Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 73699 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 368(@200wpm)___ 295(@250wpm)___ 246(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73699 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 368(@200wpm)___ 295(@250wpm)___ 246(@300wpm)
He nods.
I glance hopefully at the blue folder. “Does that mean you didn’t sign our divorce papers after all?”
“No, I signed them. And filed them. That there is your official copy.”
“Oh,” I say, my heart deflating. “So we’re officially divorced?”
“We are,” he says, his hands finding either side of my waist.
“Well, I guess that’s practical,” I say, trying to hide my disappointment. “We should probably start at the beginning, date, figure out if we’re suited for the long haul—what are you doing?” I ask, breaking off when I realize he’s digging in his pocket instead of listening to me.
He holds up a familiar navy box. “You forgot this.”
“I told you, it was too extravagant for the circumstances. I couldn’t—what are you doing?”
He’s holding my left hand, the ring poised at the tip of my fourth finger as his gaze searches mine. “Do you love me, Charlotte?”
His accent’s thicker than usual, his expression both adoring and a little unsure.
I nod emphatically, desperate to reassure him. “I thought you knew. I fell in love with you weeks ago. It was highly inconvenient.”
He gives me a cocky, crooked smile, full of relief and joy. “Yeah?”
“Yeah,” I whisper, brushing my lips over his.
“Marry me?” he whispers back. “Properly, this time? You sort of have to, I have half your money.”
I laugh against his lips and nod as he slides the ring onto my finger. “Yes.”
Finally, Colin kisses me again. And again, and then one more time, until I realize something and pull my mouth from his on a gasp. “Wait. We can’t get married. What if it turns out we’re completely incompatible in bed?”
His lips find the underside of my jaw as he nudges me backward toward the mattress. “Excellent point. We should probably find out sooner rather than later if we can tolerate each other, no?”
Much, much later, I rest my cheek on his bare shoulder, pressing an absent kiss there. “Well, then. I think we’re going to be just fine.”
Epilogue One
My brother offers to help with the prenup. We respectfully decline.
Epilogue Two
My mom finally got to plan her daughter’s big white wedding, which is just fine by me, since I was plenty busy launching my new company, a boutique consulting firm helping female entrepreneurs make their dreams reality.
Because my mother would have it no other way, the wedding goes off without a single hitch. My father walks me down the aisle. Justin starts crying during his best man toast, like a lot, and it’s so sweetly unmanly that we decide to forgive him.
Kurt (now the official CEO of Coco, by the way) manages to hold off his waterworks until after his man-of-honor toast. I, on the other hand, cry through the whole thing.
Colin and I sneak off to make love during the reception. We miss the cake cutting, but we’ve been making up for lost time. And some things are better than cake.
Epilogue Three
We honeymoon in Hudson. There is Champagne. Candles. Madonna.
No separate beds. No rash cream.
Also, Colin drives.
Epilogue Four
We name our first son Danny. He’s nearly two now, and I have yet to not cry when I hear Colin quietly singing “Danny Boy” over the baby monitor.
We name our second son Spencer, as a nod to my maiden name.
Because this time around, we’re Mr. and Mrs. Colin Walsh for real.
Epilogue Five
We live very, very happily ever after.
THE END