Epilogue
For security purposes, the ceremony was very small. Tim and Raven joined hands in a tiny church way out in the country. Sheik Zahir bin Aristi of Sidrina walked her down the aisle and Raven beamed at Matteo, Levi, and Sean as they stood by Tim’s side, acting as groomsmen. Clarissa, Kennedi, and Bailey were already standing at the front, dressed in soft yellow gowns and Bailey’s newborn infant was being supervised by a two year old Declan with a bodyguard right next to him.
Raven stood in front of Tim, wondering how all of this had come about. But when the officiant said, “Do you take…” Raven stopped wondering and smiled. “I do,” she whispered, emotions causing her voice to crack.
When it was Tim’s turn, he was much more eloquent and voiced a very confident, “I do,” when the question was put to him.
And then it was over! The tiny church, which had been built before the Civil War and was decked out with flowers, echoed with the cheers and applause as Raven and Tim sealed their vows with a kiss.
It was Declan who stood up and glared at everyone, his eyebrows drawn down in a perfect imitation of his father’s scowl. “Shhh!” he ordered everyone, his tiny finger covering his mouth. “Brynn is still sleeping!”
The crowd immediately quieted and everyone offered softly spoken congratulations.
Sean chuckled and walked over to his son, lifting him into his arms. Immediately, Declan wrapped one arm around his father’s shoulder while still looking down at the sleeping infant.
“You did a good job, my boy!” Sean told his son, his Irish accent stronger as pride swelled within the man.
Declan turned, placing chubby hands on each side of his father’s face. “Pa, you’re going to wake up Brynn!” he admonished in a harsh whisper.
Everyone laughed, but Matteo walked over and lifted the infant carrier. “I think she’ll be okay if we take her into the party, don’t you think?”
Declan looked down at the still-sleeping infant, but the allure of a party, and a promised piece of cake, was a dilemma that the toddler struggled with. In the end, cake won out and he nodded. “Yes!”
Tim and Raven held back as the rest of the wedding party and guests laughingly moved out of the small church. The reception was being held in the “manor house” that had also been built before the Civil War. But the house and reception weren’t on either person’s mind as Raven turned to beam up at her new husband. She patted her slightly swelling belly. “Are you ready for that?” she asked, leaning her head against Tim’s shoulder.
“I don’t think so,” he replied honestly, looking down at his wife’s dreamy expression. “But with you by my side, I know that I’m going to experience new emotions every day, and I’m going to love every moment of it.”
She grinned up at him, all the love she felt shining through in her eyes. “I love you,” she whispered, still standing amidst the bevy of flowers.
“I love you too,” he told her, then kissed her, still standing at the alter as they silently pledged their love to one another all over again.
A message from Elizabeth:
Ladies – the idea of a matchmaker seems a bit cliché, but hopefully, I’ve created a new twist on the profession. How did I do? Was this story okay? I struggled to edit this one because I was too eager to get to the next scene.
So how’d I do? Would you mind taking a few seconds to leave a review for me? Here’s a QUICK LINK to the review page – and I thank you!
Elizabeth
Keep scrolling for a sneak peek at the next book in The Billionaires Club series titled “His Unexpected Heir”!