Epilogue
TESSA
The day is finally here.
Our wedding day.
And somehow, I’m surprisingly calm. Maybe it’s the calm before the storm, or maybe I’ve just spent so many months imagining this day that now that it’s here, it feels surreal. But standing in front of the mirror, my dress sparkling in the low light, I feel... right.
Like this is where I’m supposed to be.
I take a moment to really look at myself, trying to absorb the sight of the woman I’m about to become.
The dress hugs my curves in all the right places, the delicate lace and intricate beadwork catching the soft beam of the lights.
The tulle skirt flows around me, pooling softly on the floor, and the subtle sparkle in the fabric catches the light as I move, just enough to make me feel like I’m floating.
The neckline is simple but elegant, and my veil, a thin layer of silk, falls just past my shoulders, giving me the perfect balance of grace and elegance. The hair, pinned back loosely with small white flowers woven in, softens the look. I can’t help but smile at the reflection staring back at me.
This is me.
The one who’s about to say yes to forever.
But I’m not alone in all of this. Maeve is here, standing next to me in the bridesmaid dress I somehow talked her into wearing. She’s fussing with her hair in the reflection beside me, the tension in her shoulders telling me she’s just as nervous as I am. Or maybe more.
“Maeve,” I laugh, “How are you already looking like you stepped out of a bridal magazine?”
She looks up at me, giving her hair a final flick of the brush before turning to face me.
“It’s called talent, darling. I can look amazing without breaking a sweat. Just wait until I make my dramatic entrance later on.” She flashes me a wicked grin. "But hey, I’m doing it for you, Tessa. You only get one shot at this."
I roll my eyes, trying to hide the smile tugging at my lips. “I swear, you’re the only person who could possibly steal my spotlight at my own wedding.”
She shrugs dramatically, fluffing the ruffles of her dress as if she’s preparing for a royal debut. “It’s just my natural charm, Tessa. You should be grateful. It’ll be a beautiful distraction if anything goes wrong."
I laugh. “I should’ve known better than to let you be my bridesmaid. You’re going to steal the entire show.”
Maeve pulls me into a hug, lifting me off the floor, as if she’s just about to do a celebratory victory lap.
“You look gorgeous, and you know it. This dress is nice, but you? You’re the real star here today, and not just because you’re getting married.
” She taps her chin thoughtfully. “Well, okay, maybe mostly because you’re getting married.
But still. This is your moment. And I’m going to make sure everyone knows it. ”
“Not to mention Rusty,” I add, nodding toward the dog, who’s currently pawing at Maeve’s shoes, his tail wagging furiously as if he’s preparing for his walk down the aisle as well.
Maeve groans.
“I swear that dog’s going to ruin everything.” She bends down to give Rusty a quick pet, then stands back up. “Alright, alright, I suppose the diva dog can make his big entrance too. If he’s going to embarrass us, I’d rather it be while we’re still in the getting-ready phase.”
“Trust me,” I say with a grin, “the chaos is part of the charm.”
Maeve straightens the ruffles of her dress and looks back at me, a serious expression taking over her face.
“Tessa, you deserve every bit of happiness today. Seriously. I’m honored to be here with you.
We’ve been through hell and back together, and you know I’ve got your back. Every step of the way.”
I feel a lump in my throat, and I blink quickly, fighting back the tears. “Thanks, Maeve. I’m glad you’re here.”
She grins again, pulling me into a bear hug. “Stop making me mushy. There’s no time for tears, girlfriend. We have a wedding to ruin… uh, I mean, to celebrate.”
I laugh, pulling back, dabbing at my eyes. "You are so lucky I love you."
Maeve winks, pushing open the door. “Let’s get you down that aisle before Rusty thinks it’s a race.”
As we leave the room, Maeve confidently leading the way as usual, I take one last look at the mirror. It’s crazy to think that all of this, every single bit of drama, every bit of mess, every bit of uncertainty, has brought me here. Standing with my best friend, about to marry the love of my life.
This day? It’s going to be perfect, madness and all. And I can’t wait to marry Nash.
“Is that…?” As soon as I leave the room, my eyes catch someone. “Clay, oh my goodness, you made it!”
He’s standing there, leaning against the doorframe with a grin that’s a little softer, a little more mature than I remember.
He’s different now, more settled in his own skin, but there’s still that same Clay who used to tease me without mercy.
The one who didn’t mind being the first to give me a hard time.
“Tessa,” he says as he opens his arms to embrace me. “You look amazing.”
“I can’t believe you made it!” I exclaim, holding him close. “You look… different. More grown up.”
Clay chuckles, a slight shrug in his shoulders.
“Guess that happens when you start really living your life,” he says with a wry smile. “I figured this was one moment I couldn’t miss.”
I smile at him, feeling a wave of warmth. It’s nice to see him back, especially today. “I’m glad you’re here, Clay. I really am. It means a lot.”
He pats my shoulder in that familiar way. “It’s good to be here. Just wanted to check in on my new sister-in-law before she walked down that aisle. Not that she needs my help. You look like you’ve got it all figured out.”
“Not at all,” I laugh, shaking my head. “But that’s kind of the point, right?”
“I don’t want to take up too much of your time, plus I want to hang out with Grandma Nell some more. I just wanted to say hey.”
The tears are starting to brim already. “Oh no, how the hell am I going to get through today?”
He gives me a quick, affectionate hug. “You’ve got this, Tessa. It’s your day. Enjoy it.”
And then, just like that, I’m standing there, watching him head off toward the others, and I’m hit with everything. This moment, this day, what’s about to happen. There’s no turning back. And I almost feel a little overwhelmed.
But before I can spiral, the music starts. The soft notes of a string quartet fill the air, sending a wave of calm through me. The world holds its breath in sync with the music. The quiet moment wraps itself around me, and suddenly, I’m ready. I take a deep breath, knowing that this is it.
I glance down the hallway. The doors are about to open. My heart is pounding in my chest, but there’s no fear, only anticipation. I think of Nash, standing at the end of the aisle, waiting. Everything we’ve been through, every insane moment, has led me here. This is the beginning of forever.
And it feels right. It feels real. This is where I’m meant to be.
I take that first step, and the world is moving just for me.
I’m smiling, but there’s a nervous flutter in my stomach. The aisle seems so long, the whole room of eyes on me, but then I see him.
Nash.
He’s standing at the end, looking like everything I’ve ever wanted.
His smile, that crooked grin, is there, and the moment our eyes meet, my heart skips a beat.
It’s the kind of look that tells me everything’s going to be okay.
I’m not walking toward a future I’m unsure about; I’m walking toward a life I’ve already chosen.
As I move closer, the crowd fades away. The sound of the world dulls, and all I can hear is my heartbeat and Nash’s gaze pulling me in.
His eyes are locked on mine, filled with everything I’ve ever wanted to see.
Love, laughter, hope. There’s a quiet strength in him, and it gives me the confidence to keep going.
When I finally reach him, I stop. The words I want to say are right there on the tip of my tongue, but all I can do is smile.
“You look incredible,” he whispers.
I laugh, feeling a warmth spread through me. “You clean up pretty well yourself.”
The minister clears his throat, and we both turn toward him. He smiles at us, and the ceremony begins.
It’s the little things that make this moment so real. Nash’s thumb brushing against my hand, the way he leans in slightly to hear what I’m saying, the way our hands fit together like we were always meant to be. The vows are simple, but they carry everything I feel, everything we’ve been through.
“I vow to always have your back, even when we’re facing a storm,” Nash says. “Through all of it, the good, the bad, and the messy, I promise to be the one who’s there, right by your side. Because with you? I finally know what it means to feel at home.”
I can’t stop the smile that spreads across my face as I respond.
“I vow to never let you go, Nash. No matter how many times we get knocked down or thrown into the madness, I will be there. Because you’ve made me believe in us.
In this. And there’s no one else I’d want by my side for the rest of my life. ”
The minister’s voice is soft as he asks, “Do you take Tessa, to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, in good times and bad, for better or worse?”
“I do,” Nash declares.
I hear the same words leave my lips when the minister turns to me. “Do you take Nash, to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, in good times and bad, for better or worse?”
“I do,” I say, and the words feel right, so right that I can hardly believe how far we’ve come.
And then, as if it was meant to be all along, Nash pulls me toward him, his hands cupping my face, and he kisses me.
The kiss is a promise made between us. But it deepens as our smiles stretch, the relief of finally getting here wrapping around us like a blanket. The crowd around us is laughing, cheering, but all I can focus on is him.
When we finally pull apart, I hear clapping and cheers, but I’m too lost in the moment to care about anything but Nash’s hand in mine. He looks at me with that grin of his, a grin that has come to mean everything to me.
“You’re mine now,” he whispers against my lips. “For good.”
And as we stand there, surrounded by our families, our friends, and even a few loud “Woo hoos!” from Boone, I can’t help but think that this, this is everything I’ve ever wanted.
This mental, beautiful, messy life we’ve built together.
It’s just the beginning.
The end.