Cameron beamed at her, then stood up and slipped the gorgeous ring over her finger. And they christened the new tasting room then and there, tasting each other under the white twinkle lights, and then wrapped themselves up in each other’s arms as they planned a future together.
Meanwhile, Priscilla, who was only supposed to fill in at Story Imports until Margaret “came to her senses,” had been hired as their father’s full-time secretary, and it didn’t surprise Margaret a bit when she arrived at Jessica Winslow and Alex English’s wedding today holding on to Shane Olson’s arm. Although Margaret was dying to know what was going on with them, she was determined to let Priscilla tell her when she was ready, and so she grinned at her little sister and welcomed Shane without teasing questions or a knowing smile.
Margaret didn’t know what would become of her relationship with her father, who had canceled his attendance at Jessica and Alex’s wedding once the new venue had been made known. Perhaps they wouldn’t reconcile. Perhaps they would. She would always hope for peace with her father, but Cameron’s love was ballast against the nonexistence of her father’s. All she could do was pledge that she would be a different kind of parent to her children. One day.
Margaret scanned the long table where she sat nestled beside Cameron. The Englishes and Winslows had taken over the table completely, and Barrett English was making a rather long speech about how Jessica could best “manage” his younger brother. Cameron laughed beside Margaret, squeezing her closer and clapping heartily when the speech was over. The guests picked up their forks and banged them lightly against their wineglasses, and Margaret looked down the candlelit table to see Alex clutch Jessica’s face with infinite tenderness and kiss his new bride.
Margaret recognized the look on Jessica’s face when she finally drew away. Unreserved and unconditional love was something Margaret herself knew well.
Brooks and Preston, who were seated across from each other, got up next and asked everyone to raise their glasses.
“We were not initially in favor of Alex courting our sister,” said Brooks, looking pointedly at Cameron.
“Hell, no!” said Cameron, eliciting a hearty laugh from the English brothers.
“But when we realized how much he loved our sister,” said Preston, glancing lovingly at his wife, Hollywood star Elise Klassan-Winslow, “we knew better than to get in the way.”
“Because,” said Brooks, smiling with emotion at his little sister, “as Jessica will be the first to tell you, when someone loves you, the best thing you can do is give yourself permission to love them back.”
Thank you, mouthed Brooks to Jessica, who wiped away a tear and mouthed, I love you, to her oldest brother.
“And if you don’t give yourself permission,” said Preston, grinning at Jessica, “one day you just might thank God that you have a little sister who will browbeat you into it.”
Jessica giggled through her tears and shook her head at Preston, who mouthed, I love you, Jess.
“We Winslows have often been called the Wild Winslows, and you know what? I guess that’s true. We love wildly, don’t we?” Brooks looked pointedly at Preston, then Jessica, then Cameron. “Just ask my brother Cameron, who asked Margaret Story to marry him last weekend.”
There was a round of raucous applause and glass banging, and Cameron turned to Margaret and kissed her upturned, smiling lips to appease the well-wishers.
“When we actually get our heads out of our asses and see what’s right in front of us, we Winslows love forever,” added Preston, winking at Christopher, the only unattached Winslow, who rolled his eyes good-naturedly.
“As you all know, my fiancée, Skye, is expecting our first child this spring,” said Brooks.
“And as none of you know, my wife, Elise, is expecting our first child a few weeks later,” added Preston, grinning down at her with a twinkle in his eye.
A loud communal gasp was followed by another round of applause. Jessica jumped up and covered her mouth with her hands in a reaction of utter glee. “Pres!”
He laughed softly as he reached for Elise’s hand and pulled her up beside him. “It’s true.”
Alex stood up beside Jessica, and Skye joined Brooks, the three Winslows and their loves raising their glasses together.
“To this generation of Winslows, who are slowly finding their way to happily ever after!” said Brooks.
“And to the next,” said Preston, “with a fervent wish that it won’t be as damned hard!”
A loud cheer went up as the guests clinked their glasses together, and Jessica rushed to Preston and Elise to congratulate them on their good news.
Margaret turned to Cameron, who sighed happily and said, “I’m going to be an uncle. Twice!”
She nodded. “Do you know what?”
“No,” he said, swallowing a gulp of Champagne before putting his glass back on the table. “Tell me.”
“Well, I was sort of thinking that maybe we should change the name of the vineyard.”