Epilogue

Three Weeks Later

"Ithought I'd keep the family tradition of quick weddings going," Ania says, smiling at me in the mirror as the makeup artist touches up her face.

I count every interaction with my daughter as a blessing, one I sometimes don't feel like I deserve. Ania looks gorgeous in her elegant wedding dress, styled to hint at a ballerina's outfit, with a slim corset highlighting her figure, which, though still slender, looks fuller now in a good way.

"Nobody will beat Mila and Mikhail, though," Ania says, and Mila laughs.

"She definitely gets the prize," Lia says, giggling.

I haven't been able to stop smiling since the performance went so well until I think about after the wedding. Aiden and Ania are going to travel together. They want to see the world before they settle down for good, but I won't let that ruin her big day. She deserves all the happiness she can get. She deserves all the happiness in the world.

"How do I look?" Ania says when the makeup artist finishes.

Lia and Mila join me as we all stand behind Ania, studying her in the reflection. Her cheeks are rosy red, and her lipstick highlights her captivating smile. Most of all, how happy she looks floods me with love and pride. After all she's been through, she's still been able to find her path.

"Beautiful," Lia says.

"Angelic," Mila tells her.

"Perfect," I join in.

"I wondered why Dimitri and Mikhail agreed to go home. It turns out it's because they knew my man was going to make an honest woman of me."

I always love Ania, but especially when she's like this. Her speech comes quickly, and her mind seems to move ever quicker.

"Are you ready?" Lia asks, laying a hand on her sister-in-law's shoulder.

"More than," she says.

"I know the feeling," Lia replies, nodding.

"It's amazing, isn't it?" Ania says. "Like a wave of relief that you experience over and over and over again, forever."