Epilogue
HARPER
Marrying Chase Ashworthin the Marathon branch of the Monroe County Courthouse wasn’t quite what I’d dreamed about as a little girl. My vision had always involved an ocean view, maybe the good china, certainly more than this odd blend of government antiseptic and whatever fragrance they used to mask the mildew in the corners. But standing next to him, our hands steadily entwined, I couldn’t imagine anything righter. Maybe this was what perfect looked like.
Not fancy. Not staged. Just us.
We’d managed to put this all together only two weeks after Chase proposed. The family had been somewhat stunned that we wanted such a bare-bones wedding, though Mom gave me a long, evaluating look. I wanted to keep quiet about the pregnancy a while longer, but Eli had been suspicious the moment Chase asked him to be best man.
Eli had given him a long side-eye and asked, “Did you knock up my little sister?”
And Chase, being terminally honest, confessed immediately. But smart-ass or not, I could count on Eli to keep quiet. And I didn’t even need to question whether Jules could keep a secret. Still, they were the only ones who knew.
The ceremony room, if that’s what you’d call it, looked like it moonlighted as a place to serve overdue parking fines. Dingy ceiling tiles overhead, paint peeling in one corner, one little fake palm tree. A generic beach print hung on the far wall.
And still, with Chase next to me in a suit—navy, tailored, and making his shoulders look even broader than usual, obviously pressed within an inch of its life—it could have been a palace. His hazel eyes found mine, and the edges of the room blurred a little, my heart doing a ridiculous soft-shoe in my chest. He offered me a tiny, private smile. The nerves sat in the set of his jaw, but his steady, intent gaze was all the reassurance I’d ever wanted.
I had gone simple with my dress. Soft white linen, fitted at my waist, fluttering just below the knee. Nothing sparkly. I’d styled my hair for once, and the waves caught the harsh courthouse light as if determined to stage a little rebellion. In honor of the occasion, I’d bought a new set of makeup and even applied it like I remembered how to.
Eli—God help us—wore a proper button-down shirt, sleeves rolled just enough to keep from looking respectable. And atie. He stood beside Chase, looking almost solemn. No sunglasses. Not a hint of a tan line from the mask of his usual grin. I’d caught the tiniest wink earlier, but right now, he was the very picture of a reliable witness and best man. His hands were clasped loosely in front of him, butthere was warmth there too in the tilt of his head, the softness at the corners of his mouth. He looked from me to Chase as if he were seeing a puzzle finally put together. Chase got a quick, subtle thumbs-up. A second later, Eli offered me a smile that was only a little lopsided.
Jules, on my other side, was a study in composure—a pale green dress, hair in an elegant chignon. She squeezed my hand as we lined up, and her fingers trembled a little. “Harper, you two look so good together. All three of you do.” It sounded formal, but her voice caught at the end, betraying her. She gave my hand one final squeeze before letting go, eyes shimmering a little too brightly.
Front and center between Chase and me stood Finn. Six years old, pint-sized prince of Dove Key, and a self-appointed ring security detail. His suit—tiny white linen, purchased with only moderate protest—made him look both solemn and a little feral. His hair had already escaped its part, sticking up in an enthusiastic cowlick. He gripped the little navy velvet pillow with both hands, his entire being condensed into this single, important job.
He looked up at me, blue eyes very, very serious. “Mommy, do I give Chase your ring, or does he give it to me first?”
His question ricocheted around the room, pinging off Chase’s smile, Eli’s barked laugh, quickly stifled, and Jules’s soft shake of her head.
I bent and smoothed that rogue bit of hair. “Sweetheart, when they say it’s time for the rings, you hand mine to Chase, and then you give Chase’s to me. And no juggling this time, okay?”
He nodded gravely. “No juggling. I promise.”
“Good man.” I pressed a kiss to his temple and straightened just as the officiant appeared in the doorway.
She was brisk, her smile polished and professional, the kind I suspected she kept in a drawer alongside a collection of Very Official Pens. “Ready, everyone?”
Footsteps echoed as we moved into place. I gripped my rose and lily bouquet, courtesy of Jules, then handed it off to her. I found Chase’s gaze and we turned instinctively to face each other and clasped hands.
The officiant cleared her throat. “We are gathered here today…”
Her words washed over me, functional, tidy, doing the job. I heard them, but they didn’t quite stick. All my attention funneled into the man standing before me. Chase’s fingers brushed against mine, a question and an answer as I squeezed back. Out of my periphery, Finn wobbled on tiptoe, clutching the pillow, his lips moving as he examined the rings.
“… to join Harper Coleridge and Chase Ashworth in matrimony…” the officiant intoned, reading from a script no doubt printed long before any of us decided we’d just make this official before I started showing, and only a month after the fishing trip with Austin.
When it came time for vows, the officiant looked up expectantly.
Chase stepped a fraction closer. He cleared his throat, a sound that was half-nerves, half-clearing the space between us. “Harper, I promise to build a life with you, not just houses. I want every day to be one we put together—foundations, renovations, all of it.” His mouth twitched. “Whether it’s coastal modern or mid-century stuck, I’ll be there for all of it.”
My lips lifted in a wild grin that surely appeared more than a little unhinged. He squeezed my hand, his own eyes glassy.
I found my voice, somehow. “Chase, I promise to loveyou through chaos, spreadsheets, tropical storms, and slow internet. To hold you up and let you hold me, even when I pretend I don’t need it.” I reached for a little courage. “To say yes, even when I’m terrified. And to always keep snacks in my desk drawer.”
His answering smile melted something in my chest. The officiant appeared faintly amused.
She nodded. “Rings, please.”
Finn sprang into action, posture ramrod straight. He offered Chase my rings. Chase took the diamond engagement ring and wedding band, hand steady, and caught my eye again. He slipped them over my finger and lingered, thumb tracing the edge.
