Page 119 of Vicious Arrangement
Chapter Thirty-Three
EPILOGUE
Aria
Two YearsLater
Everything that could go wrong has.
Katie looks at the lopsided cake. “Well, it’s certainly unique.”
“There’s not a person in the Tri-State area who has a wedding cake quite like this.”
We look at each other and laugh.
It’s the morning of my wedding, and we’ve been up all night making this fucking wedding cake because the cakemaker went missing… possibly to Ibiza, if her photos on Instagram are anything to go by. Kiara helped decorate it, as did Joshy, so it’s extra special.
“What is that?” Katie points to a splotch.
I frown. “My kid’s definitely a billion-dollar modern artist in the making, so it’s either a fairy, an astronaut, a star, or possibly a brilliant commentary on the state of the modern Western world today.”
Then I point to another one. “That’s a soccer ball. It’s Josh’s favorite new sport.”
Katie frowns at her phone. “The flower guy said they delivered them, but I think he’s lying. What do you think of bodega flowers?”
“I don’t like killing flowers.”
“They’ve already been slaughtered, Ari. We should never waste any part of the flower.”
“Fine, fine. Let’s just buy them all. Kiara and Joshy will love them. They can help decorate,” I say.
Katie shows me her phone. “I’m putting in an order at the French bistro and the hole in the wall Mexican place that does those authentic tacos and chalupas and all the rest. They can do the meal last minute and just have it arrive on time for the wedding lunch.”
“What a week for Andre to go on vacation.” I shake my head and pick out stuff.
Carrie rushes in. “Oh, do the Mexican over the bistro. They’re faster, and they’ll even serve from the catering kitchen on the terrace for the guests, like our own Mexican food truck. I’ll send Alonso to get them here.”
I look at Katie. “The caterers sent us a kid party menu, so who knows what those children think of the elegant lunch we picked, and if they like caviar, but I think the candy, chips, and little treats will be great with the Mexican, right?”
“Right,” Katie says, and high-fives both me and Carrie.
Carrie rushes off to send her husband on a mission, and I go and change into my wedding dress.
With everything that’s gone wrong, the most important thing’s gone right. Everyone I love is here to see me marry the man I’m in love with. I’m going to shortly walk down the aisle we set up on the terrace, and I’m going to become Noah’s wife. Again.
It makes my heart sing and soar, and the world falls into some kind of perfect harmony.
My daughter, a gorgeous little girl with honey curls and a dimple when she smiles, is now eighteen months old and six-year-old Josh is enamored. She’s his little sister, his favorite thing behind Angus, Noah and Daddy.
But Kiara’s completely out of control she’s a little happy demon of chaos who’s got her own daddy wrapped tight around her little chubby finger. She can do no wrong in his eyes. Or her Gramp-Gramp’s eyes, either.
Josh is talking to Angus, and they’re wearing matching bowties.
Angus and Noah are fierce friends now. Sometimes it happened the day I was taken. It was building to that, but they bonded. And now he’ll protect that dog like he protects me and Kiara, with everything he is.
Kiara yells happily as Katie takes off after her, catching her and bringing her back to Joshy’s side.
She’s lucky she’s the world’s most adorable demon child. And I’m sure she’s going to steal the entire wedding with Josh and Angus dragged along.
