Epilogue I
Autumn
M rs. Green, I have been waiting a long time to say that. One year to the day that I met Sawyer, and now I get to be his wife. He moved in with me the week after the proposal. I started planning the wedding, and he started planning a house build.
Never in a million years did I think that I would end up with a full-length princess-cut wedding dress, but here we are. When I went dress shopping, I took Alice, Claudia, and Lottie.
I tried on a few dresses, but when I put this one on, everyone cried. I knew it was the one. It is champagne in color with a lace overlay and a sweetheart neckline that shows off my cleavage.
Alice laces the corset back of my dress while sobbing.
"Alice, stop! You’ll ruin your makeup!" I swallow back my own tears.
"I can't help it. Look at you, Autumn. I can't believe how absolutely stunning you look. I never thought I'd see the day where you got married, yet here we are. Almost thirty years of friendship, and I finally get to pawn you off to someone else!" Alice cracks a joke to stop herself from crying more. Of all the people in my life, Alice is the one person I always want by my side. That's why she’s my maid of honor.
"Oh honey, just look at you. Autumn, I didn't give birth to you, but I’ll be so proud to call you my daughter. I love you so much, sweetheart. You are the best thing that ever happened to my son." The tears that I was trying to hold back free flow now.
"I love you too, Momma C," I choke out. "Not only do I get to marry your son, but I get a bonus family, too. You are all the best things that have ever happened to me. I didn't know what a proper family was until I met you all."
"Girllll, I knew that I wanted you as a sister-in-law. But I was not prepared for you to become one of my best friends too. I love you so much." Lottie throws her arms around my neck and pulls me in for a huge hug.
"I love you too, Lottie. More than you know," I reply softly.
There is a knock on the door.
"Come in!" Alice calls through the door.
Frank walks in with my big boy, Jed. Frank looks especially handsome in his suit, and both he and Jed wear matching bow ties.
"Well, well, well. Autumn. Don't you look spectacular? Are you sure you want to marry that massive knucklehead? There is still time to back out!" He laughs as he says it.
"I've never been surer of anything, Frank!" I laugh back and bend down to give Jed a pat on the head.
"Okay, boy! Are you ready to walk Momma down the aisle?" As if he knows, Jed lets out a playful bark.
Everyone is in the wedding suite, and only these big wooden doors separate me from the life I have always craved.
I take some deep breaths as the doors are opened, and I immediately lock eyes with Sawyer. The short walk down this aisle seems like the longest I've ever done, but I have my best boy by my side, and he calms my nerves. I may not have a father to give me away, but I have Jed. It may not be conventional, but Sawyer and I aren't conventional either. Alice and Carter are standing near the altar with Sawyer.
Carter gives Sawyer a firm clap on the back as he chokes down the lump in his throat.
"You've got this bro. Look at her. She's amazing."
"Hi, hubby," I squeak out as I reach my soon-to-be husband. Carter takes Jed from me, and Jed sits like the very best boy that he is in between Carter and Alice.
"Hi, Mrs. Green." Sawyer beams back at me.
"I love you so much, baby. Thank you for making me happy again. When I told you that you were it for me, I meant it. You are everything. You are all I'll ever need."
"I love you, too. Now, let's get married! We've got some partying to do!"