Epilogue
“I have a confession,” Millie says, bursting into the room where we’re getting ready. It’s our final moments to get our hair and makeup right. I’ve had more mirrors and a desk brought into the main bedroom so we can sit side by side.
“Oh God,” I mutter. “Do you have to confess right now? We’re pretty busy if you can’t tell?”
“I think I do. Partly because we’ll be in the ceremony in an hour and I can’t lie once it’s started.”
“Why not?”
She shrugs. “Religion, probably.”
“Right…” I give Gemma and Hattie a look waiting for them to intercede but they both stare at Millie with intrigue. “Go on then.”
“When I was fifteen, I did a voodoo love spell on Jax, and I think it went wrong. Maybe it confused your DNA with mine or something like that? And maybe I wasn’t clear enough about which J4S member I wanted to fall in love with me.
And now it’s happening to you. Not me, sadly. I just thought you should know.”
I glance at her reflection behind me, guilt and concern all over her face. “I’m so glad you told me that.”
She smiles and nods. Good. One sister is happy. Now to check on the other two.
And yet, I realise Millie’s confession needs further scrutiny. Because – what the hell? “But just so I understand. How is it relevant, right now, today of all days?”
Gemma snorts. We’ve become a lot closer over the last year.
Sometimes she’s even on my side in these moments when Millie is making absolutely no sense whatsoever.
Unfortunately, she’s also gotten an eye load of Gus’s security lead – a muscly, fifty-year-old bald man, named Carl, who, as I’ve explained to her several times, is a hardworking professional and she is not to pet him. Basically, her desired trifecta.
“Well, obviously, if I got it wrong and now it’s happening to you then you deserve to know. Especially if the spell backfires.”
“I hear you,” I say, nodding, trying to pretend to respect her quirks.
I remember her doing the voodoo stuff when she was a teenager.
She used to pick random herbs (see also: weeds) from the garden, mix them in a bowl and blast music in her room while chewing on popping candy.
I assumed she’d figured out it was all hocus pocus by now, but maybe not.
I watch her considering the situation in the mirror.
“So what?” I ask. “Should I break it off with Gus? Just to be safe? You know, in case he doesn’t know the last two years have actually been due to the effects of the voodoo spell you got wrong when you were thirteen?”
“I was fifteen. I’d mastered the skill much better by then.”
Gemma tilts her head. “And yet you think you got it wrong.”
“All I’m saying is—”
“You’re nuts,” Abby interjects, coming up to stand beside Millie. I told them this time around they could wear whatever they felt like. I wanted no airs and graces. No perfect wedding. No drama. No expectations.
I wanted a whole party of happy people being unashamedly themselves.
And they do look like themselves. Relaxed and comfortable in their own style.
Millie is pouting behind us. “None of you are taking this seriously.”
“No, I am!” I say. “Get Gus on the phone, I’ll let him know it’s over.”
“You’re being facetious.”
“Millie, careful with those big words, you might hurt somebody,” Gemma quips.
“Whatever. I’m just trying to make sense of this whole situation. It doesn’t feel that long ago that you were trying to marry another man.”
“Thanks for bringing that up today,” I say. “I was worried nobody would.”
“Millie!” Abby scolds.
But she continues. “Then suddenly you were dating the famous popstar. You buggered off all summer and winter, travelling almost every weekend, to go somewhere fancy with him and now you’re doing this whirlwind wedding.
I’m sorry if you two are just totally chill with it, but I’m freaking out a little. ”
I make a face. “Why are you freaking out, Millie?”
“There are celebrities downstairs. They’re everywhere.”
“Yes, they’re Gus’s friends.”
“This is a huge moment for me.”
I take a deep breath and spin to face her. I take her hands and make her sit down so we’re eye to eye. “I’m so glad you’re here and we’ve spent the last couple of years becoming closer. Don’t worry, I don’t subscribe to voodoo…”
“You should, it’s very serious.”
“…because I’m… I don’t know? Normal. And I’m not nervous about this.
I know it feels like a whirlwind, looking in from the outside, but it feels right to me.
To us. I’ve never felt like this about anyone.
Ever. Even when we argue, even when it feels like he’s the most annoying man on the planet, I have no doubt that I want to tolerate him and love him for the rest of our lives.
And I am confident he feels the same way. ”
Gemma hums. “Yeah. He definitely tolerates you.”
I swear Hattie kicks her under the table.
“And loves you,” she adds.
“He’s calling again,” Hattie says. I spin back to see his name lighting up my phone.
“Ah, look at that. I can break up with him. Thanks for the heads up, Millie.”
Hattie is fighting a smile; her fizzy hair brushed back into an explosive bun. I’m still in my casual, loose clothing as I grab the phone and head into the walk-in closet that’s attached to our room for privacy.
Once things got out about us dating publicly, there was a buzz of interest in me for a few weeks.
Work found it a tricky to navigate when fans were waiting in the lobby to speak with me about Gus.
And it took some getting used to, being papped when we went for our Sunday morning walks down the seafront.
And yet, with all these things, they moved onto a new big topic.
But since Gus has been unemployed for the past year, he’s been able to flex to my schedule. We’ve travelled at weekends and during my annual leave. I’ve helped him navigate the rocky waters of his future and enjoyed listening to him create music for other people whenever I’m with him.
And when we’re not travelling, we’re at his beautiful home in Tetbury – which is now mine too, I guess. It’s all modern and tidy inside, but externally it’s an ancient Cotswold barn with massive glass windows and doors where the entrance used to be.
It’s totally my cup of tea.
Essentially, I have fallen in love with more than one thing these past couple of years.
When I peer out of the window at the long lawn at the rear of the house, I can see the garden is filling up with familiar faces.
We said we’d keep it a small affair, but of course, my extended family is massive, and Gus’s mother is intense.
Not to mention Grace’s social circle that we had to consider for some reason.
I answer his call. “Are you still doing this?”
“I am,” he says. “This is the last time though as I fear I’m close to be attacked by my auntie.”
“Isn’t Carl around to protect you?”
“Probably. He’s always creeping about.”
“How can I help you, Augustus?”
“I want to tell you, I love you. And I’m here.
And I know there are way more people than we originally planned.
And I know your dad is only seconds away from coming up to the bridal suite to make you cry.
But I’m here. And I’m staying. There’s pretty much nothing in the world you could do now to change that. ”
“On that note. You should know, Millie has just confessed our love may be due to a failed voodoo experiment that she messed up in her teens.”
Gus blows out a breath, but I can hear his smile as he says, “Well, thank God for that. Will you thank her for me.”
I laugh quietly, hoping they’re not all listening in at the door. “I love that you’re putting me at ease, but I’m pretty sure this is bad luck.”
“I thought you didn’t believe in luck.”
“Well, maybe you’ve changed me.”
“I wouldn’t change a single thing about you.”
There’s a knock on the door and I’m distracted for a second. Hattie yells at me to get off the phone, it’s time to go for photos and I’m not even in my dress yet.
I laugh. It’s time.
“I’ve got to go. Apparently, there’s this event today that I can’t be late for.”
“I better not keep you then. One final question.”
“Go on.”
“What you wearing?”
I snort, rolling my eyes. “You’ll have to wait and see.”
“Hurry up, sunshine. Come and sign this contract with me.” The most important contract I’ll ever sign. No negotiations required.
I hang up and take a deep breath. My final moment of peace before the chaos unfolds. I step out of the room, and we work as a team to get me into my dress. Not that it’s needed since this wedding dress is far less dramatic than the one from last time.
It’s a simple A-line satin gown with no sleeves and a sneaky slit all the way up one thigh. Once it’s on and Hattie has rearranged my hair to fall naturally around my shoulders, I smile, feeling completely and unapologetically like myself.
I decided as well that we’d all stroll together. No specific order. No organisation. The bridesmaids will walk down ahead, grasping their flowers, followed closely by Dad and me.
When I reach the lawn, it all comes together in a daze.
A massive rose-covered arch has been set up at the end of the aisle for the vows to take place under, and the outskirts of the field next to the garden has been purposefully left as meadow grass, wildflowers and butterflies scattered like a dream.
I greet guests near the back and smile at Will’s daughter, Olive, her dark hair styled into tight ringlets that hug her round face, who comes over for a cuddle before everyone is told to stand for the bride. Hattie is the first bridesmaid to walk down the aisle, followed swiftly by my sisters.
And then finally, it’s my turn.