EPILOGUE
AMBER
Itake a deep breath, and stare at my reflection in the mirror.
“You look beautiful,” Caitlyn says from beside me.
I straighten the diamond necklace around my neck, and smile. I’ve decided -- given Tucker and I already have a child together -- that wearing white, or ivory seems a little hypocritical, so instead I’ve opted for a gown in dusty blush pink, as it’s light, feminine and romantic.
My long, platinum blond hair has been curled, and arranged in a stunning up-do by Lana’s cousin, Monica. In the last couple of months, as I’ve gotten to know the Braddock brothers and their families better, I’ve been adopted into the group.
Of course, I already knew Caitlyn, but after the initial shock that Tucker and I were having a child together, his brothers came around and I’m now very much part of the massive (and always growing) family. I have no shortage of nieces and nephews who will be involved in the ceremony.
I glance over at the two carry cots, where my name-sake Amber sleeps peacefully beside my son, James.
The two of them are only a few months apart in age, and not that much younger than the other Braddock cousins, meaning they will all grow up playing together.
Uncle Sebastian is already talking about getting horses for the babies, like he did with his own son Noah, and his older nieces and nephews.
My mom peeks her head through the door. “Are you almost ready? The car will be here soon.”
I smile. “I’m ready.”
That’s all the invitation she needs to bustle into the room -- though quietly, so as not to wake the babies -- and start fussing over my appearance.
After making sure my makeup isn’t smudged, I haven’t got a strand of hair out of place, and there isn’t a single crease on the dress, she deems me ready.
“Can we have a moment?” Mom asks, and Cait nods. She hurries from the room, knowing baby Amber and James will be okay for a moment.
“I’m so proud of you, honey,” Mom says, embracing me lightly so as to not wrinkle my dress.
I blink back tears and smile. Getting to this point wasn’t easy.
Mom, Dad and I weren’t super close before I got pregnant.
They were good parents, and I had a fantastic childhood, but I’ve always had an independent streak a mile wide, so as soon as I was older enough, I’d moved out of the family home, and started my own business with Caitlyn.
My parents had always been supportive of that, and they were proud I’d secured financial security for myself at such a young age, so I figured when I told them I was pregnant, they’d be over the moon.
They weren’t.
They’d heard about Tucker’s reputation, of course, and thought I was throwing away all my hard work by shackling myself with a kid by a man who ‘couldn’t keep it in his pants.’ Mom’s words, not mine.
But, over the course of the last year and a half, Tucker has proven himself to be a wonderful partner and now father, and when we announced our engagement, they were thrilled.
“Thanks Mom. I know you didn’t approve--”
Mom cuts me off before I can finish. “All water under the bridge. You and Tucker are wonderful parents, and I’m proud to call him my son-in-law.”
I giggle. “Good, because I love him very much.”
“I know, and he loves you very much, too, honey,” Mom says, squeezing my fingers. As I stare into her bright blue eyes -- so like my own -- all I see is love and happiness reflected back at me.
I blink away tears again, straighten my shoulders, and then say, “Come on, let’s not keep everyone waiting.”
I open the door to let Caitlyn back in, and she gives me a warm smile, then scoops up the carrier holding baby Amber. Mom picks up James’ carrier, and the two of them follow me out of the room.
We all got ready and mine and Tucker’s beachside home, and downstairs, Dad is waiting for me with Elsa, who simply won’t allow the wedding to happen without her. Knowing James is asleep, she pads quietly over to her ‘baby brother,’ but doesn’t wake him.
Dad stands, and I can already see the tears gleaming in his eyes. “You look like a vision, sweetheart,” he says.
“Thank you,” I say, looping my arm through his.
I pick up my bouquet of flowers and turn to Caitlyn and my mom to make sure they're both ready. When Caitlyn gives me the thumbs up, I call Elsa to my side. The chow-chow -- who is wearing a dusty pink rose on her collar for the special occasion -- walks up to me obediently.
I stroke her head, and then say, “Okay, let’s get this show on the road.”
A massive limousine waits outside to take the bridal party to the resort, where the wedding will be held.
Me, my parents, Caitlyn, the two babies, and Elsa all fit into the vehicle easily.
We drive across the city to the resort, where Tucker and his brothers are getting ready in one of the executive suites.
Tomorrow, Tucker, baby James and I will fly off on vacation to Hawaii for a month, but on the wedding night, Caitlyn and Joshua will be looking after James so that me and Tucker can have the night alone.
All the Braddock brothers take turns watching their nieces and nephews so the parents can have a break, so James is more than used to spending the occasional night away from home, and he gets on especially well with Joshua, Caitlyn and his cousin Amber.
When we arrive at the resort, an usher escorts us inside, and through to the lavishly decorated conference room where Tucker and I will be married.
Neither of us are religious, so we have a non-denominational officiant overseeing the ceremony.
Aside from the lack of anything religious, the wedding itself will be pretty traditional.
At the far end of the conference room, a stage where Tucker, the officiant, and I will stand has been erected, the area decorated with flowers and balloons.
Facing us and divided into two sides by a red carpeted aisle, are rows and rows of chairs for the guests who are all due to arrive soon. Me and my family are the first.
We settle in a small room next to the main room where the wedding will be held, and Caitlyn messages Joshua to let him know we’re here.
That’s his queue to send down Antony’s twins, Aaron and Elizabeth, as well as Sebastian’s son Noah, and Alicia’s younger siblings Tommy and Evie.
All five children are around six years old, and so not to cause any arguments, I selected them all the be flower ‘pals’ as we’ve come to call them, so there’s no gender discrimination.
I’ve asked Alicia’s slightly older brother, Billy, to walk Elsa down the aisle.
Mine and Tucker’s beloved chow-chow will be carrying a box containing both of our wedding rings.
As we wait for the others to arrive, the babies wake wanting to be fed, and Caitlyn and I have just enough time to give them small bottles of milk -- they’re both eating solid foods now, so they’ll have something else after the ceremony -- to tide them over until later.
A soft knock at the door announces the presence of Tucker’s sister-in-law’s and nieces and nephews.
Alicia’s son Benjamin and Erin’s daughter Diana have both recently started walking, so we figured it might be a little too much for them to walk down the aisle, so they’ll remain with their parents.
Alicia enters with Billy, Tommy and Evie -- who even though they’re not related to me or Tucker by blood are just as much part of the family as any of the others.
Erin is accompanying twins Aaron and Elizabeth, and Noah is with his mom Lana.
All the women greet me with warm smiles and tell me how beautiful I look.
I smile as I embrace each woman one-by-one.
I never had any siblings growing up, though me and Caitlyn were always close.
But now, thanks to joining the Braddock family, I have three additional sister-in-law’s who I love deeply.
The last few months have been almost back-to-back weddings, first with Alicia and Ryan getting married, then Antony and Erin, followed by Sebastian and Lana, and then, finally, Joshua and Caitlyn just a few months ago.
And now, it’s mine and Tucker’s turn.
I cannot wait.
Once the children are settled, and know exactly what is expected of them, my sister-in-law’s head into the main conference room where the ceremony will be held, and other guests begin taking their seats.
“Are you excited?” I ask, turning to my young nieces and nephews.
As expected, the young children are all busy fussing over the babies and of course Elsa, but little Evie turns to me with a bright smile.
I imagine the five-year-old looks just like Alicia did at that age, with the familiar red hair and freckles of Alicia and her siblings.
“You look like a fairy princess, Aunt Amber,” she tells me with a grin, as she twirls around in her light pink gown.
Everything has been coordinated perfectly, with the girls looking beautiful in their pink dresses, and the boys are very handsome in their suites with pink cravats.
“Everyone gather around for a photo,” the photographer calls, and we all squeeze in together.
After the photos have been taken, Joshua pops into the room to let us know that all the guests are seated, and Tucker is in place with the officiant. Everyone is now waiting on me.
Me and my small party take a side-door out of the room we were waiting in, and loops back around to the entrance of the conference room.
First to enter and go down the aisle are Aaron and Elizabeth, Noah, Tommy and Evie, all carrying baskets of rose petals.
They walk down the walkway sprinkling the petals -- which are in almost the exact same shade of my dress -- and then take their seats with their parents.
Next, Billy walks down with Elsa, who has the ring box attached to her collar.
At the front of the conference room, Joshua takes the rings from Elsa and then Billy settles in his seats.
Next down the aisle is Caitlyn, holding her daughter in a baby carrier.
Little Amber is still awake after her feed and looks around wide-eyed at all the decorations.
Caitlyn and Amber are followed by my mom who is carrying James, and he too looks around at the balloons and flowers with excitement.
When he sees his dad waiting with the officiant he giggles happily.
Finally, it’s only me and my dad left. He takes his hands in mine, and stares into my eyes.
“You’ve grown into such a beautiful young woman. Me and your mom couldn’t be prouder,” he says, blinking away tears.
“No, don’t start crying. You’ll set me off.”
We both laugh, and Dad links his arm through mine. “Are you ready to go and get married?”
A Cheshire cat-like grin covering my face. “Yes!”
Dad and I enter the ceremony room, and everyone in attendance turns to look at us. I feel hundreds of pairs of eyes watching me as I walk down the aisle to where Tucker and the officiant await.
As I reach the stage, Caitlyn stands, and I exchange my bouquet with her for Tucker’s ring, then I climb up onto the platform to face my husband-to-be.
Mine and Tucker’s gazes lock, and I feel my heart flip in my chest. God, he’s so hot. His long, black hair is swept back into a neat man bun, and he’s wearing a black tuxedo, with a cravat and pocket square in the same shade as my dress. A single, pink rose is pinned to his lapel.
His blue-green eyes remind me of the ocean he so adores, and I find myself falling in love with him all over again.
He takes my hands, giving my fingers a gentle squeeze, and then the officiant begins speaking.
Conscious that we have many young guests, we keep the ceremony short. Tucker and I have written vows for each other, which we read abbreviated versions of now, saving the full versions for when we’re alone in the honeymoon suite later.
“By the power vested in me by the state of New York, I now pronounce you husband and wife,” the officiant says, before adding. “You may now kiss the bride.”
Tucker grips my waist and pulls me closer to him. As he inclines his head, I loop my arms around his neck. Our lips meet in a slow, sweet kiss to signify the start of our life as husband and wife.
Together forever.