Epilogue

Tessa

“Do you, Skye Margaret Manning, take Braden Robert Black to be your husband? In sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, until death do you part?”

“I do.”

Skye turns to me, and I hand her the thick gold band. The glint of my own engagement ring catches the light of the candle.

Braden spared absolutely no expense on the wedding to the love of his life. We’re at a sprawling estate with manicured gardens and a breathtaking view of the Atlantic Ocean.

The wedding party is standing under towering arches of fresh flowers, painstakingly arranged in hues of ivory, blush, and sprayed gold. A red carpet, lined with crystal-studded pillars, led all of us to the marble altar. A canopy of white silk billows over us, held in place by crystal chandeliers that reflect the golden candlelight. The chairs for the guests are draped in satin and adorned with custom-made gold cushions monogrammed with the initials BB or SM, depending on which side they’re on.

A string quartet is poised to play the recession music the second the officiant declares them husband and wife. They’re off to the side on a small platform embellished with gilded accents and surrounded by towering floral sculptures. The whole thing feels like a fairy tale.

Skye slips the ring on Braden’s left ring finger.

“Now, by the power invested in me by the State of Massachusetts, I pronounce you husband and wife.”

Thunderous applause echoes throughout the church as Skye and Braden turn to face their guests.

“It gives me great honor to present to you, for the very first time, Mr. and Mrs. Braden Black!”

The organ and string quartet leap into the “Trumpet Voluntary,” and Skye and Braden make their way down the aisle.

Ben holds out his tuxedo-clad arm, and I take it, smiling up at him.

“Wasn’t it beautiful?” I say. “All those gorgeous flowers, and the music of the string quartet. I had to force myself not to cry.”

“Not nearly half as beautiful as ours will be, baby.” He kisses my left hand.

As he lifts my hand, my engagement ring catches the light from the chandeliers. It’s a beauty. A dazzling round-cut diamond serves as its centerpiece, and it’s set in a lustrous platinum band. The diamond is gorgeous, but my favorite part is the customized setting that Ben added.

Above the diamond, dwarfed in size but not in significance, is the tiny iridescent black pearl. The one the shucker gave me when Ben and I got oysters together when we first met. The night I found him at his place, he asked if he could hold onto it for me, said it gave him strength to face what was to come. I had no idea what he ultimately had in mind.

I was already crying when Ben proposed after I stood next to him at his first press conference, but a fresh wave of tears came when I saw the pearl.

I look forward at Skye and Braden as Ben and I follow them up the aisle. They have eyes only for each other.

“They make a fantastic couple,” I say. “I’m so happy for them.”

He squeezes my hand. “You’ll be the next Mrs. Black, and I’m never letting you go.”