Epilogue
ANNA
A nna rubbed a fingertip against the satin bow covering the stems of her bouquet. Her friends huddled in the small church entryway as they waited to step into the aisle.
A new song began, and Everly Lawson touched Bella’s shoulder. “When the door opens. Wait two seconds, then go.”
Bella nodded and faced the door with a smile just as it opened. As if the infant sensed her presence, baby Ariana cried from somewhere in the crowd.
The beautiful song filled the church as one by one Anna’s friends made their way to the front of the sanctuary.
When the ladies were gone, Everly closed the doors and turned to Anna and Mr. Lawrence. “Ready? ”
“I’ve never been so ready in my life,” Anna confessed. She wanted to spring to where Beau waited and skip to the part where she became his wife.
Mr. Lawrence patted his hand over Anna’s.
“Thank you for letting me be a part of this day. I’ve watched you grow into a wonderful woman, and I consider you my daughter already.
” Beau’s dad pressed his weathered lips together and glanced down.
“My son is blessed to have you in his life, and my daughter is too.”
Anna wrapped her arms around Mr. Lawrence’s neck. “Thank you for being there for me when you didn’t have to.”
Beau and Olivia’s dad had been a better father than Anna’s to her, and it was only fitting that he walk with her down the aisle.
Her parents had been invited, but they’d quietly declined. Their absence still stung, but she continued to pray the relationship between them would soften one day. Until then, she’d done her best to mend fences, but she couldn’t force them back into her life.
The small wedding was nothing like the lavish wedding she’d always planned, but it was perfect. The day wasn’t about anything other than binding Beau and her together forever.
Her brother and his family had flown all the way from France to attend, and she’d been able to spend the last week getting to know her nieces and nephews.
She was wearing a beautiful dress that Brittany designed, her friends were all gathered in one place to celebrate, and everything was as perfect as possible.
The Wedding March began, and Everly let out a little squeal. “That’s your cue.”
She squeezed Mr. Lawrence’s arm, and he patted her hand. This was it. She was marrying Beau Lawrence, and she couldn’t be happier.
As soon as the doors opened, she locked in on Beau waiting at the other end of the room. His shoulders swelled, and his mouth opened slightly as he caught sight of her.
Yep. That was her man—the only one in the world that God had made specifically for her.
Despite Everly’s careful instruction, Anna’s pace quickened. What was the point in drawing it out when she just wanted to finally be married to him?
Stopping at the end of the aisle, she waited impatiently as Mr. Lawrence gave her away. As soon as her hand was in Beau’s, she held on with everything she had. They had a lifetime ahead of them, and it all started now.