his items over to the house, but that meant he was living halfway here and halfway in the guesthouse. It would be nice when he was completely settled in with Erin and her children.
Meanwhile, Aunt Betty would live in the completely renovated guesthouse. She didn’t even seem to care that she wasn’t moving to Florida, especially when Erin agreed to help her decorate the guest house in tropical themes. Erin was thrilled that they would all get to stay close to each other as they transitioned into this new chapter of life .
The music coming from the backyard changed, indicating that the ceremony was about to start. Erin kissed Samantha’s cheek before she straightened up. She gave Samantha a reassuring smile before her daughter disappeared through the door that led to the backyard.
Erin peeked through the window and watched Samantha drop rose petals on the grass as she walked toward the flower arch. There, underneath, stood Logan and Parker. Her son had insisted on being Logan’s best man, and Logan hadn’t put up even a small fight. He’d taken Parker suit shopping, just the two of them, and made sure they were matching for the big day. When Samantha reached Logan and Parker, Logan bent over and gave her a big hug.
Erin’s vision started getting blurry. She blinked quickly, but it was no use for the tears that started leaking from the corners of her eyes. Overwhelmed with emotions, she took a shaky breath, and walked out the backdoor of the house. The small group of friends stood as she appeared at the end of the aisle and Erin’s eyes found Logan.
Her breath caught in her chest when he smiled widely at her. She smiled back when she saw him wiping at his eyes. He was crying, just as Anne Marie had predicted. But so was she. Any pictures from their wedding day were sure to be a mess of red, puffy eyes. Erin was too happy to care. Her eyes never left Logan’s as she made her way closer to him .
“Wow,” he breathed when she stopped next to him.
Erin blushed as she smiled back at him.
She couldn’t believe that she was standing here. The Lord had been very gracious to her and Logan even when they’d both lost faith. As she listened to the pastor talk about the importance of a marriage that honored Christ, Erin knew Logan would be faithful to love her and her children. He would honor them in their new life together, as well as honoring Jake’s memory.
“Do you take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, in sickness and health, to love, honor, and obey, in good times and woe, for richer and poorer, keeping yourself solely unto him for as long as you both shall live?” the minister asked.
These vows weren’t just words, there was power in them. It was impossible to know what the future would hold for her and Logan. They were sure to have good times and hard times, but they’d already made it through so much, and they could face whatever their futures held, as long as they were together.
She locked her eyes with Logan’s, hoping he could hear the certainty in her words. “I do.”
And she did. This was her second chance at a happily ever after, and Erin couldn’t wait to get started.