Epilogue
“Are you nervous?” Flynn asked Nate. “You look nervous. I was nervous when Becca and I eloped.”
“I’m not nervous.” Nate stood on the altar of the church in Harmony Valley. He wore a slim-fit, blue suit with a pink tie. Duke, the ring bearer, and Flynn, his best man, were similarly dressed. “I just don’t want to disappoint anyone.”
“The only way you could do that is to bolt out the door.” Mayor Larry wore a black suit with a pink and white tie-dyed tie. He was going to perform the marriage ceremony.
“This groom is here to stay.” Nate gave a brisk nod.
“You petty.” Duke swung Nate’s hand. “Me petty.” He patted his tie. At his feet, the small white pillow sat. The two gold wedding rings sat on top, tied with rose-colored ribbons.
The aisle of the church had been decorated with white and pink ribbon, as well as white roses. The church was filled with friends and a few family members. Members of Julie’s family sat on one side. Nate’s sister and niece sat in the front row on the other side with Nate’s uncle and mother.
Nate and his mother had reconnected over the past few weeks. He’d told his mother that he understood how fear made her leave him. She’d told Nate that she understood why he’d drawn such a hard line with his father.
“I never saw him again,” she’d told Nate while hugging him. “And I have you to thank for it.”
The wedding march began. Terrance held open the door. Those assembled turned to look.
And there was Nate’s bride.
Julie wore a pale rose satin gown with a sweetheart neckline and a mermaid skirt, the dress Mae had left for Nate in her will.
Thank you, Mae.
Julie’s blond hair had been cut in a short, sophisticated bob, held over her ear on one side by a rhinestone-crusted clip. She held a small bouquet of white roses in one hand. She held her mother’s arm with her other hand. And her smile when she looked at Nate—
“Juju petty.” Duke ran down the aisle to join his grandmother and favorite Juju.
Their friends and family laughed.
Duke, Julie, and her mother proceeded down the aisle, moving slowly.
It didn’t matter to Nate that the ceremony wasn’t perfect. It didn’t seem to matter to Julie either. She never stopped smiling.
Well, when Mayor Larry asked for a moment of silence to pay tribute to April, no one smiled.
Nate and Julie stared into each other’s eyes, both fighting sudden tears.
“Mama,” Duke murmured, staring at the framed picture of his mother that had been set on a small table near Mayor Larry.
“We’ll always remember Mama,” Nate told him, feeling the warmth of the sun coming through a window on his back.
All too quickly, Nate was kissing his bride and signing a wedding certificate. There were a flurry of pictures taken at the church, followed by pictures taken at Harmony Valley Vineyards, where the wedding reception was taking place.
Finally, just when Nate and Julie had a chance to sit down, folks tapped their champagne glasses with their forks.
“I guess they want us to kiss again.” There was color in Julie’s cheeks and a happy glow in her eyes.
“I won’t complain about that.” Nate leaned in for a sweet kiss.
It seemed as if they’d hardly finished eating their lunch when Flynn told Nate, “It’s time for your speech.”
Nate stood and spent a moment taking in his guests. “As most of you know, I’m a man of few words.”
That elicited smiles and chuckles.
“But this is an important day for me.” Nate paused, gathering his courage. “I came to Harmony Valley accepting of the man I thought I was.” All the bad self-images he’d arrived with. His gaze caught on Terrance. “And over time, many of those ideas I had about myself turned on their head.” Nate glanced at Flynn. “That I wasn’t deserving of friendship.” He glanced at his mother and sister Molly, and then at Duke, who sat on his mother’s lap. “That I wasn’t deserving of family.” He glanced at Julie. “That I wasn’t deserving of love.”
Julie took his hand.
He kissed the back of her hand. “But over time, this community tested me and then accepted me.” Nate’s gaze found Doris, who was seated with Lilac. “Because even after the hardest fought battles, peace must be made.”
Doris inclined her head. There was a long way to go between them, but the dog breeder was trying…mostly…to meet Nate halfway.
“Some people are fortunate enough to be born into a community they call home from day one,” Nate continued, emotion threatening to silence him. But he was determined to give this last sentiment voice. “And some people drift through life looking for their place. I consider myself the luckiest man today to have found my love, my family, and my community. Right here, in Harmony Valley.”
Applause filled the winery grounds.
“So, as Julie and I share one of the happiest days in our lives with you.” Nate drew his bride to her feet. “I want to assure you—all of you—that I couldn’t have found my way home to this day…this woman…this family…or this place of love without you.” He kissed Julie. And when he released her, said, “Now, it’s your turn, love.”
Julie raised her champagne glass. “Here’s to friends and family, love and forgiveness.”
There were echoes of here, here. Glasses clinked. Champagne was sipped. And a light breeze embraced them.
Julie set down her glass. “And now…we dance.”
“Juju.” Duke ran up to their table. “Want cake.”
Julie grinned. “And now…we cut the cake.”
Nate agreed.
Life had taught Nate to roll with the punches and pitfalls and enjoy the routine. But lately, life was teaching Nate that sometimes you had to follow the wishes of your heart, even if the path wasn’t one you’d planned to take.
Or in this case, Nate and Julie were following the wishes of a little boy very near and dear to their hearts.
Thank you, April.
The End