Epilogue #2
“I know. But now that place is just…haunted. Not by ghosts, but by the day I nearly lost all of you.” Grace’s voice wavered.
“Every time I walk into that family room, I see Carl lying unconscious on the floor, Beck bleeding, and that monster pointing a gun at our heads. I’ll miss all the memories of the boys growing up there, but I can’t—I can’t live there anymore. ”
Gloria moved to Grace’s side, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. “Oh, honey. Of course you can’t.”
Heavenly stood and pulled Grace into a fierce hug. “I’m so sorry. But you’re doing the right thing. You deserve peace.”
“Thank you, sweetheart. This spring, Carl will be building us a house on a gorgeous piece of property we found with a lovely view of the Hudson. We’re excited.”
“That’s fantastic.”
“I’m jealous,” Maggie chimed in. “The neighborhood is beautiful. Wait until you see it.”
The chatter and laughter continued as Raine continued her ministrations. Heavenly closed her eyes and took in the moment until finally her bestie sprayed her makeup and swept her hair into an elegant bridal ’do. Then she stepped back with a gasp. “You look gorgeous!”
Heavenly opened her eyes and gasped.
The woman staring back at her in the vanity mirror looked.
..ethereal. Raine had worked magic, creating soft, romantic waves that framed her face while the rest was swept up in an elegant twist. Her makeup was flawless but natural—dewy skin, rose-tinted cheeks, lips painted a soft pink.
Her eyes looked bigger, brighter, shimmering with barely contained tears.
She looked like a bride. Not just any bride, but herself—enhanced, glowing, ready.
“Oh, my god,” she whispered, one hand flying to her mouth.
“Right?” Raine grinned, clearly proud of her work. “I told you. Gorgeous.”
“I can’t believe that’s me.”
“Believe it, honey.” Gloria squeezed her shoulder. “You’re stunning.”
Raine clapped her hands, bringing everyone back to the moment. “Okay, ladies. We’ve got forty-five minutes and a bride who needs to get into her dress. Grace, you’re on zipper duty. Gloria, accessories. Let’s move.”
The next thirty minutes passed in a flurry of activity. Heavenly stepped into her dress—the ivory lace hugging her curves perfectly, the beading catching the light with every movement. The zipper closed without incident, much to her relief.
Grace fastened the gift Beck and Seth had given her into place—a simple bracelet with three interlocking circles. Gloria slipped pearl earrings into place. Raine made final adjustments to her hair and makeup, then stepped back with a satisfied nod.
“Perfect,” Raine breathed. “Absolutely perfect.”
Heavenly turned to the full-length mirror and barely recognized herself. She looked...radiant. Luminous. Like a woman deeply, irrevocably in love. Like a bride about to marry the two men who’d saved her in every way that mattered.
“Oh, sweetheart.” Grace pressed a hand to her mouth, tears streaming freely now. “You’re the most beautiful bride I’ve ever seen.”
Maggie crossed to Heavenly and pulled her into a careful hug. “You look amazing. I’m so happy for all three of you.”
“Thank you,” Heavenly whispered, squeezing her tight. “For everything.”
“That’s what family’s for.” Maggie sent her a watery laugh. “I’m ruining my makeup. I should get back to Danny before Anna decides the pool is more interesting than his lap. Good luck.”
She slipped out, leaving the door open just a crack.
“You look beautiful.” Gloria stepped forward next, her usual brassy confidence softened by genuine emotion.
She cupped Heavenly’s face in both hands, eyes searching hers.
“You’re going to be so happy, honey. If there’s one thing Mama Gloria knows, it’s men.
And those two you’ve got worship the ground you walk on.
You three deserve every bit of happiness. ”
“Thank you, Gloria. For everything you’ve done for me. And especially for Beck. He loves you to pieces.”
“I love him, too, and don’t you dare make me cry.” Gloria fanned her face, then pulled Heavenly into a fierce hug. “And just remember, when you and Ken and Seth need a babysitter…” She paused dramatically. “Don’t call me.”
Heavenly giggled. “Wouldn’t dream of it. Love you.”
“Love you, too, honey. Now go marry those men!” Then Gloria swept out, leaving a trail of expensive perfume in her wake.
“Men,” Grace echoed with a shake of her head. “A year ago, I never would have imagined saying that and meaning it.”
Heavenly met Grace’s eyes in the mirror. “Thank you,” she said quietly. “For being here. For understanding. For…everything.”
Grace lingered, straightening Heavenly’s veil with trembling fingers. “Welcome to the family, sweetheart. Officially.” Her voice cracked. “I’m so grateful Seth found you and Beck. That you all found each other.”
“Me too,” Heavenly whispered.
“And for the record, if I’m in town, I’d love to babysit,” she said pointedly, shooting a look at the door Gloria had just exited through. “I’m hoping you three are planning for more babies. Lots more.”
As enthusiastic as Beck and Seth were about her being pregnant with this one? “We are. You’ll have lots of grandkids to spoil.”
“I’m so blessed. Now if I could just get Matt to find a nice girl and settle down…” Grace’s expression turned wistful as she pulled Heavenly in for a long, tight hug.
It was all the acceptance Heavenly needed.
Finally, Grace pulled back, dabbing at her eyes with a tissue. “All right. I need to leave before I completely fall apart.” She kissed Heavenly’s forehead. “See you out there.”
The door clicked shut behind her, leaving Heavenly alone with Raine.
Her best friend stood, studying her with an expression Heavenly couldn’t quite read. Not quite sad, not quite happy—something deeper, more complex.
“Come here,” Raine said softly, arms open wide.
Heavenly crossed to her and melted into Raine’s embrace. For a moment, they just stood there, holding each other in the quiet room.
“I can’t believe this is really happening,” Heavenly whispered against her shoulder.
“I can.” Raine pulled back and looked into her eyes with a strong, steady gaze. “You know why? Because you fought for this, no matter how hard it got. Even when you didn’t think you could handle Beck or Seth, much less both of them. Even when you got propositioned by a sex donkey.”
“Don’t remind me.” Heavenly laughed and shook her head. “But I did give up.”
Raine shook her head. “You got scared. You got overwhelmed. Still, you came back, and you loved Beck and Seth through all their damage and fear and stupidity. And they love you right back.”
“You showed me it was possible.”
Raine smiled through her tears. “That’s what best friends do. Remember the day we met? Me on that hospital gurney, blood everywhere, scared out of my mind.”
It had been both one of the worst and best days of Heavenly’s life. “Of course. You were so strong, even then.”
“I didn’t feel strong. I felt broken. But you looked at me like I wasn’t. Like I was going to be okay. And somehow, I believed you. And now look at us—both pregnant, both married to two incredible men, both building the families we’ve always wanted.”
Heavenly let out a watery laugh. “How did we get so lucky?”
“We didn’t. We fought for it.” Raine cupped her face. “And you’re going to keep fighting for it. When things get hard—and they will, because babies and exhaustion and hormones are no joke—you’re going to remember why you chose them. Why they chose you. And you’re going to hold on.”
“I will.”
“I know.” Raine kissed her forehead. “You got this.”
“Thank you.” Heavenly could barely get the words out. “For everything. For being my friend and the sister of my heart.”
“That’s what family does.” Raine pulled her close one more time. “Now stop crying before we both look like raccoons and I have to redo everything.”
They laughed together, holding each other tight, two women who’d found their way from lost to found, from broken to whole.
Finally, Raine pulled back. “I need to get out there before Liam and Hammer send a search party. But first—” She grabbed her phone. “One picture. Just us.”
They posed together, Heavenly in her wedding dress, Raine in her mauve gown, both of them teary and radiant and exactly where they were meant to be.
“Perfect,” Raine said, examining the photo. “I’m framing this.”
“Me, too.”
Raine gave her one last squeeze, then headed for the door, pausing with her hand on the knob. “And Heavenly?”
“Yeah?”
“I’m going to sob like a baby when you walk down that aisle. I’m really proud of you.” Her voice broke. “And I love you.”
Heavenly’s eyes stung. “I love you, too, bestie.”
The door closed softly behind her, and suddenly Heavenly was alone.
Silence settled around her like a blanket.
Heavenly turned back to the mirror, taking in her reflection one last time. The woman staring back at her looked confident, radiant, ready—so different from the scared girl who’d walked into Beck’s penthouse all those months ago, desperate and alone.
She thought about that night. How terrified she’d been, offering herself to River because she’d had no other options. How lost she’d felt, caring for her dying father, drowning in debt, convinced she’d never have anything more than survival.
And now...
Now she had everything.
Two men who loved her fiercely. A baby growing inside her. A home filled with laughter and hope. A family—not just Beck and Seth, but all their brothers, Hudson, Grace and Carl, Gloria and Buddy, Raine and her men—all bound together by choice and love.
She smoothed her hands down the lace of her dress, drew in a deep breath, and smiled before she opened the door and stepped into the hallway, ready to walk toward the men who were waiting for her—and the future they would build together.
Her heart hammered against her ribs as she hurried downstairs, moving quickly but carefully in her gown. When she reached the bi-fold doors leading to the patio, she paused, peeking around the frame.