Epilogue - Wedding Day!
“You’re remarkably calm,” Holly says, bending to buckle my shoes.
“I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life,” I say.
“The dress fits you perfectly,” Evie says, adjusting one of the off-the-shoulder sleeves. “I knew this would be the one.”
“And yet you sent twelve Bouvier dresses for me to try on,” I say, tossing her a wry wink.
She shrugs unapologetically. “My bestie was planning a wedding in one month, and my family owns a fashion company. What did you expect?”
“I love it,” Jordie adds. “Your baby bump is barely noticeable.” She pats my belly beneath the empire waistline.
“You three look gorgeous,” I tell them. “Thank you for the bridesmaid dresses too, Evie.” My friend had also provided three floor-length dresses in a gorgeous crimson color for her, Holly, and Jordie.
Holly puts her hands on her back and stretches. She’s due in less than a month, and her pregnant belly protrudes adorably. “I’m just glad you had a tent in a matching color.”
“Oh hush,” Evie admonishes. “You’re glowing.”
“I’m sweating,” Holly retorts. “And I have to pee again.”
Jordie raises her hand. “Me too.”
“We should all go before the ceremony,” Evie suggests.
I wave my hand. “You three go. I already went before I put my dress on.”
As soon as they depart, I look at myself in the oval standing mirror. Despite what Jordie said, my belly is quite obvious, but I’ve never felt more beautiful. The sleek material of this creamy gown is pure luxury. I don’t even want to know how much it cost.
My phone chimes, and I pick it up from the side table to see a message from Reno.
Reno: How is my wife feeling?
I grin and type back.
Juliette: I’m not your wife yet. You haven’t said “I do.”
Reno: I do, I do, I do. Now, how is my wife feeling?
Juliette: Excited to husband you up.
Reno: That doesn’t have quite the same ring to it, but I’ll let it slide. I love you.
Juliette: I love you too.
A knock interrupts us, and I go to the door of the bridal suite in the pretty venue that luckily had an opening for today. I open it to find Elizabeth, Reno’s mom.
“Hi, sweetheart. I hope I’m not disturbing you, but I brought you a little snack.” She holds out a plate of fruit.
“Heck yes,” I cheer, letting her inside. “Besides your son, you’re my favorite person right now.”
Elizabeth laughs and hands me a large linen napkin, which I tuck into the top of my dress like a bib. “Well, I had to feed my daughter-in-law and my precious grandbabies.”
We take a seat on the pretty pink settee, and I dig in. “Thank you for this,” I say before spearing a bite of juicy pineapple on the fork and smiling internally at the fruit. Pineapple Island… where it all began.
Elizabeth and I chat while I eat, and when I lean back into the small sofa, my future mother-in-law shifts and pulls something from the pocket of her green velvet dress. “I wanted to talk to you, but here. You might need these.”
I take the small packet of tissues, already feeling the tears welling up. “I have waterproof mascara, so let me have it,” I tell her, and she laughs softly.
“I just wanted to welcome you to our family, Juliette, and let you know how happy I am to be a part of yours.” Then she takes my hand. “I’ve always worried about Reno. I know he’s shared some of his childhood with you, so you know what I’m talking about.”
Nodding, I say, “I understand.”
Elizabeth averts her eyes and blinks at the wall. “I was worried I’d messed him up by not getting out sooner than I did, but I felt so… trapped.”
I squeeze her hand. “Oh Elizabeth, you were doing the best you could, and Reno turned out to be a wonderful man, and that’s all because of you and his grandparents.”
She plucks one of the tissues from the packet and catches a tear of her own before it falls. “I’m proud of my son and everything he’s accomplished.” Her green eyes meet mine, so much like her son’s. “But I’ve never been more proud of him than when he asked you to marry him.”
Oh hell. That does it.
A sob escapes, and I blot at my eyes with the tissue, taking a moment to fan my face until I can speak without turning into a complete basket case. Because what better words could a bride ask for from her groom’s mother?
“That means more to me than you’ll ever know,” I say, my voice raspy.
“And if you’d like to, I’d love it if you called me Ma.” She quickly adds, “But don’t feel obligated.”
Dabbing away more tears, I nod. “I would love that… Ma.” We share a long moment of silence, just two women who are now bonded together by our love for the sa me man. Placing my hand over my belly, I say, “And thank you for being so understanding about the unexpected pregnancy. I know it’s—”
Elizabeth cuts me off. “It’s perfect,” she fills in, “because they will be arriving to two parents who love them. And an entire family of people who adore them.”
“That’s the truth. I’m so lucky to have all of you and a husband who is so supportive.”
She sighs and rolls her eyes to the ceiling. “I’m just happy Reno turned out relatively normal. At least I didn’t completely fuck up the whole parenting thing.”
Now I add a side of snort-laughing to my tears because Elizabeth Swain just said fuck . I can’t wait to tell Reno.
“You did a great job, though he does have a bit of a shopping obsession for baby things. I put my foot down last week and threatened to take his phone away, and he seems to have gotten better. Not as many packages have arrived this week.”
She lifts her dark eyebrows. “Or… he’s having them shipped to another address.”
“He didn’t!” I gasp, and Elizabeth grins.
“A box arrived at my house this morning with two baby bottles shaped like beer bottles.”
I burst into laughter. “Okay, that’s actually kind of funny. But keep me updated if he gets too crazy.”
“I will. We Swain women have to stick together.” Elizabeth pulls me into a hug and pats my back. “He’s yours now, Juliette, and I don’t accept returns.”
That makes me smile. “Good because I plan to keep him forever.”
Elizabeth stays with me and helps me fit the ivory veil beneath my hair. Reno likes when I wear a bun, but I wanted something a little fancier today, so I had the hairdresser fashion a curly updo that shows off my shoulders in this dress.
I’m so touched that Elizabeth asked me to call her Ma. I haven’t called anyone by any kind of maternal moniker in ages, and… it feels nice. Like my new mother-in-law could be the mother I never had.
Evie pokes her head in the door. “Hey, someone wanted to say hi,” she tells me, stepping back to let my author friend, AK Landow into the room.
“Oh my god,” I squeal, rushing over to give her a hug. She looks stunning in a royal-blue dress and stilettos I’m instantly jealous of. “I’m so glad you could make it. Come meet my mother-in-law.”
I introduce the two women, and AK hands me a beautifully decorated pink box with a white bow. “I wanted to give this to you personally.”
“Awww, you’re so sweet. Thank you.” I unwrap it and open the box, pulling out a single item as my eyes go wide. “Is this a…”
“A bridal butt plug,” my insane friend says proudly. “Isn’t it pretty?”
“I’m just going to give you two a few minutes alone,” Elizabeth, my freaking almost-mother-in-law, says, scurrying from the room with a bright red face.
“Oh my gawd!” I hiss, poking AK in the chest with the offending device. “I can’t believe you gave this to me in front of her.”
“Pffft, she’s a grown-ass woman. She knows you and her son are going to get freaky on your honeymoon.”
I can’t help but laugh, but another knock sounds at the door, before I can reply. I find Bubba on the other side. “Hey, sis. You look beautiful.” He kisses my cheek, and I stroke a hand down his tie .
“You look pretty handsome yourself, Bubs. You’re not coming to tell me my groom escaped, are you?”
He laughs. “I don’t think a team of wild horses could drag that man away. No, AK’s car is blocking one of the caterers.” He looks to my friend. “I was wondering if I could borrow your key so I can move it.”
“Sure,” she says, her face registering confusion as she digs into her clutch and produces a car key.
“Thanks,” my brother says, taking the key. “I’ll bring it back in a few minutes.” He glances at the item in my hand and chokes on his own spit before dashing from the room, muttering something under his breath.
Great. Now my brother and my mother-in-law have seen my new sex toy. Family dinners should be fun from now on.
I run my fingers over the surface of the plug. It looks like it’s covered with lace, but it’s smooth to the touch. I smile at AK. “Thank you, crazy lady. It really is pretty.”
“Use it in good health, babe.”
The ceremony was absolutely beautiful. It was put together in a rush because I wanted to get married before my stomach got too big, but my entire family had come together to help.
And Reno had insisted on being in charge of the flowers.
The entire room had been filled with blooms of every color.
It was more than I could have hoped for.
The cake has been cut, I’ve danced with both my dads, and the bouquet and garter have been thrown. Now I’m in Reno’s arms on the dance floor.
“Hi, husband,” I say, grinning up at him.
He returns my smile and presses a soft kiss to my lips. “Hi, wife. ”
We’ve said those words every chance we could get since we arrived in the reception room. Yeah, we’re kind of sickening, and I give zero fucks about it. I’m in blissful love with Reno Swain.
And now I’m Mrs. Swain .
“Today was perfect,” I tell him, laying my cheek against his chest as he holds me tighter.
“Mmhmm,” he hums, his face pressed into my hair. “You’ve made my life complete.”
“You’re really living up to your nickname, Reno Swoon,” I tell him.
“I thought I was Sir Forearms,” he teases.
“Well, maybe Sir Swoony Forearms would like to take his wife to get another drink.”