Epilogue
Kenna
“Do I look okay?” I ask Christian one last time.
“You look beautiful, Kenna,” he says, gazing down at my wedding dress.
“You don’t look so bad yourself.” It’s true. He looks more and more like his dad with every passing day, especially now that he no longer has to wear thick glasses after having Lasik surgery last month. “You know, after today, it would be okay if you wanted to call me Mom.”
He swallows and nods. We’ve all been a little emotional today.
The past few months have been a total whirlwind.
But they’ve been the two best months of my life.
And today—standing here on this gorgeous June day, waiting to be walked down the flower-lined aisle at Montana winery by the incredible kid who’s about to become my son—is merely the punctuation mark on our newfound family.
Movement in the corner of my eye catches my attention. I go completely still, heart in my throat when I see what it is. Or more specifically, who.
“Daddy?”
He steps forward out of the shadows, eyes misty, and walks over. “You look like a princess.”
My eyes rake over him. He looks so different. The cane is gone. He’s gained weight, no longer looking frail. In fact, he looks… strong.
I’m not sure this is real, so I don’t even say anything.
“I was just going to watch from the wings and come find you after.”
“Wh-what are you doing here?”
He pulls a piece of cardstock from his suit pocket and waves it around. “You did send me an invitation.”
“Yes, but…”
He comes closer. “I’ve been a fool, Kenna.”
“You have?”
Guilt crosses his face, blanketing all his features. “After you came to see me, I did a lot of thinking. And those thoughts started eating away at me. Thoughts about what he could have done to you. To Amelia.” He chokes on his words. “If anything had happened to you…”
His head shakes over and over. “I started coming here, you know. To Calloway Creek. I’d sit in my car at the end of your street just waiting to catch a glimpse.
When I learned your routine, I’d schedule my days so I was at the park when you and Amelia would be there.
I sat on a bench across from the park, near that statue in the roundabout.
I’d watch you together.” His eyes close. “I’d never seen you look so happy.”
My head is still trying to determine if this is a dream. My whole heart prays it’s not. My throat swells and I try with all my might to keep tears at bay. After all, now is not the time to ruin my makeup. That usually comes later.
“I’ve seen you together.” He nods to Christian, who’s silent as he stands next to me.
“All of you. You look like a family. I see the way Carter looks at you. It makes me sad in a way, because I’m not sure I ever looked at your mother that way.
My whole life has been about serving God.
I see now that I never made time for anything else.
That was unfair of me. And then I think about how it’s my fault you were in the position you were in.
” The guilt is back in punishing waves, oozing off him with every word. “If I’d have paid for college—”
I put a hand on his arm. “Daddy, stop. None of this was your fault. If you’d have paid for college, I never would have had Amelia.
I wouldn’t have gotten tangled up with Cyrus.
” I squeeze Christian’s arm. “I wouldn’t have been on a path that eventually led me here.
” A tear falls. “God works in mysterious ways.”
Dad laughs. “He sure does, doesn’t he?”
The music changes. Allie, as the events planner, appears, tilting her head as if to ask why Christian and I aren’t walking down the aisle.
I nod in the direction of the altar. “I, uh, kind of have a thing.”
Christian pulls his elbow away from me. “Maybe your dad should do this.”
Dad steps back. “I don’t deserve that honor. Besides, it looks like she’s in very good hands.” He looks at me in a way he never has, not one time in my life—like he’s a proud father. “We’ll talk later?”
“You’ll stay?”
He nods. “You aren’t getting rid of me that easily. I plan on making up for lost time.”
I take in a deep breath, squeeze Christian’s elbow, and step forward.
When we round the corner and the altar comes into view, I lose all the air I just inhaled.
Carter is looking so handsome and regal standing at the end of the aisle.
He’s already crying. Oh, how I love a man who can cry.
And he’s looking at me the way one might look at a fifty-million-dollar lottery ticket.
Like he’s about to get everything he’s ever dreamed of.
Amelia, who’s standing next to Mia, both up front and acting as my bridesmaids, bounces in her gorgeous dress. We’ve practiced this over and over, still she breaks form and runs all the way up the aisle, smashing into me with a hug.
Okay then, I guess both my kids will be walking me down the aisle.
I look over my shoulder one last time, seeing my dad choke up with tears. He smiles and nods. He has no idea how much better he just made this day. Because now my family is truly complete. Amelia will have not only a dad, but a grandfather. I’m going to be a wife. A daughter.
“Thank you,” I mouth to him. Then I turn. I turn and look back at Carter, only having eyes for him now, and I start walking. I start walking into my forever, right into my own personal fairy tale.
***