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Epilogue

Liz

Six years later

"Something borrowed," Elle smiled at Lil, handing her the pearl necklace that had been passed down in our family for generations. At least mom gave us something to pass on to our kids that wasn't traumatic.

"Something blue," Addie stepped up next, clasping a sapphire bracelet to her wrist.

"And something new." I smiled at my now twenty-two-year-old daughter who was about to marry her own high school sweetheart.

Same kid that stuck around after the carnival, the one who got his younger brother to help fend off the rest of the bullies from Milo. Same kid who joined us for countless dinners and made us laugh like the comedian he was. Jason was the kind of guy I was happy to have Lil marry. He was intelligent, with a perfect SAT score, waiting until after he and Lil graduated from college to marry her.

Lil held her hand out, waiting for her something new, but I only shook my head at her. "Turn around."

She furrowed her brow in question, but did as she was told, facing the sliding door with its sheer white curtains that allowed the natural light to shine in. It was a beautiful day for an outside wedding in her dad's second favorite place — the garden.

After Lex read Lyle's email, he tore into his wife, finally growing the backbone he should have had years ago. He made her apologize to me and swallow her horrid words, threatening to leave her if she didn't. I knew she didn't mean any of the things she said, but I accepted her apology, ready to move on.

I let the kids grow a relationship with their grandparents, wary of Val and what she might teach them. Thankfully my kids were stubborn like me, and nothing she said or tried to teach them ever stuck. Lil was wild, confident, and unapologetically herself to this day.

"I bought this last week. Saw it in the shop and knew it had to be here on this day." I tied the royal blue ribbon on the strings of her corset. At the end of the ribbon sat the number 28 — her father's number.

"Now you'll have another piece of him with you."

"You say that, but I have no idea what you're giving me. You didn't exactly let me see it." She turned with her brow arched, blinking at me as she questioned my intelligence. I laughed, turning her to the body mirror in the corner, and letting her see it over her shoulder.

"Is that his number?" She squinted her eyes as she tried to see it better.

"It is."

"It's perfect. Thank you, mom." She fanned at her face as her eyes started to water. "Dammit, I was trying not to cry before the ceremony."

I laughed, squeezing her shoulders tight into a side hug. "He'd be happy to see you even with your mascara running and your eyeliner smeared."

"I know." She smiled, so in love it was radiating off her in waves.

A knock on the door interrupted our moment. "Everyone decent?" Brian's voice came through.

"We're good!" Addie yelled immediately, a large grin across her face.

The french doors opened to reveal a very dapper-looking Brian in a three-piece suit. The only other time I'd seen him in a suit was at our own wedding, although I told him he could wear his leather jacket, and I would be just as happy. He believed I deserved the wedding I never got to have and did just as he planned, out in the woods with our closest family and the dress of my dreams…just like in my drawings.

"You look beautiful, Lily." Brian had truly become a father to my children, taking them under his wing and helping me raise them. Although, to be fair, Lil was practically raised by the time he came in, so really it was Milo he helped with.

"Thanks," she smiled at him, pecking his cheek in greeting. "You ready to walk me down the aisle?"

"Hell, no. But, I'll do it."

She laughed, squeezing his hands as she held them in front of her. "Good, cause I love Milo, but he would have me skip down the aisle rather than walk."

"Did I hear my name?" Milo's six-foot-four self strode through the doors, looking so grown at only sixteen. He's killing me. I had to have his suit tailored to fit his now-massive biceps and all-too-long legs. The boy had grown taller than his father and inherited his deep love for football. He wore his father's number proudly on that field and did it more than enough justice. He already had scouts coming to see him. I couldn't be more proud, and I was sure Lyle felt the same way from where he was.

"You sure did. I need my partner to skip down the aisle with." I took his arm, patting it as I linked mine with his.

"I like the sound of that." Milo's smile had grown to resemble his father's far too much, but I loved being able to see it again.

"I'll see you out there, Lil." I threw one last look at her, admiring how radiantly beautiful she looked in her white dress. "Let's go."

Milo led the way, walking us out back and leading me down the aisle to my spot in the front row. I met eyes with so many guests, as Lil and Jason had grown to be quite the popular pair, making so many friends in high school and college alike. As we neared the front, I spotted Lyle, or so I thought. I blinked, finding Lex's face staring back at me instead. My heart stung for just a moment, letting myself feel sad at the fact he wasn't here to see our daughter get married.

Milo seemed to read my mood, squeezing my arm with his muscles. "It's okay, Mom. He's watching."

I patted his cheek as we took our seats in the front, waiting for the bridesmaids to follow.

"You are the picture of beauty." Lil looked perfect, too grown, actually. She was getting married today, and despite knowing that Jason was an outstanding kid who was at least worthy enough of her, I still didn't want to hand her off.

When she asked me to be the one to walk her down the aisle, I had to try hard not to cry like a blubbering baby. With Milo, it was easy to tell that he thought of me as a dad, that he loved me. With Lil, it was as hard as telling what a rock was feeling. She kept quiet, gave me nods of appreciation, and talked to me when she couldn't speak with her mom, but she never blurted ‘I love you' a lot or tried to spend that much time with me.

Granted, she was a teenage girl and it could have been worse, but I had always wondered if maybe she liked me for her mom's sake. Like maybe she tolerated me more than she liked me. The fact she asked me to walk her was a testament to how she really felt. I said yes so fast, she barely had time to finish the question.

"Thanks." She blushed, fidgeting with her hands the same way her mom did. "Hey, Brian?"

"Yes, Lily?"

"Thanks for being my other dad."

Dear God, like I wasn't already fighting tears. She had to go and say those words to me. Men aren't supposed to cry, according to society.

"Lily, I thought we were trying not to cry." I swallowed, refusing to let the emotion seep into my tone.

"I can't help it. It's this day. It's got me all sappy."

I laughed, remembering how sappy even Lizzie got on our wedding day. This family was full of happy tears, and more than willing to shed them. Over the years we had grown comfortable enough to cry in front of one another and talk through the emotions we were feeling. Thanks to Lyle's death, the kids had learned that although they should be confident and strong, it didn't mean they couldn't feel or show their emotions with their family.

"Just like your mother, I swear."

"Thanks. If I can be even a fraction like her, I think I'm doing alright." She held her head high, proud of the woman she'd become.

"Ready, monster?"

"Ready, pooh."

She had adopted my mother's nickname for me after finding out why I got it and I had adopted her father's. At first it stung us both, but that's why we did it, to normalize the nicknames again, to bring back the good that was attached to them.

"Then let's get you married."

We headed out, pausing at the edge of the garden, the scent of honeysuckle fresh in the air. The sun was hot but the breeze was cool, keeping everyone from sweating too profusely. I loved the sunshine against my skin, feeling my endorphins kick in as if I were a flower getting my nutrients from its rays.

The music began and we slowly walked. "I think I'm going to hurl," she whispered, clutching my forearm so tight I was sure it'd bruise. Lily had some surprising strength you wouldn't expect from her petite figure.

"Just keep your eyes on him. It'll stop."

It was then that she lifted her head for the first time, staring right at Jason's dark eyes. Her hand squeezed the fabric of my blazer even harder as she began to pull me towards him, walking faster than when we'd started. I tried not to chuckle at how quickly her demeanor had changed.

I gave her away with tears in my eyes and took my seat beside Lizzie. She immediately grabbed my hand, giving it a tight squeeze as she interlocked our fingers, her tattoo of her drawing, Chika, on her ring finger to symbolize our wedding ring. I had her other drawing, no face, on my ring finger after getting the wedding ring stuck on engines too often because I refused to take it off for even a second.

"Why don't we get something more permanent?" was Lizzie's suggestion, which resulted in these tattoos. As permanent as the love we have for each other.

I watched as Lily and Jason said their vows, promising so many things I knew they could do if they kept their love strong. They kissed, applauding as they were announced.

"Milo, are you crying?" Lizzie teased her child, who had teared up at the sight of his sister being married. Lily and Milo had always had this close relationship, being brought closer together by the death of their father.

" No, I'm not. You're crying." He pointed to his mother, who in fact was shedding tears. We all were, so we all laughed.

"Let's go eat and then dance the night away," I suggested, being the first to stand.

I grabbed Lizzie's hand and followed the masses to the large tent that the Fosters had set up. Val might be a bitch, but she was trying. She wanted to plan the whole thing, but she let go of her control and allowed Lily to have the wedding she wanted. It was beautiful, and as we walked towards the reception area, I saw Lizzie's eyes land on Lyle's well.

"Want to say some words?" I asked her, seeing her nod. "We'll be waiting with everyone else. Come see me when you're done." I kissed her knuckles before letting her hand go.

Milo kept stride with me as he watched his mother walk off. "Do you not get upset when she misses dad?"

"Why would I?"

"I don't know, jealousy?" He shrugged his broad shoulders, still having that childish gleam in his eyes.

"She's allowed to miss him, Milo. He was her husband before me, and he was our friend before that. I miss him, too, just like you and Lily do. Don't think too hard about it."

I reached up, shaking his curls. The boy had grown taller than me now, making me feel short despite being a good six feet. He draped his arm over my shoulder and led us toward the food. That was where his mind was all the time, not on girls or sports, but food. He was the first to make himself a plate.

After about twenty minutes, Lizzie showed back up, her eyes pink, a clear indication she'd been crying. I held her close, whisking us to the dance floor before she tried to say anything. Even though I assured her every time that it didn't bother me if she cried about Lyle, she always felt like she had to explain it.

I held her close against my chest as we danced to the slow melody, kissing her temple. She melted into my arms as always, allowing herself a moment to breathe. "Are you okay?"

"I'm always okay when I'm with you," she assured me, resting her head over my heart. "I love you, Brian."

"I love you, too, Lizzie."

As the night continued, Lizzie returned to her normal self, laughing and teasing. Milo danced like a goof around his mother to try and cheer her up, reminding me more and more of his father. He had the same natural charm and goofball attitude. It was a wonder he didn't already have a girlfriend.

As the crowd dwindled, I grabbed Lizzie's hand, sneaking her out the side of the tent and towards the trees in the distance.

"What are you up to?"

"Just wanted to kiss you in a way I couldn't in front of everyone else."

I pinned her against a tree, kissing her like it was the first time our lips ever met. My hand cradled her face, running my thumb along her jawline until I met her chin, lifting it towards me. We made out like a couple of teenagers before sneaking back to the reception to see Lily off.

We waved as they left in their limo, ‘Just Married' scribbled in pink on the back windshield. "How long do you think we have until I'm a grandmother?"

"Seeing as they're married, graduated, and heading to Rome, Uhhh, probably a year." I laughed as she blanched, realizing how accurate my statement was. "You'll make a great grandmother."

"Shut up. You do realize that would make you a grandfather, right?"

"But I'm only 43!"

She giggled, waving Milo down as we headed towards the car. She tossed him the truck keys she'd been carrying in her purse. "It's yours now."

"You mean it?" His eyes were full of excitement, twisting my stomach with worry as I imagined the truck flipped over with him inside it.

"Drive carefully!" we both exclaimed, coming to the same conclusion at the look in his eyes.

"I know!" He waved at us as he jogged towards his father's truck with a large grin.

"In a couple of years, we'll have the house all to ourselves. I'm sure you can only imagine what that will mean."

"Mmm, let's start tonight. Milo is spending the night with Ryan." She turned, tickling the stubble that grew at my jawline with her slender fingers.

"Oh, I'm going to ravish you."

"Ravish? Really?" She laughed at my word choice as she led the way towards the mustang, her hips swaying confidently, knowing I was staring at her nice, plump ass.

"Ravish, Lizzie. Fucking ravish."

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