I waited at the back, fidgeting with my long white dress. Lucy and Robyn walked ahead, stepping in time to the music, looking beautiful in blue satin. Lucy carried Ana and Robyn carried her own bulging belly full of baby. My hands shook so bad I looked like I was trying to strangle my bouquet, but Drake stood at the end of my walk, waiting for me, so I took the first step, willing myself not to fall on my face in high heels.
Luke and Bernard had both offered to walk me down the aisle, but it felt right to go alone. No one had to give me away. I was my own person now, and I gave myself freely to Drake.
Father Patrick smiled kindly as I approached, and Drake and I held hands. We stood under the weeping willow tree Lucy had planted with Mr. K's seed. It had grown faster than nature allowed, and held an energy that reminded me of my mentor. I missed him so much, but this tree—his tree—helped ease that pain.
"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to join this man and this woman in holy matrimony...."
The words blurred in my head. All I could see were Drake's eyes. All I could feel were his hands, and all I could think about was our family, how we were finally together forever.
We slipped rings on each other's fingers and then kissed each other into wedded bliss. The tree around us swayed without any wind to carry its branches, and yet they flowed around us, creating a halo effect.
Our friends all cheered as we marched down the aisle, hand in hand, married. The party moved to an open area where we had food and drinks under tents, and I tossed the bouquet. I expected Lucy to catch it, the way she and Hunter kept eyeing each other, but Mary actually grabbed it from the air, to my utter shock. On this day, of all days, I had no animosity for her. She'd paid her dues, and we all deserved a second chance.
Luke got up on the makeshift stage and cleared his throat. "We have a first dance for the newlyweds. If you please."
I smiled as Drake held out his hand and ushered me to the dance floor. I smiled even bigger when I heard the song: Amazed by Lonestar.
Drake held me in his arms. We locked eyes. As the music started, I sang the first few lines. "Every time our eyes meet, this feeling inside me...."
"You have a beautiful voice."
"Thank you."
"I think I'm going to like being married to you, Mrs. Davis."
"I think I'm going to like it too, Mr. Davis."
He dipped me and I laughed.
After a few more dances, I needed to find a place to stow the evil high heels from hell. I sat at a table and slipped them off just as Brad arrived clutching his briefcase.
"I'm so sorry to do this on your wedding, but I just got the paperwork in for the property in Hawaii, if you could just sign real fast?"
I took his pen and scribbled my name. Sam Davis. I knew it was trendy for women to keep their own name, but Smith was a made-up name, not mine. Davis at least had a history.
Brad closed the folder. "Thanks, Sam, this is going to be so great for all the kids."
The one good thing to come from being related to Steele: he had millions from his Rent-A-Kid operation, and Hunter had convinced IPI to release all of it to me as his only living heir. I was so rich I'd never have to worry about money again, and neither would any of these kids.
Robyn walked up holding her belly. "Sam, Ana's awake and needs changing. I can do it, but if you'd rather I didn't, after everything, then...."
I sighed. Robyn had walked on egg shells since Steele died. All of our missing memories had returned, and Robyn realized she had been the one to kidnap Ana and deliver her to Steele. She, of course, was not to blame, but she still worried every time she got near Ana. All I could do was reassure her it wasn't her fault. If I had any inclination to judge her for what had happened, I just thought about the horrible things I'd said and done, and knew that neither of us had any choice.
"I would really appreciate it if you could care for her, Robyn. Honestly."
She smiled and fluttered away to change my daughter.
Bernard walked up and hugged me. "Congratulations, Sam. You look beautiful."
"Thank you."
Drake came back and handed me some juice.
Bernard sat next to me. "I wanted to talk to you about school."
"You know I missed my interview. I mean, I obviously don't need financial help, but I missed my chance to be accepted into the art program." Money or no money, I still wanted desperately to study art, but I'd have to wait another year.
"I made a call. They can squeeze you in next week."
"Thank you, so much." Tears sprang to my eyes. "But there's just no way I can complete a portfolio by then."
"Well, a few of your friends have a surprise for you."
Dozens of my classmates lined up, and the first one to approach was Curtis, the kid who'd beat up Greg. "Sam, I know I'm an ass, but a long time ago, you drew this portrait for me and... well, here you go."
He handed me a painting I'd done of a tree in the fall, because he'd remarked that he loved the colors. His thoughts also surprised me as I looked from him to Greg. They'd made up, and he'd come out of the closet, with Greg's and Gary's help.
I looked at the painting, tears in my eyes. "Thank you. This means a lot to me."