Epilogue
“Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to unite this man and this woman in holy matrimony.”
Reverend Morgan paused at the spot the last wedding he’d officiated at had been interrupted. He hadn’t really meant to, but now that he’d stopped it was obvious to everyone what he was waiting for.
He’d valiantly resisted all attempts to pull him into conversation and speculation about the first wedding debacle. But when they’d found out about today’s wedding—and who the bride was—the other pastors in his Friday breakfast group had insisted that, if it happened a second time, he had to work it into a sermon somehow.
It seemed that the whole congregation was holding its breath this time.
But no one said anything like No or Stop. And no one came storming down the middle aisle.
Which was great. Really. He was going to have to come up with something else for Sunday, but he was fine with that.
He took a deep breath, grinned at the congregation and went on. “Marriage should not be entered into unadvisedly or lightly, but reverently, discreetly, advisedly and solemnly. Into this holy estate these two persons present now come to be joined. If any person can show just cause why they may not be joined together, let them speak now or forever hold their peace.”
Reverend Morgan paused again—but he always paused at this part—and looked at the happy couple before him.
The groom was wearing one of the biggest smiles he’d ever seen and the bride was…frowning.
“Wait,” she said.
He stared at her. No way. He clapped the Bible he held shut. Now he owed Pastor Richards a jumbo muffin and a decaf latte on Friday.
The groom turned wide eyes on the bride. “Seriously?” he asked.
“There’s something I need to know,” she told him.
He turned to face her fully. “Now? You’re kidding, right?”
She shook her head. “Now is the perfect time actually.”
The groom glanced around at the friends they had standing up with them, then out at the church full of people. Then he took a deep breath and focused on the woman in white beside him. “Okay, what?”
“What did you come four thousand miles to say to me?”
He stared at her for three heartbeats. “Really?”
“You said I’d always wonder what you came four thousand miles to say, but you never actually said it.”
Reverend Morgan saw Gavin’s eyes dart to Devon Grant, the maid of honor, then out to the congregation, where his family sat in the second pew. Then he glanced over his shoulder at his best man—or rather, his best woman.
Hayley Stone gave him a big grin. “Yeah, let’s hear it, Gav.”
Gavin gave her a frown, then turned back to his bride. “Hasn’t everything that’s happened since I broke up your first wedding proven what I wanted to say without needing the words?” Gavin asked. “In fact, didn’t breaking up your wedding more or less prove what I wanted you to know?”
Allison smiled but shook her head. “Oh, no. I want to hear the exact words. I think everyone would like to.”
Reverend Morgan looked up to see the church full of smiles and nodding heads. If most of the town had shown up for the Brewster-Ralston wedding, the entire population was here for this one.
He had to admit, he wouldn’t mind hearing the words that had fueled the previous wedding drama.
He just wished he had a pen and paper.
The other pastors would insist on having it quoted word for word on Facebook, he was sure. “You did have an actual speech prepared, didn’t you?” Allie asked him, her tone teasing. “You wouldn’t just charge into a wedding fueled purely by emotion without a specific plan, would you?”
Gavin took a deep breath and leaned closer to Allie, lowering his voice. “I was kind of…winging it that day.”
Allie smiled knowingly. “No kidding.”
“Speak up! We can’t hear in back!” someone called from the pews.
Everyone laughed and the groom’s shoulders seemed to relax. He took Allie’s hands in his.
“But I think I can do this. You ready?”
She smiled up at him, the love clear in her eyes. “You don’t have to. I was just joking—”
“Oh, no. You started this,” Gavin broke in. “I think you do need to hear this.”
Allie’s eyes were wide as she nodded. “Okay.”
Gavin lifted one of her hands to his mouth and kissed her knuckles. Then he said, loudly enough for everyone to hear, “Allison Ralston, I love you. More than anyone else ever will. Let me be the one to love you for better or worse. Let me be the one to take care of you in sickness and in health. Let me be the one to buy you Froot Loops and the one to dance with you in the rain and the one to kiss you good night every night.” He paused and took a deep breath. “Let me be the one to love you for the rest of your life.”
Allie blinked at him, then opened her mouth, then shut it again without making a sound.
Gavin gave her a smug grin. “See, told you I could do this.”
“Way to go, Gav,” Hayley said from behind him.
Devon wiped away a tear.
Reverend Morgan chuckled. Looked like he was going to get to finish this wedding ceremony after all.
Pastor Richards was buying the coffee and muffins on Friday.
“Well, I think that sums everything up nicely,” he said. “Allison, do you take Gavin as your lawfully wedded husband?”
Allie cleared her throat and swiped at the tear that balanced on her lower lashes. “I most definitely do.”
And this time when Gavin scooped Allie up into his arms in front of all their friends and family, it was Josh Brewster who held the church door open for them.
About the Author
Erin Nicholas is the author of sexy contemporary romances. Her stories have been described as toe-curling, enchanting, steamy and fun. She loves to write about reluctant heroes, imperfect heroines and happily ever afters. She lives in the Midwest with her husband, who only wants to read the sex scenes in her books; her kids, who will never read the sex scenes in her books; and family and friends who say they’re shocked by the sex scenes in her books (yeah, right!).
You can find Erin on the web at www.ErinNicholas.com, ninenaughtynovelists.blogspot.com, on Twitter www.twitter.com/ErinNicholas and even on Facebook (www.facebook.com/erin.nicholas.90).