CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

"You're home, Ellie!" said Mags, hugging her sister. "You're home!"

"I'm home, honey." Over her shoulder, she spotted Em and Sebastian walking toward the river while Forrest and Maddie walked toward the maze.

"You're getting married today," smiled her mother.

"I guess I am," laughed Ellie. Walker stood on the porch, smiling at the women.

"It could be a double wedding," he said to Mags. He knelt in front of her as tears filled her eyes. "I don't want to make you cry, Mags. I love you, honey. I love you more than anything in the whole world. I hate what happened to you, but it doesn't change a damn thing for me. You've always been my girl. Now be my wife."

"W-Walker," she sniffed. "You can't mean it. Not now."

"Now more than ever. Please, honey. Put me out of my misery. I worry every damn day that you're going to fall in love with that asshole, Brix, and run off on me." Magnolia laughed, shaking her head.

"Yes. A double wedding sounds perfect."

In spite of her efforts, Ellie couldn't convince her other sisters to make it a foursome. They both agreed that they needed time to get to know Forrest and Sebastian again. It was okay. They were home. For good.

"Congratulations," said Marcel, hugging the woman.

"Marcel! You hugged me! You touched me!" laughed Ellie.

"It's a very long story, sweet Ellie. This is my wife, Amy."

"Oh, wow. I have so much to catch up on," she laughed. Leif hugged his new wife, the food coming out for the reception as the music kicked up.

"We both do. But the good news is we have a lifetime to do it."

As the teams mingled around, talking about the success they'd had in Egypt, Major and Sebastian spotted Claudette and called out to her.

"Hey, Claudette!" yelled Major. "You want to tell us how you knew a crown prince of Saudi Arabia?"

"No. I do not," she smiled. "Just be grateful that I did. And for your information young man, I know many, many interesting people. Just you wait and see."