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I sit up. “Do you know what’s an even better plan?”
“What?”
“A shower and then bed—for both of us.”
Claudia stifles a yawn as she sits up. “And after that?”
“Sleep. And tomorrow, we resume the celebration.” I kiss the tip of her nose. “We’ll start in bed.”
Epilogue
Claudia
One Year Later…
Something old, something new, something borrowed...
I close my eyes, doing my best to recall every detail as my cousins take their places outside the church doors. Something old is my mother’s lace veil, a delicate piece handed down from her mother while something borrowed is the diamond comb in my hair belonging to one of my aunts. Something new is the lace wedding dress Tia Rosa made for me that’s better than anything I’ve seen anywhere else.
For a while there, I thought she’d never stop telling anyone who’d listen about the chance I missed with Dax but she finally has. Now all she can talk about is Trevor-this and Trevor-that, andpor supuesto, everyone will love your dress, mija. I’ll be putting up the picture in my shop for everyone to see.
Tia Rosa making the dress involved a lot of trust (what if she messed up or it turned out completely modest with a high neckline and long sleeves?) but in the end it was worth it for she actually followed all my specifications. With its dramatic low V-neck and open back, perfectly defined bodice, gorgeous mermaid tail skirt and long lace train, I’d put it up for all to see, too, especially if I owned a popular bridal shop in town. The dress makes me feel like a goddess, a queen.
Tia Rosa certainly took the pressure off me having to worry about one more thing, not with the whirlwind of a year I’ve had so far. Reviewing for the board exams, taking it (and passing), having Trevor visit and formally propose to me in front of my family before flying back to Virginia Beach to begin my clinical fellowship. And then there were the trips back and forth to complete all the requirements to get married because no way Trevor was going to skip tradition.
But it’s all led to this moment, with me standing outside the doors of San Francisco de Asís, a 300-year-old church made of mud and straw sun-dried adobe bricks where my family has been attending for generations. Inside, everyone is waiting, the groom and his groomsmen already standing at the altar.
The music starts playing from inside and Leigh and my mother stop arranging my train, finally satisfied with the way it trails behind me. Who knew my maid of honor would beat me when it comes to perfection but I don’t mind it one bit.
“Here we go,” Leigh says as the doors open and the flower girl and the ring bearer disappear inside the church. “You sure you want to do this, Claudia? This is a forever thing, you know.”
I chuckle. Even now, she’s driving me crazy, but I know she’s also nervous after spotting Bennett at the hotel. Hard to believe the idiot never called her after they met for coffee a year ago but maybe it’s not meant to be. Still, I can’t blame Leigh for being giddy and she wasn’t the only one. Hell, seeing all the men in their suits would probably make anyone feel the same way.
We all peeked. And, boy, do they look dashing in their suits although tomorrow, we get to see them in their rough and tumble glory as we head to the river to fish for walleye and rainbow trout. Honeymoon or not, this Taoseño can’t wait to out-fish them all.
The first bridesmaid walks inside, then the second, and the third. As Leigh takes a step forward, my mother squeezes my arm, reaching for the charms hanging from the blue ribbon laced around the base of my bouquet with her other hand.
Something blue.
“I’m so happy you have your papa walking you down the aisle, mija,” she says, her fingers stroking my father’s framed photo on one charm and the saying,I know you are walking beside me today and always. “He’s here with us, right now. I can feel him.”
“I can feel him, too, Mama,” I whisper, willing myself not to cry.
On my right, Gabe clears his throat and the three of us take a step forward as Leigh disappears through the church doors. “Well, this is it, Claudia. Are you sure you want to do this? Like Leigh said, it is a forever thing. But you can still change—”
“Wait till it’s your turn,” I say as the doors open again and we hear the sound of people getting up from their seats.
“You two, behave,” Mama says, her voice serious but I can hear her stifling a chuckle as the three of us step inside the church. Of course, no one’s changing their minds. Definitely not me.
When my eyes meet Trevor’s as he stands by the altar, a feeling so strong hits me like a wave. It takes my breath away. So this is how it feels to be loved—really loved—and not only by one person in the room but by many. I can feel it in the way they gaze at me, so proud and happy. I can see it in their eyes, their smiles, their faces filled with joy.
Ashton, Charlie, and Mark. Natalie, Liam, and their two children Aarabelle and Shane. Gretchen and Ben. There are other friends of Trevor’s in attendance and family, too. People he normally sees only during the holidays have flown in to celebrate this day with him. Brothers from Team Four have arrived as well. No wonder the women were all giddy. They all look damn good. The rest of his friends—his brothers—stand next to him at the altar, among them Quinn, Bennett, and Ryan. They all look so handsome, Trevor most of all.
But I’m biased.
I’m about to become his wife.
I turn my attention to the other side of the church and see more familiar faces. Aunts, uncles, cousins, friends, even a former boyfriend and his wife Harlow and their adorable six-year-old twins, Dax Jr. and Anita-Pearl. I see his sister Sarah and long-time partner Benny (or are they married now?) and their tween son Dyami sitting next to him. And there’s Daniel, too, with his mother-in-law Nana, the woman who taught me how to cook after my mother showed me the basics. People thought it weird to invite the Drexels but even Trevor agreed, it was time to bury the hatchet between us given how close the families are.
