Epilogue
“THE GIRL IN THE PURPLE DRESS.”
Chevelle
A few months later…
“You look like a winter wonderland,” Nikki says, admiring me with her hand on her very swollen belly.
I look at my reflection in the mirror in the apartment above the garage at Fisher’s. Everyone came together to make this a bridal suite for me, since this is the only place I could ever marry Cam. It just fits.
Cars fill the driveway, and luckily, neighbors were willing to give up their driveways for our guests to park. It took more planning, and it’s not exactly ideal, but we kept our ceremony small. Or as small as you can with a family as big as mine.
I’ve read the advice my mom left me for my wedding, and one thing she said was to pick a meaningful place to get married.
This is my day, and screw everyone else.
She also said to not pick any trendy songs for my dances, pick classics, especially the father-daughter dance.
I’ve tried to take each of her suggestions into consideration.
One thing I made my brothers incorporate into our lives is that once a month, we get together and share stories about Mom. Even the boys have been remembering more now, and I feel as though I’m really starting to understand who my mom was.
My dad opens the door to the apartment. “Your groom just arrived.”
I look out the window to catch a glimpse of him, but Cam’s already gone around the side of the house.
“I’m ready.” I take one last look in the mirror.
“She’s more than ready. Barely needed us.” Posey shakes her head.
I have no bridesmaids and he has no groomsmen, which pissed off Fisher until we had to remind him that he ran away to get married.
The Alaskan winter air hits me as soon as I walk out and follow my dad down the outside stairs. Once I’m at the bottom, I hook my arm in his, and he escorts me away to the tree-lined path that leads through the forest.
“Only you and Cam would pick an outdoor wedding in January.” His breath comes out in a big white puff.
“Thanks for being a good sport.”
“Anything for you, little girl,” he says and kisses the top of my head.
The snow crunches under our feet as we pass the pictures we placed along the path of those Greene couples who found love before us, starting with Grandma Ethel and Grandpa, and ending with Mandi and Noah.
Dad and I arrive at the clearing where lights have been hung in the trees and red hearts swing in the cold breeze.
All of our guests are lined along the edge of the lake, but my eyes only search out one person.
Cam’s standing on the other side of the small lake. I have to step up on the wooden plank path my brothers and Cam built for our wedding.
“You got this,” my dad whispers, tightening his hand around mine.
I think this might be as hard for him as it is for me. We follow the path lit with lanterns to the other side, where only Cam and the officiant wait.
Cam looks stunning in his dark suit and perfectly styled hair. Who knew a childhood crush could turn into real love?
My dad hands me over to Cam, then kisses my cheek and shakes Cam’s hand. He quickly crosses the path back to our guests, joining Marla and my siblings.
“Ready, fiancée?”
“Really?”
“It’s my last time using it,” he says, and I can’t help but laugh. He leans in. “I’m so proud of you,” he whispers in my ear.
“Thank you.”
Cam holds my hands, never letting go except for the exchange of rings. After I say my vows, he slides the wedding band on my finger, and rather than being the one we picked out together, I recognize it as my mom’s.
“Oh!” My free hand flies up to cover my mouth.
“Your dad offered it to me, and I accepted. I thought it would be more meaningful for you.”
I nod with tears in my eyes and glance at my dad, mouthing thank you. He nods with tears in his eyes, knowing what this means to me.
Each one of us kids got to pick something special from my mom’s jewelry collection.
I chose the first necklace my dad ever gave to my mom.
And while Fisher used my mom’s engagement ring to propose to Allie, my mom’s wedding band has always been in my dad’s possession.
I assumed it would stay there. Until now.
I look at Cam and get lost in the moment with him. So much so that it feels like seconds before we’re announced as husband and wife.
Cam wastes no time in dipping me and kissing me. “Love you. Wife.”
Once we’re announced and walk to the other side for everyone to congratulate us, my brothers work on dismantling the wooden walkway.
“Ready for what’s next?” Cam asks.
After a deep breath to summon my courage, I take off my wedding skirt, leaving me in white leather pants.
“Are you serious?” His hands glide down my legs as he gets down on his knees and fits me with ice skates, lacing them up.
“You like?”
“Very much.”
After he gets my skates on, he sits on one of the many benches we put up and laces his own skates.
“You know, your mom had a dream about her grandkids skating here.” My dad puts his arm around Marla.
Just then, Emelia and Trey skate out, along with Jed and Adam.
Cam holds out his hand for me, and I accept it. He steps on the ice first, and I inhale another deep breath of cold Alaskan air and join him.
It takes me a while to gain my balance since it’s been so many years, but as always, Cam is there to keep me steady until I find my footing. And once I do, I skate with my husband on the small family lake I haven’t dared set foot on since my mom died.
Before long, the lake was crowded with our families. The little ones slide around on their snow pants, and the speakers in the trees play the cassette my mom gave my dad in the safe.
Cam takes me in his arms. “When do we get to leave?”
“After we eat.”
We chose food trucks instead of a sit-down meal. Like my mom said, it’s our day to enjoy however we want.
He kisses me again. “Want to take a break?”
“Sure.”
We leave the lake and take off our skates. Then he leads me back down the path through the trees.
“Are you gonna sneak me into the bridal room above the garage?”
He chuckles. “Maybe later, but first.” He guides us through the cars and to the swings.
“Oh, memory lane,” I say.
“The girl in the purple dress.” He walks behind the swing and holds it for me.
“Damn, Fisher replaced our swing set with a fancy new one.” I sit down and he sits in the swing next to me.
“At least this one will hold us. That other one was full of rust, even back then.”
“You’ve always watched out for me.”
He leans toward me, pulling the chain of my swing so I’m closer to him. “And I’ll keep doing it for the rest of my life, wife.”
“You better not get sick of that term since you’ll be using it for the long haul.”
“Oh.” He smiles. “I don’t know about that. There’s still mom.”