Page 108 of Arrogant and Merciless

I look around the church and, for a few seconds, allow myself a small pang of sadness at not seeing Mom and Dad among my friends. Then, almost at once, I recognize how generous God has been in bringing wonderful people into my life.

I look toward the front and see some of the Kostanidis children, along with Athanasios and Brooklyn’s kids, ready to lead me down the aisle.

Betina, as restless as I am, has been placed in a little wagon which is the perfect size for her, with a basket of rose petals at her side. Even before we start moving, she’s already giggling and waving at the guests, who smile right back.

“What’s wrong?” Jackie asks, standing beside me.

“Will you walk me down the aisle?”

“What?”

“I’ve realized I don’t want a magazine-cover wedding in the photos I’ll look at in the future. I want to look back on this day and know I was surrounded by love.”

She smiles and gives me a nod.

When I crouch to pick up my daughter, the wedding planner looks like she’s about to have a heart attack.

“She knows what she’s doing,” Jackie practically growls at the woman. Then she tells the children, “Go ahead, everyone.”

They don’t need to be asked twice, following the plan we rehearsed.

I take my best friend’s hand and start walking toward the altar.

I see William smiling, too, though his face shows a flicker of confusion.

When we finally reach him and he wraps his strong arms around us, I know no woman in this world has ever had a more perfect wedding.

“Breaking your own rules, my Taylor? Wasn’t a formal wedding your dream?”

“My dream was always you. The wedding is just the crowning moment. I have you and our daughter. Nothing could be more perfect than that.”

William

EPILOGUE TWO

Five Years Later

The house is silent, and I know why. Taylor sent our three children to Athanasios and Brooklyn’s place because she wants us to have a “date night,” as she calls our breaks from the kids.

I take a few steps toward our suite, and along the way, I step on a rubber duck belonging to my youngest daughter, Casey. She, along with Betina and my middle son, Dean, cause chaos wherever they go.

Five years later, I’m living a life I never imagined possible.

Instead of the perfectly polished furniture from my old apartment, there are toys scattered everywhere, and sometimes you’ll find just one slipper instead of a pair.

Instead of crystal glasses, we have plenty of plastic cups with straws strewn about, even on my desk in our home office.

Vacations are also chaotic. We need to organize a veritable army of babysitters to manage it all.

In the past, if someone had told me that one day I’d want a life like this, I would have called them crazy.

Now, if anyone dared to stand in my way and threaten to take any one of them from me, I’d kill them without a second thought.

A year ago, Maryann passed away, and our family now consists of just the five of us: me, my wife, and our three children.

I haven’t spoken to my mother since, because she refuses to acknowledge Taylor or the kids. Anyone who denies my family is denying me as well.

Finally, I enter the bedroom.

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