Epilogue #2
There’s not much I can say to that, except Candice and I were always content with how things were.
All we cared about was being together, and being great parents to our daughter.
But things changed when we found out Candice was pregnant with our son.
I can’t even put it into words, but something shifted inside me that day, and I knew then and there I wanted more.
We did everything arse-about with Maddie, and this was our chance to do it right.
When I dropped Candice back at work that morning, I headed straight to the jeweller to buy her an engagement ring. That night, the three of us went out to dinner to celebrate the news about the baby. Maddie was over the moon that she was going to get a little brother or sister.
Candice had no idea what I had planned, so I wasn’t sure how she would react. I was a bundle of nerves when I got down on one knee and proposed to her in front of the entire restaurant. To my relief she didn’t hesitate with her answer, launching herself into my arms with a very confident yes .
“I always knew you were a bit slow,” Carter retorts, punching me in the arm.
“Fuck off,” I reply rubbing my hand over my bicep. I’d punch him back, but he’s driving. “My family means everything to me.”
“Mine too,” he says, smiling. “I don’t know where I’d be without them.”
I chuckle as I shake my head. “Would you listen to us two, we sound like chicks. When did we become such pussies?”
“Speak for yourself, arsehole.”
After Carter and I check in at the Harbour View Hotel in North Sydney, we take our bags to our room. We chose to stay here because it’s close to Luna Park.
After much debate, Candice and I decided on a theme park wedding instead of the conventional church one.
Our trip to Luna Park for Maddie’s fifth birthday was the first time the three of us went out together, officially as a family, so it made perfect sense for us to get married there.
We may not have realised it at the time, but that day planted a seed in us both: it reminded us of the importance of family and togetherness.
Every major event that we spent together with Maddie after that day only helped to mend what had been broken for so long.
I can’t help but smile when I think about how wonderful my life is now. My only regret is that we waited so long to be together. We let our minds rule, even though our hearts knew what they wanted from day one.
Carter and I take a seat at the bar on the ground floor of our hotel.
When the bartender approaches us, I order two beers, the good imported shit.
We have plenty to celebrate. It’s been a while since we’ve had a quiet drink together, and I’m looking forward to spending the evening unwinding, in preparation for one of the most important days of my life—the day I say I do to the only girl who’s ever held my heart. My soulmate.
“We found out last week that the baby’s a boy,” I say to Carter after taking a chug of my beer.
“A son, hey?” He lifts his bottle, clinking it with mine. His smile tells me he’s genuinely happy about my news. “Congratulations. My boys can be terrors, but they’re great fun.”
He’s a fantastic dad. It just proves you don’t necessarily need a positive male role model in your life to be a good father. I’m proof of that as well. I strive to be nothing like that cocksucker who raised me.
“Candice and I were talking,” I say, picking at the label on my beer bottle. “We want to name him Carter if that’s all right with you.”
“Really?” His face lights up. “You don’t have to do that, but I’d be honoured if you do.”
“I know you named Jaxson after me, but that’s not why I’m doing this. You mean a lot to me.” I pause for a moment because I’ve never been great at expressing sappy shit. “You’re like the brother I always wanted.”
Carter goes quiet as his eyes move down to the bottle in his hand. “Same,” he mumbles, his voice slightly cracking.
“You’re not getting all emotional on me, are you?” I say, punching him in the arm.
“Fuck off,” he grumbles. “My sinuses are playing up.”
I laugh when he wipes his eyes with the back of his hand.
“Well, I’m glad I didn’t tell you I loved you or anything. You’d probably be sobbing into your beer right now.”
“Whatever, cock, I’m not a pussy.”
We both laugh briefly before an awkward silence falls over us.
He clears his throat before saying, “If you did tell me, you loved me, I’d probably say I feel the same way about you.”
My head quickly darts around the bar in a slight panic. I hope nobody can hear what we’re saying. The fact that we’re sharing a room tonight only makes our conversation sound even dodgier.
“Yeah, well, lucky I didn’t say that then.”
He chuckles smugly. “Who are you trying to kid? You love me, Albright.”
“Less talking and more drinking,” I mutter as I sit up straighter in my seat. “I already feel like I’ve lost a piece of my manhood this afternoon.”
Carter barks out a laugh. “I hear ya, man. I think we’ve broken every damn man code there is.”
“Candice and Indiana have a lot to answer for,” I say, shaking my head.
“They’ve made us soft.”
“Speak for yourself, arsehole.”
Carter raises his beer. “To brotherhood.”
I smile and I clink my bottle with his. “To brotherhood.”
CANDICE
Butterflies churn in my stomach as Mum zips up my wedding gown.
I can’t believe it’s finally happening. Today I become Mrs Jaxson Albright.
I feel like I’ve waited an eternity for this day.
Even though I’ve been content with Jax and I just living together, in my heart I’ve always yearned to become his wife.
I’ve learnt over the years that life isn’t always the fairy tale we wish for, and not everyone gets a happy ending.
I’m one of the lucky ones though. The path Jax and I took to get to where we are was bumpy, to say the least, but I not only got my Prince Charming, I got the husband too. That’s all that matters.
“Look at you,” Mum says as she turns me to face her and pulls me into her arms. “I can’t believe my baby is getting married today.”
“I’m not a baby anymore, Mum.”
“You’ll always be my baby,” she says, drawing back and running her hand affectionately down the side of my face.
When I notice the tears brimming in her eyes, I have to look away. If I don’t, she’s going to make me cry as well, and it’ll ruin my makeup.
“I know you and Jax have been living together for years now, but believe me when I say that being married will make a difference.”
“I know. I can’t wait,” I reply. “He says it’s just a piece of paper, but to me, it’s so much more. It’s a dream come true.”
When my own eyes cloud with tears, she hugs me tighter. “A wise person once told me good things come to those who wait.”
I let out a small laugh as I wipe a stray tear from my cheek. I said those exact words to her before she married Brendan.
Our moment is broken when Maddie comes bounding into the room. “Look how cute Snoopy looks, Mum,” she says with excitement in her voice. “Poppy helped me put his bowtie on.”
I take a few seconds to admire my beautiful girl.
She’s growing up before my eyes and it scares me to think that not too far in the future, I’ll be helping her prepare for her own wedding day.
I’m not sure how Jax will cope with that.
He almost hyperventilates if I mention the possibility of Maddie dating one day.
“Here’s my three favourite girls,” my dad says as he enters the room. I adore this man so much. Not only for the way he treats my mum, but for loving Maddie and me like we’re his flesh and blood. “The limo has just arrived downstairs.”
A smile explodes on Mum’s face as she looks at him.
She does that a lot these days. Married life certainly agrees with her.
She and Dad are going to look after Maddie while Jax whisks me away for a week-long romantic honeymoon at the Four Seasons Resort at Bora Bora.
We’re staying in a water bungalow. We were going to wait until after the baby was born, but we knew it would probably never happen if we did.
“You ready?” Mum asks.
“Yes,” I answer with a smile as I run my hand over my stomach. I’m so ready I think my heart may burst.
“Come help me carry the bouquets to the car, Maddie,” Mum says as she leaves the room, giving me a moment alone with Dad.
“You look beautiful, sweetheart,” he says as he closes the distance between us.
“Thanks, Dad.” Saying that will never get old.
“I’m honoured that you asked me to give you away today. You have no idea what it means to me.” Tears fill my eyes when I hear his voice crack.
“I’m honoured that you accepted. There’s nobody else I’d rather walk me down the aisle.”
No more words are exchanged as he pulls me into his arms. I savour this feeling. Growing up with Sophia was always enough, but I’m so blessed I now have him as well.
“I love you,” I whisper.
“I love you too, sweetheart.”
JAX
“Do your parents know you’re getting married today?” Carter asks as we arrive at Luna Park.
Maybe it’s the big kid inside me, but I fucking love that we’re getting married here.
It wasn’t cheap to hire out the entire park for the morning, but you can’t put a price on what today means to Candice and me.
After we tie the knot, we’re going to change clothes to let loose and have fun.
We have the rides to ourselves until midday before the park opens to the public.
The luxury boat we hired for our reception will collect us at Milson’s Point Wharf where we’ll spend the rest of the day cruising around Sydney Harbour.
“Nope. They wouldn’t give a shit anyway.” I didn’t even bother asking them. I knew they wouldn’t come, and there was no way I was going to set myself up for another rejection. It kind of sucks that I don’t have any of my family here, but I have Carter. He’s family .
“How’s all that shit going with your brother?”
I shrug. “No idea. I don’t have anything to do with them.”