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Epilogue
It was just supposed to be a hook-up.
No attachments. No real feelings to get tangled up in.
Funny how that worked out.
“Do you take Birdie Renee Johnson to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward?”
Oliver held my gaze as steadily as he held my trembling fingers as he answered without hesitation, “I do.”
The officiant turned to me. “Do you take Oliver Brady Bishop to be your lawfully wedded husband to have and to hold from this day forward?”
My voice clogged with brimming tears of happiness, managed, a watery, “I do.”
More words were said, and then, “You may kiss the bride” followed an eruption of applause and swelling music, but all I heard and saw was the man of my dreams as his lips claimed mine.
Oliver whispered for my ears only, “I knew at the party…you were The One. You’ve made me the luckiest man in the world, and I’ll spend the rest of our lives showing you how much you mean to me.”
Tears pricked my eyes. “Thank you for refusing to let me push you away.”
He brushed his lips against mine, and we faced the crowd filled with friends and family, Mr. and Mrs. Bishop.
As we walked hand-in-hand, happiness bursting from our hearts, I realized Roger had been the bridge to the true love of my life — a mere stepping stone to lead me to the one who would forever treasure the gift of my love.
I was grateful for the bitterness of what I thought had been a loss. Now I knew that what I’d had with Roger had been a poor substitute for the real sweetness of an enduring and faithful heart.
And I would never mistake the two ever again.
