Epilogue
Miles
May — Following Year
Spring is in full bloom in the mountains, and the Penelope rose bush has more flowers than I’ve ever seen.
Even though Penny mostly works from home now, I still bring her fresh flowers every single day.
These past few months have been one hell of a learning experience.
Every time we think we’ve finally figured Millie out, boom. She hits another milestone, and suddenly we’re right back at square one.
But even with the sleepless nights and the chaos, I wouldn’t trade my girls for anything in the world.
Watching Penny’s entire face light up every time Millie smiles at her. Holding Penny after a long day. Bath time with Millie splashing water all over me while Penny laughs from the doorway.
Those are the moments that matter.
Today, though?
Today is special.
I’m marrying Penny in our backyard.
Mama and Sussie completely took over the planning after Penny, and I kept insisting we wanted something simple and intimate.
I’m in my office getting ready with my groomsmen—River, Merlin, Gio, Xander, and Manny.
“I don’t think I’ve ever been up here,” Manny says as he looks out the windows facing the mountains behind the house. “You got a gorgeous piece of land here.”
I nod while tasting the moonshine River made for the occasion.
“This is really fucking good, River. Are you sure you don’t want to test new waters and open a distillery?” I ask as I inspect the glass of crystal liquor.
A faint blush creeps up River’s cheeks.
“Then who would take care of the orchard?” he mutters. “I’m only one man.”
“Maybe we should have a family meeting and remind you that you don’t have to carry everything by yourself, bro,” I tell him honestly. “If you want to start your own business, I fully support you. We can always hire someone to manage the orchard.”
Everyone murmurs their agreement just as somebody knocks on the door.
“Here she is,” Mama sings as she walks in carrying Millie.
She’s so damn precious my eyes water.
My baby girl is wearing a tiny white dress covered in little pearls, with a huge bow on the back that matches her headband, and her auburn hair.
The second she sees me, she starts wiggling in Mama’s arms, her gummy smile stretching across her face.
“Come to Papa, baby girl.”
I kiss her cheeks and inhale deeply the moment she’s in my arms.
“Are you ready to see how Mami and Papa get married?”
Millie grins at me, drool and all.
“Alright, everyone,” I announce as I adjust her against my chest. “I finally get to make an honest woman out of Penny.”
Laughter rolls through the room as we start filing out of the office.
I take a steadying breath when Mille curls her tiny fingers around my index finger.
“Yeah, baby girl,” I say to her quietly. “We’re finally getting our forever.”
The priest from Asheville agreed to marry us here at home, which was a huge relief because neither Penny nor I wanted a huge church wedding.
Most of Penny’s family flew in from Colombia for the ceremony, though Paloma has been living with us for the past couple of months. She needed some distance after ending a long-term relationship, and apparently, her ex is having a hard time letting go.
When I step out into our backyard with Millie in my arms, a chorus of awws and how cute fills the space.
I can’t even blame them.
My daughter looks cute as fuck.
I walk slowly through the rows of chairs, smiling at everyone who came to celebrate with us. Family. Friends. The people who held Penny and me together when life tried its hardest to tear us apart.
By the time I take my place beside River and the priest, my heart is pounding so hard I can barely hear anything else.
Then the music starts.
Everyone rises to their feet as the wedding march sounds through the speakers.
I inhale deeply and release it slowly because I already know seeing Penny in a wedding dress is about to ruin me.
And sure enough, the moment she appears on Ed’s arm, the waterworks are powered on.
She looks breathtaking. And happy.
Her dress hugs every sexy curve of her body before falling into a long train decorated with real purple flowers—her favorite.
For a beat, everything else disappears.
It’s just her.
Walking toward me.
Choosing me.
Ed reaches us and pats my shoulder before placing Penny’s hand into mine. Then he tries to take Millie from me, but my daughter tightens her tiny fists in my suit jacket and buries herself against my chest.
“It’s okay, Dad,” Penny says softly, smiling at Millie. “I think it's perfect having her here with us.”
Ed kisses Penny’s cheek and steps away.
Right as the priest opens his mouth, a cellphone starts ringing loudly somewhere in the among my groomsmen.
I close my eyes and clench my jaw.
Who the fuck still keeps their phone on full blast during a wedding?
“Oh shit. I’m sorry,” Merlin says quickly as he fishes his phone out of his jacket pocket. “But this is important.”
He hurries a few steps away from the altar while everyone starts whispering among themselves, probably wondering what could possibly be more important than me finally marrying Penny.
Honestly?
Same.
Beside me, Penny snorts softly.
“Your brother really has a talent for making all my major life moments extra memorable,” she mutters under her breath.
I cringe wince because… fair.
“Sorry, boss,” I whisper, trying not to laugh. “I promise we can ban him from future important events if you want.”
She reaches up and wipes beneath my eyes with her thumb, getting rid of the tears I didn’t even realize were still there.
I smile at her gratefully, just as Millie starts squirming in my arms and reaches for Penny.
“Traitor,” I whisper as I pass our daughter over.
Merlin finally walks back toward us, but one look at him tells me something huge just happened. The guy is practically vibrating.
His hands shake while he tries to fix his jacket, and his grin is so wide it looks painful.
I glance at Penny, silently asking for permission to let this circus continue.
She sighs fondly and nods.
“Alright, Merlin,” I say loud enough for everyone to hear. “Out with it. There’s still a wedding that still needs to happen.”
Laughter ripples through the crowd, but when Merlin clears his throat, silence falls again.
“Penny, Miles, I’m really sorry for interrupting your wedding,” he says, emotion thick in his voice. “I know this is selfish timing, but the only reason I left my phone on was because Coach Hayes said he’d be calling today to finalize the World Cup roster.”
A collective gasp flows through the backyard.
“No fucking way,” I blurt out.
And then all hell breaks loose.
Everyone is out of their seats, cheering, shouting, and rushing Merlin all at once. The poor bastard gets swallowed by hugs before he can even fully process what just happened.
Honestly, I’m a little pissed at him for stealing my thunder, but I’m too fucking proud of him to care for long.
If I have to wait another five minutes to officially belong to Penny, so be it.
Once everyone finally settles back into their seats, Merlin still looking shell-shocked, I nod toward the priest.
He clears his throat, fighting a smile.
“Well,” he says warmly, “it seems the MacAllister family has plenty of reasons to celebrate today.”
I exhale slowly as the weight of what’s about to happen settles deep in my bones.
Not because I don’t already belong to Penny. I do.
But this is different.
This is standing in front of everyone we love and saying, "This is my person." This is Penny taking my last name. This is checking the married box on paperwork someday. This is building a whole life together with our daughter running through the middle of it.
Fuck. That’s powerful.
“Penny, are you ready to say your vows?” the priest asks.
Penny squares her shoulders before glancing toward Ruin—her maid of honor—who passes her a delicate little notebook.
They share a smile before Penny looks back at me.
“Miles John MacAllister,” she begins softly, “when I met you all those years ago, I never thought you’d change my life in so many ways that I’d barely recognize the woman I used to be before you.
“For a long time, I thought I had everything figured out. My routines. My plans. My future.” Her gaze drops for a moment before returning to mine. “But looking back now, I think part of me was just lost.”
Her voice wavers, but she pushes through it anyway.
“With your bright humor, your steady presence, and the way you care so fiercely for the people you love, you showed me that I could still be fully myself without having to do life alone.”
Millie lets out a tiny sleepy sound against Penny’s chest, and my heart physically aches.
“And then somehow, as if loving you wasn’t already enough, you gave me the greatest gift of all.”
Her eyes drift toward Millie before coming back to me.
“There isn’t a single day that goes by that I’m not grateful for you and our daughter.
“I promise to be there for you. To love you and support you even when you think you don’t deserve it.
“I promise to be the best sous chef and copilot you’ve ever had.
“I promise to always make time for you, for us, even during the hardest seasons of life.
“And I promise to honor our love every single day until death do us part… and even then. I love you heart, mind, and soul.”
By the time she finishes, she’s a mess of tears. She pulls a tiny handkerchief out of her dress pocket and dabs beneath her eyes.
I can’t help it. I just lean down and kiss her.
Because how the fuck am I supposed to hear vows like that and not kiss my future wife?
“I love you, Penélope Marie Levine,” I say after I break the kiss.
“Miles,” the priest warns, though he’s clearly trying not to laugh.
“I’m sorry,” I say without sounding sorry at all. “But did you hear what she just said to me?”
Laughter fills the room.
I shake my head slowly while staring at Penny because I still can’t fully believe she chose me.
“Alright,” I say finally. “My turn. But fair warning, I’m not nearly as eloquent as my future wife.”
A few chuckles ripple through the crowd.
I take a steadying breath before looking directly at her.
“Penny. My boss. My…” I pause, smirking when her eyes narrow at me, already knowing I’m about to say something ridiculous. “Sugar mama.”
Everyone bursts out laughing.
Penny rolls her eyes, but the smile stretching across her face turns her cheeks pink anyway.
“I knew from the very first time I saw you that you were trouble,” I admit. “And deep down, I think part of me knew if I ever really let myself fall for you, there’d be no coming back from it.
“For years, I convinced myself you were just a family friend. A sophisticated, intelligent, and incredibly kind woman who was completely out of my league.”
She snorts softly at that.
“But then one night, between the palm trees and the stars, you stopped pretending. You showed me who you really were and went after what you wanted.”
I grin slowly.
“And boss, you got it. I was a goner.
“One night with you was enough to ruin me for everyone else. Because yeah, I wanted you physically. That part was obvious.” Laughter breaks out again. “But what scared me was how badly I wanted everything else too.”
I look down at Millie tucked safely between us before meeting Penny’s gaze again.
I reach with my thumb and wipe the moisture from her face.
“I’ll never have words to describe everything that you make me feel, Penny MacAllister,” I admit roughly. “All I know is whatever is between us is powerful enough to make me move past my fears and face the world to keep you by my side.
“Because as scared as I am to lose you… The thought of living in a world where I can’t hold you anymore? That pain would be infinitely worse.”
A sob escapes me, and I laugh wetly through it.
“And then we went and created that little ray of sunshine, and now I’m truly fucked.”
The room bursts into laughter.
“Miles John, keep it classy,” Granny calls from her chair. “You’re marrying up, dear.”
My laughter breaks through the emotional haze hanging over everyone.
“Sorry, Granny,” I say with a watery grin. “It’s just there’s no other way to describe how I feel about my two loves.”
Penny laughs through her tears, and somehow that only makes me more emotional.
I take a shaky breath before continuing.
“Here are my promises, boss.” I tighten my hold around her hand. “I promise to cherish you and spoil you rotten every single day.
“I promise to work hard to feel worthy of you.
“I promise to be the best husband and father I can be. I promise to love you in every lifetime, in every universe, for as long as my soul exists.”
Penny throws her arms around my waist before I can even finish, careful of Millie between us, and I hold my wife and daughter as tears stream down my face.
And deep in my bones, I know this is it.
This life—messy, loud, overwhelming, and beautiful—is everything I never knew I needed.