Epilogue
Brooke
Pulling in a deep breath, I smooth out the simple line of my floor-length dress. The brocade fabric is a deep shade of copper that picks up the reddish highlights in my hair, and the wrap style makes it easy to move around in while also being flattering and comfortable.
I knew it was what I wanted the second I saw it.
“Can you stop moving?” Maren grips my head, twisting it where she wants it. “I know you’re excited, but you’re about to go out there with wonky curls.”
“She doesn’t care.” Mariah sits in front of me, carefully applying the same sort of nails she wore the day she married Titus. “She’s in a hurry.”
I smile wide, because she’s right. I am. I can’t get out of this room fast enough. “Can you blame me?”
“If you’re going to tell me about all the ways he rocks your world, you can save your breath.” Maren twists another section of my hair around the curling iron in her hand. “My desk is right outside your office, and that door isn’t as soundproof as you clearly think it is.”
I should be embarrassed, but my smile only widens. “You’re just jealous.”
“Of course I am.” Maren releases the curl and moves to the next one. “I’m also happy for you because I love you.”
My throat tightens, but in a good way. “I love you too.”
Maren snorts. “You better. Because I haven’t been laid in over a year, and at this point you’re just rubbing it in.”
“Maybe you should be rubbing one out then.” I smile at Maren’s scoff. “It might take the edge off.”
“There.” Mariah presses the final nail into place, leaning back to look over her handywork. “Those look so pretty.”
I hold them up, checking out the shimmery tone that’s a shade darker than my dress. “I love them.”
I haven’t worn nails like this since leaving California. I haven’t even put on polish because I didn’t want to be anything like who I was.
But I’m rethinking that stance. I like being a little fancy. I put a lot of effort into how I dress for work. I love feeling like I look good.
And there’s no denying these nails look good.
They were also super simple to apply, which is a huge bonus since I’m really freaking busy.
Between work, helping Mariah with the twins, doing everything I can to get Toby back on his feet, and trying to keep Copper from teaching Bruno her bad humping habits, I don’t have a lot of spare time.
And the spare time I do have, I spend in the pool, floating on a raft with a book in my hand.
It’s freaking amazing.
Just as Maren is finishing up with my hair, pinning one side back with the vintage gold floral, rhinestone-studded barrette she gifted me, there’s a knock at the door.
Deidre peeks her head in. “How’s it going in here?”
“Great.” I twist a little in my seat, giving her a better look at my hair. “How do I look?”
Deidre slips inside, closing the door at her back as her eyes sweep over me. “You look beautiful.” She comes toward me, hands held out. “How are you feeling?”
“Amazing.” I take her hands in mine, wiggling my fingers a little without letting go. “Mariah did my nails.”
Deidre makes a show of looking at my fingertips.
“Gorgeous.” She gives Mariah’s shoulder a pat.
“You girls are all so multitalented.” She adjusts one of the curls framing my face while smiling warmly at Maren.
“You cook, you do hair and nails, you juggle schedules and manage teams.” She grins.
“And somehow manage to keep my sons in line.”
Maren snorts. “Some of them.”
Deidre gives her a slow smile. “The strongest stallions are the hardest to break.”
Maren’s expression goes flat. “I was thinking more about how you can’t polish a turd.”
I turn to my spirited friend. “Can you try to wait until after dinner to smash something in Trevor’s face?” I begin to face forward, but turn to Maren again. “And don’t stab him with anything.”
Maren’s eyes widen. “Where did that come from?”
“I’m just covering my bases.” I take an easy breath, standing from my seat. “Is it time yet?”
“Almost.” Deidre steps in front of me, resting her hands on my shoulders. “I want to make absolutely sure this is what you want.” She smiles. “Because, as you know, it’s never too late to change your mind.”
Maren laughs. Hysterically.
Deidre and I both turn to look at her as she wipes the corner of one eye.
Waving a hand at us, she says, “Continue. I’m sorry. The thought of Brooke not marrying Tobias is just bananas.”
I snort, the sound slowly turning into a giggle. Then I’m laughing as hard as Maren.
Because it is bananas. There’s nothing and no one who can keep me from that man.
And they’ve tried.
After taking a minute to compose myself, I straighten, wearing a smile I don’t think I’m going to be able to wipe off my face, as I say to the woman who will soon be my mother-in-law, “I’m beyond sure I want to marry Tobias.”
Deidre matches my smile, clapping her hands together the way she does when she’s truly happy. “I know. I just had to ask.”
After adjusting anything she deems out of place on the three of us, Deidre leaves the room to take her place downstairs.
I turn to the women who are always at my side—and will certainly be today. “You girls ready?”
Mariah pulls my bouquet from its vase, passing off the collection of zinnias in shades of yellow and copper. “Let’s go make you a wife.”
Together, we head down the stairs, then link arms just like we did the day Mariah married Titus.
Because it’s not my father walking me down the aisle today.
It’s someone who loves me. Two someones who love me.
And not only do they love me, they want what’s best for me.
They support me. They will fight for me.
Just like the man they’re leading me toward.
Tobias stands in our great room, the doors leading to the pool he built to keep me here open wide behind him. I can’t look away from him as I walk through the home we share. His brothers surround him, but I barely register their existence. Because he is all I see.
“Damn.” Maren leans close. “Your husband looks fine.”
He does. Even better than he did the day of Mariah and Titus’s wedding.
The suit he’s wearing is perfectly tailored to his broad shoulders, and the tie matches my dress perfectly.
He’s been working hard to strengthen the leg that was broken in the car accident, and seeing him standing tall and strong makes my chest tight.
Because I almost lost him. And not just for nine years. For good.
Thinking of having to live without him is nearly impossible. And it makes my heart hurt even more for what it was like for him when I was in California. When I thought I had no choice but to move forward and he had no choice but to admit he couldn’t.
When we reach the altar, Maren takes my bouquet and Mariah gives me a hug, then they leave me with the man I have loved not just once, but twice.
In two completely different ways.
Like Titus and Mariah’s ceremony, this one is over in the blink of an eye.
And then I’m being scooped up by my new husband and carried out into the pool atrium where tables are set up across the travertine tile.
Each one is topped with a tablecloth the same color as my dress.
Pillared candles burning bright make for simple but elegant centerpieces.
Flickering water-safe lights float across the surface of the pool, blending everything together.
It’s a small wedding, attended only by family. Real family. And it’s perfect. More than I ever could have hoped for.
The food is amazing—not surprising considering who my new mother-in-law is—and the cake is divine. I managed to sweet talk my way into having the same caramel cake Mariah had at her wedding. I’m a little worried it’s becoming tradition, and feel bad for whoever the next Bradshaw bride is.
Especially if she doesn’t like caramel.
Once we’ve all eaten and stuffed ourselves on caramel cake, Tobias pulls me out onto the area designated as our dance floor, tucking my body close to his as the string quartet plays. “Come on, wife. Dance with me.”
He holds me close, eyes on my face as we gently sway. “Are you happy?”
I pretend like I have to think about it. “I guess I’m fine.”
Like I was hoping, Tobias laughs. The sound of it reverberates through me, a reminder of who I once was.
A girl who liked to joke. A girl who teased and laughed easily.
I may never be that girl again, and I’m okay with it.
She’s still there, inside of me, and she knows more now.
Has seen enough to appreciate who she’s become.
And who she’s become is Brooklyn Marie Bradshaw.
“I would ask you if you’re happy, but it’s pretty obvious.” I reach up to run a finger over his lips. “You haven’t stopped smiling all day.”
“I smile like this every day, Mrs. Bradshaw.” Tobias leans into my ear. “Because somehow I managed to get everything I wanted.”
“Everything?” I angle a brow at him. “Because I’m pretty sure this morning you were begging to—”
The photographer chooses this moment to sneak in beside us, snapping photos as the music shifts to a familiar tune.
“This is what we danced to at Titus and Mariah’s wedding.
” I glance across the space to where Maren sits next to Deidre, swaying with the music.
“Right before Maren shoved cake in Trevor’s face.
” I laugh a little at the memory. “I’m actually really surprised she’s made it this long without shoving him in the pool. ”
Tobias grins at me. “I told her I’d give her a raise if she was on her best behavior tonight.”
“That makes sense.” My friend is highly money motivated, which is understandable given her situation. “Except for the part where she’s my employee and not yours.”
Being able to say what I want to say and be who I want to be without fear of retaliation has taken some getting used to. I’m still not great at it, but I’m getting better.
It helps that Tobias encourages it.
“I figured since I’m sleeping with her boss, I could probably work out some sort of a deal where I offer my services as a way to even things out.” He says it like we’re having a normal conversation about a general business transaction.
Instead of him offering to put his head between my thighs during his nine AM coffee break.
“Is this a negotiation?” I lift my brows. “Because if it is, I would like to add installing a soundproof door on my office to the agreement.”
Tobias seems to consider my counter. “What if I supply your tattletale of an assistant with noise-canceling ear protection?”
Thinking about Maren sitting at her desk wearing earmuffs is enough to have me cackling. “Can you imagine? There would be so many questions.”
“That one causes enough questions as it is.” Tobias looks back at where Maren sits, his brows pinching together. “Did she leave?”
I turn, surprised to find Maren’s seat empty. “She wouldn’t leave without saying goodbye to me.” My eyes narrow as they move around the space. “Unless Trevor was an asshole to her.”
Tobias spins me, giving us both the opportunity to scan the whole room. Our eyes meet, both widening.
Because Trevor is gone too.
****
Thank you so much for reading Unfinished!