EPILOGUE
Two years later…
Ari had no idea where her feet stepped.
With her back erect and eyes staring straight ahead, all Ari knew was that she’d never been surer of anything in her entire life. Soon, she would be Mrs. Cartwright.
She felt giddy with excitement. Spring was by far her favorite season and she personally thought it was the most romantic. After all, what was more romantic than seeing the trees with their brightly colored leaves and the flowers in bloom in this deliciously warm weather? To her, spring held a lot of promise, which made it the most perfect season in which to get married. There were tons of flowers all around: flowers in her hair, on her dress, in the aisle, on the tables and on the wedding cake, of course. Even her freshly picked wildflower bouquet was amazing. What would a spring wedding be like if there weren’t flowers all around?
Yet, everything felt surreal. The music coming from the piano was divine; it felt like she was in a dream. Everyone quieted as she appeared at the archway and stood to stare at her. She took in the large crowd in the bright daylight, the shining white chairs and the stunning decoration of cotton candy pink and the fragrance of flowers that assailed her senses. Val and the girls had really outdone themselves for her. She would have the most beautiful spring wedding ever.
The guests arriving to the ceremony were served with a fresh spring drink, with a flower accessory attached to their glass.
The sun shone brilliantly, the skies had never been so blue and Ari could see the hills just behind. They were at the clearing near the Hope Mountain; it was where Logan had wanted them to get married.
“With the mountain in view, I want you to remember that there’s always hope,” he’d said the night he proposed.
A shrill noise resounded in the air and Ari looked in its direction. There was old Lyle whistling loudly. His bushy brows wagged so comically, she couldn’t help but smile. Andy was beside him and so was Faye. She could see Faye and Khloe looking resplendent in their floral bridesmaid dresses. Amber was a picture of happiness, even as her husband stood protectively beside her, while he held their sleeping toddler in his arms. Even Mr. Green was there, as well as pretty much everybody in the entire town. They were all beaming at her, looking as proud as a parent at their child’s graduation.
Ari felt overwhelmed. It was all too much; she could see the love and support on the faces of everybody. At times like this, she wondered what she’d done to deserve such favor from these people.
“Breathe.”
Ari smiled at Val who was standing beside her. The older woman smiled right back, and together they continued their walk down the aisle, well actually, the petals on a grass aisle. It was simply amazing to feel its softness.
Not even Val had been able to convince Ari to invite her father and stepmother to her wedding. As far as she was concerned, that chapter of her life was closed. And so was her life with Dan. She mentally shook her head. This wasn’t the time or place to even spare a glimmer of a thought on the brute of a man she’d married. But he was tucked away in prison now and by the time he got out, he’d be an old man, pretty much useless to himself and to society, which was a good thing.
A damn good thing.
With an imperceptible shake of her head, she brushed aside her thoughts and closed that other chapter of her life.
Hopefully, for good.
Perhaps, she might open up the page sometime in the future, but all she wanted to do for now was focus on her future with Logan.
Logan.
By default, her eyes found him. He stood beneath another arch of flowers some feet away. Ari knew she wasn’t being biased by thinking he was the handsomest man in all of Texas. A light blue fabric comprised his three-piece suit. It became him, molding to his chest perfectly. She imagined running her hands over those silky, chest hairs later in the day and her breath hitched in her throat. Everett—whom she hope would eventually do what’s best for him and Khloe and ask for her hand in marriage because they truly loved each other—stood beside Logan looking odd and freshly shaven in his new suit. They both stood with the priest waiting for her.
Her man, her soon-to-be husband, was waiting for her.
With each step she took, Ari felt like she headed to her true destiny.
And she knew she was.
It felt like all her life, she’d been getting prepared for this day; the day when she would become Logan’s wife. Suddenly, everybody and everything disappeared. Ari couldn’t even feel Val’s hand on hers as they walked on.
Her eyes were on Logan.
Only Logan.
After today, they were going to move to the Tanner’s lodge and begin their lives there. Ari couldn’t wait to formally open the new orphanage to the public. They already opened up the barn and had their first set of animals in the stables. Faye had wanted to move in with them, but of course, Val had silenced her with a look. Ari knew she was going to miss Val, the girls and everyone else on the ranch but she was consoled by the fact that town wasn’t more than a two-hour drive.
“You’re beautiful,” Logan whispered to her as she took her place by his side,
Ari’s body was suffused with warmth. Everyone who’d seen her in her wedding dress had told her exactly the same thing, but coming from Logan, she truly felt beautiful. In her wedding dress, made with lace and tulle that flared at the hips down to her ankles, she felt like the most beautiful woman in all of Texas. Logan’s eyes swept her from the crown of her hair which fell down against her bare shoulders down to her pastel pink stilettos. She could see the love and appreciation in his eyes. Ari knew that with this man, she would always be the sun that lit up his world.
Everything passed in a blur as the priest began the ceremony. She only came back to reality when the priest pronounced them man and wife.
“You may kiss the bride.”
“Kiss, kiss, kiss,” Everett began to chant and the crowd chanted after him.
“Aww.” Logan smiled, eyes twinkling down at her. “Now, what do we do?”
“We can’t very well say no, can we?” she whispered with a mischievous grin.
Logan’s lips touched hers ever so slowly. The crowd squealed and threw petals at them, but Ari barely heard or felt it all. Her eyes fluttered close as she kissed Logan back, with all the love she felt for him. The noise faded away as his arms came down on her waist. She could feel the hunger, love, desire and every other emotion he felt for her.
In that single kiss, she could see the beginning of all things new.
~***THE END***~