Epilogue
One month later…
The wedding venue was getting crowded, Kaia thought as she perused the crowd gathering in the gardens of the Viceroy Hotel in Solana Beach, where Hunter and Emmalyn were about to tie the knot.
She'd been sent to check on the timing of the ceremony while Emmalyn and Lexie were touching up their makeup in the dressing room.
The wedding planner had told her they were about fifteen minutes away from starting, and she could see some of her friends beginning to take their seats.
"Nice dress," Ben said, coming up behind her.
She smiled at her brother, who was one of Hunter's ushers. Unlike his usual look of faded, ripped jeans and a T-shirt or jacket, he was wearing a black suit with a maroon tie. "You clean up pretty well, too."
He gave her a wry smile. "Can't wait to get out of this thing."
"I'm glad I ran into you. What's the latest on Dad?"
"I just talked to him this morning, and his friend, Bill Sharp, is going to move into his second bedroom. Bill needs a place to stay with reasonable rent, and Dad could use a roommate."
"I still can't believe you got him to agree to that." They'd been trying to figure out a way to get their dad more help and companionship without making him feel like he was weak or a burden, and that had been a tremendous challenge.
"Well, Warren played a big role," he said, referring to his father's neighbor. "All three of them served together, and he told Dad he'd be doing Bill a big favor, that Bill had little money, and he needed someone to look out for him."
"And what did Warren tell Bill?"
"That Dad needed someone to look out for him, and that he could use a roommate."
"They both get to keep their pride," she said with a laugh.
"And look out for each other. It's a win-win-win, the third win being us. We don't have to worry about him being alone."
"It's a great resolution to his situation. Thank you for making that happen, Ben."
He shrugged. "I'm glad it worked out. How are things going with you and your new roommate?"
"Jax is not living with me—at least, not officially," she said with a laugh.
He grinned back at her. "This is the first time I've seen one of you without the other in a month."
"It's been a crazy, wonderful whirlwind," she said. "It's funny how you meet people in the strangest ways. If Walter hadn't walked in front of Jax's car, if I hadn't been right behind him…who knows if he would have ever spoken to any of us?"
"He would have eventually gotten there. Now, it doesn't seem like we can shut him up."
"Jax is loving his new life." Without the burden of secrets, Jax had realized he could be himself, and the response to his easygoing charm was very positive. He had also started playing at their impromptu gatherings, sometimes jamming with her brother, who also liked to play the guitar.
"He told me he's thinking about playing professionally again."
"He's working on some ideas. Mostly, he's just writing songs and creating an album that may or may not go anywhere, but he's enjoying the process again."
"I'm glad. He's very talented, both singing and playing. What about Wren? Has he talked to her? I saw some new tour dates for her coming in the fall. I guess she's going to go it alone now."
"They've spoken a few times. She and I actually had lunch the other day."
He raised an eyebrow. "Really? What was that like?"
"It was weird at first, but as we warmed up to each other, the tension lessened. I don't think she's used to talking to people who don't care about her fame or want anything from her. She did tell me that I should hang on to Jax, because he's a great guy and one of the best men she's ever known."
"Is she still clean?"
"So far so good, but I'm sure it will be a lifelong challenge for her.
" She paused as she saw Jax and the wedding planner walking to the guitar set up next to the arch.
Emmalyn had asked Jax to play at the wedding ceremony, while a band would take over the reception.
"Looks like we're getting close to starting. "
He nodded in agreement as his gaze swept the crowd. "It's nice to see everyone here."
"I got lucky finding Ocean Shores when I was looking for an apartment," she said. "It changed my life. I think it's changing yours, too."
"I wouldn't go that far," he said dryly. "But it's a fun building. Not sure how it's going to change with everyone getting married."
"I've wondered about that, too. But with Jax moving into my apartment soon, it looks like we're going to have a new tenant, and Josie said she's looking for a single man or woman."
"Well, I hope it's a very attractive woman."
"I'm not surprised," she said with a grin. As Jax took his seat and picked up the guitar, she added, "I better go. I'll see you when we all walk down the aisle." She hurried back to the dressing room where Emmalyn and Lexie were waiting.
"There you are," Emmalyn said, looking like a princess in her off-the-shoulder, voluminous white lace dress, that was definitely not too much for her. "Is everyone here, Kaia?"
"Just about every seat is filled, and Jax is starting to play."
"Okay." Emmalyn paused. "I might need a sip of champagne. I don't like being the center of attention."
"That kind of goes with the white dress," she said with a laugh as Lexie handed Em a glass of champagne. "But remember, everyone out there loves you and Hunter."
"I'm trying to pretend it's like any other party at Ocean Shores, but it's not working." Emmalyn set the glass down, despite having just asked for it. "I better not drink. I'm so nervous I might pass out."
"Just take some deep breaths," she advised. "In through the nose, out through the mouth. We'll do it together."
As Emmalyn breathed with her, she visibly started to relax. "I'm sorry," she said. "I know it's silly. I'm not nervous about marrying Hunter. I love him, and he loves me. It's just doing it in front of so many people. But you're right, they're all my friends."
"Exactly," she said. "And once you see Hunter, you're not going to care about anyone else."
"You look perfect, Emmalyn," Lexie added.
"Thank you for that and for being my best friends," Emmalyn said, grabbing both of their hands. "I don't want anything to change between us. We still need girls' night, and girls' weekend, and everything else."
"Definitely," Lexie agreed.
"Did you see my mother out there?" Emmalyn asked.
"Yes, she's with your Aunt Linda, Josie and Margaret," Kaia said. "They're all getting along great."
"That's good. I want her to feel part of everything."
"She will," Kaia promised.
The wedding planner entered the room with a cool smile. "We're ready for you, ladies."
They grabbed their bouquets and headed out of the dressing room. The planner got them organized, and then Olivia and Henry walked down the aisle, sprinkling flowers on the white carpet. Lexie was next, and then Kaia fell into line behind her.
As she walked toward the altar, her gaze moved to Jax, who was playing their entrance song, and her heart swelled with love.
He looked incredibly handsome in his charcoal-gray suit, and she couldn't wait to dance with him later.
Even though she'd woken up in bed with him this morning, it felt far too long since she'd been in his arms.
When she got to the front, she took her position by the arch, her attention turning to Emmalyn, who was now walking down the aisle by herself. She had decided against having anyone at her side. She'd been taking care of herself for a long time, and she wanted to give herself to her husband.
Kaia liked that idea. Emmalyn's strength and confidence in herself had grown since she'd been at Ocean Shores, but even more since she'd met Hunter. He encouraged her to be her true self and not be defined by her past.
That's what she wanted to do for Jax. She wanted him to be who he was meant to be and not be defined by his partnership with Wren. And he was well on his way to doing that. She couldn't wait to see where that would lead him.
He was also encouraging her to push her limits.
She'd applied for a new paramedicine program which would allow her to spend more time with patients.
After what she'd done for Walter, her boss had recommended her for the program, and Walter's granddaughter had even written a letter of support, elaborating on how she had helped Walter improve not just his physical health but also his mental health.
As for Walter, he had moved into his own apartment at the senior living center where Reina lived in San Diego, and they were spending all their time together.
They'd invited her and Jax to one of their family dinners, where they'd met the extended families, who were all genuinely thrilled that the two were exploring a relationship after so many years apart.
Turning her attention back to Emmalyn and Hunter as they exchanged their vows, she couldn't help thinking again about how love sometimes showed up when you least expected it. Hunter and Emmalyn had survived some horrible moments, but together, they had made each other whole.
She had to dab at her eyes a few times during their very personal vows and saw Lexie doing the same thing. But when they celebrated their marriage with a kiss and the crowd clapped, there was nothing but happy smiles everywhere she looked.
When the ceremony ended, they were rushed into pictures, and it took almost half an hour before they were finally released to join the reception.
After putting her bouquet in the dressing room, she made her way out to the garden.
She was almost to the lawn when Jax intercepted her, grabbing her hand and pulling her behind some very tall bushes, which put them in an oasis of greenery and sweet-smelling flowers.
He gave her a quick kiss and said, "Sorry, but I couldn't wait any longer."
She gazed into his loving eyes. "Don't apologize. I like it when you can't wait."
"I like it when you can't wait," he echoed with a grin.
"Well, we are both going to have to wait. There's a reception to get through."
"I know. We can join the others now."
"In a minute," she said, squeezing his fingers. "Hearing their vows just now made me want to say something to you."
"Are you proposing?" he asked, a wary look entering his blue eyes.
She laughed. "No way. I may not be the most traditional person, but I'm not interested in getting on my knees to propose."
"Good, because I have some thoughts about that."
"Really?" she asked, a tingle running down her spine. "You've been thinking about proposing?"
"I've been thinking about a lot of things. That's definitely one of them. But what did you want to say?"
"I just wanted to tell you how happy I am."
His gaze softened. "You know I feel the same way, Kaia."
"I do, because you tell me all the time.
I didn't know how much I needed to hear those words until you started saying them.
Growing up with my dad, I had to stop expecting anyone to declare their love for me.
I told myself it didn't matter. Words were just words.
But since you've started using those words, I realized how much I like them. "
"I like hearing you say the words, too. You fill the empty places in my heart, Kaia."
"That sounds like one of your song lyrics."
"Good catch. You heard me singing the other day, didn't you?"
"Yes." While Jax was happy to play for her now, he still liked to go out to the beach late at night, especially when she was working. "When I came home the other night, I listened for a few minutes. It wasn't a song I recognized."
"It's something I've been composing for a while, but I wasn't ready to play it for you, because it's about you, about us, the way we are together."
"You wrote us a song?" she asked, feeling beyond touched.
"How could I not? I write from my heart, and that's where you are."
"You are so good with words; it's not fair."
"It's not a competition. And I might be good with words, but you're even better with actions.
You show your love every day, with your friends, your patients, and with me.
Anyway, I want the song to be my first single.
I recorded it the other day and sent it to Clay.
He liked it. He wants more of the same. He thinks he can make a deal with a label based on that song alone. "
"That's amazing."
"But if you don't like the idea of it being public, it can just stay between us. It can be our song."
"Are you kidding? No. Let's make a hit."
"I'm not sure it will go that far."
"I am. You're super talented, Jax. And if I've inspired you, I'm happy about that.
But you don't need me to be a good musician.
You already were, and it's time for you to make your own name in the industry.
" She paused. "What about the song that Wren started and wanted you to finish.
You never told me what you were going to do with that. "
"Nothing. I told her to finish it, but she decided that song belonged to a partnership that was over. She needs to move forward on her own, just as I do, and I agree."
She nodded. "That seems right. You can build a different relationship in the future. An ending followed by a new beginning. What about your name? Are you going to release as Jason Barnes?"
"Well, Clay almost had a heart attack when I said I wanted to use Jax," he said dryly. "So I agreed to be Jason in public, but in my personal life, I'm going to be Jax."
"I can't really think of you any other way." She gave him another kiss and said, "And I don't care what professional name you use. This is your time to shine. Show the world who you are."
"I will. But I don't think of this time as mine. I think of it as ours. And one day, I'm going to watch you walk down the aisle in a wedding dress."
"It won't be nearly as poofy as Emmalyn's," she said with a laugh. "Although that dress suits her very well, and she looks great in it."
"I don't care what you wear," he returned, smiling into her eyes. "In fact, I like you with nothing on."
"Hello?" Lexie's voice interrupted a conversation that was getting way too hot. "We're going to start the toasts," Lexie added. "If you two can join the rest of us."
"We're ready."
"One minute," Jax said, giving her another kiss. "Now we're ready."
Lexie laughed. "And to think it was only several weeks ago that you were moaning about being the last single girl. Doesn't look like that's going to be you after all."
"No, it doesn't," she agreed. "Now Ben is the one moaning."
"We'll have to find him someone."
"Someone good."
"I don't think Ben needs you two to matchmake," Jax said.
"We'll see." As Lexie moved ahead of them, she stopped Jax from following her.
"Everything okay?" he asked.
"In case I forget to tell you later, I've never been this happy, Jax."
"We're just getting started," he promised, stealing another kiss before they headed back to the reception.