I'll Wait For You // ONC 2022

EPILOGUE

Five Years Later

Darkness consumes me as I close my eyes. I can feel their presence behind me, my father, and two out of three of my best friends, the other one will have to wait before he can lay his eyes on me.

I smooth out the soft fabric of my pants and adjust the floral lacy train. The photographer helps me to make it perfect. I blink and stare at the dark blue siding of our house.

"Alright guys, are you ready to reveal your bride?"

I chuckle. "I guess I really am marrying all three of you today."

Everett laughs too. "Sh. Don't tell Roger, he won't be too happy you stole his husband."

I grin. Everett moved to Boston and met the love of his life. They married after a year, and me, Bennett, and Danny stood beside him in the historic city while watching our friend live out his dream. Now, it's my turn. Danny and I chose a simple backyard wedding in our home. We've spent the last five years saving up money, and the last year engaged, and now we finally get to say I Do. Before that can happen, I'm going to reveal myself to our best men and my father, who is already sniffling behind me.

"Alright folks, in three, two, one."

I take a deep breath, spin, and come face to face with them. When I saw this bridal pantsuit with an open back and a beautiful floral lacy train, I knew I had to have it. Instead of heels I'm wearing white Converse and it just works. My hair falls in long curly waves over my shoulders and down my back.

Dad is bawling, blowing his nose into a blue handkerchief. Bennett and Everett's eyes glisten as they step forward. Beside me the camera shutter clicks capturing the moment.

Bennett is the first to walk over. He's still married with a little one on the way, number two actually. Watching Bennett become a father was the craziest thing ever. But we are all in his daughter's life. Uncle Danny is her favorite.

"You look stunning."

He wraps his arms around me, and I'm trying hard not to ruin my makeup, but it's impossible as my eyes sting with tears.

"Thanks."

"He's right," Everett says, joining him by my side.

"Hey guys," my mom peeks her head outside.

We are standing on the front lawn to do the reveal, because it's a beautiful summer day, and I wanted everything to be captured outside.

"It's time," she says, as our attention falls on her.

They squeeze my hand and then retreat to the backyard where they will stand with Danny.

Inside the house with both mom and dad at my side, we wait at the sliding glass doors for our cue. Outside Bennett's daughter Marcy walks slowly towards the guys as she tosses flowers onto the white carpet leading to the archway where Danny is.

"We are so proud of you sweetheart. The past five years, you've grown so much."

Mom sniffles, dabbing at her eyes with a tissue. She's right, it's been a journey for sure. A few months after Danny and I became official I found a job at a local radio station filling in for the hosts when they were sick or needed time off. Then for a short while I worked the night shift, and for the last two years, I've been the morning host with one of the most well-known host on Long Island. She's awesome, and we have grown close.

As for Danny, he officially owns the hardware store. His dad would be proud of him. The day his uncle officially handed it over was a special one. I sometimes help on weekends if I'm not doing radio appearances.

"Here we go," Dad says, tightening his grip on me.

The doors glide open, and I step out on our newly finished back deck. The stairs are to our right. Once we hit the bottom, we walk a bit to the left, and that's when Danny and I lock eyes. He cups his hands over his mouth and kneels. Bennett and Everett grin watching him, watching us.Everything blurs around me, including the white chairs along the path, the twinkling lights strung over the newly stained wooden fence around our yard, and the guests waiting on my arrival.

Everyone stands. There's not many of us. Danny's side is small, mostly just his mom, uncle, and some aunts and cousins, co-workers, and friends. My side is mostly the same. It's small, and intimate. I wouldn't have it any other way.

Danny straightens himself as I start heading towards him to the sounds of "I Get to Love You" by Ruelle. He's still wiping his eyes and I can't help the tears that fall from mine. I pray the mascara I put on doesn't run. I don't normally care about appearances, but I'd hate to look like a raccoon on our wedding day.

Dad and mom stop with me at the end of the aisle. Dad's friend Bill is presiding over the ceremony. I've known him since I was five and I was more than happy when he offered his services.

I turn to the man who raised me, and although our life wasn't perfect, and shit happened after my sister passed, he still always cheered me on. Leaning forward he removes the veil from my face and pushes it behind me.

"Love you," he whispers, kissing my cheek.

Pivoting towards mom I catch her brushing away tear after tear as she leans in to kiss me too. Then the two of them take me and hand me over to Danny. He welcomes me with open arms.

When I step into him, I reach up and brush away the wetness surrounding his eyes. He smiles and lowers his head, allowing his warm breath to dance along my ear. "You are the most beautiful woman I've ever laid my eyes on."

He pulls away, but we never lose eye contact. Not as Bill starts the ceremony, and not as we are handed our rings. Our vows are short and sweet.

"Fallon. For so many years I beat myself up over not telling you how I felt, but then I came to realize that it wasn't our time. Our time is now and because we waited, we got to love each other more passionately. I don't regret the long wait, because our timing couldn't have been any more right when you stepped out of that airport that day five years ago."

I want to kiss him right there, but have to hold off, because it's my turn.

"Danny. I wouldn't change anything either. If things had gone differently, would we have had all those late night-early morning conversations? Would Denny's breakfasts over the phone from thousands of miles away be a thing? Probably not, and those were some of my favorite moments that I shared with you. Timing is everything and I think we nailed it."

The moment we kiss I'm overwhelmed with happiness. We might be missing a few of the most important people of our lives here with us today in the physical sense, but I can feel them, both my sister and Danny's dad. I love that we are surrounded by loving and supportive people. Life might not be perfect, but it's damn-well close to it.

THE END