Epilogue
Penny and Lisa are working my hair into a half-up, half-down style, soft tendrils framing my face, while I apply the finishing touches to my makeup. I’m so overjoyed, hands trembling, I nearly jab my eye out with my eyeliner.
We’ve taken over my art studio today, transformed it into a dressing room because it has the best light, with all those tall windows lining one wall. Penny brought her full-length mirror and now I sit across from it, surrounded by makeup, hairspray, and bobby pins.
Today, Tyler and I will commit our lives to each other under a tent in our backyard.
March weather is unpredictable, but today it’s not too cold, though I did select a long-sleeved wedding dress in case.
My dress is soft and simple, exactly what I wanted.
Nothing fussy or overdone. The ivory fabric fits at the waist before flowing freely to the hem.
The sleeves are sheer and weightless, cinching at the wrists with intricate lace cuffs.
It feels vintage, like I plucked it from another life where I still chose him.
Oh, and no veil. I don’t want a thing between myself and the moment Tyler lays eyes on me.
Not long after we talked to the kids, we all decided we wanted to hurry things along.
Within a week, the kids and I were fully moved in.
We let them pick their bedroom colors, and Tyler and I spent a weekend painting both.
Then we painted my art studio. We may or may not have locked the door and made a glorious mess with the paint—naked.
My studio is everything I dreamed it would be.
My art room at the old house was just that—a room.
But this is a studio with perfect light to see every shade on my canvas.
And because it shares a wall with a bathroom, Tyler even had a sink installed in one corner to keep all my brushes clean and the mess contained in one place.
He hasn’t said it, but he was probably tired of paint splatters in the other bathroom.
I warned him I’m messy. He knew what he was signing up for.
Tyler found an antique cast iron sink and we surrounded it with the most beautiful marble countertop. Some days I come up here and run my hand across the smooth surface, to remind myself this is all real. This life I love so much.
Our house is humming with voices today. Family and friends fill every corner, laughter trailing from room to room.
Jay will walk me down the aisle, with Penny and Abby as my bridesmaids.
Tyler asked his father to be his best man, and Austin will stand as groomsman.
Jackson is handling all the food with the help of Tyler’s mom.
And Liam, unbeknownst to any of us, is ordained and he’ll be our officiant.
Last time I glanced out the window, he was standing on my driveway, cigarette dangling from his lips, squinting at a piece of paper—probably his speech.
I told him he had full poetic license to do his officiant duty.
From the looks of things, he hasn’t quite kicked the smoking habit yet.
Cassie stays on him about it, and he’ll do great for a day or two, but then he’ll cave.
“Lizzie’s kicking. Do you wanna feel?” Penny asks, one bobby pin tucked between her lips.
My hands can’t get to Penny’s baby bump fast enough. Penny guides my hand, and sure enough, tiny movement flutters beneath my palm.
“Hello, baby Lizzie,” I whisper. “Auntie Josie loves you. I can’t wait to meet you.”
Penny and Austin found out a few weeks ago they’re having a girl.
They want to name her after both their moms so our little nugget will be Elizabeth Anne.
Elizabeth is Austin’s mom’s name, and Anne was Penny’s mom’s middle name.
Penny allows me a few seconds nuzzling her belly before nudging me upright to finish getting ready.
A couple bobby pins later and Penny steps back and hands me a mirror.
I gasp when I see what she’s done with my hair.
She’s woven forget-me-nots into an elaborate twist and it’s absolutely perfect.
My something blue. The bouquet will match, because Tyler is more than just a memory.
He’s my present, my future, my everything.
And today, I get to promise him forever, in this life and all the ones after.
“You’re doing it again,” Abby says from the chair in the corner.
Putting one hand on my hip, I pin her with a look. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“I know what you’re talking about, Abby,” Penny chimes in. “Josie, you drift off with this dreamy look on your face. A smile I’ve never seen until recently.”
“Well…” I swat Penny’s ass with the back of my hand. “You know what it’s like.”
“Well, I don’t.” Abby crosses her arms, sulking. “Boys at school are the worst.”
“Oh, honey.” Lisa turns to face Abby. “I agree. Boys your age are terrible. It’ll get better. Give ’em a few more years.”
“Or ten,” I chime in.
Lisa turns to Penny and me. “Do you two remember what Liam was like at that age?”
Penny and I burst out laughing, because Liam in middle school was a mess.
He’s a few years younger than I am, but I was with him plenty because of his connection to Penny and her family.
Lisa must have had the patience of a saint raising him.
All I remember is he had the dirtiest mind.
Liam was obsessed with breasts, and day dreamed, aloud in long drawn out soliloquies, what it would be like to touch a pair.
Pretty sure I remember him writing poetry about them.
Speaking of Liam… “Has anyone seen Cassie? I haven’t seen her all day.”
“Oh, I saw her with Liam earlier,” Abby pipes up. “I can go look for her if you need me to.”
All three of us speak over the other, saying, “No!” at the same time.
A knock sounds at the door, and Penny motions for me to hide in case it’s Tyler. She cracks open the door and peeks her head out. It’s Austin, but I hear Tyler’s voice not too far off. His deep voice calming my wedding day jitters.
“It’s time,” Austin says through the crack.
“Give us five more minutes.”
“’Kay, Penn.” He pauses. “I love you. You’re beautiful.” Then louder, he says, “Hey, Abby, come on downstairs. Grandma Ashley is getting everyone lined up.”
That’s another thing. My kids now have Grandma Ashley and Papa Brad in their lives.
Ashley wasted no time, flying back into town to visit and spoil Abby and Jay.
She’s even staying with them while Tyler and I honeymoon in Key West where we will, of course, visit the Ernest Hemingway house full of the famous polydactyl cats.
Abby follows Austin out and Penny shuts the door, leaving just the three of us. Turning back to me, Lisa joins her and my eyes bounce between my two friends.
“Josie, we have something for you. Your something new.” Lisa moves to the corner and grabs a gift bag I somehow hadn’t noticed all afternoon.
She hands it over and slowly I pull out lacy fabric.
I quirk a brow at my friends then burst out laughing.
Penny and Lisa have bought me new panties to replace the ones Tyler stole.
“We know they were your favorite.” Penny pats me on the shoulder. “Now for your real gift.” From behind her back, Lisa produces a small box and hands it to me.
Lifting the lid, my eyes immediately mist over and words fail me.
Inside sits a small hummingbird brooch. My girls know how much Mawmaw loves hummingbirds.
Of late, her condition has declined, leaving no option for her to be with us today.
Having her here would have been too confusing, being a new home and all.
On one of her good days I’ll show her a recording.
“We know you wanted her here,” Penny says gently. She takes the brooch and pins it to my dress. “Now you have a small reminder of her for the day.”
I fan my face, blinking fast. “Damn you girls for giving this to me after my makeup is perfect.” I gather my two best friends into my arms. “I love it. It’s perfect.”
“We’re so damn happy for you, sister. You’re finally getting it all.”
When we break apart, it’s time. Time to start my forever. Following them from my studio, I descend the stairs, and head outside to the tent filled with everyone I love.
At the opening of the tent stands Abby and Jay, along with Tyler’s dad, Austin, and Penny.
I take a quick second to pull my kids into a hug, squeezing them tight before everything changes.
The melody of “How Long Will I Love You” starts to play, the perfect wedding song, and Austin and Penny walk into the tent first, followed by Abby and Brad.
Jay fidgets with his collar, and I glance down at him. “You look nice, Jaybird.” He even smells nice. Tyler had the talk with him about deodorant, and he remembers it a good chunk of the time.
Henry opens the flap of the tent and everyone stands, ready for me to walk down the aisle. My vision blurs, unaware of who all is here, because I have one single focus.
Tyler.
His shimmering eyes find mine and don’t waver, but his lip is trembling with barely contained emotion. Confident steps carry me to him, the love of my life. If I could, I’d sprint down the aisle to him. Finally, I’m there, unfolding my arms from Jay’s and lacing both hands with Tyler’s.
“Hey,” I whisper.
Tyler leans in, voice thick with emotion. “You’re beautiful, love.”
“You’re not so bad yourself, Clark.”
Liam clears his throat, and we both look up.
“If you two are through flirting…” He grins wide, bringing a laugh from everyone here.
I expect him to bring out the paper I saw earlier, but he pauses, looking at me with a sweet smile.