Birdie’s Epilogue
Birdie’s Epilogue
THREE MONTHS LATER
I woke up this morning in my childhood bedroom for the last time.
My mom brought me coffee and breakfast in bed.
We stared at the white dress hanging in the corner.
We reminisced and shed some tears too. The happy kind.
The kind you cry when you realize how good life is in that very moment.
The kind you cry when you’re entering a new season, one you’ve been anticipating for your whole life.
We turned the winery into the dreamiest looking wedding space. Greenery, candles, and thick linen table cloths draped and placed romantically. Everyone we know and love, gathered together to celebrate us.
My dad walked me down the aisle and gave me away.
Beside Dawsen stood his father, one of my favorite people. Beside me—Casey. She straightened my veil, held my bouquet and made sure everything about the day was stress free and perfect.
Dawsen and I both wanted something intimate. Something that just felt like home. A family dinner with everyone we love.
We danced, we drank, we ate cake, and we celebrated life. Ours. The one we chose together.
River announced last call on all alcohol just a bit ago and people started trickling out shortly after. My feet are sore, and my heart is happy.
I take a seat in one of the booths. Casey and River are sitting at the table over, finishing what’s left in their cocktail glasses.
I reach down to unbuckle my hot pink heels. I pull them off my feet and let them drop with a heavy thud on the hardwood floors of the winery.
Dawsen is at the door with my parents and his dad saying his goodbyes.
My parents holler from across the winery, “Bye, baby! We’ll see you later!”
I blow them a kiss and wave them off.
Dawsen let’s them out, and locks up the doors behind them then strides over to us at the booth. He leans down and plants a sweet kiss to my forehead.
“Thanks for everything, guys. You guys were incredible today.” Dawsen thanks our best friends.
“We‘ll leave y’all to it.” River says, as he nods and tips his hat to us.
“Unfortunately, I agreed to drive with your brother here, so I’m heading out with him.” Casey says reluctantly as she leans down to give me a hug.
I smile and offer her a sarcastic, “good luck with that one.”
River and Casey head out the back door. Once we hear it click shut, we feel the silence fall over the room.
Dawsen places one hand on each side of me, leaning down to press a kiss to my lips.
“Come to bed with me, Birdie Jones?” His eyes dark and intense.
“Yes please.” I say, fluttering my lashes at him, and I feel heat pool between my thighs almost immediately.
Dawsen scoops me up into his arms, my legs dangling over his forearm, and my arms wrapped around his muscular shoulders.
He walks me towards the steps that lead up to our loft. Our home. He takes one step at a time, making it look easy.
He manages to open the door in one swift motion, and then uses his foot to kick it closed. Once we’re inside, the whole loft is covered in rose petals, votive candles line every surface, and there’s a faint hum of soft music coming out of the surround sound system.
“Dawsen. This is so beautiful.” I can’t help the tears welling up in my eyes.
Every single person who ever made me feel like I had less value for waiting for this moment—it was all worth it. Because nothing has ever felt like this.
Dawsen sets me down on the edge of our bed. He gets down on his knees, and takes one of my feet into his hands and he begins rubbing.
“Thank you, Birdie. For saving this for me.”
The tears are coming down a little harder now. I didn’t expect to cry, and it feels like I should be embarrassed, but I’m not. With him it’s different.
“What are you doing?” I try to break the tears by giggling at the fact that he’s on his knees rubbing my sore feet.
“I plan to make you feel the best you’ve ever felt. In every way.”
“Wow, you’re such a gentleman.” I say, teasing him.
“You won’t be saying that for much longer, baby.” He says with a wink.