Chapter 39) Turn The Page

A great marriage is not when the ‘perfect couple’ comes together. It is when an imperfect couple learns to enjoy their differences. 

Dave Meurer

The big day had arrived.

The day on which our beautiful daughter would become the wife of Chase Cunningham.

She had already been living with him and his parents at their sprawling Brindleton Bay estate, moved in shortly after accepting his third and final marriage proposal, so he would be able to experience the pregnancy with her.

She had decided to take Chase’s last name after the wedding and even seemed content now to first and foremost be a wife and mother, and lawyer only secondary.

No more talk of her own law firm, she still sometimes had to work late, but nothing to the magnitude it once had been. She completely refocused on her and Chase’s infants, twins Collin and Claire. Collin was exactly 15 minutes older than his twin sister.

By now the six of us, which aside from the couple themselves consisted of Chase’s parents, Blaine and me, all had looked and and considered dozens of wedding locations, one more beautiful than the next, but everyone agreed the most perfect location would be to have their wedding at the same location Blaine and I got married a long time ago now, Myshuno Meadows, and moreover, in the wedding gown I had worn then. Chase and Ana both had lived in San Myshuno for many years, it’s where they had met, while dating they had been to the park often for walks, they had officially become boyfriend and girlfriend here, shared their first kiss here. It was the perfect spot.

It was very pretty during the day, but became downright magical at night, with a million lights everywhere and the San Myshuno skyline illuminating the backdrop, giving it all an almost preternatural feel.

Speaking of kisses, about four weeks or so before the wedding date was set, Ana had a serious heart to heart talk with Riordan, which ended with them sharing one last proper kiss, with which they kissed their time as lovers goodbye, and like the phoenix from the ashes rose their new relationship, a deep, indestructible friendship, closer than a best friend or siblings, but no longer physical. Defiant and reluctant at first, once she shared the hell she had been through with Riordan about the pregnancy, he agreed. It really was too risky and there was no truly favorable outcome, they all had dodged a terrifying bullet. He was grateful that he would not lose Ana altogether.
It was bittersweet moment for both, but also a chance to turn the page, start over fresh and have another go at finding happiness. I wasn’t truly that convinced at that point that Riordan would really let go so easily, or at all – ever, but he seemed determined to oblige.

All three Vatores were of course invited to the wedding and even part of the wedding party, and because of them had the couple opted to have an evening wedding. Chase was still unaware of the truth, but he was so easy-going, he never questioned any of it, neither did his parents.