James was not the cruel, heartless man that many people in town thought he was. However, he still hated having to apologize, and it left his heart thrumming nervously. Apologies were supposed to come from the heart, but James had this silly, childish fear that he would somehow make a mess of things. Make it all worse.
Agatha and Alicia, both watched him patiently. Kindly. Nobody urged him to hurry or frowned in impatience; it was just pure, patient acceptance.
When he finallydidmanage to speak, he was at least pleased to note that his voice came out even. "What I accused you of was horrid, and I should have known that you would never try to hurt Alicia. Panic clouded by judgement, and in the moment I'm afraid that I would rather have accused you than stop to think who really could have done it."
Agatha frowned, her thin brows knitted. "In your defense, I don't think any of us could have ever suspected Edwin." She ran a hand through blonde curls, frown deepening. "What he did was disgusting, and I don't blame you for thinking of me instead of him."
"That doesn't make itright,though," James insisted. From the corner of his eyes, he saw Alicia quietly encouraging him with a gentle smile. His chest warmed, and it spurred him on to continue. "I hurt you, and I'mso sorryfor that; I understand if you can't forgive me, but I do hope we can be friends again. No more accusing each other of ridiculous things, no more ignoring each other's feelings."
Agatha hesitated for a while, lip caught between her teeth. Her lips parted several times, but each time she paused before actually speaking.
Perhaps it was too much to ask, too soon. He truly didn't want to pressure her into anything she didn't want, and if that meant giving her more time, then he would. The last thing James wanted was to force friendship on someone who didn't want it, even if that someone was his dearest friend.
Yet eventually Agatha met his eyes, and there was a smile on her slender face. "Ihavemissed you," she admitted quietly, "and it's been terribly boring with only my mother for company. I'm surprised she didn't come bolting in when she heard you were visiting." Her smile widened, laughter in her voice. "I would love nothing more than to put all of this behind us, and to be your friend again. And Alicia." She turned her gaze to Alicia. "I would also very much love to consider you a friend. I'm thankful that you're willing to give me that chance."
Alicia's own smile was gentle. Affectionate. When she laughed, it filtered throughout the living room like music. "Of course. I hope we can spend time together; I'd so love to get to know you properly. I don't know what it is that wealthy women do to pass the time, but I'm eager to learn my way around this new life of mine, as a lady."
"I'm sure that Agatha can teach you anything and everything that you need," James said softly, "but you're already doing a fantastic job. All you need is to be yourself because that's the best version of you there is."
His chest fluttered when he saw how Alicia grinned. She looked so radiant, with the fire gently flickering across her face. Somehow, the warmth of the light on her skin made the bright green of her eyes pop, and they almost seemed toglow,like something magical and wonderful. It was hypnotizing, how beautiful Alicia looked when she smiled.
"I hope you have many happy years together," Agatha said with a smile, "and I hope that the horridness of what Edwin did to you won't tarnish your happiness too much. You deserve to live a beautiful life; both of you."
James wasn't sure that he could ever forget what Edwin did. He wasn't sure if he could ever entirely forgive, either, even if he was trying to. Edwin had betrayed his trust, killed one of his loved ones and hurt another; that was the kind of thing that stayed for years, that neverevertruly went away.
Yet he had Jenny, and Samuel, and he had them to help. He had Alicia, of course, who was so loving and understanding that it simply wasn'tpossibleto feel upset around her. She always knew exactly what to do. Now he had his best friend back too - all of the people that mattered were by his side, ready to help however they could, and James counted himself lucky to have such wonderful people in his life.
Whatever the future held, James knew that they'd be all right, so long as they were together.
Epilogue
Alicia brushed hair from her eyes, squinting up at the sun that blazed overhead. They were lucky, she thought, for it to be such a beautiful day today. She had spent the last week worrying that it would rain on their big day, or that something would happen to interrupt and ruin it.
It felt strange now, to stand outside of the town's largest church, alone. There was no father to walk her down the aisle, not even a brother or a family friend. There was Rachel, of course; but it was unheard of for another woman to walk a bride down the aisle to her husband. So here she was, admiring the sunshine as she gathered the courage to walk inside, wishing that her family were here.
Except theywere,she realized after a moment. Samuel and Jenny waited inside. So did Agatha and her mother, who she had come to be close to in the months since they were first introduced. Rachel had been concerned at first when she learned who Alicia was marrying but had come around quickly. James had aunts, uncles and cousins, who although he wasn't close to, were family all the same. Just because neither of them had parents, didn't mean that they didn't have people who loved them.
The sun continued to shine high above her, filtering through beautiful, fluffy clouds. Although she couldn't see herself, Alicia imagined how the sun shone on the pale pink of her wedding dress, how it made her skin glow. The dress itself was simpler than a lady would usually wear, at her own request; but it was still the most beautiful thing she had ever worn. Made of soft pink lace, the body had a high waist tied with a thick ribbon, the skirt flowing past her hips and legs to just barely trail the ground. The sleeves were short and puffed, but still slim enough that she didn't feeltoooutrageous. The low, square neckline gave only the barest hint of cleavage, but her slender collarbones stood out against the soft fabric when she moved her arms or neck. Her hair, done in the same style that Nora had once made for her, was laced with white ribbons.
She felt, as rare as it was, beautiful. And now she was going to walk down the aisle and show an entire church full of people how beautiful she was, which suffice to say had her stomach twisting with nerves.
Taking a deep breath, Alicia steadied herself and took the first step into the church.
It wasn't large by any means; there were only five pews on either side, Alicia saw as she strode inside. Even then, the pews weren't full - without Alicia's family in attendance, people had filled mostly the groom's side; but she noticed with a little jolt of happiness that Agatha, Samuel, and Jenny sat right at the front, occupying the bride's side instead. It helped, just a little, to ease her nerves. As Alicia walked past, she offered them a kind smile - only to remember what Agatha had told her about keeping her eyes front, and quickly snapping her head back to the aisle.
Even so, she didn't miss Samuel's little smile, or the way Jenny twisted excitedly in her seat.
The church itself was lovely; arched windows let in plenty of sun, which cast thin golden beams across the pews and guests. The high ceilings made even the slightest noise echo throughout the entire church; but it was a pleasant, soothing sort of sound. Then her eyes fell to the altar, where James and the priest stood, and she felt herself grin.
The priest, an older man named Father Thomas, smiled as she approached. He was a kindly old man, Alicia knew from the brief times they had spoken before, when she first started visiting this church before the wedding. He welcomed her with open arms and a bright, cheerful smile.
"Dearlybeloved," he began, gaze shifting to the guests, "we are gathered together here in the sight of God, and in the face of this congregation, to join together this man, and this woman, in holy matrimony…"
His words caused Alicia to smile, and once she started, she simply couldn'tstop.It still felt so unreal, to be marrying the man she loved; a part of her still expected something to go wrong. What, she wasn't sure, but she couldn't possibly imagine that the world would let this play out. She didn't deserve such a beautiful wedding, or a perfect husband like James.
Father Thomas then turned to them both, and Alicia felt herself fidgeting as giddiness welled up in her chest. Even back home, she had never been so lucky as to attend a wedding ceremony before; she knew no young people wishing to marry and had never been lucky enough to know a friend that wanted to marry. She had never dreamed, that her very first wedding would be herown.
Father Thomas' smile was kind as he addressed James, as if to try and ease their nerves. "James Arvill, will youhave this woman as your wedded wife, to live together after God’s ordinance in the holy estate of matrimony? Will you love her, comfort her, honor, and keep her in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others, keep thee only unto her, so long as you both shall live?"
