Epilogue
Six months later…
“Do you think we should have gone with the vanilla?” I ask as Allegra helps me with my fake lashes. Note to self: never again. Meanwhile, Dani, Ophelia, and Ashley (yes, that Ashley) are all helping with my stray hairs.
“Vanilla what?” Allegra asks with a furrowed brow. “Quinn, are you sure you want to wear these? They’re difficult and honestly not you.”
“All brides wear fake lashes,” Dani says.
“Not me,” Allegra argues, fighting with the lash.
“That’s because you’re kind of a hippy,” Dani says, and Ophelia looks over at her. “Not that that’s a bad thing.”
“The vanilla cake,” I say. “I picked almond and–”
“I don’t think we have enough time to change your wedding cake flavor,” Allegra says.
“Seeing as how you’re walking down the aisle in like ten minutes.
Quinn, I hate these lashes. As a friend, as a therapist, and as someone who really doesn’t think makeup does most people any favors, please ditch them. ”
“I know,” I say. “I just. I love almond. But not everyone does and–”
“It’s your wedding,” Dani says.
“She’s right,” Ophelia adds. “It’s your wedding.”
And I stop, taking a deep breath as I look in the mirror.
I reach up, peeling off one of the lashes.
Then the other. And Allegra is right. They’re ridiculous.
For me anyways. Then I look at myself. Really look at myself.
My hair up in curly spirals, pinned with diamond-studded clips.
My lips and cheeks a peachy rose. My lacy bra and panties under a white silk robe with the word Bride stitched on the back.
I am a Bride.
And today…is my wedding. Today is my happily ever after.
“You’re right,” I say with a nod. “You’re right about all of it.
The almond cake is perfect because it’s what I want.
And the lashes are not me. Does anyone have any simple mascara?
Waterproof, if possible, because God knows I am going to need it.
Because I am a bride! I am getting married! ” I gush and everyone squeals.
“You are,” Dani says. “And you’re getting married to an absolute stud of a man.”
“He really is hot, isn’t he?” I grin with a laugh.
“And it doesn’t hurt that he’s rich, either,” Dani says with a tongue-in-cheek grin.
As much as I hate to say it, it doesn’t hurt.
Things have changed on a professional front in the last six months.
While the Overholt’s still insist on donating money to We Still Do, Reid has taken over the financial needs of the company.
Not only that, but he actually tries to persuade clients to seek help from We Still Do before lawyering up, so to speak.
It’s a change second only to Darcy that I still can’t believe.
And yet, here we are. Business is booming and clients on both ends are happier than ever.
“Alright…we need to not keep that groom waiting,” Allegra says. Then she smiles at me with sparkling eyes. “It’s dress time.”
I smile back as they pull it off the rack from behind us.
It’s the dress from before. The one I tried on at the shop the day I was picking dresses for Allegra’s renewal.
The one Reid has already seen me in. Is that bad luck?
Maybe. But honestly, there are some wedding traditions I’ve chosen to overlook.
For one, because I know that little details like cake flavors and superstitions aren’t what matter.
Marrying the love of your life is what matters.
And also, I saw the way he looked at me that day.
Whether he wanted to be or not, he was stunned.
And I wouldn’t mind seeing that version of him again.
The girls help me into the dress, zipping it up and pulling the train out. Then they stand behind me, gazing at me in the mirror as I stare at myself. The glittering tule. The stark white bodice. It’s…everything I wanted. And it’s mine. Today, all of this is mine.
“It’s perfect,” Dani says with a sniff.
“It really is,” I smile.
“Are you ready?” Allegra asks. And I nod as butterflies fill my stomach.
“Yes, I am,” I say as we make our way out of the bridal suite.
Before this day, I had a million ideas about where and when I’d get married. I thought about all the elaborate venues, inspired by every wedding I’ve been to, taking pieces of all of them and tucking them away for this day. In the end, I realized something.
The venue, elaborate like the Sistine Chapel, or natural like the Catskills, or intimate like Allegra’s backyard…doesn’t matter.
The food, vegan or ethnic, doesn’t matter.
It doesn’t matter if the Champagne is Dom Perignon or even from France.
The color palette, salmon or lavender or otherwise, doesn’t matter.
All of these details are lovely, tailored to each bride’s idea of what their fairy tale should be in their own heart.
Through their own eyes. But now I see, really see, what matters most.
It’s who is standing at the end of that aisle.
“Well, look at you,” my dad says as I approach him. “You look…wow…” he shakes his head, his eyes filling with tears. “Sorry, Quinny. I told myself I wasn’t going to do this. But you just…you look like your mom.”
With that, my eyes tear up too, and I smile, hugging him.
“I miss her,” I say into his shoulder.
“I do, too. And she would have loved this. All of this,” he says.
“Would she have liked Reid?” I ask and my dad pulls back. I smile while he struggles with the words.
“I hate to say it…but yes. She would have liked him,” he answers.
“Does that mean…you like him?” I ask.
“Don’t push it,” he says, and I laugh. “But you do have my blessing.”
I hug him again, and the music starts to play. My dad holds out his arm, and I take it. And we walk down the aisle, slowly and intentionally. A thousand eyes are locked on me, but my eyes are only on Reid’s.
My dad gives me away.
We say our vows.
We joke.
I cry.
And we kiss.
It’s the first of a million kisses to come. Kisses as his bride. Kisses for good times and bad. Reminders that love really does win. Every single time.
* * *
Check out the first chapters on the next page…