Page 104 of Boss from Hell

I grabbed her and pulled her back on top of me. “Oh, Lillian, Lillian…” I whispered. “You just made me the happiest man on earth.”

“Tell me that when it’s your turn to change the dirty diaper.”

I began to laugh. And laugh. Life was so beautiful.

Epilogue

Lillian

“Your father would have given anything to walk you down the aisle,” my mother said as she adjusted my veil.

“He’ll be here in spirit,” Rose said briskly. “We’re not going to be sad today, so none of that emotional talk.”

Rose had confided a few days earlier how guilty she felt that unlike her, I’d missed out on having our father walk me down the aisle. We’d had a good cry about it, but I’d made my peace with it a long time ago. Uncle Ralph was walking me down the aisle.

What really mattered was the man who was waiting for me at the end of it.

Max’s parents had insisted on hosting the wedding at their home and we had agreed. They had the space for it and the garden was more beautiful than any venue we could have picked.

The door opened, and Maggie walked in looking gorgeous, with a small but noticeable bump and a glowing face. Marriage and pregnancy suited her. She and Martin had tied the knot three months earlier in a beach wedding in Maui that had beenboth beautiful and fun. I had acted as her maid of honor just as she was mine.

“How’s Max?” I asked, my hand automatically resting on my own little bump. I’d sent her to the guest house where the groom and his groomsmen were getting ready.

She grinned. “That’s the first thing he asked when he saw me. He’s fine and he told me to tell you that he can’t wait for you to be his wife.”

Warmth engulfed me. I couldn’t wait either. He was the man for me. My partner for life. The father of the babies we would have. Rose opened a bottle of champagne and poured the tiniest bit for all of us, then we toasted my marriage.

Outside, the guests had started to sit down on either side of the aisle. I’d opted for gold and cream as my theme, and the garden looked absolutely beautiful.

“It’s almost time,” Rose said. “The guys are making their way from the guest house.”

In less than an hour, we would be husband and wife. My heart raced with excitement as my bridal party made our way from the main house to the back garden.

“I love you,” Rose said, kissing me, then it was her turn to dance down the aisle as we had arranged.

It was relaxing to hear the guests chuckle at the dancing antics my bridesmaids were getting up to. Then it was my turn to walk down the aisle with my mother. Tears unexpectedly filled my eyes. Who would have thought that this moment would come? From this day forward, I would introduce Max as my husband.

“You ready, sweetheart?” my mother whispered to me.

I nodded. “I am. I love you, Mom.”

“I love you too my girl,” she said, her eyes brimming with tears.

I linked my arm through hers and together we made our way down the aisle as everyone oohed and ahhed. I smiled at everyone on either side of the aisle and when I met Marilyn’s eyes, she blew me a kiss. I finally looked ahead and I saw Max, it was just the two of us.

He looked so handsome in a black tuxedo, satin white shirt and forest green tie. My chest tightened and my heart squeezed. I loved him with every fiber of my being. He was the man I had always dreamed of meeting but never imagined that I would. As I walked towards my future, I felt like the luckiest woman in the whole world.

We had chosen to say the traditional vows as they held a solemnity that appealed to Max and me. I tried to hold it together as Max said his vows, promising to love and cherish me till death do us part. I cried through my own vows, with Max doing his best to mop up my face. It was emotional and sweet, promising our love and devotion to each other in front of our friends and family, but I was glad when that part was over.

“You may kiss the bride,” the smiling priest said.

Max stepped forward and cupped my face. “My soul mate,” he said before his lips covered mine. He kissed me passionately until our guests started whistling and I laughingly broke the kiss. I stared into his eyes.

“My soul mate,” I echoed.

I couldn’t wait to begin our lives together as Mr. and Mrs. Frost.

That’s all folks!