Epilogue
Amelie
Two Years Later
“For goodness’ sake, Amelie!” Elsie snaps. “Sit still and let the damn professional do their job.”
“You know I hate anyone but you doing my hair and makeup, Els,” I complain.
“I think you can suck it up for one day. I am a little busy,” she retorts.
I sigh and do as she says, knowing that she wants today to be perfect just as much as I do.
Months of planning have gone into this event, and Elsie designed every last detail to fit what she envisioned.
The team of hair and makeup artists are simply carrying out her bidding, and woe betide them if they don’t get it right.
I relax back into my dressing room seat, appreciating the comfy chair and the abundance of natural light streaming through the large windows.
It’s a beautiful venue, but when Elsie suggested we hold it here at my uncle Dirk’s manor I was on the fence.
I was fearful that too many bad memories would spoil the day.
Of course she got her own way, arguing that Dirk’s rebuilt mansion was actually the perfect place to start making new memories as a family.
A knock at the door distracts me, and I look up in time to see Kalen’s cheeky grin peeking around the door. He wolf whistles, and Elsie’s face turns to thunder.
“Get out! Get out! Get out! You’re not supposed to see the bride before—”
“Pretty sure that’s the groom, not—”
“GET OUT KALEN KNOX OR SO HELP ME GOD I WILL GUT YOU LIKE A FISH!” she screams. Kalen pales, mouths “I’m sorry,” blows me a kiss and disappears. No one messes with Elsie these days. Especially not today.
Who knew when she joined The Order that she’d turn out to be one of the most adept knife throwers that we’ve ever seen within our ranks – or that we’d end up finding it such a valuable skill.
Even Baxter has picked up a few tricks from her over the years.
All new recruits go through an initial course of training with her, and many choose to stay on and take their blade education further.
Elsie and her skillset have proved very popular.
Jasper is a very brave man taking her on.
“He was probably just telling us to watch the time, Els,” I tell her softly. She stomps over to where I’m sitting, and the poor makeup artist backs off, terrified.
“They’ll wait as long as it takes.”
“I know, babe,” I tell her placatingly.
“What the hell is this?” Elsie asks, losing it when she sees the artist’s handiwork.
“It looks shit! I said a light smoky eye, not a sodding black eye! And this lipstick doesn’t suit her colouring at all.
She looks like a clown! It’s a goddamn wedding not a circus!
Do you know how important today is? Everything has to be perfect!
She’s my best friend. Get me the wipes. There’s no way she’s leaving the room looking like this! ”
The makeup artist bursts into tears, but Elsie does have a point. It’s not what she asked for. Still, I have to grit my teeth as Elsie scrubs my face so hard I swear she removes several layers of skin alongside the war paint.
When I’m fresh faced, pink and sore, Elsie huffs and begins to do my makeup herself.
“I can do it,” I hastily offer but she slaps my hand away.
“Get off! If you want something done properly you have to do it yourself. I mean it, Amelie. I want today to be perfect.”
“It will be. It is, Els. I promise.”
She harrumphs and gets to work on my face. Thankfully my hair met her high standards and got the seal of approval, otherwise we would be running seriously late.
Once she’s satisfied, we help each other into our dresses. Elsie runs her hands down her dress, smoothing out invisible wrinkles.
“Are you sure I look okay?” She asks, worrying her bottom lip.
“You look absolutely stunning!” I tell her.
“I know that.” She laughs and shakes her head. “But can you, you know, tell?”
“With that corset? No way. Besides, you'll be holding flowers for the most part.”
“You will be too.”
“Yes, but I’m not the one trying to hide a baby bump.”
“Shh!” Her eyes go wide in panic.
“It’s only us in here, Els. Calm down!”
“I know. But I don’t want to jinx it.”
“Okay, okay. I won’t say anything,” I promise. “Are you ready?”
“Yes. Are you?” She grins at me.
“As I’ll ever be. Walking down the aisle is a huge deal. I never expected to do it.”
Elsie giggles at my answer. “Oh your time will come no doubt. Show me the ring again!”
I giggle and shake my head at her. You’d think she’d be more enamoured with her own engagement ring, but no, my bestie cannot get enough of my bling.
Kalen finally got to put a ring on me, with the help of his brothers of course.
It sits beautifully nestled next to the custom made promise ring they gave me shortly after graduation.
That feels like a lifetime ago but I remember the day they presented it to me, as we moved into our first house together, like it was yesterday. It was a perfect drama-free day.
I glance down at the two rings and can’t help but admire them as Elsie gushes.
My promise ring is a simple platinum band which features all of our birthstones hidden inside.
It always gets me how the twins were actually born not just in different months, but in different years, and so the ring has December’s and January’s gemstones, alongside Kalen’s August stone, Sawyer’s May one and my Sapphire from September.
The engagement ring is a much more flashy affair, but I actually adore it. Not because it’s expensive but because Camilla, Debbie, Maggie and even Chelsea all donated pieces of jewellery to be reused and incorporated into the design. It’s priceless, heartfelt and completely irreplaceable.
“It’s just so pretty,” Elsie sighs, admiring the way the main diamond catches the light. I chuckle.
“Okay, magpie. Let’s see if we can go bag you your own shiny trinket to wear today.”
“I wouldn’t want anyone else by my side giving me away today. Thank you, Amelie.”
Elsie sniffs and I quickly tell her, “Hey! None of that. We don’t have time to redo your makeup too!” Thankfully it works and she laughs.
I slip my shoes on and pick up our bouquets of flowers. Today I’m maid of honour, and carrying out mother and father of the bride duties. I’m also the world’s most excited Aunty-to-be too, though I’m still sworn to secrecy on that front.
Once the baby gets here, Elsie and Jasper will be taking extended parental leave from The Order, and upon returning will both be taking more backseat, part-time roles.
Over the last couple of years we’ve been busy, making lots of changes, recruiting both sexes equally, and introducing many new initiatives, including parental leave and the option for our veteran members to retire after decades of long service – which I’m sure Monty is planning to do later this year.
He’s finally found himself a decent woman and he wants to spend time with her, with no secrets between them, moving forward at least.
True to her word, my grandmother opened her doors to The Order and with the help of Aadi, Bex, and even my father, they have managed to set up a founding board of members representing each of the states in Australia. We can now say that The Order is truly global.
Bex and Aadi mostly work over there now, and they’ve finally admitted to tolerating one another enough to be exclusive. They won’t accept that they’re dating, but they’ve been going explosively, dramatically steady for about a year now.
Slate has taken a backseat in The Order while working on his music degree, which he hopes to finish this year.
He’s had some amazing artists wanting to collaborate with him and he’s turned into quite the producer and songwriter, alongside his singing and playing talents.
Onyx is stepping down from the board at the end of the year too.
He says now the dust has settled and The Order is in a strong place, he’s not needed for all that ‘bureaucracy bullshit’.
I’m not sure who will fill his seat yet, but that’s a problem for another day.
I’m not overly worried, the board is still strong and I know he’d step back in if I desperately needed him.
Sawyer’s my right hand man. And Kalen’s just Kalen. He doesn’t change.
I follow Elsie out of the master bedroom and along the corridor.
We take the wide sweeping stairs down to the rebuilt foyer, all evidence of the bomb that destroyed this place long gone.
Dirk was kind enough to also gift me this house once the rebuilding work was complete.
He said it was always his intention for me to have this property, but when the bomb changed all that, he had to buy me a new one for graduation.
I argued that I don’t need two houses, but he swears it’s important for me to have the family’s legacy.
Which is why I couldn’t say no to Elsie when she begged to have her wedding here today.
Arm looped through mine, I lead her out to the gardens where the ceremony is taking place.
As the paned French doors swing open and the Wedding March begins, all eyes turn to us.
Or should I say Elsie. She’s a vision, radiant in her dress and princess tiara, a dazzling smile on her face the second she sees Jasper waiting for her at the altar.
My heart warms for them; their love story was not without its challenges, but it is my favourite.
Beside Jasper stands Sawyer, looking handsome in his suit. He and his brothers in the front seats all have eyes locked on me. I blush under their heated gazes as my stomach flips at the sight of them. I’m still head over heels crazy in love with the four of them, and I swear it grows more each day.