Epilogue
M id-February had arrived and, with it, Jeremiah and Remy’s wedding day.
Their forty guests had parked a distance away and been transported through the snow by a convoy of horse-drawn sleighs. They’d ended the ride at a small, stone chapel in the woods with just enough seating to fit their group. Max had to admit that Fiona had done a phenomenal job with the planning. The chapel glowed with warmth and white candles. Pine greenery had been spread everywhere. Jeremiah and Remy were at the front, and the pastor was speaking about marriage.
Max sat next to Sloane, his arm stretched behind her back on the top of the pew.
Today, Jeremiah looked like the rich celebrity he was in his tux. Remy had chosen to wear a simple white gown with Eugenie’s tiara. Her blond curls fell loose down her back. Remy enjoyed reading science fiction. And as a bride, she really did resemble an Elven character from Lord of the Rings .
Remy had one bridesmaid, her sister, standing beside her. Max’s attention slid to Jeremiah’s best man, Jude. Max’s oldest friend happened to catch Max’s eye and a pulse of understanding traveled between them. They were both deeply pleased for Jeremiah.
From there, Max’s attention moved to the pew where Felix sat. For a long time, the sight of Felix had stirred animosity in him. It didn’t anymore. He might share some personality traits with this man, but he’d never follow his example.
Next to Felix sat Gemma, wearing the engagement ring Jude had recently given her. Next to Gemma was Fiona, beaming, one arm wrapped around the elbow of her boyfriend, Burke.
A soloist began a song. Max took advantage of it, knowing the sound would mask his whisper. He inclined his head to Sloane’s ear. “I want to marry you.”
“I want to marry you,” she murmured back.
Her statement brought him an intense rush of satisfaction. “Next month?”
“No.”
“Fine. Next week?”
“Maybe early next year.”
She’d continued to live at his garage apartment after Ivy moved home. Which was good, but still not close enough. She was paying employees to teach her established courses in LA and had expanded her course offerings and private lessons throughout the Northeast.
“Early next year is much too far away.” He’d found that if he kissed her in a certain way, she became dazed and agreeable. He’d try kissing her that way later and see if he could convince her to marry him before the year was out. “But you will marry me?”
“You haven’t officially asked me.”
“But if I did officially ask you sometime soon, you’d say yes?”
“I guess you’ll have to wait and see.”
“Sloane,” he growled.
“It’s not proper etiquette to pressure a woman regarding her affection.”
He chuckled. “I’m impatient.”
“I noticed.” Sloane had been receiving a steady diet of his adoration for more than three months. He loved seeing her this way, the way she’d always had the potential to be, so confident and serene. “I do believe I’ll say yes if you officially ask me. But I’m not in a hurry. We have the rest of our lives ahead of us.”
It was true. He woke every morning full of anticipation, itching to see her, to learn what the new day held.
The song ended and Jeremiah and Remy began exchanging vows.
He, Jeremiah, and Jude had come a long way. All three of them had been the sons of scandal, forced to exist beneath a storm cloud of interest and gossip. Max wouldn’t have chosen that path for himself, and he’d guess Jeremiah and Jude wouldn’t have chosen it either. But their character was the better for it now. They’d persevered. They’d chosen to put good into the world and good had found them in return.
Jeremiah and Remy were proclaimed husband and wife. The groom kissed the bride as the audience broke into applause. Music rang out. Holding hands, the couple made their way down the aisle.
Max gave Sloane a quick kiss. “Love you.”
“Love you, too.”
Their gazes held. In her eyes, he saw the promise of a lot of years.
A lot of life.
And a lot of joy.