Epilogue
“For goodness’ sake, Lexi, will you stop it already? Your dress is fine.”
Lexi huffs as she reluctantly tucks the lint roller back into her clutch. “Sorry, I just need a distraction. Otherwise, I’m going to start crying again.” She takes a deep breath as she pats a finger delicately beneath her eyelid, careful not to smudge her professionally applied makeup. “I’m just so nervous.”
“There’s nothing to be nervous about,” I assure her in my best wedding planner voice. “Everything is going to be fine. Right, Chloe?”
I turn to my other best friend for backup, but her eyes are just as glassy.
“God, not you too. You’re supposed to be the stoic one.”
She sniffles. “I can’t help it. We’ve all come so far.”
Despite my teasing, it’s hard not to get choked up myself. Chloe’s right: this year has been a whirlwind. For the past twelve months, Graham and I have been running the newly relaunched Black-Eyed Susan, with a focus on the hotel’s capacity as an event space. Slowly but surely, we built up our clientele (thanks in no small part to Chloe, who we hired as our social media manager), and I’m proud to say that the hotel is firmly back on its feet.
Claire landed on her feet too. After featuring the story of her and Graham’s failed wedding on The Cash Castillo Show, which became one of its most popular episodes, the network was more than happy to secure her a work visa. She also launched a new podcast called “The Time I Almost Committed a Felony.” It’s not only hilarious and chart-topping, but it’s also brought new voices to the conversation around immigration. Best of all, her friendship with Graham has continued to thrive. And that’s what matters most of all.
As for me, in my dual capacity as the hotel’s head chef and special events coordinator, I’ve never been happier. Every day is a new adventure, the perfect amount of unpredictability to satisfy my restless spirit. But Graham is my anchor, allowing me to ride the waves without ever getting lost at sea. And now, we’re about to embark on the next chapter.
“I never thought I’d see the day we’d be marrying you off to a finance bro,” Chloe says, shaking me out of my daydream. “But here we are.”
“Former finance bro,” I correct her. “Current hotelier.”
The three of us turn to stare at our reflection in the floor-length mirror. Two women in matching, ivory bridesmaids’ dresses are flanking another in a white bridal gown. Me.
The door to the bridal suite flies open as a flurry of motion and giggles explodes through the doorway. Benny is in the lead, looking like a baby model in a pint-sized tuxedo. His twin sisters are on his heels, flower petals flying behind them as they chase their little brother. Sarah trails in last, shaking her head. I can tell she’s fighting the urge to pick up every fallen petal and return them to their rightful baskets, and I’m proud of her for instead allowing herself to go with the flow and just live in the moment. Then she meets my eyes, and her face relaxes.
“Oh, Ali,” she sighs. “You look beautiful.”
“I just saw you ten minutes ago,” I laugh. “Seriously, everyone needs to calm down.”
Nevertheless, she closes the space between us, wrapping her arms around me, firmly but gently enough not to wrinkle my dress.
“I’m so proud of you,” she whispers in my ear.
I give her a squeeze back. Then there’s a soft knock at the door, and we turn to see Asha standing there, holding a clipboard and looking chic as ever in a balloon-sleeved blouse and cropped leather trousers.
“It’s time,” she says.
Then she organizes us into a line, with my nieces in the front, followed by my two best friends in the world, and at the very end, my first friend. Sarah.
The music has already started playing, the low notes of the piano and cellist duo echoing through the walls. We chose to walk down the aisle to “Can’t Help Falling in Love.” Classic yet fitting. Because no matter how hard we tried to fight it, somehow this ending has always been inevitable. And I wouldn’t change a thing.
One by one, the women I love disappear through the doorway, making their way down the flower-lined aisle, until finally, it’s just me, standing between my parents. I’m faintly aware of my mom’s soft sniffles, but then I see him at the end of the aisle, and everything else fades into the background. Our eyes lock, and once again, I hear the single word that’s been echoing in my brain. Mine. At last.
Asha’s voice comes up behind me and it’s only then that I realize I’m crying.
“Are you ready?” she asks softly. I take a deep breath and nod, because truthfully, I’ve known the answer to that question for a long time. Since Graham asked me to be his partner—in business, in life. Or even back when he invited me into his London flat all those years ago. I just wasn’t ready to admit it yet.
My mom gives my hand a tiny squeeze, and I squeeze it right back.
And then, I put one foot in front of the other and take my first step forward.