“Amen to that, baby.” I kiss her soft lips. “Now we get to live the life we always wanted.”
Epilogue
Sydney – Seven Months Later
“You got a glorious day for it,” Cay says as the makeup artist puts the finishing touches to my bridal makeup.
“I couldn’t have asked for better,” I agree, peering out the window of our master suite and smiling at the assembled crowd in the near distance on the beach.
“The media took the bait,” Zeta confirms, topping off my flute. We’re drinking nonalcoholic champagne in honor of Cay because she’s six months pregnant.
Jerry and Cay’s December wedding was magical, and they discovered they’d made a honeymoon baby seven weeks later. I’m so happy for my bestie. I’ve never seen her so content, and I can relate. I’m the happiest I’ve ever been in my life.
Especially today when I get to marry the man of my dreams.
It's been a very rocky road to this moment, but we made it.
“I can’t believe you had to stage a fake L.A. wedding and hire actors to pretend to be guests just to ensure privacy on your special day. I still can’t believe how invasive the celebrity world is. It’s freaking nuts,” Cay says, sipping the bubbly liquid.
“It’s been a steep learning curve,” I say as subtle pink blusher is applied to my cheeks.
“You had a baptism of fire, girl.” Zeta sits on the window seat looking pretty in her bridesmaid dress.
Cay and Zeta are wearing the same burnt-orange silk dresses but with different styles. I’m honored Cay chose to return to her dark roots for my wedding, but I would have picked a different color dress if she wanted to keep her purple locks. She said it was time for a change and a lot of women choose not to dye their hair during pregnancy. Cay opted for an empire line short dress, which is flattering with her bump, while Zeta is wearing a fitted dress that molds to her envious curves and hits mid-calf. The top is a halter neck, and her back is bare.
“I did. Those first few months severely tested my sanity.” The initial days after the shock revelations were spent at home trying to dissect it all and figure out our feelings. We both attended therapy, individually and as a couple, as we needed some additional help. Of course, no one knows Gladys was murdered by my father. Sawyer disposed of her body and arranged for a fake accidental drowning in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean while on vacation. Her body was never found, assumed eaten by sharks. That news dropped a month after it all went down with Vittoria.
Jared and I confronted her and her baby daddy together. As long as I live, I will never forget the look on that bitch’s face when she realized the game was up. I was a little petty, groping and kissing Jared in a near replica of the time in the gallery. Even though she is supposedly in love with Antonio, she couldn’t conceal the envy and rage on her face. I think she probably did pick up feelings for J. Maybe she hoped their marriage would work out and she’d cut her childhood sweetheart loose. We’ll never know. We didn’t bother asking.
We stood outside her apartment and watched as the authorities arrived to arrest both of them for paternity fraud and visa fraud. Jared waived his right to compensation in return for ensuring neither of them were ever allowed into the US again. At the same time, he sold his Florentine home, and we drew a firm line under that episode of our lives.
Cameras were at the airport when they were escorted in handcuffs onto a plane bound for Italy. The world’s media lapped it up, and we garnered enormous sympathy. Jared is even more revered now, and fans have openly embraced me, happy to see he’s happy even if they wish it was with them.
We have settled into our new life with ease because it was always meant to be like this.
The guys’ new album dropped recently, and it was an instant number one on the charts. The album cover was a hit too, and I have more requests for commissions than I can handle.
Jared offered to buy me a gallery as a wedding present, but I don’t want the hassle of running one. I love the enormous airy studio he built me here, and I’m content painting commissions and working at a schedule that suits me.
It will be even more important in the near future.
A wide smile graces my mouth as I consider the news I have to tell my fiancé. It’s been killing me keeping it a secret this week, but it’s going to make the best wedding present. I can’t wait to see his face.
“You’re glowing, girl,” Zeta says, pinning me with a knowing look. I think she’s figured it out, but I’m saying nothing until I’ve told my baby daddy the joyful news.
“I love seeing you so happy,” Cay says with tears in her eyes. She’s a big ole hormonal mess, but I love the bones of her. She’s my sister in all the ways that count.
“I have dreamed of this day from the time I was a little girl. I can’t believe it’s finally happening or that it was possible to be this happy.”
“You went through hell to reach heaven. Embrace it, babe.” Cay leans in and hugs me as the makeup artist packs up her stuff.
“Knock, knock,” Felix says, poking his head through the door.
“You’re supposed to do that before you open the door,” I tease. “I could have been naked.”
My youngest brother rolls his eyes as he walks into the room with my nephew and Jared’s niece.
“Oh my God, look at you two,” I squeal, loving how adorable they are in their flower girl and page boy’s outfits. “You look so pretty, Carrie, and you’re very handsome, Jamie.”
