Epilogue.

Epilogue.

One year later.


Ross Hamilton's POV.

The sand is the most gentle hue of gold, almost earthen and muted, the humble star of the scene. The water is crystal clear and blue green, it is so clear that you can see the fish in it if you look close enough.

There is nothing noisy about the gentle waves softly crashing on the shore, yet they have sound. Perhaps to me it is more like the music of my childhood summers so long ago with the people I have loved and lost. If I close my eyes I can hear my mother calling me for lunch, my father rustling the newspaper as he turns a fresh leaf. I can see her sprawled on the warm sand in her favourite red bathing suit, her blonde hair looking like spun gold in the sunlight. I can still hear her laughter as we play in the water.
I can feel her presence strongly even in the salty air of the beach. She's with me.

I will never forget this day. For as long as I live. The day I marry her. The woman of my dreams. She is perfection in human form.

She walks down the altar in white sandals and red gold hair that tumbles down her back effortlessly and catches the sunlight. There is a crown of flowers on her hair and pretty hydrangeas in her hands.

Everything about her is simply breathtaking, from her free flowing gown to the flowers in her hair and the smile that takes my breath away. I can't believe that she is all mine.
Every step she takes I am more and more sure that I want to spend eternity with her.

Our wedding isn't just a wedding. Our wedding is a celebration of love, love for each other and for all those who come to share it with us. It is a day of reaffirming our bonds.

I can't think of any place better to share this beautiful day than my mother's island. It's the perfect place to share this day.




At the end of the ceremony, congratulations from our small gathering follows. We only invite family and close friends that are close to us, Mrs Marcella, Elenora's brother, his new girlfriend he insisted on bringing along, Liv, Marie our nanny, my grandparents, Kerry my assistant who planned the intimate wedding, Guzman, Mr Bernstein, a childhood friend of mine Zack and Sophia who somehow found out about the wedding and flew all the way to the Bahamas for it.

Alexander and Viola come to us first and I don't hesitate to carry Viola who is crying out for me. They've grown so big now. Viola more and more everyday reminds my grandparents of a younger version of my mother. While Alexander seems to look like me when I was young. I think Elenora might be a little mad that they don't look like her. But I think they take after her very much in other areas.

"I'll like to introduce you to someone." I whisper to her as I'm finally able to drag her away from her friend Liv and her brother Julian.

"Is it that tall brooding gentleman over there? I've been meaning to ask you who he is." She says as she tries to stop Alexander from pulling the flowers in her hair.

I sigh in frustration as I take his hands away from Elenora's hair. The boy is a troublesome one. He reminds me of me.

"Maybe you should call Marie to take them." I murmur as I make eye contact with my uncle who is a few feet away from the celebrations. The person I want Elenora to meet.

I haven't seen my father's brother in years, he disappeared after my mother's death and all my attempts to find him failed. But now, here he is.
Most likely after learning of my father's twelve year sentence in prison. How he got to know, I don't know, we did a very good job keeping it private.

I pass a squirming Viola to Marie after planting a kiss on her forehead.

"Daddy will see you later." I say as I stare into her blue eyes that are just like mine.



"He looks like you."

Elenora observes as we approach him.

"He's my uncle. Logan Hamilton."

"Really? The one you haven't seen in years?"

"Yes. The same one. I didn't think he'd be here."

"Did you send him an invitation?" She asks with a small voice as we near Logan Hamilton who is staring at the waves crashing on the shore.

"No, I never found him. Until last year when I found out he visits my mother's island once every year."

My heart tightens in my chest. Logan Hamilton only came to the island on the anniversary of my mother's death. Because she was also laid to rest here. Her ashes were spread in the sea.
And until last year, I didn't know he visited here every year.

"On the anniversary of your mother's death."

I nod my head slowly.

"You look so much alike."

She adds as she squeezes my hand when she notices the worry etched on my face.

What am I going to tell him when I see him?

How do you say hello to an uncle you haven't seen in years.

"Hello Ross." Logan Hamilton slowly turns with a smile on his face.

He reminds me of a younger freer version of my father. And he bears an unsettling resemblance to me.

"Uncle. How long has it been?"


He shrugs, he is dressed in casual beach shorts and an Hawaiian T-shirt much like everyone on the beach.

"Too long." he says as he draws me in for a hug. I quickly pull away.

He stops to look at Elenora.

"Congratulations Elenora."

Elenora furrows her eyebrows

"Thank you. I'm sorry, I don't know much about you... "

"It's okay. I understand. I'm sorry for everything you had to go through. I heard the things that my brother and his stepson did to you."

"So you knew?"
I ask with a frown. Why did he choose to stay away then?

He shrugs.

"I only learned about it after it happened. I wish I could have been there but frankly I don't think I'd have been very helpful."

"Still, your presence would have been much appreciated."

Elenora's places a firm hand on my shoulder and it instantly suppresses my growing anger.

"I don't know what to say Ross... I'm sorry. After your mother died..." he starts as he looks out to the water again with a faraway look, how is it possible he still isn't able to move on from her death after so long? It's been eight years.



"I just didn't know how to deal with it. And with everything happening with Charles and the company, I had to get away..."

"It looks like after all you didn't need my help. You look happy Ross. With your wife and kids." He says as he points out to Alexander and Viola playing in the sand with Julian and Grandma Marcella.

"What are their names?"

"Alexander and Viola." Elenora answers with her eyes her still fixated on the kids.

I study Uncle Logan's expression. He has a small smile on his face.

"They're perfect. If you don't mind, I'd like to meet them."

"Sure you can. You don't have to ask. You're family." Elenora answers for both of us.

He gives her a small smile as he holds her hand.

"Thank you."

He walks away and I turn around to watch him.

"Come on Ross. Let's take a walk."

Slowly, we both walk on the warm sand with our shoes in our hands and the wind in our hair.

"Logan and my mother, they loved each other. A lot."

I start as I try to remember the way he used to look at my mother. I was young, but I always remembered the look in his eyes. Like she was his whole world. Like she was the only sun in his sky. Pretty much like the way I feel about Elenora.

"I know. It's pretty obvious."

"I just wished they had spent much more time together. Their love was intense but it caused so many problems for them. It ruined a lot of things, the relationship between my mother and my father, the relationship between me and my father and the relationship between my father and his brother."


"But it made them happy. Your mother and your uncle were meant to be. The problem started when she married your father."

"I know. But when I think of it, my father must have been pretty hurt too. That no matter what my mother will always pick Logan over him."

"Are you okay?" She asks after a long pause.

"Yes. I am. Are you okay?" I ask as we both look out at sea.

I know she remembers vividly that this is where Kathy's ashes were laid to rest. I remember vividly, how she had laid on the sand and watched the sunset hours after we had thrown her ashes into the clear blue green sea. After her ashes had been thrown in to the sea, it gave Elenora the idea to set up a foundation in her name. So that Kathy's name would live on and she would be able to help more people with the same condition.

I look into her eyes, her eyes show me her soul. They are a deep pool of restless gold, an ocean of crashing emotions. As I look into her eyes I know, all the beauty of the universe could not even hope to compete with the beauty in her molten gold eyes.

She would not let her grief break her. Sure she could cry, but she preferred to smile as she stares at the sea.

"I know Kathy's happy. Wherever she is."

"Just like your mother is."

She adds.

"I know."

We pause for a while staring at the sea till the noise and the laughter of the small group of guests in our wedding party jolt us out of our thoughts.

"Well, Mr Hamilton, shall we go back to our guests and our children?"

"Lead the way Mrs Hamilton."

And as we walk hand in hand, back to our family and friends and our two lovely children with the wind in our hair and the sand under our feet, I can't help but feel overwhelmed with love.

Elenora Hamilton is the sun in my solar system. We started out with a contract, a contract that was meant to help me win back my company and my mother's island she was to be my surrogate and wife, today, all these things pale in comparison to her and our kids. Now, she isn't only the mother of pur twins, she is my soulmate. I will give up the company and the island in a heartbeat if it means spending eternity with her and our kids.

Elenora Hamilton is the sun in my solar system.