33. Epilogue
Eliza
Eleven Months later…
“You look stunning .” Amy straightens out my gown.
“This is such a dream,” Vanessa adds.
I nod, taking an unsteady breath. “Do you think he’s as nervous as I am?”
Vanessa laughs. “Uh, my guess is he’s probably about to pass out with nerves. He’s been so thorough with this whole wedding thing—determined to make it a dream day for you.”
I laugh, thinking of all the things that Nick worked to put together—including handcrafting our wedding archway. He spent nearly six months working on it, making it exactly how he thought it should be.
“He loves you more than life,” Amy says in a soft voice, stepping back to take a look at me. “You two have the kind of love that most people only dream of, and I can’t wait to see where it takes you.”
“Thank you.” I smile, my eyes flickering to the door. “Have you seen Granny?”
“I’m sure she’s just making her rounds.” Vanessa giggles. “She keeps telling Martha that she has to catch the bouquet so she can use it at her wedding with Vince.”
“Is that how that works?” I ask, thinking about the fact that she’s already engaged. “I thought that the bouquet toss was reserved for anyone who’s not already engaged to be married.”
“Who knows, who cares.” Vanessa bursts into laughter.
“I think your granny should have to get out there and catch it herself.” Amy giggles.
“She’d probably tell Frank he has to marry her.”
“Wouldn’t that be something.” Vanessa snickers. “Her wedding dress would most definitely be bedazzled through and through.”
“ For sure. ”
“If Granny doesn’t try to catch the bouquet, though, I’m going for it,” Amy adds. “I might not be the next in line for marriage—seeing as I’m single as a pringle—but it might just bring me enough luck to finally get my first kiss. ”
“Now we’re talking!” Vanessa grins mischievously. “You never know, the bouquet has some kind of magical powers.”
We all burst out laughing.
I pause to take a deep breath, glancing outside the window. Nick and I had initially wanted to get married at the creek where we first became a couple, but the spot is too small for the ceremony.
And too special to share with everyone else.
It’s our place.
So, we decided on his grandparents’ farm—setting everything up in the hayfield just outside of the barn. Which means I’m getting ready in the barn, but I don’t mind.
“Oh, Eliza Kate,” Granny says in awe from behind me. “You look absolutely gorgeous. That boy is going to faint from all the beauty you’re radiating.”
“Oh goodness, I hope not.” I laugh, embracing her. Because it’s the beginning of November, I opted for a lacey long-sleeve gown, and it is stunning. I feel like a princess, and the thought of Nick waiting for me at the end of the aisle has my head feeling light.
“You look beautiful though, that’s for sure,” Mom adds as she steps into the room. “Are you feeling ready?”
“Are you kidding me? I’ve been ready since we got together,” I joke, but it’s actually the truth. I was dying for Nick to pop the question, and when he did down at the same spot we made it official, everything fell into place.
“Well, let’s get this show on the road,” Dad says, letting out a deep breath as he steps into the room. “You sure look beautiful,” he adds, kissing the top of my head. “I think I might be just as nervous as you are.” He laughs, smiling down at me. “Knowing me, I might trip on the way down the aisle, hit a big hole and break my ankle or something.”
“Oh Dad, stop.” I swat his arm. “You’re just giving me more things to worry about, and I think I have enough of that as it is.”
“Right, right.” He chuckles.
Vanessa glances at the time. “Okay, it’s time for Amy and me to round up the rest of the bridesmaids. We have a wedding in ten minutes.”
My heart leaps with nerves as Vanessa and Amy rush out the door, leaving me with my granny and parents. “I seriously have never bitten my nails but wish I could.” I glance down at my perfectly manicured French tips.
“You’re going to be fine,” Mom reassures me, hugging my shoulders. “Just take a few deep breaths. Everything is going to go flawless, I know it will.”
I nod. “I know, I know. I also know that even if it is a total catastrophe, as long as I’m married to Nick by the end of the night, everything will still be perfect.”
“That’s true love right there,” Dad comments, giving me a smile. “I’m so proud of you, and I’m so happy that you found your person.”
“Me, too.” I beam, thinking of how special Nick and my relationship is. It might have started as just friendship, but that was the foundation to a beautiful, secure relationship—one that never left me questioning if he wanted to be with me in the long run.
“You know,” Granny begins, having been mostly quiet. “Do you remember last year, when you told me that you had sworn yourself off of love?”
I nod, laughing at myself. “I was so ridiculous.”
“Maybe, but I just want to say that I’m glad you didn’t stick to that mentality. I’m glad you decided that Nick was worth a try, because you’re going to have a beautiful life—I know it. This wedding is just the beginning of what’s to come.”
I smile, everything in my chest feeling warm. “Thank you so much for everything you’ve done for me, Granny,” I say, tears welling up in my eyes. “I wouldn’t be where I’m at today if you hadn’t let me move in.”
She wipes a tear from her own eyes and pulls me into a hug. “I’m gonna miss you once you move out, so you better come and visit me soon.”
“I will. I promise.”
Nick
I glance down at the watch on my wrist, knowing that this is it; after this evening, I’ll be married to the most beautiful woman in the entire world. I stand off to the side of the altar that we’ve made in the hay field. The glow of the fall sun illuminates the grass, and pumpkins and mums adorn the hay bales. It’s just how Eliza wants it, and that’s all that matters to me.
My eyes flicker up to the archway and I smile at the flowers woven into the wooden structure. At the top is a heart with our names and new last name—for her—along with the date.
“You look handsome, son,” Mom says to me, her hand placed gently on my arm. “Eliza looks gorgeous, too. Her dress is just something else.”
“Yeah?” I choke out nervously. “I haven’t seen it.”
“Well, I know you’ll love it.”
“I think I’d love her in anything…”
Or nothing.
“Yeah, but still, she’s just beautiful.” Mom draws in a breath, her voice falling off a little.
I glance down at her, noticing the tears in her eyes. “What’s wrong?”
She shakes her head and then dabs her eyes. “I just wish your father was here to see this. He always talked about you and Mara growing up and getting married. I never thought that he wouldn’t be here.”
I wrap my arm around her shoulders, pulling her in for a hug. “You know, I wish he was here, too, but I think…” I pause to get my emotions about me again. “I think he is here, watching from up there.” I point up to the clouds above us. “He’s probably wishing that you weren’t crying right now.”
She laughs. “Oh, your dad couldn’t stand to see any of us crying. It just broke his heart. No matter how tough he thought he was, tears got him every time.”
“Yeah,” I agree, reminiscing of my dad’s soft side. “He’d love Eliza, wouldn’t he?”
Mom nods, her eyes soft. “Oh, most definitely. He’d be so proud of both of you, and the life that you’re working to build together. I prayed that you’d meet someone like her—someone who challenges you and brings out the best in you. I’m just so proud.”
I nod, choking up too much to say anything else. I give her one last squeeze as Daniel approaches me.
“It’s time to get this show on the road,” he says, giving me a thumbs up. “Van says all the girls are ready. Are you ready?”
“Oh yeah,” I say. “I’ve been ready since the day I laid eyes on her.”
Daniel chuckles. “Well, it’s a good thing that she likes you enough to marry you then, because otherwise, that’d be really awkward.”
“Oh shut it.” I smack him. “She loves me.”
“Yeah, she does.” His voice softens. “Let’s go.”
I take my place at the front beside our pastor, my heart thrumming heavily in my chest. My eyes scan the crowd, noting all the familiar—and some unfamiliar—faces that are beginning to fill the section. Eliza made sure that we had a small wedding, but by the time we invited everyone, it was more like … medium .
“You ready?” Pastor Sam looks to me, a smile beneath his white mustache.
I nod. “Oh yeah.”
The music begins to play through the loudspeakers that have been set up, and I hold my breath, watching as the pairs of bridesmaids and groomsmen appear from the barn, walking through the field to their place. As great as they all look, my mind can only think of one thing…
Eliza.
My hands shake beside me as I wait, feeling my whole body on edge. There are so many emotions filling my chest as I stand there, thinking back on the last year. We’ve had some ups and downs—just like everyone else—but it’s been the best year of my life. The cabin is ready for her to make her place, and I built her a studio out back for all her photography needs—which are a lot now.
Life couldn’t get any more perfect than what it is.
Well, until the big red sliding door rolls open all the way and my eyes land on a captivatingly beautiful woman standing there, her arm in the one of her father’s. I lose my breath as I take in the sight of my soon-to-be wife, her hazel-blonde hair falling past her shoulders in waves. It’s done half-up with fall-colored flowers woven into the strands.
I bat away the tears that slip from my eyes as I meet her gaze, steady but nervously trained on mine. I smile, ignoring the click of the cameras going off around us. I’m so used to being snapped in photographs that I pay no mind anymore.
Eliza’s bright white wedding dress looks like it was made for her, the lace hugging her curves in all the right places, perfectly cascading down to the ground. The golden grass is waving as if it’s bowing for her presence. My eyes stay locked with hers, holding them as her father walks her down the aisle.
I feel like sobbing like a baby, but don’t—thankfully. I feel Daniel’s hand land on my shoulder as she reaches the beginning of the official aisle at the back. As Eliza takes her steps in rhythm, my mind replays the events that led up to this moment.
I can hear the sound of the song playing the first time we ever danced together—at the Pumpkin Festival—and it just so happens to be the one playing over the loudspeaker. If someone had told me then, that it would lead to this moment, my wedding …
I never would’ve believed them.
When Eliza reaches the front, she stops, still holding onto her father’s arm. Her eyes meet mine as the pastor clears his throat.
I love you, she mouths to me.
I smile, a fresh tear rolling down my cheek. I love you, too.