Tears stream down Vanessa’s cheeks as she wordlessly nods profusely.
“Words, honey!” Jack shouts out. “We all need words, or you’re gonna give us a heart attack.”
Through laughter and tears, the most beautiful word finally arrives, “Yes!”
Epilogue
Vanessa
Once again,we’re gathered around family and friends as we take in another momentous occasion. Through the years, our family has grown in ways I’ve never imagined. It’s hard to believe it was just Vinnie, Jules, and me against the world after my parents died.
But when I found Damien, that all changed. Instantly, his family took my motley crew in and claimed them as their own. Like Beatrice always says, the heart will always make room to love more people.
That day Damien proposed in our backyard was the first of many events to take place there. It’s where we announced the genders of our twin boys, Jordan and Jasper. It’s where we celebrated birthdays, anniversaries, and graduations.
Today, we have a new reason to celebrate.
Today, my baby girl’s getting married. She may be twenty-six and a registered nurse like me—but she’ll always be my little girl.
My sons co-escort me down the aisle to take my place near the altar we’ve set up at the end of the yard, where Damien will join me once he’s finished with his duties. Vince reaches forward to squeeze my shoulder, and I send a secret prayer to my parents, thanking them for watching over us all these years. Yes, this is another moment they’ve missed—but I know in every fiber of my being, they’re here with me.
Zach and his wife sit on the other side of the empty chair left for Damien. True to his word, he let Julia and I set the terms of his involvement in Julia’s life. Eventually, as time went on, they got to know one another and have made up for lost time. He’s still in the Navy and has two more kids with Nancy, and they sit behind us, with Vince and his crew. We may not be what you’d call a traditional family—but we’re family and love each other all the same.
Jules chose Damien to walk her down the aisle on this momentous occasion. Maybe it’s because he adopted her—so we could all share the same last name—maybe it’s because she’s always had a special bond with him. But no matter the reason, he was practically in tears over the gesture.
Those two have been two peas in a pod from the moment they concocted the plan to bring us together as a family. She’s always been such a smart cookie. I never imagined the course of my entire world as I knew it was set into motion when I got pregnant with her. For years, she was my anchor, my rock, and now that she’s become a woman—one of my closest friends.
When the music cues, and I stand to see my baby walk down the aisle, I’ve never been more thankful for waterproof mascara. Tears flow freely as the man I love most in this world walks my sweet Julia down the aisle.
Damien’s hair might be a little lighter at the temples, and his face may have a few more laugh lines, but he’s still a handsome man who makes my belly flip—the way it did when he walked into the diner so many years ago.
Damien in a suit—well, that just isn’t fair. My mouth dries, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth. As I push back the tears, I breathe carefully to steady my emotions.
When the minister asks, “Who gives this woman away?”
Damien’s voice practically chokes with emotion. “Her parents do.”
He never has wanted to outshine Zach. To him, being a father isn’t a competition—but just a part of him he never knew was missing—until he met Julia. He’s the best father in the world to all our kids, and he wholeheartedly lives his grandma’s motto.There’s always room to love more—your ticker is the one organ that expands without you even being aware.
Boy, has my heart learned to expand. My cup runs over with joy just thinking about it. When Damien takes his seat next to me, he squeezes my hand tight as he leans in. “I’d marry you all over again—if it meant getting to join this crazy, chaotic, wonderful life you live. Little did I know, getting you to take a chance on me would be one of the best rewards imaginable. I love you, Vanessa. Crazy life and all.”
The End
