Epilogue Two
. . .
MAISIE
three months later
“Today's the day. It’s my wedding day, Mom. I found that big, epic love you predicted for me. I found the twin flame to my heart. I don’t know how I’m supposed to walk down the aisle today without you and Dad, but I know you sent Gray in your place to protect me.
My prince guarding my heart, just like you said.
You would have loved him so much. I can picture Lan teasing that you would have loved him more than your own son.
But you’re not here for the laughs, the memories, the big milestones.
I wish so badly I could give you one last hug and tell you how much I love and miss you every day. I miss you so much, it hurts.”
I run my thumb over the letter she would have given me today, reading over her words again.
I was so lost the first time I read them, wondering if that epic love I yearned for was within reach.
If I even wanted it. Oh, how things have changed.
I stand here now, with a heart full of love, excited to spend every day with that love right by my side.
I tuck the letter back in the frame hanging above my desk next to the paper I framed that reads Will you marry me? from the day Grayson proposed, plus a flower petal he framed. He told me it reminded him of me, whatever that means.
We didn’t want to wait a year for some overly flashy wedding. We wanted to be married as soon as possible, surrounded by the people who helped us get here. We settled on a classic intimate wedding right here on the ranch with close family and friends.
“There you are,” Roxy sighs, entering the shack.
“I’m right here," I laugh, drawing her in for a hug.
She looks over at the framed letter. “She would have loved him.”
“I know,” I laugh through a silent sob, blinking the tears back so I don’t ruin my makeup.
“She’s here in spirit. I can feel her everywhere.
She would never miss her little girl's special day.” She pulls a beautiful lavender jade necklace from her pocket.
“This was your mother’s. She wore it on her wedding day right here on the ranch.
She said it matched the Lupines perfectly,” she chuckles, unclasping it. “She would have wanted you to have it.”
I move my hair to the side so she can put it on me. It rests perfectly above the deep cut lace bodice of my wedding dress. “It’s stunning,” I breathe before I pull her in for a hug.
“Nope, don’t go doing that,” she scolds, wiping the single tear from my cheek. “No crying, or you’ll ruin your makeup, and then I’ll start crying.” I huff a laugh, looking over my mother’s letter one last time. Roxy loops her arm in mine. “Let’s go get you married!”
The ceremony goes perfectly, Lan walking me down the aisle. Evie was the most adorable ring bearer—she even had Gray tearing up. She has him wrapped around her little paw now. All the tears were shed, my makeup inevitably ruined. I wouldn’t have had it any other way.
Grayson and I are having our first dance under a blanket of stars, Flightless Bird, American Mouth by Iron & Wine playing. Life couldn’t be more sweet.
“Hi wife,” he rasps, pulling me tight against him.
“Hi husband,” I coo, a dopey smile on my face. “Today was perfect.”
“It was, and so are you. I can’t wait to love you for the rest of my days, Maisie Rae Brooks-Miles.”
I decided to hyphenate my last name so I could keep a little piece of my parents with me. Grayson just smiled and said I would expect nothing less. I couldn’t have found a better man.
I run my palm down his suit, my fingers tangling in the necklace he always wears with an N and an L charm hanging from it, except now, there’s an M joining them. “When did you get that?” I hum.
He beams, spinning us. “I needed all three of my girls right above my heart.” He taps his chest and pulls me in for a kiss. “I love you always…”
“And forever,” I finish.
Three years and nine months later
Life looks a little different now, but I still get butterflies every time I think about how my story turned out. I got the dream house and the family I always wanted, right here on the ranch.
I kick my feet over the edge of the dock, overlooking the creek. “Story, Mommy?” Hadley asks me.
I hum, gripping her tiny hand in mine. “This is the first place I told your daddy about Grandpa and Grandma Brooks. Right where you’re sitting.” I boop her little button nose turning red from the brisk air. “You remind me so much of them.”
Hadley lights up. “Really? They amazing too?” she squeals.
“How did you know?” I laugh along, tickling her into a bear hug. She wiggles and screams below me. A weird pain shoots up my side, and I brace against the pressure.
“Mommy…why dock wet?” She points to the spot under me, and, sure enough, there’s a giant wet spot.
Today's the day, it seems.
Another wave of pain has me gritting my teeth. “Hey baby, can you go get Daddy for me and tell him it's time to meet your little brother?”
Hadley jumps to her feet, a ball of energy about to burst at the seams. “Really?” she squeals, jumping up and down. “Bring Mew and Evie?” Yup, I forced Gray to let us get another cat and name it after a Pokémon, sue me. It was my push present.
“Really, and no, silly,” I respond, kissing her little tummy. I soak up these last moments of her being an only child before the chaos that is Protective Daddy Grayson Miles blows through.
Hadley screams all the way to the house, bringing back a very worried Grayson in her hand. “Is it true?” he asks, his face a little pale. He helps me to my feet and tries to pick me up, but I swat his hand away with a laugh. He’s become extra protective with his new Dad title.
“Let’s go meet our new little angel, Gray.”
Research Notes: and they lived happily ever after.
THE END