Epilogue
Three months later, County Waterford, Ireland
Regan sat at the vanity in the bride’s room of the two hundred-year-old stone church. This church on the outskirts of Waterford had been attended by Fáelán’s family for generations. She stared into the mirror while her mother placed her wedding veil upon her head. Turning her head left and right, she checked to see that it was straight. “Perfect, Mom. Thanks.”
Her mother stepped back, her eyes growing overly bright. “Beautiful. You positively glow, Regan, with happiness and from pregnancy.” She sniffed and dabbed at the corners of her eyes. “I can’t believe you’re going to live an ocean away. I’ll hardly ever get the chance to see you, my new son-in-law or my first grandchild.”
Regan’s eyes misted too. “We’ll visit often, and with the Ahearns moving into a cottage in town, we’ll have room enough for you and the entire family to visit whenever you want. In fact, I expect all of you to visit when Baby O’Boyle arrives.”
Jim and Kathryn’s decision to buy a home of their own had come as a shock to Fáelán. Her poor Fiann had moped for days. Now that he was finally free to live his life, he had a need to surround himself with his family. Boann came and went as she pleased. All she had to do to fit in was to dress in modern clothing and dim the brilliance of her aqua eyes. Speaking of her soon-to-be stepdaughter . . . “What’s taking Boann so long?” She’d sent her off to make sure everything was going smoothly, and that they’d begin on time. A frisson of excitement shot through her, and she glanced at her engagement ring, an emerald-cut diamond set on a band of gold etched with Celtic knots. Fáelán had placed it on her finger a week after his return.
“She only left a minute ago.” Meredith met her eyes in the mirror. “I’m sure she’ll be back with Dad in tow any minute. You look absolutely gorgeous, Rae.”
Regan grinned. “So do you and Grayce.” Meredith, Grayce and Boann were her attendants, while Fáelán had Jim and two other of his nephews to stand with him.
Grayce turned and primped in front of the full-length mirror. The attendants wore elegant navy-blue knee-length, off-the-shoulder silk crepe dresses, while Regan’s wedding gown was similar in style and fabric, only full length. Her baby bump had just begun to show slightly. “Did I tell you Fáelán and I have leased a Georgian town house in Dublin? I’m turning one room into a yoga studio, and I’ll teach prenatal yoga classes there while he works on his PhD in archaeology at UCD. We’ll stay in Dublin during the week and in Waterford on the weekends and breaks.”
“Uh . . . yes, like three times now.” Grayce laughed.
“I was talking to Mom.” She shot her sister a disgruntled look.
“That sounds wonderful,” her mom said. “What about the important work we do? With your gifts, you need to make yourself available to—”
“No. I don’t. I’m not advertising as a ghost whisperer, Mom. If I happen upon a confused spirit, I’ll facilitate their crossing, but that’s it.”
“Oh.” Her mom frowned.
“I intend to focus on my family and my life. You know how it can be. You let someone know, help them find closure, help their deceased to cross, and pretty soon, everyone is at your door, wanting you to get rid of the ghosts or other beings in their houses, or wanting to talk to their dearly departed. I can’t do it anymore. I won’t.”
“But we were given these gifts so we could help those in need. We have a—”
“No, we weren’t.” Grayce snorted. “We have these abilities because one of our ancestors shacked up with a faerie and gave birth to a child who was half fae.”
A soft knock on the door, and Boann walked in, followed by Regan’s father. “It’s time,” Boann announced. Her smile lit up the room, and her bridesmaid’s dress set off her extraordinary beauty.
“Are you ready?” her father asked.
Regan nodded. Her heart racing, she accepted her bouquet from Meredith and took her father’s arm. Her mother stood in place on Regan’s other side, and her attendants lined up behind her. The church’s ancient pipe organ began playing music, signaling the wedding march would start as soon as she appeared at the entrance.
Her father patted her hand and leaned close. “Breathe, sweetheart. You don’t want to faint halfway down the aisle, like someone else we know.” He flashed a wry grin her mom’s way.
“We’ve been married for thirty years, Gene.” Her mother huffed out a breath and shot him a mock scowl. “How long will it take before you let me live that down?”
“If we’re lucky, another thirty years or so.”
Her parents exchanged a look so full of love, a lump rose to Regan’s throat. She had that with Fáelán—the kind of love that would last a lifetime, and she couldn’t wait to say “I do.” She and her family made their way down the short hallway to take their places. Regan once again lost the ability to draw air into her lungs as she caught sight of the man she loved enough to brave faeries and traveling back through time.
He was so very handsome and distinguished in his tux, with his hair neatly pulled back. Was she really marrying a man who had lived for nearly two thousand years—a man who had been born in the third century? She smiled and blinked against the tears of joy filling her eyes.
The wedding march began, and she started down the aisle. Their gazes met and locked, and he winked. Happiness and certainty bubbled up, even as her knees went weak. Why, yes, she was marrying a man from the distant past, and she knew without a doubt they’d live happily ever after in the present.