Page 59 of Anchored Love
Epilogue
Cruise Into The Future –
Everly
“You excited?”Jess ran her fingers through my long, wavy beach curls one last time.
“My stomach keeps turning somersaults.”
“Drink some water.” Kelsey handed me my drink.
What I wanted was liquor, but Mason had made good on all his baby-making talk, and we’d found out a few weeks before we were expecting. It may have appeared to some we were having a shotgun wedding, but this day had been over a year in the making. The family all loaded up for a second and what was looking to be our annual cruise. This time Mason brought his parents, and Samantha and Greg came with us. A friend from work was pet-sitting Mooch for us.
When Mason suggested we get married on the same beach as Kelsey and Drake, I thought he was completely crazy, but it made sense. Their wedding gave us the push we needed to get together and see what had been in front of us all along.
“You look like an absolute princess, sweetheart.” My mother doted over me, placing the tiara that went with my gown on my head. It was my one and only wedding. I intended to make it count. This time around we managed to score a cruise schedule that would allow us to be married at night. “Will you guys give us a moment?” Jess and Kelsey left us.
I looked at my mom and wondered what she was up to.
“Darling girl, I hope you know I’m proud of you, and I love you. There’s something I need to say. It isn’t easy for me to admit this, so I’m just going to say it. I’m sorry I gave you and Mason such a hard time about the validity of your relationship. I judged you both, and it wasn’t fair of me. He’s a wonderful man, and I know he’s going to be a great husband, son-in-law, and one day a father. I’m happy you have him in your life. I see the way he looks at you, and it reminds me of the way your father looked at me. He would be so happy for you if he were here. So very proud. You were always his favorite. Sometimes I almost felt jealous of the bond the two of you had. He loved you so much, and he always liked Mason. I love Herbert. He’s given me a new lease on life and love, but your father was my first love.”
I fanned my hands toward my face, mainly my eyes. “You’re going to make me cry.”
“Oh now, we don’t want you ruining your makeup. Give me a hug and tell me all is forgiven. I don’t want any bad energy between us on your big special night.”
“I love you, Mom.” I kissed her cheek and gave her a squeeze, wishing my father could be here to share in all the little things. I didn’t think I’d ever not miss him and ache for him. Nothing would ever fill that void, but it was a part of life that I had to accept. This was the happiest night of my life.
“I want you to have these.” She grasped my hand and tucked a pair of diamond earrings into my palm. “I wore these the day I married your father. Now I’m giving them to you, and one day when you have a daughter you can pass them on to her for her special day.”
“Whew.” I bit my lip. “I’m not gonna cry. I’m not gonna cry.”
“It’s time. You ready for this?”
“Absolutely.” I smiled, biting back my sadness.
“Now if we could just get your sister to start planning her wedding.”
“Don’t hold your breath.” I loved Jess, but she was going to have the longest engagement in history. Mom would be lucky to see it happen within the next five years.
The moon shone over the powdery white sand. The waves crashed restlessly against the shore. Tiki torches lit the aisle that was adorned with garland, coconuts, and seashells. Our wedding, a tropical paradise. Everything was perfect, including my groom dressed in black pants rolled up his calves and a white button-down with the sleeves pushed up and a few buttons undone. His dark hair tousled as though I’d just run my fingers through it. As I stood with Herbert watching my bridesmaid march toward the Justice of the Peace, I wanted to bypass it all and run to my man. I’d been waiting all my life for this day. I’d waited all my life for Mason Jones, and I finally had him. I had my man.
“You look beautiful,” Herbert told me. “You probably don’t hear it enough, but I’m proud of you, Ev. I know I’m not your dad, and I’d never try to replace him, but I’m honored to fill his shoes tonight.”
My bottom lip trembled as tears burned in the back of my throat. The two of us had always gotten along, but neither of us had ever been overly sentimental with one another. “Thank you. I’m not sure if I’ve ever told you, but while you can’t replace my dad, you do a pretty damn good job taking care of us and treating us like your own. I’m proud to have you walk me down the aisle and give me away.”
He grabbed his handkerchief from his pocket, wiping at his eyes. I took a deep breath, sucking in the ocean air. This was it. My wedding day … well, night.
Arm looped through my stepfather’s, I stepped forward, one foot in front of the other, sand gritting between my bare toes. My dress, simple yet elegant, stopped at my knees and had an empire waist for my growing belly. I was almost into my second trimester, and a small bump had began to protrude.
Karen and Marty, Mason’s parents, smiled at me with tears streaming down their faces. My mother was a blubbering mess. Her emotions weren’t so erratic when Drake married Kelsey, but when their little boy was born, she was over the moon and downright scary. I thought she’d pass out, and she appeared on the verge of it now. I stared ahead, having only eyes for Mason. The moonlight illuminated him by the white archway. A warm breeze fluttered by, caressing my skin with the spray of the ocean.
“Who gives this woman in marriage?”
“Her mother and I do,” Herbert announced, passing me off to my husband-to-be. He stepped back, and I joined hands with Mason after passing my gorgeous lilies over to Jess.
“God, babe, I love you,” Mason whispered, and I wanted nothing more than to kiss him already. I couldn’t stop grinning.
“Friends, you’ve been brought here on this beautiful night to witness the union of Mason Jones and Everly Woolsworth. Mason, if you’re ready, repeat after me. I thee Mason, do take thee Everly to be my wife and partner through life, starting on this night. For better or worse, in sickness and health, as long as the two of you inhabit this earth.”
