Epilogue
T here was a time when weddings made Meredith sad. She’d worked on many weddings over the years and found joy in the happy people whose weddings she created at the hotel. But the wedding she’d always wanted so very much and never had made it hard to feel their joy fully. That is until she and Griffin stood before the Justice of the Peace with Lucas, Alaina, and Olina by their sides and finished what they’d promised each other when they were teens.
She’d had a big wedding when she married Rafe. But he never stood a chance. This little wedding at City Hall was all she dreamed of. That and the old people’s sex they were practicing every day.
But this day wasn’t about her. Today, her son was getting married.
“Nana?” The three-year-old girl with long dark-brown hair and eyes, wearing a bright-colored lei of flowers and a floral dress, came running up to Meredith in the tent set up for the wedding party to get dressed.
“I’m here,” Meredith said. The child launched into her arms and gave her a big hug. Meredith’s heart burst with so much love that she could barely breathe. “Don’t you look beautiful today.”
“Olina!”
“In here!” Meredith called out, still hugging the little girl.
The tall and very handsome man running into the tent scanned the area and found Olina in Meredith’s arms. He made a face at the little girl.
“Next time you want to run off to see Nana, can you at least tell Daddy you’re going?”
“I don’t like my shoes,” the girl said, putting on a fake pouty face. “I don’t want shoes.”
“I told you; you can take them off when you walk down the aisle with Mommy.” He walked up to the two of them and scooped his daughter in his arms. “Thank you for catching her. She’s a whirlwind.”
“A joy, true to her name.”
Lucas’s mother had left Meredith a letter. Griffin’s promise wasn’t just to Lucas. It had been to Charlene as well. Charlene’s hope was that Lucas would reunite with his biological parents and have a relationship with him to carry on what Buddy and Charlene had started. It was truly the most precious gift to Meredith and the scariest thing Meredith had ever experienced. But Charlene’s words were clear and ones that Meredith intended to honor.
Aloha, my dear Meredith,
Our sweet granddaughter, Olina, is too young to remember me. Any more grandbabies won’t have pictures with me. I hope you will help fill that gap. Help Lucas tell them about their Grammie. That is what I wanted them to call me. You can use whatever name you feel comfortable using. But from this point forward, I pass the torch from me to you. Tell them about me through Lucas. Encourage him to tell stories. He doesn’t like to talk, but maybe through your questions, he will open up and heal and let his children know his Grammie and Grampi. There is never enough love for one person. Never.
I don’t know why you chose to give him up for adoption, but I know that you loved him, and I know that it must have left an enormous hole in your heart. I want to fill that.
You gave Buddy and me the greatest gift two parents could ever have. Love him like you have always loved him from afar. Hug him like you never had the chance to when he was little. Remind him that we still love him from heaven when he is blue. Know that I am smiling as I watch over all of you on the beaches of Hawaii, and in the waves as you sail. I know Lucas will never forget us. But I find comfort in knowing that Griffin came into his life again. It’s been wonderful to see them grow together in their friendship and love. I wish the same for you.
Our Lucas was never meant to be in my life forever. He was never meant to leave your life forever. Take care of the boys. I know you love them both so dearly.
Aloha is not just goodbye and hello. It’s an expression of love, affection, and peace. So Aloha again, dear Meredith. It gives me great comfort to know that Lucas is with the two people whose love brought him into this world.
Charlene died less than a month after writing the letter. It was incredibly generous of her to be so kind. Meredith may have given Buddy and Charlene a gift, but they did as well.
Griffin walked into the tent and interrupted them. “Hey, are you getting married or what? The music is going to start in a minute. You don’t want your bride to think you took off. We have to get on the beach.”
Lucas picked up Olina. “It’s time, sweetie.” He turned to Meredith. “Are you ready?”
Meredith had been ready for over thirty years. She had a lot of catching up to do. Lots of memories to make. When she’d first come to Hawaii and met their son, his family and his lovely bride-to-be’s family, he saw how comfortable Griffin was with all of them and listened to stories about where Griffin had been included in family functions. One day she would feel that comfortable.
Griffin had a seven-year lead on getting to know their son. But it didn’t make her jealous as it had the day she’d found out about it. She was grateful. It made it easier for her to be accepted and included in this big and wonderful family.
Meredith looked at her husband and her son with love. “My, you’re both so handsome.”
“I want to sit with Nana!” three-year-old Olina said, pulling at Lucas’s arm.
Lucas shook his head. “We talked about this. You’re going to walk down the aisle in front of Mommy and then sit with Nana when you get to the end of the aisle.”
She cocked her head to one side. “It’s a beach, Daddy. Not an island.”
“Aisle, not island, sweetie,” Griffin said. “Nana is going to sit in a chair next to where Mommy and Daddy are standing. All you have to do is walk down the path to where Nana is sitting. Can you do that?”
“Okay, Pops.”
A few minutes later, the music was playing and the two men she loved most in life were standing on the beach in front of an arch. Lucas’s beautiful bride coaxed Olina to walk in front of her. As the music played, Meredith took it all in and tried to figure out how she’d gotten so lucky. Love had walked into her life the moment Griffin walked into that hotel. And for better or worse, she wasn’t letting go of that love. Not ever.
-The End-