Epilogue
EPILOGUE
Kenny
I shook out my hands and Cookie patted my back.
“It’ll be good. Promise.”
His words were reassuring except I kind of hated promises like that because no one knew for sure, did they? No. They did not.
“It will be. She’s all yours and you’re hers. It’s perfect.”
Stone’s faith in me and Liz was not something I would ignore, and I’d heard it before. But it didn’t help the absolutely dizzying nerves sliding through me.
“Are we sure the girls are ready? Everyone’s set up?” I asked, my throat dry. Why was my throat dry? I also probably had to pee because I’d been drinking so much water.
“They’re ready,” Doc confirmed, squinting in a way that told me he was hiding his smile.
They were all trying not to laugh at me, but I got it. I was a whole damn mess and I wouldn’t pretend otherwise .
But how could I not be? I was asking Liz to marry me, and even though we’d talked about it and she’d finally answered “yes” when I’d asked her if I could ask her a few days ago, as our little game had become this last little while, so this would not be all that much of a surprise, what if… I didn’t know?
What if?
“Nikki just confirmed they’re en route and it’s all good,” Bruce said, tapping at his phone before slipping it into his pocket.
“And Darcy’s good to go, too,” Wilder added.
Okay. Okay. Really, this was it.
“Incoming in five minutes,” Cookie said, his voice low.
“Scatter!” I said, my dang throat dry as a July afternoon. I shuffled toward the bench where I’d stashed water and guzzled some down, willing my breathing to slow.
I’d faced down terrorist organizations and bomb disposal and friends bleeding out and kidnappers and all kinds of crap, and I’d never been more nervous.
Cool, cool, cool.
“You got this,” Beast said, his severe face imbuing me with a bit of calm as he patted my shoulder and strode away, leaving me with the stunning view of the mountains.
Maybe this was foolish and completely off the ledge, but I hoped she’d like it.
I hope she says yes.
The next four minutes passed like a kidney stone, but eventually, I heard her coming.
“Kenny? Are you—hey, there you are.” She beamed when she saw me standing in what I’d come to think of as our spot. “What is going on?”
“Whatever do you mean, dearest Liz? I always wear a suit when we come to the bench.” I reached for her hand as she made it to me.
Her face was so full of humor and happiness, my heart clutched.
“Seriously, why did it feel like every single person I know watched me walk up this trail, and why are you wearing a very nice suit and I’m standing here in… normal clothes?”
The guys should be arriving back down the other side of the trail. They’d had to loop around after she started her hike, and bless them for being willing to do so. They’d have a few minutes to change… if all went to plan.
“Sit with me,” I said, guiding her around to take a seat.
Nerves twisted through me, but I launched in. “The first time we came up here, I had no idea who you were.”
Her eyes were wide and her hand gripped mine firmly. “Likewise. You’ve surprised me in so many ways.”
I huffed a laugh, praying this one would be a good one. “You’re an impressive woman, whether I’m looking at your résumé, your ability to make a decision under pressure, or your glorious a?—”
Her gasp was loud enough to startle me, and her hand pressed against my mouth. “You were not just about to say that.”
I giggled, the nervous energy spiraling out of control. “I wasn’t, actually.” My beaming smile had her grinning back at me, and it hit me right in the chest.
“Falling for you was the best thing I’ve ever done. It was scary, and I’m so grateful we’ve been able to stay together. I know marriage ends up being work, but I want to do that work with you. I want to do everything with you.”
“Marriage?” she asked, voice quiet .
I shifted to one knee in front of her, hands grasping hers. “I love you, Liz, and I’m in love with you. I admire you and enjoy you, and I want us to be partners for the rest of our lives. I want to spend my days and nights with you, make a family.” Our five-year age gap wasn’t huge, but it wasn’t nothing. She’d mentioned being anxious about waiting very long, and I wanted nothing more than to marry her and knock her up, as I’d told her.
It was happening.
Right now. It’s all happening right now.
Emotion caught me as our gazes held, but I pushed through. “Elizabeth Malcom, will you marry me?”
She launched into my arms and hugged me, then kissed me with a passionate, but sadly fleeting, kiss. When she pulled back, she cupped my face. “Yes. I will marry you, Kenneth Carmichael.”
Relief and awe and adrenaline swept through me and I kissed her again, then grabbed the ring from my pocket. “If you want to take this back and go shopping for something else, we can. But I wanted to give you something, and I thought this suited you. But it’s fine if?—”
“It’s beautiful, Kenny. I love it.”
She gazed down at the simple solitaire. The platinum band wasn’t fancy, nor was the setting, but the diamond itself was a conflict-free stone so brilliant and beautiful it was something I was deeply proud to have her wear.
“We can get you something smaller for work, if you want,” I said, recognizing the stone might be a bit big for certain missions.
She let me slide the ring onto her finger, and then we hugged and kissed again. I was laughing and her eyes were shining when we parted .
“There’s one other thing…” Anticipation and an instant and complete crash of this was a terrible idea rained down on me.
“Another surprise?” Her smile said she didn’t mind.
I loved that she knew me and she wasn’t scared of, or bothered by, the way I liked to spring things on her. My smile was crooked and full of nerves, but I nodded.
“Yeah, so… we’ve talked about how you don’t care about a big wedding and I only care that my chosen family and friends are there, right?”
“Right. I’ve never been one to dream of a fancy ceremony. I never thought I’d get married until you.”
And I would never take that for granted. But it was also why this might seem… extra.
“I’m honored I could stimulate your imagination a bit,” I quipped, then pressed a kiss to her lips. “And because of all of that, and the discussion we’ve had, I, uh… Iplannedaweddingforustoday.”
She blinked. “What?”
I chuckled, heart hammering. “I planned a wedding? For today?”
A laugh burst out of her. “Is that a question, or… you actually did it?”
I laughed, too, because what else could I do? “Not a question. I did it. Jo helped. Well, everyone helped. Your mom is here, and?—”
“My mom?” She still had this expression that told me I’d truly surprised her, maybe even shocked.
“Yep. You want her here, right? So, I mean if this is too much, we’ll just call it an engagement party and we’ll figure out another time, but if you like the idea…”
“I think…” She glanced out at the mountains and the pe rfect summer day. “I love it. I mean, I wouldn’t have planned it this way, but I think my record has shown that sometimes, the things I don’t plan are the best.” She wrapped her arms around my neck. “Thank you.”
I grinned down at her, heart so full of love I could hardly breathe past it. “Don’t thank me yet. Let’s see what you think of… everything. And if we’re doing this—” I glanced at my watch “—then we only have about an hour to get everything done and meet at the chapel.”
She laughed, then hugged me again. “It’s a good thing I love you.”
I held her tight, relishing her closeness. “Oh, woman. You have no idea.”
Liz
I looked at the women standing hand in hand in the small circle, each wearing a cheery, summery colored dress. They were people I’d known for just shy of a year aside from Jojo, and yet they were the sisters of my heart. I never imagined I could love people I’d known for such a short time, but Kenny had proven me wrong first, and each of them had, too.
“I’m so grateful for you all. Thank you for all the work you’ve done for today, and thank you for accepting me. For loving me.” I choked up for what felt like the hundredth time today, but it’d really only been about an hour.
Jo, Elise, Dove, Nikki, Winnie, Catherine, Evie, and my mom all grinned, several of them wiping tears. Jane and my step sisters-in-law Calla, Sadie, and Sarah all swiped under their eyes. From her seat, Jess sniffed.
“I’m not crying for you. I’m crying because this is so beautiful, and because I am so, so pregnant.”
We all laughed. and I was grateful she was able to be here, and so happy I could hardly stand it. Except I’d learned to embrace happiness and not be suspicious of it. I’d learned I could work and have a purpose, but also be joyful and fulfilled in a way I never imagined. And that was all in the last seven months since first venturing here.
“I love you so much. And I want to keep chatting and sipping champagne. But I know if we leave Barbie hanging, he’ll probably pass out. He’s been so anxious about this.” Jo chuckled fondly.
“Poor guy.” Dove laughed.
I joined them for a moment before taking a deep breath. “Okay. Let’s do this.”
Soon, each woman was processing with whoever was escorting her down the aisle and my dad was holding out his elbow to me.
“I’m so proud of you, Lizzy.”
I scoffed. “Because I’m getting married?”
“No, stubborn child. I’m proud of you because you listened to your heart and your head. You didn’t stay stuck. You’ve got so much ahead of you and I’m just glad you’re letting it happen.”
I beamed up at him. “Me, too, Dad.”
The music from a string quartet rose, and the sun shone through the windows of the little white chapel on the Silver Ridge Resort property. I took another deep breath and looked up, finding those bright blue eyes of my fiancé waiting for me. He swiped under one eye, and I laughed, already crying as I looked at him .
Whatever came in this life, I was so unbelievably grateful I’d be facing it with him.
Thank you so much for reading Kenny and Liz’s story! Don’t miss Cookie’s book , and keep reading for a special bonus epilogue from him!