Epilogue
There wasn’t a dry eye in the old nineteenth-century church on Maple Street when the bride walked down the aisle that morning.
The elderly lady who was giving her away wept openly as she gave her hand in marriage to the man who had waited years to see this day.
“She is the best thing that happened to our family, even though my son didn’t have the sense to see it. I’m so glad she found you again, Robbie,” said Cora Carlisle, as she put Anthea’s hand in Rob Nelson’s.
Dominic and his grandmother had walked Anthea down the aisle together, while Robbie’s daughter, Lana Frost, had been his best woman.
She kissed her soon-to-be stepmother on the cheek and hugged her father before she took a few steps back and left the two of them at the altar.
“Dearly beloved,” began the priest, and Rose hugged Dominic’s arm tightly as tears streamed down her face.
There was a small reception at The Orangery after the wedding, and Rose smiled at Dom and his mother during the Mother-Son dance.
“It’s so romantic,” breathed Trevor. “I love that Anthea got a second chance with her one true love at last. And it’s amazing that he came back to Maplewood after all these years to win her back.”
“Lana forced him to come back for Anthea when she learned about their history after her mother died,” replied Rose.
“Don’t make me cry,” snapped Trevor, trying not to ruin his mascara. “And start thinking of setting a date for your own wedding.”
“That’s it! You’re not invited,” Rose snapped back.
“Nice try, moron. You can’t uninvite the wedding planner,” he retorted, and Mara wound an arm through both of theirs and squeezed hard.
“Honestly, I can’t take the two of you anywhere these days. Stop squabbling like children and go find me a piece of pie.”
Trevor and Rose cast a surprised glance at her, and Rose’s eyes narrowed at the tell-tale glow on her best friend’s face.
“You’re pregnant,” she gasped, and the three of them let out a soft collective squeal.
Grammy Cora noticed it and smiled. That was two out of those three sorted. She also had someone special in mind for Trevor. Now, what about Robbie’s daughter? She was single, and she was a wonderful girl.
That’s it! She knew what topic to raise during the town council’s next meeting. It looked like The Maplewood Matchmakers were back in business.