Epilogue
The wedding reception lasted two hours. Gigi and Fitz had a train to catch for New York City, where they would spend their wedding night and two additional days. With Calvin Fitzpatrick’s illness, and Gigi still in the early phases of restoring her relationships with her family, neither the bride nor the groom wanted to stay away any longer.
Due to the modern convenience of railroads, and Fitz’s newfound penchant for calling in favors, the newlyweds were settled in their suite at the Park Avenue Hotel by the end of the day.
While her husband ran a mysterious errand, Gigi stood at the window overlooking the bustling streets below. She watched the sun dip below the horizon, turning a strip of low-riding clouds a kaleidoscope of pinks, purples, and golds.
Fitz entered the suite, calling out her name.
Gigi glanced over her shoulder. “Yes?”
“You will be happy to know I have secured us a private box for the performance tonight.”
Her brows shot up. According to the hotel manager, Esmeralda’s play was sold out for the next three weeks. “How on earth did you manage that?”
“Simple, really.” He drew alongside her and gave her a tender kiss on the lips. “All I had to do was purchase the theater.”
“You bought the Summer Garden? But I thought you said it was a bad investment.”
He groaned at the reminder. “I have learned that some investments can’t be quantified properly, not where sentiment is concerned.”
That sounded nothing like the man who’d made a name for himself in corporate finance. “Is that so?”
“I have something for you.” He slipped his hand inside his coat, pulled out what looked like an official document. “Your wedding gift.”
Gigi’s eyes went wide with pleasure, reading eagerly. It didn’t take long for her to realize she held the deed to the Summer Garden in her hand.
“You really, truly purchased the theater. And . . . and . . .” She read to the end. “Oh, Fitz, you wonderful, thoughtful, romantic fool. You put the theater in my name.”
“Happy wedding day, my love.”
“It’s the best gift anyone has ever given me.” She wrapped her arms around his neck. “You are an amazing, perfect—”
He kissed the rest of her words away.
Lost in the glorious moment, they kissed for a long time before they pulled apart, both gasping for air, grinning like romantic fools.
She kissed him again, shorter, but with equal passion and dedication to the task. “Thank you,” she whispered against his mouth.
“I have one more surprise for you.”
Arms still wrapped around him, she twined her fingers into the hair at the nape of his neck. “I don’t think I can bear much more excitement.”
“You’ll like this one.”
“I liked the first one.” She dropped her hands. “Actually, I loved it, nearly as much as I love you.”
He kissed her on the right temple, then the left. “Sophie and her new husband are joining us tonight.”
“Truly?”
“Luke and Elizabeth will be there as well.”
Gigi couldn’t wish for better company. The couples weren’t considered the most popular among New York society and were denied access to certain homes, but they were some of the finest people Gigi knew. She was proud to call them friends. “Oh, Fitz. Would it be too much if I kissed you again?”
“You have to ask?”
Moments later, both breathless, Fitz made a grand show of stepping back and putting distance between them. “Unfortunately, Caroline and Jackson are unable to attend. Your friend is suffering from severe morning sickness.”
“Poor Caroline.”
“I have more bad news.”
Gigi frowned. “I’m afraid to ask.”
“It appears your great-grandmother’s pearls are, indeed, lost forever. Mr. Ryerson has proven himself a skunk of the first order. Not only did he sell the necklace, he destroyed all evidence that it was ever in his possession.”
Though disappointed, Gigi wasn’t surprised by this turn of events. When Fitz had told her of his plan to approach the pawnbroker, she’d hoped for the best but had prepared for the worst. Mr. Ryerson was one of the shadiest men she’d ever met.
“I’m sorry I wasn’t able to buy back the pearls.”
“Oh, Fitz.” She cupped his cheek, humbled by his love. “What a good man you are. I’m grateful you attempted to recover them at all.”
He pressed his lips to her palm, then released her hand. “I suppose now would be a good time to share happier news.”
“The very best.”
“You’ll have many chances to see your friends in the future. I invested in Luke’s automobile company. I am a full partner and plan to oversee my interest personally.”
“You want to move to New York?” Gigi didn’t want that. She didn’t think Fitz did, either. Were they about to have their first argument as a married couple?
“I would never ask you to leave your family.” His gaze darkened, and he grew very serious. “And I can’t abandon my father, not for long spans of time. I thought we could have two houses, one in Boston, one in New York.”
Gigi liked that idea.
“We’ll live mostly in Boston, of course, but come to New York as often as we can. And . . . I’m making decisions without you.” He shoved a hand through his hair. “What do you think of my idea?”
“I think”—she took his impossibly handsome face in her hands—“it’s a brilliant plan.”
There was more kissing after that, and still more, and then a considerable bit more. They arrived late at the theater. No one said a word. The owner, after all, was allowed a bit of leeway.
Esmeralda put on the performance of a lifetime.
Some speculated this was due to Sophie and Robert Dain’s presence in the audience. Others suspected it was because of the new owner’s unexpected arrival. Gigi figured it was a combination of both.
After the final curtain call, Gigi and Fitz said good-bye to their friends, then went backstage to congratulate the cast on a stellar performance. Barely twenty minutes later, Fitz pulled Gigi into a shadowed corner behind a piece of scenery from the second act.
“I find I am a selfish man at heart.” He said this against her ear, his breath sending pleasant shivers down her back. “I want you all to myself.”
“I like the sound of that.” She nuzzled against him, then pressed a kiss to his clean-shaven jaw, another to his lips. “But there’s one last stop I’d like to make before we leave the building.”
“I had a feeling you might say that. Come along, then.” He hooked her arm through his and tugged her toward the nursery. “Let’s say hello to the children.”
Mrs. Tupper welcomed them with a broad smile. Lilly and Amelia showed their delight in a series of ear-splitting squeals, while Fern got straight down to business. She tugged on Gigi’s skirt and asked, “Will you read us a story?”
“What a wonderful idea,” Fitz declared, joining the little girls on the floor without hesitation.
Happy to oblige her captive audience, Gigi took her place in the rocking chair. “Which story should I read?”
“Briar Rose,” all three children said in unison.
“Because Prince is here,” Amelia explained as she climbed onto Fitz’s lap. He laughed fondly when she proceeded to tell him every major plot point of the story before Gigi had a chance to open the book.
One day that will be one of our children chattering away with Fitz. And he’ll listen with that same affectionate grin on his handsome face.
Gigi lost herself in the image for a moment. Then, with the help of an impatient prompting from Lilly, she turned to the proper page and began reading. “‘A king and queen once upon a time reigned in a country a great way off’ . . .”
It was the perfect ending to a perfect day, and the perfect beginning to a future Gigi would live well with the man she loved.