Epilogue
I stand on the sandy shoreline, underneath white flowing fabric, with the ocean our backdrop as August steps down using the same stairs she’s run down so many times in her life, now using them to get to me.
Her black hair catching on the breeze as it and her veil fly in the wind, becoming their own entities.
She meets me at the same spot her parents said “I do” on, and with shaking hands we give the other our forevers. And on August Cove, I promise forever to my August.
Her smile promises so much, and by the time the sun sets, she’s my wife, finally.
We turn around to the handful of people that watch us with bright smiles, before I pick her up, running into the ocean, “Tell it to the waves, Baby.” I whisper to her before capturing her mouth.
Letting her lips go, her white dress flowing behind her, she smiles. “I’m married!” she screams at the incoming wave. As it gets sucked back into the ocean, “I miss you both, but Bodhi has me now.” Her veil and words get swept by the retreating wave, and we watch it, knowing the ocean has it now.
Her words make me tear up, because I do. Looking at the ocean, I promise, “I have her from here.”
August looks at me, nothing but love in her eyes. And I hope mine are showing the same back.
Walking us back out of the ocean, both wet but so happy, I sit her down before Baylee waddles up to us, her stomach out and proud.
“Congratulations. We love you and everything is set up inside.” She leans in and kisses August’s cheek and does the same to me, but stops and whispers in my ear, “Craig was right.” And I know what she’s referring to. He knew she’d come back home.
We wave to everyone as they all leave; August and I just wanted the night to be us two, and that’s what we have.
Carrying her up the steps to the deck, I don’t stop but enter the house and straight back to the bedroom. Opening the door, the huge antique headboard greets us; this is the first night we’ll spend in her parents’ old bedroom, which is now ours.
Tossing her on the bed, she lets out a yell before I prowl to her, straddling her wet body, “Mrs. Westmore.”
Her honey brown eyes shine with so much love and hope for our future.