Bonus Epilogue
Max
“Are you ready for this?” Veronica Jones, our wedding photographer, asked as she and I walked to the west side of the Honeysuckle Inn.
“You better believe it,” I said, unable to rein in the wide smile on my face.
I’d been ready for this day—the day I got to marry Harper—for seven months. Or maybe a lifetime.
Two years ago though, when my cousin Jamie and his wife died and I’d been granted full responsibility for Daniel, I hadn’t been able to see it.
Hadn’t been able to imagine ever expanding Danny’s and my world to include a third.
I’d been paralyzed with that responsibility and determined to do whatever was best for my little boy.
I understood now Harper was not only what was best for me, but she was exactly what Danny needed too.
The three of us together were the family of my dreams. Harper completed me and made me a better man, and she loved my son as much as I did and added a maternal touch we’d been lacking.
She was the softness to my hard edges, the laughter to my seriousness, the well-rounded to my sports-minded self.
“You got a gorgeous day, Max.” Veronica surveyed the honeysuckle garden as we reached it. “This is going to be perfect for your first look at your bride.”
An honest-to-God giddiness bubbled up inside of me as I imagined the moment that was finally, finally drawing closer.
Our lakefront ceremony was slated to begin at five, allowing time for aperitifs afterward on the sprawling patio that overlooked Dragonfly Lake and then a full dinner in the ballroom and dancing into the night.
The timing made sense, but this had been one long day of anticipation.
“You’ll stand over here, in the shade of the trees, so when you turn to see your bride, I can capture everything without the sun messing up my lighting.
Harper will come from this side,” she said, using her whole body to demonstrate the setup one last time.
“She’ll stop right here in front of the bench and the honeysuckle backdrop. ”
The flowering bushes were stunning with their fuchsia blooms that would match the bridesmaids’ dresses, but even if the shrubs were brown and dried out, it wouldn’t take away from the moment when I laid eyes on the love of my life in her white gown.
I checked my watch. Three minutes till Harper would make her way out to me.
I couldn’t wait to see her, knew she’d be stunning and likely take my breath away, but I also couldn’t wait to touch her, wrap my arms around her, feel her body against mine.
I wasn’t used to not seeing her for most of a day, particularly after not having her in my bed last night.
Though she stayed at my place frequently, last night she and her bridesmaids—Dakota, Cambria, and Harper’s sister, Ashley—had rented rooms at the inn to prep for today.
I was happy she was having the bridal experience she wanted.
I wanted everything to be perfect for her, and I was sure they’d had a special girls’ evening.
But honestly? I didn’t at all care for waking up without her by my side.
“Okay,” Veronica said after checking her camera yet again and reading a message on her phone, “Dakota’s about to send her out. Ready to take your place?”
In response, I went to the far side of the small stone terrace and stood with my back to the inn, my heart pounding in my chest as I noticed the scent of the honeysuckle. Sweet. Feminine. Like Harper.
My soon-to-be wife.
For the first time today, I was jittery with nervousness. I couldn’t say why other than the anticipation was killing me.
“She’s on her way,” Veronica singsonged. I could hear the smile in her voice, discerned her last-minute movements as she disappeared into the background, as she’d promised.
All was quiet as seconds ticked by, with the only sound birdsong. Then I heard footsteps approaching, and my heart felt like it was lodged in my throat with all the anticipation of the past twelve hours, the past week, the past months as we planned this momentous occasion.
Harper, the woman I was going to marry, was nearly to the small, private garden terrace.
“Stunning,” Veronica whispered behind me.
It was all I could do to not whip around to see.
“Don’t move, Max,” the photographer coached. “Almost time, I promise. And this beautiful girl will be worth every second of the wait.”
I nodded, clenched my hand in my front pocket, nearly came out of my skin with eagerness.
Veronica’s camera clicked repeatedly as she apparently shot Harper’s approach. Then she came closer to me and took my profile.
I closed my eyes, worried I might turn too early and mess up our big moment.
“Almost, Max,” Veronica said, seeming to flutter from one spot to another.
Then everything went silent again, but I felt Harper come closer, felt her presence like a crackle in the air.
The two of us stood there, a few feet apart, counting to ten like Veronica had coached us to do ahead of time. Every second was an eternity as my emotions built up and the significance of this moment settled into my blood.
“Turn around, Max,” Harper said in a quiet, eternally familiar voice.
I swallowed and pivoted and…stopped breathing.
My gaze locked on hers, took in her beautiful, nervous smile.
A volcano of emotion erupted from me, and I couldn’t immediately speak, couldn’t do anything but reach for her hand, pull her to me, and rest my forehead against hers, knowing she was my heart, my soul mate.
The reason for everything I’d been through in my life, both good and bad, was so that I would end up in this moment with this woman. With this future.
“Oh, my God, Max,” she said in a shaky voice that told me she was as overcome as I was. “You’re so handsome and hot.”
We both laughed nervously, like a couple of preteens on a first date, which made me laugh harder. I sucked in a breath and tried to get a grip on myself, at least enough to speak.
“Harper,” I finally managed. “You’re stunning. Gorgeous.”
I put enough space between us that I could fully drink in the sight of her.
Once again my lungs locked up. Love of God and all that was holy, this woman…
“What you do to me…” I managed.
Her dress was incredible. She in that dress was incredible.
It was lacy everywhere, with delicate straps and a neckline that dipped down nearly to her belly button, revealing her bronzed skin. White lace hugged her curves mermaid style to mid-thigh, where yards of sheer, gossamer fabric and lace billowed behind her.
Her hair was up, with braids and twists and tiny hot pink flowers adorning it. To me, she looked like a cover model, with flawless skin, a hint of pink in her cheeks, and gorgeous long-lashed brown eyes.
“Wow,” I breathed out. “I love the dress. I love you. You take my breath away.”
“Yeah?” she said, as if she didn’t know what she did to me on any given day. Never mind in a fairy-tale white dress.
“How,” I said in a low, nearly private voice as I traced my finger along her body from the delicate diamond dangling from her neck, down between her breasts, and dipping to where the plunging neckline ended on her abdomen, “am I supposed to focus on my vows when you look like my wildest fantasy come true?”
She trailed her hands up my chest and around my neck. “I have every bit of confidence in you.”
I kissed her, the touch of her lips on mine as crucial as oxygen in that instant.
Harper pulled her mouth away just enough to grin and say, “I’m going to marry you today.”
I closed my eyes, drew her in for another kiss, thanked my lucky stars for bringing this woman into my life.
Abruptly, Harper stiffened, ended the kiss, lowered her hands to my chest, and dipped her chin.
“What’s wrong?” I asked, still dazed with love and joy.
She took a step away, then another, and the message got through to me that something really was wrong.
“I…” She was breathing heavily, took in a slow breath through her nose, her eyes closed. “I’m gonna be sick.” She rushed to the edge of the bushes, nearly tripping on her dress.
I hurried to her as understanding started to sink in. As she leaned over the greenery, I braced her with one hand on her middle and the other sweeping the piles of white fabric back out of the way.
My concern skyrocketed as Harper emptied her stomach, my mind spinning with thoughts of what could be wrong. Bad food? Flu? Nerves? Was she questioning getting married? She didn’t seem to be five minutes ago but…
“Here,” Veronica said, handing me an unopened bottle of water as Harper straightened, her eyes still closed.
“Thanks.” I held the bottle out for Harper, who looked paler, her face drawn, but she didn’t take it.
“What do you need?” I asked her. I tried to bite my tongue against firing a bunch of questions at her, but I couldn’t hold them in.
“Are you getting sick? Do you need a doctor? Is this nerves? Are you having second thoughts?”
Holy fuck. What if she was having second thoughts?
Harper
I was afraid to open my eyes, afraid I’d be dizzy again if I did.
I sucked in another deep, shaky breath, feeling a little better with each second that passed.
Max still held on to my arm, his grasp light but solid.
“My dress…” I said.
“You missed your dress. You missed everything but the plants. Impressive,” he said in a low voice. “Let’s sit you down. I’ve got water.”
I nodded, then finally willed my lids up, relieved to have Max by my side even if I was mortified at the same time. I knew he wouldn’t let me fall over if I had another spell.
I exhaled as I registered a lack of dizziness. Thank God. I was still shaky and weak, but I felt so much better. Turning my head slowly, I gauged the distance to the bench and glanced down at my dress. It wasn’t far unless you were enrobed in miles of fabric.
“I’ll get your train, sweetie,” Veronica said in a gentle voice as she bent down behind me and gathered and straightened at once.
“I’ve got you,” Max said.