Epilogue
Nairie
We decided to do our wedding at the inn with a small group of family and friends.
My parents flew in with a few of my aunts, uncles, and cousins.
Narrowing the guest list down was a struggle.
Some family members were upset they weren’t invited, but the best part about living abroad was that I was too far away to hear the snide remarks.
We only had one maid of honor and best man. Elspeth and Finn filled their roles perfectly—when they weren’t bickering. I’ve never seen Elspeth so annoyed by a man. She’d never mentioned him over the years. I definitely needed to investigate that as soon as possible.
Elspeth entered the room in a huff.
My parents were busy adjusting themselves in the mirrors, and I walked toward her. “Everything okay?”
Elspeth shifted the straps on her dress aggressively. “Why Will is friends with that deviant is beyond me.”
I chuckled. “He’s not so bad.”
Elspeth glared at me and then softened once she got a look. “You’re so beyond beautiful. Like a magical woodland nymph.”
I smiled and grabbed her hands. I couldn’t wait to walk down the aisle and dance the night away with the man of my dreams.
William’s mom came to let us know everything was ready to start, and we made our way to the inn’s backyard. It was decked out with string lights, flower garlands, an aisle filled with flower petals, and an archway facing the ocean.
Baba stood next to me behind a tree that blocked William’s view of me until the right moment.
He looked down at me and smiled. “I’ve never seen you so happy.”
“He brings out the best in me.”
“Then that’s everything I could have hoped for.”
He patted my hand, and the live music from the local band started playing a soft song.
I got my first look at William, and he was beyond gorgeous.
The man could wear a potato sack and make the cover of GQ, but I’d take him in a tux any day.
He wore an all-black shirt, blazer, pants, and tie, looking every inch the devilish hero.
His long hair was slicked back and tucked neatly behind his ears as he stood with his hands clasped in front of himself.
His eyes glimmered faintly as he looked at me with complete love and devotion.
He gave me the greatest gift by loving me, and pretty soon, I’d be giving him the greatest gift in return. I just had to find the right moment to tell him.
He held my hands in his as we shared our vows, and we ended the ceremony with a dip and a kiss.
We swiftly entered the inn’s lounge area, where the band was waiting for us.
Everything glittered with fairy lights and candlelight, bouquets of flowers littered every surface, and homemade goodies from Phillip filled the tables.
The guests followed our lead and gathered around us in the middle of the room. We shared our first dance, and I looked up at my husband. I’d been smiling all day, and it was making my face ache, but in the best way possible. He leaned down to kiss me as we slowly glided to the music.
I got on my toes, swaying with William, and leaned into his ear. “Do you know a realtor?”
William quirked an eyebrow and chuckled. “Aye, why? I thought you liked the cottage.”
“I do, I love it. I just don’t know if it’s big enough.”
William nodded. “Of course, you’ve been working on more art pieces lately, and you’ll need extra space.”
“Yes, and for our family.”
“So your parents can visit more often? They can stay at the inn.”
I rolled my eyes. “Not them.”
William still looked confused, and I bit my lip to keep from laughing. “I’m pregnant, sweetheart. You’re going to be a dad.”
William stopped swaying and looked at me in complete shock. Catching him off guard was always a delight. I laughed out loud and kept us swaying so nobody else would suspect something amiss.
His grip on me tightened. “You’re pregnant?”
“Yes, love.”
His eyes shifted into focus, and it was like he looked at me with a whole new perspective. I stroked the side of his face and leaned in to kiss him.
Before I could pull away, he kissed me like a man possessed as our guests cheered. “Best wedding present ever.”
I laughed and nodded. “Yeah, no big deal. Don’t know how I’m going to top this for our anniversary.”
“More babies. More,” he said in between kisses.
I laughed, and he tucked me tightly against him before twirling me in the air. I couldn’t have asked for a more fulfilling life, and I couldn’t believe it was about to get even better.