Epilogue

~ Six months later ~

The door of Ingrid's childhood bedroom at her parents' house opened, and Clara poked her head inside. "Are you ready for your mom?"

Ingrid sucked in her stomach and ran her hand down the short, lace and satin ivory dress hugging her body. She looked at her bare legs to her four-inch heels. "Yes."

At her mom's gasp, Ingrid turned around and clasped her hands in front of her. Together with her mom, she'd ordered the dress and shoes online two weeks ago hoping for the best. Glen hadn't given her that much prep time from engagement to wedding.

"What do you think?" Ingrid turned in a circle, stopping when she faced her mom again.

"Oh, honey. It fits you perfectly." Her mom walked over and trailed her hand over Ingrid's hip. "It's beautiful. You're beautiful."

She fingered the hair at her neck. "You were right. The long neckline looks good with short hair."

After growing out her crew cut, she'd had the hairdresser layer and cut her ragamuffin mop into a spunky and edgy style that softened her face and showcased her eyes earlier that morning. Glen had given her four hours alone to get ready for the wedding. She'd accomplished a lot with the help of her mom, Clara, and Gracie. Ingrid sighed happily. Glen only lasted three hours before he wanted to see her. He'd made Wayne call Clara and send the message through that Ingrid was supposed to hurry the hell up. He wanted to get married.

Her mom stepped over to the bed and patted the mattress. "Come here."

Ingrid sat down. "Is everything okay?"

"On my daughter's wedding day? Absolutely." Her mother smiled. "How could it not be when I know Glen is going to take wonderful care of my daughter."

"He really will." She pointed her toes admiring her heels. "I don't know if I've ever been this happy. He's more than I ever hoped for in a husband."

"You love him," whispered her mom.

She nodded. "When I was little, before dad's accident, I use to watch you and Dad. I thought I wanted to marry a man who would come home after work and kiss me until I laughed. Dad was always doing that to you, and I thought that was what marriage was all about, but..."

"But?"

She looked at her mom. "It wasn't the kisses or the touches that I wanted. It was the connection to another person that nothing could sever. An accident never weakened your marriage to dad. Either did him becoming paralyzed and eventually losing the ability to touch, speak, or move. I can see dad's love in his eyes when he looks at you. It's the same way with Glen. I just know our love is the kind that will survive anything life throws at us."

Her mom sniffed and nodded. "I love you."

"I love you, too." Ingrid blew out her breath. "I guess it's time."

Her mom stood and held out her hand. "Today is the first day of the rest of your life with the man you love at your side."

"Yes." She walked to the door.

Taking a deep breath, she walked out to the hallway. She hesitated. The soft hiss of the oxygen machine her dad wore constantly now hummed.

It'd been Glen's idea to hire a minister to come to the house to marry them. He wanted her dad to be there when his only daughter married. She jumped on the idea. The simpler, the better.

She nixed the customary wedding march because her father would not be able to walk her down the aisle. She also refused to participate in the something old, something borrowed, something blue tradition. All she wanted to do was marry Glen.

Her mom slipped around her, smiled, and walked to the bedroom ahead of her. Ingrid straightened her back, looked forward, and walked down the hallway. At the open door, she stopped. Her dad sat in his wheelchair. She swallowed, holding back the tears, and curtsied with a grin for him. For her dad only looked at her.

"It's not too late to change your mind," said her dad in her imagination.

"I won't. I love him," she'd return.

"Then, I'll give my daughter away." Her dad would lean down and whisper in her ear. "And, if he ever hurts you. I will be there to save you and bring you home again."

"I know you will, daddy," she'd whisper back.

She swiped her cheek free of the tear that'd escaped, exhaled softly, and gazed at the others in the room. Her stomach warmed. Wayne, Chuck, and Thad stood beside each other wearing their Notus Motorcycle Club vests. Clara and Gracie stood together smiling identically at her from the other side of the minister.

Pauly stood behind her father's wheelchair nodding in approval. He'd turned out not only to be a fair and dedicated boss but a wonderful friend to her. She'd never met anyone who could understand her questions or test her patience with philosophy the way Pauly did on more than a few occasions.

Unable to hold back any longer, she gazed at Glen and found him studying her. Her breath caught in her chest and her face warmed with a flush from the way he looked at her. That look that needed no kisses, no touches, no words.

He looked extra gorgeous in the white dress shirt he'd bought specially for the wedding, his jeans, and his MC vest. Her toes curled in her heels. The beard he'd stopped shaving since he'd met her was trimmed and let her catch a glimpse of the small muscle twitch in his upper lip, and she smiled. He'd been drawn to holding a toothpick in his mouth lately, but for today, he'd gone without.

The minister moved forward and stood beside Glen. "Shall we begin?"

"Yes," said Glen before Ingrid could answer.

She laughed. There was no stopping him and she loved that about him.

Joining Glen in front of the minister, the love and protection surrounding her overrode the standard wedding speech about better or worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health. The truth of the matter, she never put much trust in a piece of paper or pretty words. She knew about love. It'd come before falling in love with all its ups and downs.

"Do you, Ingrid Peterson, take Glen to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, until death do you part?" said the minister.

She reached up and trailed her finger across Glen's lip. "I do."

The minister read from his notebook. "Will you, Glen Steele, take Ingrid as your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to—"

"Yeah. I do." Glen's gaze intensified. "I do."

Everyone in the room laughed softly. Glen cupped her face, turned to the minister, and said, "Let's lock this down."

"I now pronounce you man and wife." The minister smiled. "You may kiss your wife."

Glen leaned in and pressed his lips against hers in the lightest of touches. Her stomach quivered and her mouth curved knowing what he wanted.

He settled back on her mouth and gave her a short kiss on her bottom lip and pulled back. She raised to her toes and copied him.

Then, he kissed her. He kissed her the way two people who loved each other kissed.

Clapping and cheers broke them apart. She held on to him and laughed, filled full of the day, the people around them, the love they shared.

"I love you," she said.

"Love you more, Blue." He put his arm around her. "Let's get out of here."

She kissed him again. "Let me thank everyone first."

The minister congratulated her. She shook his hand and excused him to attend another wedding he had scheduled across town. Clara and Gracie flanked her sides, squeezing her in a hug.

"That was beautiful," said Clara.

Gracie nodded. "It was perfect, and now you have the honeymoon."

"Only one night." She smiled, knowing she was the luckiest woman. "We'll be ready to ride out tomorrow with everyone."

The Notus members had three days off from work and no active missing person case to work on. As a club, they'd decided to ride up north of Seattle and check to see if they could locate Rich. The detective Notus hired had provided a photo, and all the members agreed, it was their missing MC brother.

"You're still coming with us, right?" Ingrid held on to Gracie's hand.

"Apparently." Gracie shrugged. "Though who knows with Chuck. He could decide to take one of his women instead. If he does, I'll stay home. I have things to do and could use the extra time."

"He won't change his mind." Ingrid glanced around for Chuck, but he must've left her parents' bedroom. "I better go talk to the men before they disappear."

She hugged Wayne and Thad. "Thank you so much for being here with us."

"Not a problem." Wayne reached out and tagged Clara, bringing his woman to his side. "I think we're all going to roll out, get some rest before we hit the road in the morning."

Thad kissed her cheek. "Congratulations, Mrs. Steele."

Mrs. Steele. God, she loved that.

She stepped away to talk to Pauly and found Glen in front of her dad, leaning over, and talking to him.

As she approached, Glen straightened and raised his eyes. "Ready?"

"Almost." She reached out for Pauly's hand and squeezed. "I'm glad you could be here."

"Wouldn't have missed it." Pauly winked. "You're going to have a lifetime of happiness together."

Ingrid leaned down and kissed her dad's cheek, avoiding the tubing running to his nose for the oxygen. "It's official, Dad. I'm now your married daughter."

Her dad's gaze looked straight into her eyes. He'd lost any ability to express himself years ago, but she knew what he'd say if he could. That's all that mattered.

"I'll be back to see you and Mom in a few days." She kissed her dad again. "I love you."

Glen took her hand and led her to the door of the bedroom. Her mom hugged her. "Congratulations, baby. I'm so happy for you. You're going to have a happy life together."

"Thank you, and thank you for letting us get married here. I'll call you tomorrow when we get to Seattle and let you know we arrived safely." She blew an air kiss, straightened, and walked down the hallway and out of the house with her husband.

Stopping beside the Harley, she laughed leaning into Glen. There were beer cans tied to the motorcycle and streamers off the handlebar. A 'Just Married' sign covered the license plate.

She glanced around and found Chuck sitting on his motorcycle at the curb. He gave her a two-finger salute. There was no doubt that the Romeo of the club was the one responsible for the decorated sendoff.

Glen fastened her helmet on her head and then climbed onto the bike. "Get on, Blue."

She hitched up her wedding dress, got on behind him, and plastered herself to his back. She looked forward to tonight, tomorrow, next week because Glen was in her life. And, she'd loved him from the first day they met.