Page 171 of Time To Learn

Epilogue

Laura

Four months later

“This is crazy, Trish.”

“No, babe, it’snot.”

I glance at my friend as we walk side by side up the path to St. Machan’s Church.

“Please tell mewhy?”

She laughs as she tucks some wayward strands of my hair back into the classic chignon that seems to be fitting for these kinds of occasions.

“Because Kristian adores you, and you’re madly in love with him. That’swhy.”

I swallow the thickness in my throat and clutch my bouquet a bit tighter.

“True.” I nod slowly. “But…”

“No buts,” Trish starts and puts her index finger over my lips. “You love him, yes?”

“Of course I do,” I whisper.

“Then what’s the problem?”

Her small frown and confused look make me realise that I’m probably not making much sense. I take a deep breath and voice my fears as quickly as I can, before I lose my courage.

“I promised myself I’d never marry again.”

Her eyes shoot up to her hairline and she gapes atme.

“That’s a crazy-arse promise to make, babe!” she splutters. “Just look at the life you havenow.”

I shush her and look over my shoulder.

“Don’t curse,” I grumble. “Not here. It’s not fitting”

She huffs and shakes her head in wonder.

“Look, I understand you’re nervous, and if you really don’t want to go through with it, then at least tell Kristian why. Don’t do a mad Runaway Bride thing—it’s over the top and not fair to him atall.”

I flinch as I imagine doing a bad imitation of Julia Roberts, escaping my own wedding, and with a hurt and bewildered Kristian following close behind, begging me tostop.

I take a deep breath and wet mylips.

“I do love him, Trish, and I want to spend forever with him.” I look down at my cream-coloured wedding dress. The 1920’s design is simple, elegant, and not flashy at all—just like me—and yet I’d feel more comfortable in my usual riding gear than I do right now. “I just don’t think this whole malarkey is necessary, that’s all. I…” I sigh, frustrated with myself. “I don’t know what’s going on with me, Trish,” I finish.

She places her hands on my shoulders and stares deeply into myeyes.

“He’s a wonderful man,” she whispers, instantly causing my eyes to fill with tears. “He worships you and Ailith. You know he’ll always do everything he can to protect you, right?”

“Of course.”

“Then I think you’re merely experiencing a case of cold feet, babe,” she smiles gently at me. “It’s normal.” She grins at me as she shakes my shoulders firmly. “In fact, I think you’d be completely bonkers if you didn’t freak out a little. So, there you have it—it’s far from crazy. This is what people do when they want to show the whole world how lucky they feel to have found each other. It’s a celebration of life, really.”

I smile softly when I look down and take in her rounded, heavily pregnant belly. Soon, we’ll have another celebration of life to rejoicein.