Epilogue
Eight Months Later
You would have thought we were running a fancy day care instead of getting ready for a wedding—my wedding, to be precise—with all the babies and children running around.
We had overtaken Emma’s old bedroom in the main house at the Ranch.
I smiled at the chaotic scene around me.
Emma was nursing her daughter, Shannon Elaine, while Chloe held Shannon’s twin, Dane Anders.
Meanwhile, Shelby was changing her daughter, Maribelle’s, diaper for the second time in a half hour.
To add to the fun, Henry was in his tux chasing Elliott around with a plastic sword.
Jenna was doing her best to keep the chaos down as much as possible, running here and there in her pink organza bridesmaid dress.
I chose pink for my wedding colors to honor Emma’s mom.
Thankfully, Oscar and Molly were there to do our hair and makeup. Molly had even designed my dress. The gorgeous trumpet antique lace dress with the most romantic train was hung up in the bathroom, away from the children.
Oscar was putting the final touches on my braided crown updo. He left some loose pieces to fall around my face. “You are breathtaking, lovey.” He smoothed the last curl.
Molly applied a pink tint to my lips as the final touch.
I stared in the vanity mirror, hardly believing this was happening and that I could ever look so elegant. Henry took a break from chasing Elliott and crawled onto my lap. “I’m bored,” he exclaimed.
I kissed his nose. “It’s nice to meet you, bored.”
“Mum, my name is not bored.”
I loved when he called me mum. I think he started doing it because that’s what Chloe called me, but whatever the reason, I cherished it.
I felt like it made Sophie happy. Of course, Henry still talked about his mummy and daddy, and we encouraged it.
Miles made sure to tell him stories about Sophie every day so he would never forget her.
Elliott took Henry’s sword, so Henry was off again on the chase.
I stood and took little Dane from Chloe so Oscar and Molly could work their magic on my beautiful daughter, who was now officially a teenager and boy crazy.
Boy band posters littered her bedroom walls and I was monitoring her texts like a mad woman.
I kissed my daughter’s cheek before she could get too far.
“You look beautiful, Mom.”
“Thank you, baby girl.” I smiled, thinking of the present Miles had for her later today after the ceremony.
He was going to ask Chloe if he could officially adopt her.
I had to stop thinking about it or I was going to ruin my makeup.
For the first time in Leland’s life, he was going to do the right thing and relinquish his rights to Chloe.
It had taken forever to track him down. I had to go through Kylie’s parents.
Sadly, I think he was relieved that’s why I was contacting him.
It made me more grateful for the way Miles loved Chloe as if she were his own.
While I bounced little Dane, who was already a whopping fifteen pounds at four months old—I swore Emma produced cream for her twins—I watched Emma nurse Shannon, who was petite compared to her brother.
I longed to be in her place. Miles had asked if we could have one of our own, even though he said it scared the hell out of him. I couldn’t wait to accommodate him.
Emma smiled up to me, tired, but happy. “I’ve become a cow.”
Shelby plopped down next to her on the couch and began nursing Maribelle, who no doubt would grow up to be as beautiful as her mother.
She already had the crown of gold and big blue eyes.
“Think of all the calories you’re burning.
” Shelby tried to put a positive spin on it.
Shelby, who was already back in her size two jeans.
We would hate her if we didn’t love her so much.
“I’m just happy I can drink Dr. Pepper again. The babies love it.” Emma laughed before she took a swig of her nearby drink. I think the first thing she asked for after she delivered her twins was a Dr. Pepper.
Jenna joined us with Elliott in her arms. His arms were flailing every which way while he tried desperately to escape. “I’m going to take this kid to his dad. Where are all the guys, anyway?”
“I think they are at our place,” Emma said.
“Ugh,” Jenna complained. “I’m not walking over there in my heels. I’ll call Brad and make him come here.”
“Tell all the men to come here,” Emma suggested, “so we can finish getting ready. And tell Brad to tell Sawyer I need my Spanx, like all of it. And nursing pads. That sounds attractive, doesn’t it?”
We all laughed at her.
My three best friends all took to staring at me at the same moment.
I knew what they were trying to say. None of us could believe I was getting married.
But more importantly, I could see in their eyes how happy they were for me.
It meant the world to me. Thankfully, Jenna added some levity to the moment before the tears came and I ruined my makeup.
“I can’t believe you are marrying Mr. Wickham, Jane Austen’s bad boy. It sounds so wicked and yummy.”
Amid our laugher there was a knock on the door.
“Darling, are you in there?”
“Speaking of wicked, someone is anxious,” Shelby drawled.
I still couldn’t get over his accent. I rushed to the door and only opened it a fraction. Enough to see he was holding a white box and how ridiculously gorgeous my soon-to-be husband looked in his black tux that fit him like a glove. I wanted to reach out and pet him.
Miles tried to peek in. “Are you dressed?”
“I’m wearing a robe.”
“That is unfortunate,” he faux frowned. “Can I speak to you in the hall?”
“Isn’t it bad luck to see me before the wedding?”
“Darling, I don’t believe in that rubbish. Please, I have something for you.”
My curiosity was piqued. I slid out the door and into the hall.
Miles took a moment to take me in. “You are lovely. I would run away with you now, but I fear your mother.”
I was afraid of her too today. Last I saw, she was barking orders at the wedding coordinator, making sure everything was perfect.
She had even dragged my sister into it. I was hoping to have Vanessa and my mom help me get ready.
But Mom was so overjoyed that the day she thought would never come was happening—her daughter was finally marrying someone who wasn’t a loser—she couldn’t be bothered with trivial things like hair and makeup.
“Best not to test her nerves,” I agreed.
Miles held the box out to me. “I have a pre-wedding gift for you.”
I took the box. “Does this mean you have a post-wedding gift?”
He pulled me to him and held me tight. “Yes. It’s called the honeymoon. I hope you’ve packed little to nothing at all.”
“I can’t wait to unwrap that gift.” A week in Belize of only the two of us.
“Me neither, darling.” He brushed my lips before reluctantly letting me go. “Please open it.”
I lifted the lid to find a book, my favorite book.
“When did you receive this? I thought it wasn’t coming out until November?
” I set the box down on the floor and cradled the hardbound book in my hands.
It was gorgeous. The cover still said it was a thriller with the cemetery cover, but in the background, there was a stone wall with a ray of light descending on it.
It spoke beautifully to the theme of the book.
I ran my hands over the title, Ascending Stones.
“This is an advanced copy. It came last week. I’ve been saving it for this moment. I hope you enjoy the dedication.”
I gently opened the book and carefully turned the pages. I was struck with the loveliest of words. My makeup wasn’t going to survive.
To my wife, best mate, lover, and climbing partner.
“It’s beautiful,” I choked out. “Thank you.”
His thumb wiped away a few of my tears. “What have I told you about thanking me for telling the truth?”
I leaned into his hand. “I love that you called me your wife.”
“I hope you don’t mind that I jumped the gun a bit.”
“Not at all.”
“Well . . . what do you Americans say? Let’s get this show on the road.” He kissed my head. “Meet me under the pergola. I’ll be the one standing there undressing you with my eyes.” He strutted away chuckling to himself.
As always, he was true to his word.
On the arm of my father, I walked the rose petal strewn path behind my daughter and my son.
Chloe held Henry’s hand while Henry waved to everyone like this was his big day.
In the audience, so many faces who had been part of my journey stood out to me.
Dane, who was holding his namesake, bouncing him to keep him from fussing.
Beside him were Sawyer’s dad and his wife, Bridgette, who was holding baby Shannon.
She looked to be in grandma heaven. Frankie, the woman of the hour who had made the most delicious cake and cupcakes for the reception afterward, gave me a little wink.
On the other side of the aisle stood Marlowe and Bobby Jay, who were planning their own wedding.
A destination wedding in Hawaii. The pergola was too trite for Marlowe.
Next to Marlowe stood Macey, who I think finally figured out what she had in Jaime.
They both looked at each other with stars in their eyes.
My mom was prominent on the first row, beaming with pride and waving at her grandchildren.
My sister stood next to her. Vanessa thought she was too old to be a bridesmaid.
My brother and his wife were there as well.
One of the most surprising guests was Miles’s father, Baron Greaves.
He was a stately looking man in his tuxedo with tails.
His height and silver hair added to his presence.
His facial expression bordered on grateful and pensive.
I knew he was happy Miles had invited him, but his relationship with his son was an uneasy one filled with layers and layers of intricacies that may never get worked out. But I think they both wanted to try.
Once the path turned, I was hit with the most beautiful sight.
Miles, first and foremost, who was undressing me with his eyes.
But surrounding him were all our friends who meant so much to us both.
Emma, Jenna, Shelby, Molly, Oscar, Sawyer, Ryder, and Brad, who begged us to let him marry us.
He’d been dying to have an excuse to get ordained online to perform weddings.
Who better, I thought, than my lovable goofball friend?
He knew what this day meant more than most people, so it was fitting.
My father, with tears in his eyes, kissed my cheek before placing my hand in Miles’s.
Miles tenderly brought me to his side under the pergola covered in pink climbing roses.
He gently pressed a kiss to my lips. Our tears mingled with each other’s.
“You look divine,” Miles whispered before we faced Brad to become man and wife.
And there under the pergola, we climbed another wall and began a new chapter in my favorite love story.
A story that began with a not so wicked boss.