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“Here’s the best man, now,” I said, motioning for him to join us.
“Seriously?” he asked, putting his arm around Ali’s shoulders. “Let me see that thing.”
The rest of the evening was filled with endless celebration. My mother was busy first telling Ali the wedding could be whatever she wanted, and then asking how soon she wanted to start planning it. I’d warned her that since I had no siblings, let alone sisters, my mom might overwhelm her when it came to our ceremony. “You’re her only daughter. She’ll want to spoil you.”
“It’s okay, Cope. She’s my only mother.”
EPILOGUE
COPE
My eyes filled with tears as I watched the woman who would soon be my wife walk down the garden path in my parents’ backyard. Ali’s arm was tucked in my father’s, who had offered to walk her down the aisle. She had ecstatically accepted.
My eyes met Lindsey’s, who was standing a couple of rows back. She smiled and winked, perhaps remembering the fateful night when Ali and I met in her café. The same café that, much to my mother’s initial shock, was catering the lunch that followed the ceremony.
Ali had requested two things: gyro salad and baklava; otherwise, she gave Lindsey free rein.
“That’s odd,” my mother had said when she looked at the menu Lindsey had prepared. “But whatever Ali wants, Ali gets. She makes you so happy, Sumner. I will spend my life thanking her for that.” She did make me happy. More than I dreamed possible.
Irish put his hand on my shoulder. “She’s beautiful,” he murmured.
I reached up and covered his hand with mine, so thankful he was alive to stand beside me.
“Only good memories,” I could hear Ali say inside my head.
“You both deserve every bit of happiness life brings you.”
“So do you, Irish.”
“I’m workin’ on it. Looks like I’m not the only one.” He motioned with his head, and I looked briefly at where Buck stood next to Stella, his arm draped around her shoulders.
My gaze then met my bride’s. “I love you,” I mouthed. My father lifted her veil, took her hand, and put it in mine.
***