Epilogue
Two weeks have passed since Grayson and I got back together. Our resurrection has been a whirlwind, to say the least, but we’ve lost so much time, so jumping in headfirst was the only option.
I quit my job the following day, packed up my things, said my goodbyes to Reece, and moved to Hermosa Beach to live with my fiancé. I couldn’t be happier. Things have finally come full circle and we’re right where we need to be.
Last night we flew to Vegas on the Black’s fancy-smancy private jet, along with Ashton and Em of course. Who knew that little girl from the wrong side of the tracks would one day be living a life of luxury?
Grayson thinks we’re just spending a weekend away with our best friends, but it’s so much more than that.
After breakfast, the boys head down to the Casino. They think Emma and I are going on a shopping spree, but we’re not. We have things to do and big plans to make. We agreed to meet up with them later for lunch. That’s when all will be revealed.
By the time midday rolls around, we’re all set and ready to go. We text the boys our coordinates, and they’re on their way. I’m so excited I could squeal.
Emma and I are waiting on the sidewalk when their taxi pulls up to the curb. We both have suit bags clutched in our hands.
Ashton gets out first, eyeing the tiny white building behind us. “We’re eating here?” he whines. I playfully roll my eyes.
Although we’ve buried the hatchet and become friends, he’s still a douche at times. Ignoring him, as he makes his way toward Emma, I stand there impatiently waiting for my man to exit the vehicle.
The moment Grayson’s lips meet mine, I shove the suit bag into his chest. “What’s this?” he asks.
“A suit.”
“You bought me a suit?”
“No, it’s one of yours from home, silly. You need to put it on.”
“Why?”
“Because I cannot wait another second to become your wife.”
“What,” he says, giving me a dumb look.
“We’re getting married.”
“Here?” His eyes move toward the chapel behind us.
“Yes.”
“Right now?” And the way he says it has my entire body deflating.
“You don’t want to get married?”
His arms slide around my waist. “Are you kidding me, of course I do. I just wish my mom was here is all.”
“She’s inside waiting.”
“She is?” he asks as his face lights up.
“Yes, so you better hurry and get changed. ”
He lifts me off my feet and swings me around. “Have I told you how much I love you today?”
“Yes, you did, twice. But feel free to tell me again when I meet you at the altar.”
While the boys head off to get changed, Emma and I enter the adjacent room where we left all our things. We spent our morning getting our hair, makeup, and nails done. All I need to do now is slip into my wedding dress.
Reece, Michelle, Grayson’s mom, his sister Kaitlin, Granny, Amber, Emma’s dad, and Ashton’s parents, along with Charlotte, or Charlie as we call her, all flew in earlier. Everyone is seated in the chapel awaiting our nuptials.
My stomach’s been in knots all morning, but now that the cat’s out of the bag, and Grayson is on board, I’m eager to get the ceremony started. I’ve booked a restaurant down the street for afterwards.
I’m not wearing a traditional wedding dress today. I’ve chosen a white, vintage, fit and flare dress. It has a sweetheart neckline and capped sleeves. It hugs my torso like a second skin, flaring from my waist to my knees. There are a few layers of soft tulle underneath to give the skirt a slight flare. My hair is pinned up on top of my head in my signature, rockabilly style.
Once Emma and I are both dressed, I take a seat so she can pin the two silk roses into the right side of my hair. I’ve chosen to wear these instead of a veil. The rich red color matches perfectly with my lips and stiletto heels.
I stand and straighten my dress once she’s done. “You look beautiful,” she says, her eyes welling with tears.
“Oh Christ, don’t make me cry, it’ll ruin my makeup.”
“I’m sorry,” she says, swiping her fingers under her eyes. “I was just thinking about the day I got married. Remember when we were in the bedroom at Valentina’s house getting ready? You broke my damn heart that day. You looked so sad. You were scared to see Grayson, and here we are three months later and you’re about to marry him.”
I smile at that. “It took two broken hearts, a car accident, and a death to bring us back together, but I’m deliriously happy, Em. I love him so much.”
“You deserve all the happiness in the world, Car.”
“Thank you,” I say as a lump rises to my throat.
“When I was growing up, I wished for a friend just like you,” she confesses. “I hope you know how much our friendship means to me.”
“I do.” I wrap my arms around her, squeezing her tight. “I wished for you too,” I whisper.
“I love you, Carlee.”
“I love you too, Em.”
A few years ago, I struggled with expressing my emotions, it was so foreign to me, but look at me now. I’m like Oprah Winfrey when she handed out those cars. You get some love, you get some love, and you get some love too.
Emma and I part when there’s a knock on the door. “Come in,” I call out.
I smile when I see it’s Reece. I asked him to walk me down the aisle today. He’s the closest thing I have to a parent. There was a part of me that worried he wouldn’t want to do it, but he didn’t hesitate with his answer. “It would be my honor.”
“I’ll give you two a moment,” Emma says. “I’ll go check on the boys.”
Reece clears his throat as he approaches. “You look lovely.”
“Thank you.”
He slides his hand into his jacket pocket and pulls out a long, narrow white velvet box. “I have a gift for you.”
“Reece,” I gasp when I open the lid and see the pearl choker inside.
“They belonged to my grandmother, and I’d like you to have them.”
“Oh God, Reece. It’s beautiful, but I can’t accept this. It’s a family heirloom.”
“And you’re all the family I have left.”
“Reece,” I whisper, becoming all emotional. “You think of me as family?”
“Of course, I do.”
I place my hand over my heart. “I don’t know what to say.”
“You don’t have to say anything.” He takes the velvet box out of my hand and removes the pearls. “It would mean a lot if you wore this today.” I turn around so he can put it on. Once the clasp is fastened, I face him again. “Perfect. My grandmother would’ve loved you.” With that, he turns and starts walking toward the door.
“Hey, Reece.” He pauses, glancing over his shoulder. “One of the best moments of my life was meeting you. Words can never express how grateful I am for everything you’ve given me.”
He clears his throat and bows his head. “It’s been an absolute pleasure, kid.”
Facing the mirror, I finger the strands of pearls around my neck. That broken little girl inside me is beaming, because she now realizes how wrong she’s been. It doesn’t matter where you’ve come from, or how shitty your circumstances once were, we all have the power to rewrite our own ending.
Grayson’s eyes are glistening as he smiles down at me like a goofball. We’re standing here in front of the marriage celebrant ready to exchange our vows.
“I, Grayson Robert Bad-Boy Edwards” He winks when he says the fictitious part of his name, and I swoon a little. “Take you, Carlee…”
He falters for a moment, and I realize he doesn’t know my middle name. Leaning forward I whisper, “Roxanne.”
Surprisingly, my mother gave me her name when I was born. I choose to believe that deep down, in her own twisted way, she loved me. She just didn’t know how to be a good parent. Going forward, I can only hope that I’ll learn from her mistakes and break that vicious cycle.
“…take you, Carlee Roxanne Just-Carlee”—we both smile at the last part—“to be my lawfully wedded wife. I promise to love and cherish you in sickness and in health, for all the days of my life.”
My heart is so full, it’s about to burst wide open, because I know Grayson will do exactly as he’s just promised. This man is life personified . Everything I’ve always wanted, but thought I could never have. I’m so glad I was wrong.
I frantically bat my eyelashes, trying to keep my tears at bay, but one sneaky sucker manages to escape despite my best efforts. Of course, Grayson’s right there to sweep it away.
“I love you,” he mouths as he slides the wedding ring onto my finger. And when he’s done, he pulls my palm up to his face, placing a soft kiss on the tiny red heart that resides there.
I clear my throat before I speak. “I, Carlee Roxanne Just-Carlee, take you, Grayson Robert Bad-Boy Edwards, to be my lawfully wedded husband. I promise to love and cherish you in sickness and in health, for all the days of my life.”
He holds out his hand a little too eager, making me laugh. Our eyes are locked as I slide the ring onto his finger and the love that gravitates between us is bottomless.
We’re still lost in each other as the celebrant finally speaks. “In the powers vested in me by the state of Nevada, I now pronounce you Mr. and Mrs. Edwards, you may kiss the bride.”
Grayson steps forward grasping me around the waist and lifting my feet off the ground, giving me an earth-shattering kiss that I feel right down to the tips of my toes. When he finally draws back, I’m feeling all kinds of hot and bothered.
He rests his forehead against mine. “Hello, wife,” he whispers.
“Hello, husband,” I reply as the smiles on both of our faces grow.
It took us a while to get here, going through a mountain of heartache in the process, but we made it in the end, and that’s all that counts.
Life isn’t about avoiding the punches, it’s about collecting the scars as you go along to prove you showed up for it. I have the wounds that say I did, but I also learned some valuable lessons in the process. Everything I’ve been through has helped shape me into the person I am today. A person I can be proud of.
I know firsthand what evil looks like, I lived it, but that life also helped me recognize the good when I found it. I’ve never been a half of a whole before, so that’s why from this day forward I’m reaching out with both hands, holding on tight to this beautiful man who stands before me. I won’t let go this time round. I now know what life’s like without him, and I don’t want to experience that kind of heartache again.
I’ve lived, I’ve loved, and I’ve conquered countless demons in my travels.
But that’s all behind me now. With Grayson’s help, I’ve been able to shed all those toxic layers that have been weighing me down for years.
I’m finally free to be the woman I was always meant to be.