Epilogue
The music played softly as everyone watched from their seats. Cam couldn’t take his eyes off of her as she walked down the aisle, her dark hair twisted into a half updo, the remainder in soft curls cascading down her back. He felt a swirl of pride and something much deeper in his chest as she continued walking, her shoulders back, the dress looking like it was designed with her in mind, and a joyous serenity on her face.
As Emma took her stance, her eyes found Cam’s, a thumping forming in her heart as the rest of the world faded into the background. Those blue eyes that she fell in love with, his heart bigger than any she’d known, and the life they were exploring together.
He gave her that grin he knew sent sparks through her and watched as her lips spread into a smile, one meant only for him. In a room full of people, a day of such happiness and celebration, and yet it felt like no one else existed. He could look into the depths of those brilliant and vibrant dark eyes of hers for the rest of his life. He intended to.
They were so lost in each other from across the room, that they barely noticed whenever the music changed and the bride began her debut down the aisle, Henry escorting her with such authority and a proud sheen in his eyes.
Emma finally tore her gaze away so that she could smile and see this magical moment for Lauren, watching as she made her way to her about-to-be husband waiting for her.
The next twenty minutes were a beautiful mixture of witnessing her close friend’s big day while unable to stop herself from drifting back to the gaze of her boyfriend watching with the other guests. Her heart felt full. It hadn’t stopped feeling that way since the night she surprised Cam at the restaurant. They’d finished the night off by having his friends join them for dinner and then he took her back to his place, where she’d acquainted herself with his bedroom real quick, then later the rest of his apartment and life in St. Louis.
She hadn’t had a plan as to where things would go, or how they’d do long distance. However, after several weeks, she realized her apartment in North Carolina was nothing but a home base to land when she wasn’t traveling for work. Cam never minded that she was on the go so much, and he’d even meet at her place on the weekends whenever she was headed back home. During the weeks when she didn’t need to be anywhere, she’d crash at his apartment and soon found herself making business connections and gaining clients there.
The day he’d offered her a copy of his key, she’d brought up the idea of finding an apartment, or maybe even a studio there in the meantime. Cam’s smile had grown as he admitted to wanting to ask her to move in but didn’t want to rush things. She’d been thrilled, that version of her scared of being a stereotype or cliche no longer holding ground in her mind. Next thing Emma knew, she was excitedly packing up her belongings and calling his apartment, their place, her new home base.
She’d gotten together with Lulu, bringing up how she wanted to see Lauren have the wedding she dreamed of. Lulu was as excited and insistent about it as she was. Whenever they brought it up to her, she hadn’t realized that Lauren was struggling with the same battles against expectations that she had been. Lauren wanted only one wedding. She wanted an affair where friends and family would all come together and have a reception filled with dancing and food to follow. However, she didn’t want to have a phone or camera strapped to her or worry about getting all the right content documented. So they made it happen for her.
Emma and Lulu took on overseeing the content, the former flying out many times to even be the one to shoot certain parts of the planning process and venue searches. They made sure she could be an ordinary bride, stressing over all of the details, who to sit where, what to serve for dinner, and who to hire for the music. However, Lauren insisted that Emma be up there as one of her bridesmaids and enjoy the special day with her rather than as a photographer. So they’d made sure to hire the best of the best for her big day.
As Emma watched her friend get married, she couldn’t help but believe that everything had happened for a reason. If that fight never took place the morning she left St. Croix, then Lauren wouldn’t be having the wedding experience she’d dreamed of, Emma would’ve likely taken the job to Europe, and who knows if she’d ever gotten her happily ever after with Cam.
She smiled, her eyes finding him again, noticing he was already looking at her as if he was coming to the same realization.
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The ceremony had given way to the reception, everyone digging into the delicious food that Lauren and Asher had decided on. The evening was filled with laughter and tears during speeches, a thank you speech from the bride and groom, and then the transition of the atmosphere as the newlyweds took their first dance.
By the time the music turned upbeat, the lights growing dim, and the dance floor constructed in the middle of all the tables had been filled with guests, Cam stood at the edge of it watching Emma as she, Lulu, and Lauren danced, the image of sisters and friends celebrating together. He’d already told the bride and groom congrats, spent time chatting over dinner with Melody, or Mel as she insisted on him calling her from the first time he’d gone to meet Emma’s aunt, and enjoyed conversation with faces he’d not met before. It was exactly what he thought a wedding should feel like. A party filled with those who cared about them most.
He felt a hand clasp him on the shoulder as a familiar voice said, “She looks happy.”
Cam knew Henry wasn’t talking about the smitten bride, but rather the beautiful woman he felt lucky to call his girlfriend. He smiled, turning to shake the man’s hand since this was the first chance he’d gotten to speak with him tonight.
Henry dropped his hand from Cam’s shoulder and returned the shake.
“Good to see you again,” Cam said.
Henry smiled, his grip firm. “You too. We missed you last time Emma came out.” Cam had gone with her whenever he could, but his work schedule meant only weekends were available for getaways unless he was taking vacation days. He and Emma decided to save them for trips of their own. They were planning to explore Europe together next summer.
“I heard I missed out. She had a blast.” He let the man’s hand go and was watching her again, admiring how the hard-working and dedicated woman knew how to balance having fun as well.
Henry glanced at Cam, then where his eyes were watching. He chuckled, clapping him on the back. “We’ll talk later. Go and enjoy yourselves. These are the memories we carry with us for a lifetime.”
Cam turned and grinned at him. “I sure hope so.”
The man nodded. “I’m glad you two figured it out,” he admitted and sighed. “You both deserve to be happy. Everyone does.”
Cam noticed where Henry’s gaze went and saw just who it snagged on. His grin grew at the interesting insight, and then he excused himself to go join everyone on the dance floor.
Cam strolled up to Emma, his smile never faltering. “You look beautiful,” he said, by way of greeting.
“How many times are you going to tell me that tonight?” She took his outstretched hand and he pulled her close, not caring that the music was still at a fast pace.
“Every chance I get,” he replied.
She smiled and let him lead them in a sway amid the throng of people around them. Emma laid her head on his chest, the steady rhythm of his heart a comfort she loved to hear. As they danced together, the music began to change to something softer and slower, causing others around them to pull a loved one in close for a dance. From across the room, she saw her aunt dancing with Henry, and her head popped up.
Cam chuckled, as she pointed them out to him. “Everyone deserves to be happy,” he said, repeating the man’s earlier sentiment.
Emma looked at him with appreciation in her eyes. “I couldn’t agree more.” She looked back over, smiling at how happy they both appeared together. Who knew if something was there or what history they might share that she knew nothing about. It wasn’t her business, but she was glad to see people she cared about happy.
Cam dipped his forefinger and thumb under her chin, tilting her head toward his. “I love you,” he said.
As Emma looked into those eyes that had always seen down to her soul, she saw home looking back at her. Home and the man she intended to spend the rest of her life with.
“I love you, too.”
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