Messing With Mac

Epilogue

One Year Later

“THE PLACE IS FULL,” Nicole told Taylor, plopping into a plush chair in the bride’s dressing room of the church. “We have exactly five minutes to get out there. How many people did you invite anyway, a bazillion?”

Standing in front of a full-length mirror admiring herself all in white satin and lace, Taylor sighed with so much joy she could hardly contain herself. “Just about.”

“Mac’s out there of course. He’s got his eagle eye on this door, let me tell you.”

At the thought of him, her heart nearly burst. “Does he now?”

“Yeah, he’s looking a bit like he hit the lottery.”

“He did,” Taylor said, and laughed.

Suzanne came up on her right and ran a finger over the bride’s veil. “You look gorgeous.”

“You both look pretty gorgeous yourselves.”

Nicole sighed and came up on the other side, the three of them staring at each other in the reflection. “You’re right. We don’t look half-bad, considering we’re dressed to the nines. Why couldn’t we wear jeans like we did at my wedding last month? Think how original it would have been.”

“Oh, be quiet. The dress won’t kill you.” Suzanne smiled when Nicole lifted a bottle of champagne and three long stemmed glasses. “Well, that’s more like it. Aren’t you so sweet to think of it. I thank Ty for that.”

“The man did sweeten me up,” Nicole admitted, pouring them each a glass. “What can I say, love did exactly what you said it would, hit the three of us like a tornado.”

Taylor laughed. “A tornado. So that’s why I feel so unsteady on my feet.”

“You look steady enough,” Suzanne said softly, reaching for her hand. “I’m so glad you’re happy. I’m just so glad for all of us.” Her eyes filled. “I love you guys.”

“Ah, hell, I actually have mascara on today and she’s going to get sloppy.” Nicole sighed as her own eyes went suspiciously bright. “But I love you guys, too.”

Taylor laughed, and a tear fell. “To us, then. All six of us.” Both she and Nicole lifted their glasses, but Suzanne did not.

“What’s the matter?” Nicole demanded.

“I, um…can’t drink.” She grinned and patted her stomach. “As of this morning.”

Nicole’s jaw dropped. “You’re pregnant.”

“Yep.”

“Oh my God.” Taylor’s heart felt like it was going to burst as they all hugged and ended up messing up each other’s makeup anyway.

“We’re trying, too,” Nicole admitted, which prompted another group hug and more tears. Then they went back to the mirror to check the damage.

Taylor felt so full of love and joy and hope, she could burst. “Well then.” Her voice was thick as she kissed first Suzanne’s cheek, then Nicole’s. She lifted her glass. “To all of us, seven for now, and God willing, more to come.”

“To all of us.”

“All of us.”

Grinning, crying, arm in arm they walked out of the room, ready for all of it.