Epilogue
One Year Later…
“Chef Bartolomeo…Chef Bartolomeo…where is the cake?”
“I need two minutes, Mrs. Alcott.”
“Heard,” said Gracie as she pressed forward on her managerial route through Hawthorne Hall.
“Mrs. Alcott…”
“Yes, Helena. What is it?” Gracie asked without stopping.
“We need another platter of caramelized onion, ma’am.”
“Chef, did you catch that?” she yelled over her shoulder.
“Yes, madam!” he responded through newfound watery eyes.
“Good! Oh come now, Herb. You can fill the glasses more than that! At three bottles of Martinelli’s per guest, there’s no excuse for such frugality.”
“Sorry, ma’am.”
Gracie was only two months pregnant, but she could already feel that cute, little, raspberry-sized life inside her, funneling her energy.
She pulled up a chair in the drawing room and said, “Yes, well…see to it.”
Just as she felt like her stamina was beginning to regenerate, a tall, handsome gentleman mozied on in.
“There you are, Dear. I was looking all over for you,” said Shane as he bent down to kiss her cheek.
“Hello, love.”
“Listen…Chef’s got this…Helena’s got this…you should be out there.”
“I know, but I’m the manager.”
“You’re also the sister of the bride and the closest thing Avi has in this world to a mother.”
“Did she say that about me?”
The thought of Avi seeing her as such was edifying and energizing.
“No…but isn’t it obvious?”
“Fair point. Alright. I’ll come enjoy myself.”
With that, Shane took his wife by the hand, helped her to her feet, and escorted her to the back door. As he opened it, a blinding flood of white light poured in from the warm May day.
Avi and Dane’s reception was simple yet extravagant. The seemingly boundless meadow appeared even more expansive when compared to the conservative number of invitees who were there to celebrate their nuptials. The newlyweds’ stage and podium stood in the middle of the field overlooking a dance floor surrounded by beautifully ornate tables with their white centerpieces accented by tans and Caribbean teals. Even though she’d promised to relinquish her managerial duties for a time, Gracie couldn’t help but take note of what was needed as they walked alongside the row of buffet tables.
As she passed one of the waiters, she pulled him aside and quickly said, “Tell Chef: more venison, much more caramelized onion, and quit firing the pizzle…way too much pizzle…no one’s eating the pizzle.”
“Yes, ma’am,” the young man said as he scurried back to the house.
“You just can’t help yourself, can you?”
“Can’t help what, dear? Pinch your tush?”
She knew exactly how to distract him from her shortcomings. The flirtatious sting from her finger and thumb made him jump in startled excitement. They shared a laugh and a brief peck, and as she headed up to the podium to see if her sister needed anything, Shane returned to their table to wait for her.
Gracie saw it all the way from the back patio, but the closer she got, the more she appreciated the span, rarity, and power of Avi’s unguarded smile. Mr. MacKinnon was privy to its captivation infinitely more than anyone, but even then, having already seen it thousands of times, it never ceased to detain him. As Gracie reached the last step of the stage, she stopped at the top to take a mental snapshot of the groom staring uncontrollably at his bride. When Avi noticed her sister lingering off to the side, she went to her.
“Gracie.”
“Aviva, you look incredible.”
She really did. Gracie had no idea how Corey had made up her bun to look so messy yet regal. Her white wedding dress was conventionally modest but form-fitting enough that Mr. MacKinnon could think of little else but the approaching honeymoon. It sparkled in the spring sunlight like it had been made from mother of pearl. Altogether, any woman present would have been utterly consumed by the devastation of her own jealousy if she didn’t truly love Avi Hawthorne.
Aesthetically, Mr. MacKinnon was in every way her equal. They would have probably been married before Gracie and Shane had Dane not been so stubborn to pay for the ring and tuxedo himself. Avi had offered dozens of times, but there were still some antiquated conventions he held tightly to, and buying the ring and tux were two of them. As such, after saving, he pulled out all the stops. His black tux shimmered with a faint paisley pattern when it caught the light just right. The teal of his tie didn’t quite match the vividness of his eyes, but it highlighted them, nonetheless.
Gracie walked right up to her brand new brother-in-law and kissed his umber hair.
“How ye doin,’ sis?”
“Are you kidding? This is all so amazing. The location, you two, your vows…oh my gosh, you guys! I wasn’t sure if I’d ever stop crying.”
“Aye…th’ best poetry comes from wingin’ it, ah always say.”
“You made up your vows on the spot?”
“Na, ah wrote ‘em on mah wing,” he said as he pulled up his sleeve revealing scribbles in sharpie on his hand, wrist, and arm.
“You’re so punny,” Avi said.
“Ah know. ‘N’ ah’m thinkin’ aboot gettin’ ‘em tattooed on me.”
“I didn’t see you looking at your arm.”
“Well…after ah wrote it all down, ‘twas easy tae remember.”
“You two are my favorites,” she said with a laugh. “Do you guys need anything?”
“Ah think we have everything we need,” he said as he stared at his wife once more.
“Alright. Well, if that changes, let me know. Oh! And the cake should be out here any minute.”
They both nodded as Gracie descended the steps and made her way over to Shane.
As Mrs. MacKinnon sat back down next to Mr. MacKinnon, Avi looked out and over her loved ones. Bree was finally old enough to run with the boys. May was comforting Josh who was still feeling queasy from the public toast he’d given only moments before Gracie got there. Corey, seven months pregnant and just as beautiful as ever, was leaning her head against Ben’s shoulder. She was already taking maternity leave, and while she wasn’t used to such a slow pace of existence, she thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it.
Avi had only met a majority of the guests that day. They were Mr. MacKinnon’s friends and acquaintances from Scotland who were willing to make the eight-hour drive down to Shawford. However, there was one guest from the groom’s side whom she had already gotten to know: Mr. MacKinnon’s father, David. It wasn’t an easy thing to do nor was he initially very receptive, but after months of rejecting David’s calls, Dane gave in and began the slow process of learning to forgive. While even by his admission he wasn’t quite there yet, Avi was nevertheless proud of her husband and equally happy for the ongoing healing she was privy to witness.
Then there were the other guests. Officer Stanswick was letting loose on the dance floor like he’d gotten ahold of some seized reefer before the wedding. Kelly was live streaming to more than thirty million followers, many of whom she credited to the viral video she made before leaving Hawthorne Hall. Mr. and Mrs. Kensington took turns holding their adorable new grandson as they sat with their daughter and her husband.
At the table next to the Kensington’s sat Mick and Bonnie who schmoozed with total strangers. The stress of his movie taking longer to film than expected threw some wrenches into what became a rather on-again, off-again relationship, but three weeks earlier, a brief separation had convinced Mick that Bonnie was his rock. As such, he bought her the most expensive rock he could afford, had a custom gold band forged around it, and slid it on her finger just below the Hollywood sign. Bonnie beamed as she showed off the ring, and her recently married former nemesis couldn’t have been happier for her.
Finally, there was Thomas and Jack who were joined by four of their five their fawning fans and Austen enthusiasts. And, as was always the case with those two…Avi had no idea what was brewing…
Thomas knew Min, Kate, and Jennifer were feeling a little down on account of Clara not being able to make it, but at least they had Jack to comfort them. Though Jack’s discovered love for reading continued indefinitely after leaving Hawthorne Hall, his nine-day pledge of no women lasted exactly nine days. As for Thomas, his vow of celibacy lasted indefinitely. After they’d left Hawthorne Hall, he and Jada had kept in contact mostly to discuss 19th-century literature. A long-distance relationship developed though never sufficed. Needless to say, Thomas and Jada quickly became Hawthorne Hall”s best customers; having supplemented their relationship with the occasional nine-day rendezvous on the grounds where they”d first met.
At the same table as Jack and her three former sorority sisters, Jada rubbed her nails gently against Thomas’ back as he took in the relentless theme playing out all around him. Bonnie and Mick were engaged and ecstatic, Gracie had gotten married, Avi and Dane had gotten married, and the Kensingtons’ marriage seemed to have everything he knew he wanted.
Before he could contemplate why his mind would even go there, Jack interrupted his thoughts, “Thomas, isn’t that sad?”
“What?”
“You know…what Kate just said about Clara.”
Thomas looked over and saw his best friend with his arms draped around all three women. Jack’s smile looked barbaric and lustful as he only pretended to care about their tender feelings. Thomas looked at Jada. Then back to Jack.
“Mate, can I have a word with you alone?”
“What? Now?”
“Yes.”
Jack hesitantly unwrapped his arms from around their shoulders and followed Thomas just outside of earshot.
“What are you doing, mate? I had a good thing going for me.”
“I don’t know about this, Jack.”
“What is there to know, Thomas? I’m merely having a little fun.”
“It’s just…don’t you ever feel like there’s got to be more to life than all…this?”
“All what?”
“You know…unattachment?”
“Mate, did you not see? I was literally attached to all three of them before you ruined it by calling me over here.”
“You know what I mean. Aren’t you tired of not being able to have that special someone you get to come home to every night? Aren’t you tired of not having what they have?” he asked, gesturing towards the stage.
“I don’t know. I’ve never had it, so I guess I don’t know what I’m missing. I suppose part of me…wait, where are you going? Thomas?”
Thomas ran to the stage faster than a speeding bullet and leaped the steps in a single bound, but just as he was about to speak into the podium’s microphone, he suddenly had empathy for Josh’s queasy stomach. There weren’t a ton of people in the crowd, but there were enough to make him want to retreat to the comfort that awaited him back by Jada’s side. However, seeing her face in the distance inspired him to feel more powerful than a locomotive.
“Excuse me,” he said over the microphone. “I uhh…I know most of you don’t know me, but…my name is Thomas, and I am…close friends with Dane and Avi MacKinnon.”
He took a deep breath, gulped, and cleared his throat.
“I…uhh…I wanted to start by saying that I am tickled pink…well, chestnutty bronze…by the fact that these two friends of mine were able to find one another.”
With that, everyone responded with fervent applause, including Bonnie who whistled like a screaming banshee.
“When you find that special someone, you…well…you have to…I don’t know…listen I’m not very good with words, but there is something I must say. And it is this…Jada…you have bewizardessed me, body and soul, and I love…I love…I love you.”
“That’s not in the book,” Jada said to herself through happy tears.
“Would you please come up here?”
To cheers, Jada made the long walk to the stage, climbed the steps, and joined Thomas, as Avi and Dane watched in empathetic joy.
Thomas got on a knee, and without the amplification of a microphone said, “I don’t have a ring yet, but I read a book recently where a man uses a string to…”
“It’s fine. Just ask me.”
“Will you marry me?”
“Yes!” She screamed as she tackled him with a hug.
The crowd cheered once more as the newly engaged couple slowly stood with lips still interlocked.
Before they realized what was happening, Jack was crying at the microphone.
“Kate, or Min, or Jennifer…you are all women worthy of being pleased and I l...I l...I like you. Will any of you please do me the honor of being my w…”
“No! No, Jack.” Thomas interrupted Jack”s proposal. ”I like the willingness, but let’s hold off a bit.”
“Right,” Jack said somewhat embarrassed. “I’m so happy for you two.”
“Thanks, Jack,” Thomas said as he hugged his best mate.
The rest of the reception was storybook. All the single women let Bree catch the bouquet, Jack competitively caught the garter over the outstretched arms of Devin and Kai, and when it came time for the newlyweds to run to their stagecoach through a bombardment of birdseed, they did so between two long lines of loved ones. As she ran past, Avi made a point to take in their faces with immeasurable appreciation. When she made it through the human tunnel, she found Big Winnie, their now favorite horse, hitched up and ready to go. They climbed in, sat down, and quickly closed the carriage door. And just as they did the day they knew forever was far too small, they kissed and kissed and kissed some more on the grounds of Hawthorne Hall.