Chapter 25

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

"That was an absolutely amazing day," Alissa said, heaving a happy sigh as she sat down in the car next to Dane. She clicked her seat belt into place, wiggling a little to get comfortable. "So much laughing and crying and good food. And great company. It was everything a wedding should be." They'd just left Josie and Wesley's wedding, and her heart was full.

"It really was." Her husband was staring straight ahead as he turned on the ignition of the car. His brow was furrowed a little, and the wide-eyed look that he'd had ever since his mother and Everett started dancing together like a couple of love-struck teenagers was still plastered to his face.

Alissa chuckled. Dane still seemed a little bit dazed over the fact that his mother and Everett were dating, and she couldn't blame him. When he'd hurried back to the dance floor and whispered the news in her ear, her jaw had dropped. She'd been delighted and intrigued by the idea, but it was very unexpected. Then a few minutes later, Johanna and Everett had started dancing together, looking as smitten with each other as a pair of young lovers.

"I'm still pretty stunned about your mom and Everett," she said as Dane turned the car out of the parking lot and began to drive them home. A full moon glowed with a silvery light over the snowy landscape, and Alissa leaned back in her seat, glad to be cozy and warm inside the car. The outdoors looked breathtaking—with the moonlight making the snow glitter—but she knew it was bitterly cold out there. She was looking forward to going to sleep next to her husband in their nice warm bed and resting her poor aching feet.

"I am too." He laughed. "I never would have thought it, you know? They're so different from each other."

"Mm, externally. Maybe inside they're not so different after all."

"That's a good point. They must have seen something in each other. I wonder how it got started? I mean, things were pretty frigid with them at our party. And they acted like they barely knew each other during bowling."

She shrugged. "Well, clearly they've been trying to keep it a secret. Who knows when that started? Although I have to say, your mom has seemed much happier than usual lately. I'd just chalked it up to her feeling more at home here in Blueberry Bay, but clearly her happiness has something to do with Everett. Did you see the way her eyes were shining at him while they were dancing?"

"I did. And you're right—she has seemed happier. My guess would be that the two of them started dating sometime after the dinner party. They did linger behind while the rest of us were returning our shoes after bowling. Do you remember that? I bet they were secretly dating then."

"Yes!" She clapped her hands together gleefully. "Maybe they snuck a kiss when no one was watching. Oh, that blows my mind. I absolutely never would have suspected. I'm tempted to present them both with Oscars for their stellar performances."

He shook his head, chuckling. She wondered if it was strange for him to see his mother dating someone. It probably was—but she could tell from the way his eyes danced that he was happy about it.

Personally, she was thrilled. She wanted that kind of happiness for Johanna, and Everett seemed well-deserving of it as well. He was a kind, steady man who had a lot to offer someone like Johanna, who blossomed when she was given warmth and affection.

"I still want to know what made them see that in each other," he mused, turning the car carefully around an icy corner. "What made them realize that they could fall in love? They certainly didn't seem interested in each other after the dinner party."

"We'll have to ask them when we get a chance," she said, resting her head back against the seat. "But I think sometimes the greatest love sneaks up on you when you're least expecting it. You and I are a perfect example of that. Who would've expected when we first met that we'd end up where we are now?"

He glanced at her, his eyes shining. It was clear that he was remembering when they first met and started to fall in love.

"You're right," he said softly.

"And I'm so happy we found each other. I think something in us just knew, you know? And it looks like the same kind of thing has happened for your mom. Now she's found someone too, even though it seemed so unlikely that it would be Everett."

"It sure did." He chuckled. "I just can't get over the idea of the two of them keeping their relationship a secret. Like, they must have been sneaking around like a couple of teenagers."

She laughed. "I think it's sweet. And honestly, it's pretty impressive they pulled the wool over all our eyes all this time. I wonder what they've been doing—going for walks late at night when no one else is around?"

He grinned. "I think it's sweet too. I'm looking forward to seeing the two of them interact together more. I think someone sweet and stable like Everett will be really good for my mom. And I love the idea of her not being alone anymore."

She nodded and reached over to squeeze his hand. "I'm looking forward to that too. I'm excited to see how this makes her life change for the better."

"The future is looking pretty exciting."

"You're right. I'm looking forward to a lot of things," she murmured, looking down at her belly and thinking about Oscar.

"I am too," he said, interlacing his fingers with hers.

In another few minutes, they were home. They hurried through the cold into their warm house and continued to talk as they got ready for bed. She felt happy and tired in a good way—the kind of tired that happened after a long, fun day. She found herself blinking back sleepiness as she got into her pajamas and brushed her teeth. Finally, yawning like a lion, she crawled into bed next to her husband. She wiggled her toes against his, happy to be cozy and about to go to sleep next to her favorite person.

"We're so lucky to be married," she murmured as he turned out the light and she started to fall asleep. "And now Josie and Wesley are this lucky too."

"Mm, nobody's as lucky as me," he said, and kissed her.

"Oh, my feet hurt." Josie wiggled her feet out of her shoes and laughed. Her feet might have felt bruised and battered, but her happiness was shining as brightly as the stars that glittered over the winter night.

"Worth it, though, right?" Wesley turned to her, grinning. They'd just left their wedding, and he was driving them home through the snowy streets. "You looked like you were having so much fun out there with your mom and Paige. You were dancing like some kind of fairy princess."

"A fairy princess, huh?" she said, laughing.

He nodded solemnly. "That long blonde hair of yours makes you look ethereal when you dance."

She laughed and leaned over to kiss him. "Whatever you say, handsome."

They grinned at each other and then drove in silence for another few moments. She gazed out at the glittering winter night, feeling her heart swell with contentment and happiness despite her fatigue.

"Today was amazing," she murmured. She turned back to him with a smile, reaching over to take his hand. "It was the best day of my life."

"Mine too," he said without hesitation. "I'm so happy to be married to you, Josie."

He stopped at a stop sign, and she leaned over to give him a kiss. "I'm so happy to be married to you too."

She felt as if they'd opened a door together onto the rest of their lives. It was as if they were beginning a new chapter, a new journey, and she couldn't wait to see where it took them.

They arrived home a few minutes later, and before they stepped through the apartment door, he scooped her up into his arms fireman-style. Laughing, she let him carry her into the living room, where he set her down on the couch.

All at once, she realized that now they would have the opportunity to build a home together. It wasn't just her apartment that they were in anymore, it was their first home. The place where they would learn how to care for each other in new ways. And because of that, the idea of being carried across the threshold felt especially romantic—they were entering their new life together at the exact same time.

"Now," he said, kneeling down and pulling off her shoes, "I believe you said something about your feet hurting."

Her mouth popped open, thrilled that he was surprising her with a foot massage. "Oh! Oh my goodness."

She closed her eyes and grinned as he massaged her feet. It felt incredible, and her aching arches felt better in no time at all.

"Wow, thank you," she said, when he finally finished the massage and settled onto the couch next to her. "That was unexpected and amazing."

"I noticed you wincing while you were walking even before you said something in the car," he said. "I told myself I was going to give you a foot massage as soon as we got home."

"Well, you are very good at foot massages. I hope you're prepared to massage my feet for the rest of our lives." She grinned at him.

"I definitely am." He nodded seriously, although a grin curved his lips. "I'm going to take care of you. As a matter of fact, it's my biggest goal in life to take care of you. I'm going to make sure I look out for you every day—and that's definitely going to involve foot massages sometimes."

Her heart warmed, and she nestled against him. "Thank you for saying that. It makes me…" She hesitated for a moment, not sure how to put her emotions into words. "It makes me feel safe ," she said after a beat, pinpointing the emotions she was feeling.

"Good." He kissed her head. "That's how it should be. I always want you to feel that way with me."

"I'm going to take care of you too," she promised, smiling at him in adoration. "You want me to massage your feet?"

He laughed, wrapping his arms around her. "My feet are okay, thanks. I wasn't wearing glass slippers all night."

She laughed at his joke, shaking her head wryly. "Actually, as far as female footwear goes, those shoes were pretty comfortable."

"Whatever you say, wife." He kissed her nose.

"Okay, husband." She lingered on each syllable, feeling a thrill that she got to use that word to describe him. Now that they'd exchanged vows in front of friends and family, she could use that word for Wesley every day from here on out. She brought her lips to his and kissed him tenderly.

It was official. They were husband and wife, and now they would get to spend the rest of their lives together.