Epilogue - Lesley

My dad knocked on the door. I was sitting in front of the mirror in the bedroom that Connor and I had been sharing these past ten months. Tony’s new girlfriend, Shania, had done my hair and it looked beautiful: a gorgeous up-do in waves with tiny pearls pinned to the back of my bun.

Dad entered the bedroom when I turned around on the stool. He had a bouquet of wildflowers in his hands and I thought I saw a tear in his eyes.

“I thought I’d pick some flowers for you today, honey,” he said and I stood up with a smile. His eyes glowed when he saw me for the first time in my wedding dress. It was a simple white with a half veil over my face and a trail that was long and dreamy. Chris’s two nieces were responsible for carrying it for me. They’d been practicing all week.

“Thank you, Dad,” I smiled at him and he came towards me to wrap me into his arms. I sensed him crying as he held me.

“You look beautiful, honey. I know Connor knows how lucky he is,” he said when he was finally ready to pull away from me.

“He tells me every day,” I said and kissed him lightly on his cheek.

He gave me his arm and I clung to him and, in silence, we walked out of the bedroom and down the steps of the house towards the front door, where I knew everyone would be waiting for us.

At the open front door, Dad stopped in his tracks and I stopped with him. “I know I was against this relationship in the beginning,” he said and I looked at him kindly.

“I understand, dad. You couldn’t forgive him for what he had done to you and us,” I told him and my dad let out a deep sigh.

“Yes, but I was wrong. What he did all those years ago has nothing to do with how much he loves you. I’ve forgiven him, Lesley . . . I couldn’t be happier with the man you’ve chosen to marry,” he said and I squeezed his hand.

“Thank you, dad,” I said and we smiled at each other.

“Now, let's go. Your groom is waiting for his bride,” he said. Together, we stepped out of the house.

The ranch looked beautiful and when I saw it for the first that day: decorated and lit up with fairy lights, the row of white rib boned chairs facing the barn, the trees wrapped in lights and decorated with hanging lanterns . . . It all took my breath away.

At the end of the aisle, in front of the bar, Connor was standing in a tuxedo. Clean shaven with his dirty blond hair slicked back, he had never looked more handsome. Not even in my teenage fantasies. The piano played the wedding song as dad carried me down the aisle. Everyone had stood up, and my eyes fell on the front row where my mom was standing proudly beside Mrs. Marshall. I was surprised to see her there. Connor had predicted that she would not show up. She had been vehemently against Connor marrying me when she had found out. In her opinion, her beloved son was marrying beneath him. Now, she was sporting a crooked smile and clapping with everyone else.

I looked back at the man I was going to marry. The air smelled of wildflowers and fresh grass – just like the bouquet in my hands that my father had picked out for me. Connor was staring at me with a smile on his face that reached his eyes. He looked like he was seeing me for the first time.

With each step I took, I was drawing closer to my destiny and I couldn’t wait for it to begin. I had never been happier since the day I came back here to the ranch. Since we had begun our life together.

Alfie was standing beside his father in a matching tuxedo of his own. He had our rings in a small wicker basket dangling from his hand, and I could see it on his face: he couldn’t wait to give it to us. I smiled at him and he beamed at me with joy.

My dad and I stopped a few feet away from Connor, and he leaned in to kiss me on my cheek.

“Best wishes to you, my darling daughter,” he said. Then, still in a daze, I felt Connor’s hand clasp mine. My father had given me away to him. I turned to the man of my dreams.

“You are the most beautiful bride . . . The most beautiful woman in the world, my Lesley,” Connor said loud enough for everyone to hear. My cheeks flushed but Connor had eyes only for me.

He pulled me to him and I gasped, my hand settled on his shoulder. “You shouldn’t be kissing me now, not before the ceremony,” I said and some of our guests giggled and clapped. Connor’s eyes sank into mine, as he held me close for the entire world to see.

“Don’t worry, darling. I’m not going to kiss you now. I just wanted to look more closely at my bride,” he said and released me with a victorious smile on his face.

Our guests sighed and clapped, and Connor clasped my hand in his as we turned to face the priest.

I couldn’t stop smiling as I heard the priest reading out our promises and vows. I couldn’t stop my heart from beating out of my chest. Finally, everything I had ever wished for was coming true. I was marrying the man I loved.

*****

THE END