Epilogue
Waiting months for their wedding day to arrive felt more like years. Cassie had wanted to elope the night of her and Troy’s engagement party. He’d been game but seeing the disappointment on their mothers’ faces had made them reconsider. Instead of driving to the nearest wedding chapel across the Nevada state line, they’d met both sets of parents for breakfast the next morning to discuss wedding plans.
Surprisingly, both sets of parents had agreed with Cassie and Troy’s wedding wishes:
Only immediate family and Moe would attend.
The ceremony would be held on the beach in Carmel.
Cassie would be allowed to go barefoot.
No maid of honor or best man would stand up with the bride and groom.
Cassie’s parents would both walk her down the aisle.
The reception would be held at her parents’ house.
With those things out of the way, the actual planning of the big day had been relatively easy. They picked a date that coincided with Troy’s youngest siblings’ spring break so they wouldn’t have to miss classes. Her mother hired a caterer, florist, and harpist. Her father found an officiant who wasn’t a shaman, but he didn’t mind incorporating the bride and groom’s wishes into the ceremony no matter how non-traditional their requests might be. Cassie ordered the dream “Juliet” gown she’d tried on at the wedding salon she’d visited with her mom.
Amid the wedding planning, Troy started a small-business consulting firm. His first client—Cassandra’s Attic. The changes being made were good ones. Sales were up, a new employee had been hired to be their book concierge, and Brett Matthews, who’d written a bestselling investing guide, would be doing a book signing soon. Next on the list of renovations was the addition of a coffee shop to the “attic” portion of the store.
Working with Troy and being a real couple instead of a pretend one reaffirmed what her heart knew—they belonged with each other. Things might not always go smoothly, but whatever obstacles they faced, they would get through them together. She had no doubt about that.
Today, on her wedding day with a cloudless blue sky overhead and a light breeze blowing off the Pacific Ocean, she couldn’t wait to take the next step toward her future with Troy. Eager to stand next to her groom and exchange vows, Cassie dug her toes into the warm sand.
“It won’t be much longer, sweetheart,” her mother whispered loud enough to be heard over a lovely song being played by the harpist.
Anticipation thrumming through Cassie, she nodded.
“You’re a lovely bride.” Her father squeezed her hand. “That dress is so you.”
Her vision blurred. She blinked away the tears. “Thanks, Dad. For everything.”
The harpist’s song changed.
“It’s time,” her mom announced.
A feeling of contentment settled over Cassie. With her mother on one side and her father on the other, she walked down the aisle to Troy, the love of her life, who stood waiting in a navy tuxedo with a huge smile lighting up his face.
His parents, brothers, sisters, Moe, Emily, and Eric sat in white chairs around a makeshift altar decorated with flowing white sheers and vibrant flowers, but Cassie barely saw anyone else. Her focus was on Troy.
His gaze gleamed with tears, and he rubbed his eyes.
As she reached him, her parents each kissed her cheek. Her father let go of her arm, placed her hand in Troy’s, and then her parents took their seats.
Troy squeezed her hand. “You’re gorgeous.”
“So are you.”
“I love you, Cassie.” Tears filled his eyes again. “You have no idea how much.”
Oh, she had an idea because she felt the same about him. “I love you, too.”
As they faced the officiant, her heart overflowed with love and joy.
That night at the bar, she hadn’t found a fiancé for the night. She’d found a husband for life.