Epilogue One
Ten months later
“Why did you decide to have your wedding in the height of summer?” Marie asked, fussing all around Lucia as she pulled a crease out of the dress.
“Because it’s beautiful outside, flowers are in full bloom, and I wanted my wedding day to be just perfect. I’m only going to get one day.”
“Not if it doesn’t work out, sweetie. You could have six or seven big days.”
“If that happens, you’re going to complain about every single one,” Lucia said. “You’re always going to be my maid of honor.”
“You’ve got that right.” Marie winked at her.
She couldn’t have anyone else but Marie at her side for her wedding.
“I never realized how much the two of you argue,” Patricia said.
“Smile for me, dear, I want to make sure the pictures will look perfect with no food between your teeth,” Nancy Parker said.
She had Marie, her mother, and Jack’s mother all in the church waiting room. She and Jack were getting married in England, and it was one of the rare days that was in fact sunny, with no rain forecast.
After today, she and Jack were flying to his family villa in Italy to spend two weeks on a honeymoon, and she was excited about having him all to herself. In ten months, he’d found a place to live near her parents and a job at one of the local colleges. She got to see him every single day, and of course, he’d become good friends with her father. It had been difficult, as moving overseas does create complications, but seeing as Jack’s parents were the best lawyers in the country, it wasn’t hard for them to work through all the checks and paperwork.
Staring at her reflection, she saw Marie, Patricia, and Nancy looking at her. Some of her brown hair was held up with flowery pins, while ringlets cascaded around her. She wore a white dress that molded to her breasts and waist but flared out from her hips down to her feet, where she wore a pair of flat shoes.
She had yet to perfect the art of walking in heels.
“How do I look?” she asked.
“Pretty as a picture.”
She turned to see her father standing in the doorway. “We’re all about ready to start. Are you all ready for this?”
Lucia nodded.
She watched her mother, future mother-in-law, and best friend leave the room, and she turned to face her father.
“Did you ever think you’d see this day?” she asked, stepping toward him.
“No, I didn’t. I knew it would come, but letting you go, I didn’t think it would be as hard as this.”
“I’ll always be your girl, Dad,” she said.
“I know.” She saw the tears well up in his eyes. Throwing her arms around him, she held him close. “I love you, Lucia.”
“I love you too, Dad.” She had apologized, and over the past ten months they’d been able to work out their differences.
She’d been so happy to do that. She didn’t realize how empty her life had been without not only Jack but also her father.
“Jack’s a good man. I was wrong about him, and I know he will do everything in his power to take care of you.”
She nodded. “I know.”
Her love for him had only grown in the past ten months.
Sneaking around, their secret relationship couldn’t touch the way they were with each other now. They could go anywhere, be seen together, hold hands, kiss. There were no secrets, no lies, and because of that, they were stronger together.
“I’m nervous.”
“He is as well.”
“He is? Do you think he’s getting cold feet?” She nibbled her lip as she placed her arm inside her father’s.
“No. It’s weddings. They make people do crazy things.”
The wedding march came on, and as she stood outside of the church, she saw the people, her parents’ friends as well as Jack’s, waiting.
Her heart started to pound.
“Dad?”
“Yeah.”
“Thank you.”
They walked down the long aisle, and the moment she saw Jack, everything else faded away. He stood near the priest, wearing a tuxedo that seemed to emphasize his maleness if that was even possible. His thick, bulging arms strained the fabric, and he looked perfect. So perfect, and all hers.
The moment she was at the altar, he came down and took her hand from her father’s.
“Take care of her.”
“Always.”
They made their way up to the priest, and she released a breath. “I love you,” he said, mouthing the words.
“I love you too.”
There, before the priest, their family, and friends, they made promises and vows of love, of friendship, of a life together.
As she spoke her vows and listened to Jack’s she recalled that moment when she’d taken a leap of faith and stepped close to him. She’d pressed her lips against his and she didn’t realize it at the time, but she did right now, right this second. The kiss had just been the beginning. The moment she’d pressed her lips to his had sealed their fate.
“You may kiss the bride.”
This time, Jack stepped to her. He cupped her cheek, and his lips were on hers. Her teacher, her lover, her husband, her soul mate. Forever.