Epilogue
Eight months later.
Joe and I got married in the spring. The ceremony was held in a beautiful, old church in the city. There was a gorgeous banquet hall on the premises, so we held the reception right there in the same location.
Joe's mom planned everything. She didn't get to do much in regards to planning with Eli or Sarah's wedding, so she went all out for ours. We had hundreds of guests, more than half of which I didn't even recognize.
I found myself standing on the dance floor of the reception hall, staring at a huge group of people who were dancing and having the time of their lives—and all of them were there to celebrate with us.
I smiled, reminding myself to take it all in. My family, Joe's family, and our friends—all getting along in companionable wedding bliss. The whole thing felt so natural that I hadn't even told myself to wing it one time all evening. I was winging it without even trying.
"This officially makes you my sister, you know," Sarah said, coming up behind me and putting her arm around my shoulders.
"I already was your sister," I said.
"I know, but now it's a double. Now it's official."
I turned to make eye contact with her, and we smiled at each other.
"Did you see Josh?" she asked.
I looked around, locating Josh who was sitting at one of the kids' tables.
"He brought a little friend with him," she said.
I noticed that he was sitting with a boy about his age, and I nodded.
"It's Byron," she said.
I shot her a questioning glance and she smiled.
"He said they're friends now," she said. "He's probably gonna want to introduce you whenever you get the chance to go over there."
"I'll go over there now," I said. "I'll find Joe and take him over there with me."
"Take who over there with you?" Joe asked, grabbing me from behind so suddenly that I yelped as I stumbled back. He knew what he was doing, and I was in no danger of falling—anywhere except for into his arms.
He positioned my back into his chest using a hand around my waist and leaned in to kiss me on the cheek and neck several times. I had just danced with him a few minutes before, yet his presence still left me surprised and breathless. I loved his smell and the way his whiskers grew on his cheek. I reached up and ran my fingertips along it, feeling anticipation wash over me as he held me close to him with unrelenting pressure. He held onto me for dear life, and I held him back, making sure his arms stayed in place since I never wanted him to let me go. I had been talking to Sarah, but she had given up on getting my attention again once Joe walked up, and was now dancing with Collin.
"Kiss me," Joe said, causing my blood to turn warm.
"I did," I said.
"When?"
"When we said 'I do'."
He shifted me so that we were facing each other. "That was forever ago," he said.
I was struck by how much I loved him. "I'm so happy," I whispered.
He smiled. "I love you."
"I'm happy and I love you," I said.
And then he kissed me. He kissed me deeply—not at all concerned with the chaos taking place around us. He held me close and kissed me like he meant it. Joe Spicer kissed me like he was my husband and I was his wife. He tried to break the kiss, but he just couldn't do it. As if he couldn’t resist, he put about five more kisses right on my mouth before finally pulling back for good. We stood there and stared at each other when he finished, and the people standing around actually applauded.
"We should go talk to Josh and his friend," I said after taking a few seconds to get my breathing under control.
"That's fine, but when do I get to take you home?" he asked.
"As soon as this is over."
"And then you're all mine after that," he said.
I wrinkled my nose at him with a smile. "I already was all yours."
So there it is folks… my happily ever after, just the way it happened. It's a very different story than I would have dreamed up for myself, yet somehow infinitely better.
I've come to realize a very important truth as a result of all this, and it's that God knows what He's doing when he gives you a thorn.
The End
(till book 3)
*Now available:
So Much for Boundaries
(Shower & Shelter Book 3)
About the Author
Brooke St. James is the bestselling author of contemporary romance novels with Christian and inspirational themes and happy endings. She was born and raised in south Louisiana but has had the opportunity to travel and live throughout the U.S. An avid reader, writer, audio book addict, and fan of all things artistic, Brooke constantly has her hands in some creative activity. She's currently back home in Louisiana enjoying life with her husband, children, and extremely lazy Basset Hounds.
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Other titles available from Brooke St. James:
Another Shot:
A Modern-Day Ruth and Boaz Story
When Lightning Strikes
Something of a Storm (All in Good Time #1)
Someone Someday (All in Good Time #2)
Finally My Forever (Meant for Me #1)
Finally My Heart's Desire (Meant for Me #2)
Finally My Happy Ending (Meant for Me #3)
Shot by Cupid's Arrow
Dreams of Us
Meet Me in Myrtle Beach (Hunt Family #1)
Kiss Me in Carolina (Hunt Family #2)
California's Calling (Hunt Family #3)
Back to the Beach (Hunt Family #4)
It's About Time (Hunt Family #5)
Loved Bayou (Martin Family #1)
Dear California (Martin Family #2)
My One Regret (Martin Family #3)
Broken and Beautiful (Martin Family #4)
Back to the Bayou (Martin Family #5)
Almost Christmas
JFK to Dublin (Shower & Shelter Artist Collective #1)
Not Your Average Joe (Shower & Shelter Artist Collective #2)
So Much for Boundaries (Shower & Shelter Artist Collective #3)
Not Your Average Joe (Shower & Shelter Artist Collective Book 2) Page 14