Epilogue

“Are you ready?” Lila peaks her head inside the private room at the back of the church.

Jen pushes through. “You look beautiful.”

I’ve spent the last ten minutes trying to keep my emotions from ruining my makeup, but now a tear escapes.

Lila runs to me and snatches a tissue from the table where all our purses and makeup are scattered to be collected later. She dabs the tear. “So, if this is a tear of joy, then I’m here to preserve your face for public viewing.”

I laugh and another tear falls.

Lila dries that one too. “If you want to run, I’ll tell Jen to get the car.”

“Do we run?” Jen asks, her voice light and amused. Still, she has one foot out the door, ready to follow whichever instructions I give.

These are my ride-or-die friends. I pull Lila into a hug. “You guys are the best.”

“Still not an answer.” Jen comes over to make it a group hug.

“I’m not running. I’m getting married.” I laugh as the thrill of it is too much to contain.

Lila lets out a long sigh. “Thank goodness, because that man of yours would be inconsolable if you left him at the altar. He looks about ready to burst with excitement.”

Pushing the tears of joy back inside, I break the hug. “How do I look?”

They both stare for a long moment. Jen nods and Lila uses the tissue to wipe a bit of lipstick from the corner of my mouth.

Lila says, “You’re gorgeous.”

Jen nods and looks uncharacteristically emotional. “Perfect.”

With one last hug, we head to the chapel. In lavender cocktail dresses that they each picked out to suit themselves, my two best friends go through the doors in front of me.

The bridal march begins and two people from the church open the doors. My friends and neighbors, along with Aiden’s enormous family, all stand in the pews. I could have asked Aiden’s father or a friend to walk me down the aisle, but I decided I could walk on my own two feet to the man of my dreams.

As soon as I step into the center, all I see is Aiden. His dark-blond hair is newly trimmed and his blue eyes are like stars, shining when he sees me. He’s the most beautiful man I’ve ever seen. Since the night a year ago when he came back to me, I’ve never been happier in my life. My only regret is that my mother isn’t here to see this day, but I know she’s watching and she approves. I can feel her right beside me.

He’s like a magnet and when I get to the halfway point, I can’t contain myself and run toward him.

Aiden’s grin widens as he jogs closer and takes my hand. “I’m glad you made it but I would have waited. After all, I waited most of my life, what’s another few feet.”

The congregation laughs and applauds.

“I’m in a hurry to start the rest of our life together.” My heart is pounding, and everything disappears. Only he and I exist in my world.

The minister clears his throat. “Are you both ready?”

Another laugh from the crowd.

My cheeks heat as Aiden gives me his sexiest smile. “Let’s make it official, my love.”

Hand in hand, he and I walk the rest of the way to stand in front of the world and become a family.

The party ended twenty minutes ago and I finally have my wife to myself. The limo dropped us off at our house and Joy is standing in the bedroom, fussing with the pins holding her hair in place. “You are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.”

I step behind her and pull the pin she’s struggling with. I watch her in the dresser mirror as she lowers her hands and looks back at me through the glass.

“Everything was perfect today.”

I find another pin and another. Each pin releases her riot of curls. “You’re perfect. I didn’t care about anything but seeing you happy.” I drop the last pin on the dresser and thread my fingers through her hair, searching out any stragglers.

She leans back against my chest. “I am happy.”

Wrapping my arms around her, I kiss her neck. “Do you think your mother would approve?”

“I think she would have loved you and this day.” Her smile is warm but distant.

“I wish I had known her.” Breathing in the scent of flowers and Joy is intoxicating. She’s my one vice and I’m never giving her up. I tighten my arms, find her ear, and kiss the soft lobe.

“Me too, but she knew you. She read our letters. Throughout the years. She knew who you were and she adored that we had each other. I love you. This is all my mother would ever have wanted for me, to love and be loved for who I am.”

“Then she’d be happy. You’ll always be perfect in my eyes, Joy.” I turn her to face me and press my lips to hers.

She opens for me and touches her sweet tongue to mine. Breaking the kiss, she smiles. “Thank you for today, Aiden. It was like a dream.”

Lifting my wife into my arms, I take us to the bed. She’ll never see that she’s the dream, but I intend to spend a lifetime showing her.

Thank you for reading For Letter or Worse. I hope you loved Aiden and Joy as much as I do. In addition to being part of the Man of the Month Club, For Letter or Worse is also a part of the Lane Family Novellas. If you’d like more Lanes, you might try Dad Bod Handyman where you’ll read all about Aiden’s cousin Denver and how he found the second love of his life.