Epilogue
Dana
Seven months later
For the first time in my life, everything came together with the two people I loved most in the world: Brady and Charlie. My wedding day. I stood in the alcove of the church, waiting for the music to start, trying to tamp down my excitement, my heart racing with anticipation. Not fear, not anxiety, no regrets.
I loved Brady with everything I had. The accident had, for me at least, been a blessing in disguise. The truth to come out, all of it. Charlie knew everything, as did Brady’s dad. While both had been naturally upset at first, the incident and the revelations had proved cathartic for Charlie and served as a bridge for Brady and his dad to come together.
I think we all learned valuable lessons from that singular incident. Brady and I realized the depth of our affection for one another, and that the thought of life without Brady seemed empty for me. The accident and my ensuing recovery, as well as loss of the baby had also prompted Charlie to make several positive changes in his life. Over the past months, he had returned to school. He was attending Gamblers Anonymous meetings and making positive strides in battling his inner demons. He had moved out of Eric’s apartment, and with Brady’s help, had found a small apartment in a better area of town, close to the university.
Brady’s dad had come to visit me in the hospital, without Brady’s knowledge, to personally apologize to me for his role in my accident. I saw with my own eyes his genuine regret and pain when he told me he would never forgive himself for being involved in any way in the accident that had taken my baby’s life.
He gave his blessing to our relationship, and over the past few months, we had grown closer. He became the father I never had. He and Brady were mending their relationship, and Clint was so pleased with Brady’s continued performance at work that he had promoted Brady to CFO of one of the Shaw’s largest holdings just last month.
As for myself, I was entering my final year of nursing school and had Brady’s full support. A month after the accident, he had come home with surprise. He told me he had sold the penthouse suite and then had driven me into a residential neighborhood northeast of downtown Dallas. He pulled up in front of a moderately-sized ranch dwelling and grinning, turned to me as he dangled the key on the keychain in front of me.
“Welcome home, Dana.”
I couldn’t help it. I had burst into tears right then and there. It was everything I had ever dreamed of as a little girl. It even had a waist-high picket fence surrounding the property.
I heard the organ in the church nave begin to play the traditional wedding march, and I glanced down at myself one more time to make sure my dress was just perfect.
“You’re absolutely gorgeous,” Cassie said, smiling, her own lavender gown beautifully draping her perfect figure.
As my maid of honor, she stood in front of me, giving me a top-to-toe nod of approval. I smiled warmly at her. She had helped me choose my wedding gown—a close-fitted V-neck, sweetheart neckline bodice with sheer shoulder straps flowing into a gentle ballgown skirt with a chapel train.
“I’m ready,” I said, glancing at my brother standing beside me, so very handsome in his tux. He grinned and offered me his elbow. He was giving me away, and I wouldn’t have had it any other way.
The doors opened, the music louder as Cassie led the way down the aisle. The moment I passed over the threshold, I only had eyes for Brady, standing so tall and proud at the altar. His father stood next to him as his best man. Everyone stood, but the faces, the gowns, the suits all passed in a blur as I only had eyes for Brady.
The ceremony was simple and before I knew it, we were announced as man and wife. The groom had kissed the bride, and we turned to the audience, both of us beaming with happiness. We quickly made our way hand-in-hand down the aisle as well-wishers and guests followed.
The reception was held at the Shaw estate. After the wedding, I changed into my reception gown, the purchase insisted upon by Cassie, also white, with a fitted bodice and Basque waistline, spaghetti straps, and soft knitted skirt. I felt like a Greek goddess in that gown, and the way Brady looked at me made my blood surge with anticipation to leave for our honeymoon.
I wasn’t sure where we were going, but Brady told me I would love it, and I believed him. At the reception, I received well wishes by so many guests and friends of the Shaw family I couldn’t possibly keep track of them all. Flutes of champagne, hors d’oeuvres, and a gorgeous wedding cake filled a table against the far wall of the room, where guests happily mingled.
I was pleased to see Charlie conversing with Clint, who had sort of taken him under his wing, and I had no doubt that Brady might have had something to do with that. The two got along well, and for the first time in many years, my little brother seemed truly happy.
“Can I sneak you away for a few minutes?”
I turned and smiled at Brady with a grateful nod. We quickly left the room where everyone was having such a good time, so much so that I don’t think anybody noticed that we had slipped away and dashed up the stairs to Brady’s former bedroom. Our suitcases were packed, and all I needed to do before we left for the airport was to change out of this gown and into my honeymoon outfit, another one that Cassie had insisted upon. Much more casual and appropriate for what Brady only hinted as a several-hour-long plane trip.
The moment we reached his bedroom, he closed the door and swept me into his arms, his lips meeting mine in a passionate kiss, which I returned just as vigorously. Our tongues played tag as my arms wrapped around his waist and his around my shoulders. I reveled in his strength and his love.
He suddenly broke off the kiss, grinning down at me with a lifted eyebrow. “Would you ever have envisioned this a year ago?”
I laughed. “No, but it all turned out rather nicely, didn’t it?”
“It did,” he nodded. “You want to know where we’re going on our honeymoon?”
“I do, but I have a feeling you’re not going to tell me, are you?”
He chuckled and shook his head. “Not just yet. When we get on the plane. You okay with that?”
“I am,” I said, and then turned toward my suitcase on the bed. “I have a surprise for you too.”
I sat down on the bed and unzipped the pocket on the outside of the suitcase, retrieving an eight-by-ten white envelope. I patted the bed beside me and he sat down, eyebrows lifted in question.
“What is it?”
I opened the clasp on the envelope and extracted a photographic image. “It’s a wedding present for you,” I whispered. “A very special wedding present.”
Brady looked at me, smiling with curiosity, and then took the photograph. He stared at it for several moments. I watched his expression carefully and knew the instant that he realized what it was. I’d had it taken after I guessed and went for a checkup, where it was confirmed that I was approximately twelve weeks pregnant.
The ultrasound showed an image of two sacs. Two babies. Brady stared at it for several moments, then turned to me with a look of wonder.
“Twins?”
I nodded, touched by the emotion on his face.
“We’re going to have twins?”
His excitement was catching and as he swept me into his arms, nuzzling his face in my neck as he hugged me, we both laughed. I held him close, so happy I could hardly contain my joy.
Yes, everything was right with the world.
So right.