Epilogue 2
SUMMER
I hold no regrets for falling for Daniel—love at first sight or whatever someone says to make it feel less.
Time wouldn’t have given more than we have now.
I regret not recognizing sooner that we’re allowed to change and evolve—our priorities, goals, and even the rules we live by.
They didn’t allow for growth or for seeing what was right in front of my eyes. At least for a bit.
Once I knew how much I loved him, I fought for us. And won. Daniel and I won at love. But seeing him parked where he’s supposed to park, away from the cottage, has me falling for him all over again.
Fall shifts into park and whips her gaze toward me. “Why is Brandon here?”
I pivot my eyes to see him and Spring setting up the chairs on the big deck. “He’s a friend and offered to help.” I study her green eyes, looking for any sign that gives her real feelings away because surely it can’t be hate toward him. “He’s the nicest guy.”
“He’s just . . .” She looks back at him again. “Too nice.”
I open the door and get out when I can tell this conversation isn’t going anywhere. Dipping back in, I say, “There’s no such thing as too nice.”
I shut the door and pull my dress from the back seat.
Pulling a ceremony and reception together in three days hasn’t been as fun as it should have been, but Dolly made it a potluck.
Now I’m worried the entire town is going to turn out.
Mountain Laurel Cove loves two things: a wedding and a potluck. You give them both, and they show up.
Fall whisks my dress from me and hurries into the cottage. “Hide your eyes. Bride incoming!”
I laugh, which feels so good after the craze of the past few days. Stopping just shy of the front door, I ask, “Safe to come in?”
“It’s safe,” Fall says, and then hustles me inside and drags me to the primary bedroom.
With a hard shut of the door, I turn startled. “Geez, Fall, what the heck?”
“Don’t want the groom to see you, do you?”
I peek out the window but can’t see the setup from this part of the house. “He’s seen me plenty. That’s how we got here.” Seeing the water is calming, but I don’t like the look of the gray clouds gathering for the ceremony. “Do you think it’s going to rain?”
“Forecast says 100 percent.”
“Lovely,” I deadpan.
“At least your white dress isn’t see-through. You wouldn’t want to look like you’re in a wet T-shirt contest.”
Staring at her, I blink. And then again. “Guess that’s a silver lining.”
She drops onto the edge of the bed, and her gaze falls to the floor. “Wish Mom were here.” When her eyes find mine again, she wrangles a smile, but the effort is obvious.
I sit next to her, wrapping my arm around her back. “I thought I was supposed to be the emotional one today.”
With a laugh, a tear falls from her eyes. “Your to-do list was already too long.” Her smile is genuine, and she shakes her shoulders. “I took it off your plate.”
A knock has us both looking up. Fall wipes her eyes just as Winter walks in, shutting the door behind her. A quick smile to me gives way to her sitting on the other side of Fall. Tucking Fall’s hair behind her ear, her lower lip juts out. “What’s wrong?”
“I’m happy,” she replies. “I’m just a sucker for a wedding.”
Winter rubs her back and smiles. “Me too.” Getting up, she comes around by me to sit. “How are you doing, big sis?”
“I’m good, really good.” I take inventory of my emotions.
For the past few days, I’ve been expecting to be hit with a blast of nerves or cold feet—but neither has happened.
I’m just so incredibly happy. It feels so .
. . right. “Is it weird that I’m just excited?
I can’t wait to marry Daniel and celebrate with everyone. ”
Winter says, “I think that means this is the right decision.”
Fall leans forward with another swipe under her eyes. “Mom and Dad would have really liked Daniel.”
Thinking about my parents has brought me immense sadness and comfort. As much as I wish they were here, I still carry them with me. I see them in my sisters, and in the bouquet Winter picked for me from their little haven.
When everyone was busy with their own emotions, I used to think I was never given the same courtesy to grieve. Things needed to get done. Kids needed caring for. Dolly needed support when becoming the guardian of four girls.
Finding my own happiness and sitting in that joy gives me a new perspective. I was grieving all along. It just looked different. Now, I can rest from the weariness and set the sadness aside, carrying them in my heart down the aisle instead.
The door opens, and Spring peeks inside. “Are we getting dressed?”
“We’re talking,” I say, falling back on the mattress.
She comes next to me and lies back, with Winter and Fall following the lead.
“Sisters?” I whisper, feeling the love. I’m so dang proud of each of them and how far we’ve come. “I love you.”
We roll together, hugging in awkward limbs and laughter. “Love you,” each says before Fall says, “We need to get ready.”
“It won’t take long. Look,” Spring says, pointing out the window. “It’s raining.”
Sitting up, I move to look for myself. “Saves time doing our hair.”
Winter jumps up. “Wait, you’re going to walk in that?”
I nod. “I am. Nothing will keep me from marrying him.”
“Well,” Fall starts, “we can move it indoors?”
“No. It’s okay. Rain has been a part of every other major event that brought us together.” I walk to my dress, running my fingers over the soft fabric of the tulle. “For everyone else, it’s bad luck. For us, it’s a good sign.”
“Really?” Winter asks. “We’re not doing our hair?”
We probably shouldn’t be laughing as hard as we are, but it feels good to let it out, and the joy begins.
White umbrellas arch over the small crowd gathered on the deck, sprinkles of rain tapping on the tops set the stage as pretty as a painting.
The front row holds a collection of my favorite color in dresses of varying styles to suit my sisters’ tastes. They could have chosen any shade of blue they wanted, but they all showed up matching the sky on a sunny day. I’m in awe of how similar we all are in unexpected ways.
With swollen eyes from all the “happy tears” as she calls them, Dolly kisses my cheek and gives my hand a little squeeze under a large canopy where my future husband waits for me.
“I’m so proud of you, sweet girl,” she says with a sniffle and tap of tissue to the inside corners of her eyes.
“You’re going to have the most beautiful life together. ”
We are. I know it in my gut and heart. This process, while a little stressful just because we put it together quickly, has been so easy. And when we came up with the idea to get married before the start of the season—to stop wasting time and just do it—I felt peace.
I’ve only felt loved.
I hug her, the gravity of the occasion kicking in like the storm above did. Dolly joins Fall under her umbrella as I turn to face Daniel. My love.
Bucking traditions, a.k.a. breaking the ceremonial rules, the warmth of his embrace welcomes me into the fold of his arms. A kiss is placed on my head, and the gentle pressure of his lingering lips stirs my heart to beat faster.
When he lifts, I pull back to catch his eyes still closed as he inhales me into his lungs, a small smile appearing right after.
Slowly, he opens his eyes to see me as if he might be dreaming.
His smile spreads so wide that I can’t contain my own.
Happiness gets the better of me, and I laugh lightly. “It’s raining on our wedding day.”
“Doesn’t matter.” With our hands joined, he says, “No storm nor any other circumstance can stop our love.” He kisses my hand before admiring me. “You are so beautiful.”
My hair is not how I would have ideally chosen, but it doesn’t bother me that it’s flatter to endure the changing weather. “We make our own luck, handsome.”
“We don’t need luck. We have each other.”
I have never doubted how much we love each other and never will as I fall deeper into it with him.
The minister rolls through the ceremony and directs Daniel to say his vows. He shakes his head. “My girl will come first.”
Why does that sound like a promise for later as much as a statement for now? I gulp, my cheeks coated in blushing heat.
Tightening my hold of his hands, I take a breath and look up into the assurance of his brown eyes.
The rush of tears flows along my waterline.
I close my eyes to try to keep them from falling, but one manages to break free, slipping down my cheek.
Daniel catches it and brings it to his lip to kiss. “It’s okay, Sunshine.”
I nod and take a deep breath. “I didn’t expect to meet the love of my life right next door, but there you were in swim trunks and a smirk, and I was a goner.
” A little stroke of the ego to kick off the festivities.
“But it was the heart you wore on your sleeve for me that I was pulled so strongly toward that I couldn’t stop long enough to talk myself out of it.
And I couldn’t be more grateful or blessed that I broke my rules for you. ”
I pour my heart out to him, wanting to share what the beauty of his love means to me.
And when it’s his turn, his smile just about does me in.
He fixes his gaze, so steady and strong on me, making me swoon through promises and sweet memories we’ve made, the connection we have, and how he feels fortunate to have found me for him and his son.
“I vow to love you with all my heart, to follow your rules . . .” He smirks.
“And to make your favorite breakfast food at least once a week for you.”
He has me smiling, a laugh tickling my chest, and my heart in his hands. As he professes how we will always be a team and work for each other and together. And when it’s time to seal our commitment with a kiss, his hands slide around my waist and wrap around my lower back.
Holding me close, he looks deep in my eyes, a ribbon of our hearts tying together.
And when our lips meet, the pressure is confident, and the weight of balancing everything on my shoulders my whole life lifts as he lessens the load.
A partner willing to walk life’s path with me, like my parents always wanted for me.
Like I hoped and dreamed that I’d find someday.
Daniel is a dream come true, and every day I get with him will be the blessing I prayed for.
Daniel never had anyone worrying about him, though. He not only wants to take care of me, but I will also show him how much it means to me to be able to love him fully. Every flaw, perfect ab, and broken rule. I will always make him feel the love he has always deserved.
The sun sneaks through the clouds, shining bright above the canopy as our lips part, but my breath hasn’t been caught quite yet as he looks at me. “I love you, Sunshine.”
The cheers of our family and friends, even his mom making the trip, makes the moment even more wonderful.
We’re given a beautiful afternoon for our reception. Roman has been attached to me as we mingle. He’s been all smiles and chocolate cupcakes from the potluck table, and his happiness over the wedding has been so fun to watch.
I bend down and look into his brown eyes that match his daddy’s. “I’m so happy you’re my family.”
Throwing his arms around my neck, he says, “I love you, Summer.”
I hug him so tight, the sweet boy. “Love you too, Roman.”
Then he runs off to spend time with his grandmother and Dolly.
Daniel’s arms wrap around me from behind, and I find myself melting into him. He kisses my neck. “Do you know how much I love you?”
“Enough to marry me?”
He chuckles. “More than that.”
“I heard about the carving in the tree,” Winter says, walking up to us just before I was about to kiss my husband utterly inappropriately for public viewing.
Spring asks, “What are we talking about?”
Daniel replies, “There’s a tree with a carving in it. CS #7.”
“What does CS #7 mean?” Fall asks, handing me a glass of champagne.
I shrug. “We don’t know.” I sip, watching Brandon join the group with a bottle of beer with a ripped label.
His eyes on Fall, he smirks and says, “I know.”