Anna

 

4 years later…

 

“You look beautiful,” I say to Esme, our eyes meeting in the reflection of the hotel room mirror.

“I’m nearly sixty-five years old and I have butterflies, can you believe it?” she snorts.

“Of course you do, you’re getting married,” Elle calls out from the bathroom. “It’s natural.”

Today is the day that our Esme begins her new life with Gus. Personally, I can’t believe they waited this long, but finally the day has come. I do up the last pearl button on the back of her cream coloured dress while Esme runs her palms down the front of the A-line the skirt. Her grey hair is pulled back in a neat chignon, her usually chunky jewelry replace with a simple gold necklace and matching bracelet.

“You really are glowing,” Dru says, as she steps into her green pumps.

My sisters and I are serving as bridesmaids, each wearing a different coloured dress made by yours truly. Dru is in green, Elle is in blue and I’m in pink. Dru’s twins and Elle’s little girl Sadie are in matching pale yellow dresses, their outfits topped off with flower crowns and fairy wings. We currently have them occupied with a large bowl of goldfish crackers and an episode of Dora the Explorer.

There’s a knock at the door, which Elle answers while Dru fixes her hair and I take a seat on the edge of the bed, my hand instantly moving to my nine-month pregnant belly.

I look up just as Sebastian walks into the room, our two year old son, Andrew, sitting on top of his shoulders. He has his father’s mischievous grin as well as his dirty blond hair. He’s named after my brother and I like to think that sometimes I see bits and pieces of him sprinkled in too.

“Looking good ladies,” Sebastian says with a whistle.

“Oh you,” Esme replies with a grin. “Give me that handsome boy and go help your wife put her shoes on.”

“Anything for you,” he says with a wink.

“Gram!” Andrew squeals as Esme takes him in her arms and hands him a bright red lollipop.

“Damn babe, you’re looking good,” Sebastian says, sitting down in the chair in front of me. He takes one of my feet in his hands and rubs the arch while I moan out loud.

“God, that feels good,” I say. “I’m so big.”

He sets my foot down and leans forward. “You’re beautiful, and your tits looks fantastic.”

“Pervert,” I mutter with a smile.

“Only for you,” he says.

He straps my heels on and helps me up, and soon we’re all making our way downstairs. I spot Jay and Blake near the elevators, no doubt talking business. Darius looks annoyed as the little girls gather around him, giggling.

As we walk to the small reception room where the ceremony is being held, it’s hard to believe that four years have gone by. Shortly after Barron passed away, Sebastian and I got married in a small outdoor ceremony in the city centre park. Esme walked me down the aisle and gave me away while Dru and Elle stood beside me at the alter. Afterwards, we headed over to Allessia’s and celebrated with pasta and wine. I’m still teaching at Walton Elementary and Sebastian continues to sell his work. We moved to the suburbs when I was pregnant with Andrew and Sebastian converted our garage into a studio so that he can work from home.

I’m still in touch with Jack. He’s living about two hours away, closer to his daughter Lynn and her family. It was a rough road, but they’ve been working at repairing their relationship. He has a one-bedroom apartment and a part-time job at an auto body shop.

Jay and Darius are a steady presence in our lives and have been for the last several years. Once McKenna squeezed every dime she could out of Jay, she finally agreed to let him have full custody. She’s living in Europe now and doesn’t often bother with Darius aside from the odd phone call. As a mother myself, I’ll never understand how she could just walk away from her child. But Darius is thriving regardless and is surrounded by people who love him. Esme and Gus have even taken it upon themselves to act as his surrogate grandparents; they love to spend time with him and treat him as if he were blood.

Jay’s been dating now and then but insists he isn’t looking for anything serious. He never did take over for Barron at Kent Enterprises, instead choosing to cut back his own hours and promote someone else for the position of CEO.  

We pause outside the reception room, sending the men in first to let everyone know we’re ready. Most of the room is filled with kids from Linden House where Esme still faithfully volunteers, as well as employees from The Nightingale. When I peek through the door, I give the signal to start the music and as it begins to play I feel a swift kick in my belly, courtesy of our daughter. When we found out we were going to have a girl, I told Sebastian I wanted to name her Isabelle, for his mother.

Elle sends the little girls and Andrew down the aisle first, following close behind to make sure they stay on track. Dru kisses Esme loudly on the cheek before turning and continuing the line.

I take Esme’s hand in mine and squeeze it gently. “Are you ready?”

“Absolutely dear,” she says.

We walk hand in hand down the aisle toward a blushing Gus who tucks Esme into his side the minute he can reach her. They keep their vows short and sweet, both my sisters and I unable to hide our tears as our mother seals her happily ever after with a kiss.

While some couples are still dancing, the rest of the crowd begins to thin. The little ones have already gone upstairs with the sitter and my eyes sweep the room, looking for my husband.

A small plate with a large slab of chocolate cake appears in front of me from behind and when I turn around, there he is.

“Are you trying to seduce me?” I ask.

“Always,” he says, taking a fork and spearing a large bite. He holds it up to my lips and as soon as the frosting hits my tongue I can’t help but let out a moan.

“Dammit freckles,” he says. “Are you trying to kill me?”

“Aw, come here,” I say, leaning in and pressing my lips to his. “Is that better?”

“It’s a start,” he says. “Let’s sneak into the coat check and make out.”

“What’s in it for me?” I ask, removing the fork from his hand and taking another large bite.

He leans in and tucks some loose hair behind my ear before bringing his lips close. “Bring the cake, I’ll lick the frosting off your body,” he says.

“Mm, is this the part where I wake up and all of this is a dream?” I ask with a grin.

“No, baby,” he says. “This is the part where we keep living happily ever after.”

And we do.

 

The End