EPILOGUE
Four weeks later, St Mary’s Church, London.
‘IT REALLY IS a case of how the mighty have fallen this time, isn’t it?’ Rafe remarked lightly to Gabriel as the two men sat beside each other on the front pew of the church.
‘More like the felling of a giant oak tree that’s been standing strong and unmoving for hundreds of years,’ Gabriel came back dryly. ‘Who would ever have thought that Michael would not only fall in love but also become the father of twins in just a few short weeks? And now he’s getting married too!’
‘And after mocking our own recent demise.’ Rafe nodded.
‘I’m not taking any notice of either of you,’ Michael drawled unconcernedly as he sat closest to the aisle waiting for Eva to appear in the church, his two brothers beside him acting as his best men. ‘As long as I have Eva as my wife and the twins as our children I’m going to remain totally immune to your teasing in future!’ The three brothers were all settled into their respective galleries now, Gabriel in London, Rafe in New York, Michael in Paris, all of them determined that nothing like the Pierre episode should ever happen again in their name.
‘We aren’t teasing, Michael, not really. We’re just happy for you,’ Gabriel assured sincerely.
‘We truly are,’ Rafe echoed just as sincerely. ‘Eva is beautiful. And the two of you are perfect for each other.’
‘Thank you,’ Michael accepted softly.
‘And we aren’t just saying that because you managed to secure the second E J Foster exhibition as well as a wife!’ Rafe couldn’t resist adding teasingly.
‘Enjoy it while you can, Rafe, but I’m going to have the last laugh...’ Michael assured dryly.
‘How so?’ Gabriel prompted cautiously.
Michael grinned unabashedly. ‘It was my suggestion that Eva have Bryn and Nina as her bridesmaids, and it was a stroke of genius on her part to have Bryn carry Sophie as the third bridesmaid, and Nina carry Sam as the ring-bearer. The two of them fell instantly in love with the little darlings, and I have no doubt that the two of you are going to be in for some serious wheedling about having children of your own later this evening!’
‘Fine with me,’ Rafe murmured smugly.
‘Me too.’ Gabriel nodded happily.
‘God, we’re a sappy lot, aren’t we?’ Michael murmured ruefully. He thought about the house they were in the process of buying in Paris, with a garden for the twins to play in.
‘And happy to be so—’ Rafe broke off what he had been about to say as the organist began to play the wedding march, the three brothers rising quickly to their feet.
Michael turned proudly to watch as his bride, as his beloved Eva, walked down the aisle towards him, a vision in white satin and lace, their love shining brightly as they gazed into each other’s eyes.
The love of a lifetime.
And a lifetime to love...