Epilogue
“Catherine?”
Daniel’s voice comes up from behind me, and I turn around with a warm smile.
His tuxedo wraps around his body so perfectly that he almost looks like a model.
He runs his hand through his hair before reaching out to me.
Ever since he came out as gay, his whole demeanor has changed, and things have just clicked into place for me.
He has always advocated for me, even in the moments when I might not have deserved it.
He wasn’t just entertaining me when he said he wanted to hear my ideas.
He was seriously invested. So, when one of his European connections told him they were going to set up a new trauma center in Barcelona, he instantly mentioned my name.
The alignment for the project was almost too perfect.
Besides the fact that I have an impressive résumé and speak Spanish, my wishes and views almost completely match those of the hospital.
A match made in heaven, as he called it.
And that proved to be true.
After a few trips back and forth to the hospital, we came to an agreement, and with Mary’s blessing, I signed the contract. She was so happy for me and is still excited for me to live out my dream as well, since she can write from anywhere. Funny how those things work out.
I grab Daniel’s hand and shake it firmly, the smile plastered on my face. There is not a single thing today that can remove it.
“You look amazing, Daniel.”
“You are not looking half bad yourself, Durand,” he says with a wink, and I can’t help but smirk at that.
“Thank you for making this happen.”
“It was the least I could do,” he says while his lips tug up in a crooked smile. “You are going to be missed around here, Cat, but I know you will do amazing things in Barcelona. People will remember your name.”
I let out a soft chuckle.
“Yes, as the wife of the famous Mary Durand.”
He chuckles too and raises his eyebrow.
“About that… are you ready?”
“I have been ready since the moment she walked through those sliding doors.”
“Yes, I bet.” His voice softens. “Come on, then, your family is waiting.”
I let him guide me away from the ledge and around the bulkhead to the other side of the roof.
The helipad has been transformed into an ocean of flowers, with a small vine-covered arch in its center.
Daniel had to call in major favors to pull this off, but for some reason, he was more than happy to do so.
And this time, I decided to trust him. The payoff couldn’t have been better.
The rows of seats are filled with people. The hospital staff including Wilder, who made sure to hug me when she received the invite, the girls from the bookstore, the sixers, my family, and a few of Mary’s friends from back home. The people who matter in our lives.
My hands shake when I walk toward my father, who is waiting down the aisle, and I have to swallow when I see that mamá is already in tears. My heart thrums against my chest, but we are finally here. Is this really happening?
“Mi hija,” papá whispers, his voice strained. “I couldn’t be more proud of you for following your heart instead of my guidance. Thank you for sharing this blessed moment with me.”
“Papá,” I choke. “Enough. You are going to make me cry. My mascara.”
He lets out a soft laugh and nods, relieved.
He is not one for emotions, and today is already asking a lot of him.
I’m pretty sure he is happy to let it go, but I feel the warmth behind his words regardless.
And the way his hand rests on my shoulder tells me all I need to know. He loves me. He loves Mary.
I smooth my hands over the silky white fabric of my dress and try to stop them from trembling.
You are a trauma surgeon, for crying out loud.
But no matter what I tell myself, these have been the most nerve-wracking twenty-four hours I’ve experienced in my life.
Even though Mary and I spoke on the phone until well into the night. The shaking won’t—
The sudden opening chords of Pachelbel’s Canon in D fill the air, and I whip my head around so fast that the tendons protest under strain.
Carmen stands at the beginning of the aisle in her gorgeous moss-green suit.
The smooth fabric hugs her curves in all the right places, and her curls make her look like a supermodel.
My heart bursts for the love of my friend, but it cracks open completely when the vision in white appears from behind her.
Mary wears a gorgeous halter-neck dress with a fine lace bodice and a satin skirt.
The top part of her hair is pulled back, but the bottom part comes down in messy curls.
There are little pieces of silver vines woven throughout it, catching the early morning sunlight just right.
She is more than just a vision… she is everything.
Carmen beams as she escorts Mary toward me, but I don’t even register my friend anymore.
My eyes are on my bride, and my bride alone.
My pulse thunders in my veins, and I have to fight the urge to run toward her.
But Maria smiles at me as if she knows exactly what I am thinking and is tempted to dare me.
Who would’ve known that this woman who stormed into my ER would end up offering me her sweet, sweet heart?
Mi amor… No… Mi esposa.
Siempre.
The End