Epilogue

RYLAND

“Have you seen her?” Hattie asks, walking up to me in a beautiful purple gown.

I shake my head, my hands sweating. “No.”

Hattie’s smile grows wider. “You are in for it. Hope you have tissues.” She pats my back and moves over to Hayes, who’s wearing a three-piece suit just like me.

“Where’s my phone? I want to record this,” Aubree says as she moves into the living room portion of the suite we’re in.

“Right here,” Wyatt says, holding a box of tissues.

“Dude, give me some of those.”

“No fucking way,” he says. “I want to see the tears flow down you.”

“Ass,” I say.

“No, I agree. I want to see the tears too,” Abel says from the corner, his phone out as well.

Looks like I’ll have this moment captured from all different angles.

Instrumental music filters through the windows, setting the mood. It’s the perfect day for a wedding with blue skies shining over the bay, the inn decked out in flowers, and chairs out on the lawn, looking toward the ocean.

“You ready?” Hattie asks.

“No,” I answer.

But it’s too late.

The doors open, the sunlight from the windows behind her filters in, and it takes a second for my eyes to adjust, but when they do, I can feel the sting of tears instantaneously as my girl, my little fucking girl, stands in front of me in a white gown and veil, ready to get married.

“What do you think?” Mac asks as she does a small twirl for me.

“Wow,” I say, tears falling down my cheeks, my throat so tight that I can barely get the words out. “You look beautiful, kiddo.”

“Doesn’t she?” Gabby says as she moves around Mac and right to me. She kisses my jaw. “That’s our little girl.”

“I can’t believe it.”

I move closer to Mac, her young life flashing before my eyes—images of her on the swing under the oak tree, laughing as I pushed her as high as she could go. Watching her prance the Chewys around the house. All her drawings and paintings lining the walls. Her first tooth that she donated to the tooth fairy because she felt bad taking money. Her first softball game. The first time she pitched a no-hitter. Her first date with a squid of a boy who I’m so glad lasted one date and that was it. Her prom. Her first heartbreak. The day she accepted a full-ride scholarship to Brentwood University. The day she brought Garrick home to meet me. Her graduation. Her first-ever coaching job. The tears in her eyes when she told me she was engaged.

And now . . . this moment.

“Okay, no tears. I don’t want to ruin my makeup,” Mac says.

“We’re allowed to tear up,” Aubree says.

“Yeah,” Wyatt says, sniffling off to the side. “With the number of times I allowed you to treat me like a freaking horse, I get to have this moment.”

Everyone laughs while Mac rolls her eyes. “You’re going to use that for the rest of your life, aren’t you?”

“Damn right.”

Hayes steps up and presses a kiss to Mac’s cheek. “I’m going to get into position. See you down there.”

“Thank you, Uncle Hayes.”

“I’ll let Maggie know we’re ready,” Abel adds.

Hayes winks at Mac and takes off. He’s playing the guitar for the processional. I’ve purposely listened to him practicing so I could mentally prepare myself and not be a blubbering mess.

“I’m going to go to my seat so I can get comfortable for the cry fest I intend on having,” Hattie says.

“I’ll join you,” Aubree says.

They both walk up to Mac and give her a hug. Hattie cups Mac’s face and says, “Your mom would have loved Garrick. He’s perfect.”

“Thank you,” Mac says. Her lips quiver but no tears.

Aubree takes her hand. “Love you, sweetie.”

“Love you, too.”

And then Hattie and Aubree take off together.

Wyatt is next, still with his tissue box in hand. He gives her a long hug and then whispers something in her ear. I don’t know what he says, but she nods and offers him a shaky smile.

When he leaves, the room grows silent.

Gabby turns to me. “I’ll let you two have a moment.” She slides her hand around my neck and pulls me in for a kiss. I let my lips linger for a moment as I remember the day we got married.

It was out on the farm, a simple, intimate wedding with our closest friends and of course our family present. We spent the night dancing under the stars, watching Mac chase Bennett around with the fake snake he got her as a present—something to show her that he wasn’t as boring as he seemed. It was the perfect day . . . just like today will be the perfect day.

Gabby moves away from me and walks up to Mac. “I’m so proud of you,” Gabby says. “You’re everything I could have hoped for in a daughter and I’m so grateful you allowed me to be in your life.”

Mac’s eyes start to water, and she quickly fans them. “Stop it,” she says with a laugh. “Dammit, I’m not crying.”

We all laugh, and Gabby places a kiss on her cheek. “See you down there.”

And then that leaves two.

Still fanning her face, Mac points at me. “Don’t make me cry.”

“I won’t,” I say.

I hold out my arm to her and allow her to loop it through. Together, we head out of the suite and down the stairs.

I stare down at the bouquet wrapped in satin from Cassidy’s wedding dress and try to calm my racing heart. There’s no use. This day is monumental. This is the day I step aside and allow another man to take care of my girl. That I have to trust that he will do her right. That he will take care of her. Love her. Cherish her the way I have. And I hope I did a good enough job raising her and that she knows how that’s supposed to feel.

We make our way downstairs, where Maggie waits by the back door.

“Oh God, look at you,” Maggie says. “MacKenzie, you look stunning.”

“Thank you.”

“Are you ready?”

“Yes,” she answers.

“Okay, let me cue the music.”

“Hold on,” I say to Maggie. “Give me one second.”

Maggie nods her head and steps aside.

“Don’t do it,” Mac says. “Don’t make me cry.”

I turn to her, my eyes watery. “Raising you has been the greatest honor of my life, MacKenzie.” Her eyes water too. “And being Uncle Dad will go down as my greatest accomplishment. Thank you for letting me be that man for you.”

Tears stream down her face. “Dad,” she says.

“Huh?”

“Not Uncle Dad, just . . . Dad.”