37. Epilogue
Epilogue
One Year Later
Mack
O ne year.
It had been just one year since I'd asked Maisie to marry me again on that little beach in Scotland, one year since she'd connected with Maverick and almost one year since we welcomed our daughter Maeve Noelle Richards into the world. She came out kicking and screaming, making herself known just like her mother. She was named after Maisie's mum. Noelle Connell brought the most amazing woman into the world and now she'd live on in my daughter.
She had big bright blue eyes, a mop of red curls and the cutest button nose, she was the absolute double of her mum and I couldn't be happier. Maeve didn't make us wait for her too long once we'd arrived back from our babymoon, she decided to make her grand entrance at exactly thirty seven weeks, the day after Maisie finished work.
That moment would go down as the most amazing moment of my life, my wife was a warrior, pushing through not only the pain of childbirth, but the pain that she lived with every single day and making me the proudest man on the planet.
I was over the moon, living the perfect life. Now don't get me wrong I was damn exhausted, we hadn't had a full nights sleep in the last year, half the time Maisie and I were walking around like complete zombies, but we have a whole town of people to help us. We have one more as of today, but Maisie doesn't know that yet.
Today is our wedding day, our second wedding day, the one we would remember forever.
Life hadn't been without it's trials and tribulations but I'd grown to become a great believer that everything happens for a reason, we all go through many challenges in our lives but it's an opportunity to learn and grow and become a better, stronger person.
I've never felt stronger than I do at this exact moment, I have a beautiful ever growing family. I'm surrounded by friends that have my back as I have theirs. But most of all, I have my power. My power was stripped from me twenty odd years ago, I thought I'd never regain it but it's returned tenfold and I'll never let anyone take it from me again.
It's been a long day, Maisie decided she wanted to get married at sunset as it's the most beautiful time of the day. I'd have to agree. I've spent the day relaxing with the guys, laughing and joking and reminiscing about old times. Mav has met the rest of the gang a few times now and seems to get along well with them all, he's not entirely sure what to make of Ace but he'll get there. He'll learn that Ace is the most lovable guy he'll ever meet.
We finally start to get ready, dressing up in our suits and ties. Little Beau Weston and Albie Bowman are dressed the same, both acting as our ring bearers. Lucie and Posie are the flower girls, Maeve was supposed to be one of them too but Ace has stolen her as his 'date'.
He's taken care of her all day, she even stayed overnight with him. Ace insisting that Maisie and I get a night alone. We didn't do the whole staying separate the night before this time around, nothing and nobody could ever break us apart. Any bad luck that brought on us, we'd fight it together, just like everything else.
Before we knew it, it was time. Time to meet my wife at the end of that aisle, it was amazing to be renewing our vows all these years later but today wasn't about that for me. Today was about giving Maisie the closure she needed to move on, she had been alone for such a long time, no living family. I know that she always had me and our friends but it's different knowing that you don't have a single blood relative in this world.
So when Mav came along, it was the right thing to do. Today is for them, I'm just along for the ride.
So when the tinkling of music begins and the crowds turn silent, waiting for my wife. I stand in silence, full and content, ready for the rest of our lives.
Maisie
I can't put into words how special this day is, the first time around was the best day of my life but something was missing.
This time, that something is stood right beside me, looking uncomfortable in his suit and tie, towering above all the other guests.
His thick shiny hair is pulled back in his signature man bun, his beard trimmed to perfection, his bright blue eyes filled with emotion as he looks out at all our friends and family.
"You ready sis?"
"More than ready." I tell him.
Beau and Albie make their way down the aisle, Albie pulling Beau along in a little wagon as he can't walk yet. Next is Posie and Lucie, scattering white daisies as they slowly follow their brothers. I had to have a little bit of Grace here with me today, she will always be included in all of our special moments, never forgotten.
We are back on the beach, not in Scotland this time but we're reliving the stunning sunset of that perfect day, our whole family here with us. They all looked beautiful as I peered around at them all, with their growing families, their special friends and … Ace.
My Ace, my best friend, my brother. He turns to where we're waiting, he's holding Maeve in one arm and pulls me to him with the other. He presses a soft kiss to my cheek,
"I'm so proud of you, I love you Maisie." I will the tears to retreat back into my eyes, I thought today might be hard for him as it had been his job to walk me down the aisle the first time. But he was completely content with where he was, his place in the world, he was an extraordinary human being and he'd always have a special place in my heart. He'd always be my brother.
"I love you too brother." I tell him as he turns and walks with my baby girl, his very best friend and makes his way to Mack. My Mack, who was waiting for me with as much grace and patience as he's ever had, whilst pulling funny faces at a giggling Maeve.
Now it was my turn, Mav took my arm in his and and led me down the aisle, in a moment that should have been ours a long time ago. That didn't matter anymore, he was here now and I'd cherish every second of it. Time seemed to slow down as we walked towards the love of my life,
"I wish you didn't have to go home." I whispered to Mav.
He looked down at me with such love and made my final wish come true.
"I'm already home." And just like that, the final piece fell into place. I had my husband, my daughter, my friends, my brother and now my family was complete.
I married my best friend again that day.
Mack Richards is the epitome of a happy ever after and I'm the luckiest woman in the world that he's mine.
The End