Epilogue

HADLEY

~Six Weeks Later~

“There’s no place like home, there’s no place like home,” Bethanne says over and over in my face as our families rush around the house, yelling at each other.

Yesterday, the Henningtons arrived in Sugarloaf and the calm, sweet mother I have known my whole life has become a crazy lady. She’s insistent that everything be perfect, which is hilarious since nothing is perfect in our lives.

“Why is she like this?”

Beth shrugs. “You’re her first kid and you’re getting married in two hours. I’m surprised her head hasn’t actually imploded by this point.”

Great. “How is Daddy behaving?”

She grins. “Well, he took Cayden and Logan to the treehouse and I haven’t seen them return. Cayden and Logan that is.”

My eyes widen and fear grips me. I grab my sister’s arms. “Find them.”

“Please, he likes your fiancé…ohh, that’s probably the last time we’ll use those words. You’re going to have a husband.”

Lord save me from annoying sisters. “Get Mel and find the boys.”

She gives me a salute and runs out.

I stare at myself in the mirror, heart racing as I see this woman there, all dressed in white and tears in her eyes. I can’t believe I’m getting married today.

Cayden and I agreed to allow our parents the chance to throw us a proper wedding after both our mothers begged. I couldn’t have cared less if we went to the courthouse, I actually thought it would’ve been kind of perfect since we’re both lawyers, but Presley almost had a heart attack.

The bedroom door opens and Melanie enters. Her thick red hair is pulled back with curls hanging around her. “Hi, love.”

“Hi.”

“You are stunning.”

“Thank you.”

“I came up because your mother is fixing Bethanne’s dress and I thought maybe you could use a drink, but you’re pregnant, and can’t, so I drank it for you. You’re welcome.”

“You need a therapist,” I say with a laugh.

“Know a good one?”

“Yeah, actually, yo mama !”

We both laugh because Aunt Brenna is actually a therapist, so the joke is funny because it’s true.

Mel stands next to me, looking at my reflection as well. “Actually, I’m here to give you this.”

She hands me a letter and I recognize the handwriting immediately. “He wrote me a letter?”

“I have no idea. I didn’t read it.”

I snort. “There’s a first. You went through my mail all the time.”

My finger slides under the seal and I pull out the note.

Dear Hadley,

When we decided not to write our vows, a part of me was upset about that, more because I wanted to tell you in my own words what I vow to you. Of course, I promise all the things they make you say, but I want to give you even more. If I could, I’d give you the world, but I can’t do that, so I give you my heart, my soul, my love and my promise that I will spend every day of my life trying to make you happy. I will protect you and our son with everything that I am.

We will fight, but I think we do that best, and know that even if we’re on opposite teams, I’m always on your side. I will love you no matter how many times you lose to me.

I could say so much more, but I promised your mom and mine that I wouldn’t make you cry. I love you. I can’t wait for you to be my wife. I’ll be waiting for you—always.

Yours,

Cayde n

“Well, that was just unfair,” I say, sniffing back the tears.

“No! You can’t cry. I’ll kill him.”

“It was sweet.”

Melanie dabs at my eyes and then fans them. “I’m sure it was, but you need to get to the barn without tears.”

I grip her wrists, wanting to say all the things in my heart. She has no idea how much I adore her. “Mel…”

“No. Let me say this to you. I know I moved out and we don’t get to have rice pudding for dinner or pizza daily anymore, but I want you to know that you are my best friend. I am so happy you found Cayden and banged him when I left that night.”

I smile, knowing those words were about as close to an ‘I love you’ as I’ll ever get.

“I’m glad I got drunk and pregnant too. It’s nice to be a walking cliché.”

“At least we both wear that badge of honor. I slept with my boss and now he’s considering firing me.”

I start to say something but before I can, Bethanne comes barreling through the door, slams it, and rests her back against it. “Hide me.”

Mel rolls her eyes. “Seriously, you ripped the dress, let your mother fix it.”

“That’s not why, Melanie ,” she sneers her name. “You are never going to believe who they invited.”

“Who?” I ask.

“Asher. Whitlock.”

“You still have a thing for him?” I ask, not understanding the appeal. Sure, Sheriff Whitlock is freaking hot. We all know it, but my sister is obsessed with the man. She gets all tongue-tied and stupid each time he comes around.

“Of course. Have you seen his ass in uniform?” Bethanne sighs. “It’s even nice in a suit. I bet his ass is perfect bare.”

Melanie peeks out the window behind her and whistles. “Jesus, he got hotter. Who is that girl with him?”

Bethanne pushes Melanie aside. “That’s the nanny, who is also Chief Bettencourt’s daughter, Phoebe.”

“Are you sure she’s just the nanny? Look at the way he’s looking at her. ”

My sister grunts. “Yeah, he’s thinking: Hey, where did Olivia go, you’re supposed to be watching her. You’re fired and where is that gorgeous Arrowood girl? I want a dance with her.”

“Fat chance, you’re jailbait.”

Beth huffs. “I’m twenty and Phoebe is only four years older than me. She was a senior when I was a freshman. Also, she’s totally off limits.”

“Which makes the sex hot,” Mel says, egging Bethanne on.

I giggle at that because anything to piss my sister off is entertaining. However, we’re on a time crunch here and this could get ugly really quick. “Could you guys maybe, you know, help with the veil and all that?”

Both turn to me and move quickly. “Shit. Sorry, worst maid of honor ever,” Beth says as she grabs it.

There’s a soft knock on the door and Mel goes to see who it is. “Hey, Uncle Connor.”

“Melanie, you look beautiful as always.”

“Wait until you see Hadley.”

She pushes the door open and my father walks in, his eyes widen and he clutches his chest. “Wow.”

“Do I look pretty, Daddy?”

He shakes his head, “No, baby, you’re way more than that.”

I smile and he approaches, hands out in front of him. The familiar feel calms me. I know these hands, the ones that wiped my tears when I was sad, built the treehouse so I had a safe place to go anytime, and always were there in case I fell. He leans in, kissing my cheek.

“Is it time?” I ask.

“As much as it pains me to say, yes, it’s time.”

The room suddenly becomes very active as my cousin and sister gather different items and Daddy loops my arm in his. Each step I take pulls my heart in different directions. I’m so happy to be marrying Cayden, ready to be his wife and be a family, but I’m sad for the little girl who will be gone. My name will change, erasing the past just a little.

We reach the barn doors where our family and friends are waiting, my cousin Austin on one side of the huge door and Sebastian on the other. Austin winks at me and I smile. The three of us were closest in age and always managing to get in trouble together.

All of us are now grown and living the lives we had worked so hard for .

“Are you ready?” Daddy asks.

“Yes and no,” I say, my voice breaking at the end.

“I feel the same, but I know he loves you. He looks at you the way I look at your mother, which is the only reason I can take this walk with you.”

I nod, working so hard to hold back the tears. “I love him too.”

“Then let’s go and let me place your hand in his, but know that if you ever reach for me, Hadley Arrowood, I’ll be right there.”

Those damn tears fall at that, and I kiss my daddy’s cheek. “You will never know how grateful I am that you’re my father and that you found me in that tree.”

“Oh, sweetheart, it’s me who is grateful.”

I laugh, because if not, I’ll cry all my makeup off.

Austin coughs. “Umm, are you planning to run away or get married?”

Dad looks to me and I smile. “Married.”

They open the doors and I walk towards my destiny—Cayden.

* * * *

Also from 1001 Dark Nights and Corinne Michaels, discover Evermore and Say You Won’t Let Go .