“I don’t ever want to relive it.”
“You’re bruised,” he says, looking down to where my sweater has slipped to the side. “Is the baby okay?”
“We’re both fine. I’ll probably be a little sore for a couple of days, but it’s just some bruises, thank goodness. Phil is fine, too. We were lucky.”
He hugs me close again, relief radiating from him. “Thank God, you’re home.”
“I was so happy when Phil said we weren’t staying. I just wanted to see you. To see all of you.”
“Isabella,” Keegan says and clears his throat. “I want you to marry me.”
I stare up at him in shock. “Why do you always ask me these things when I least expect them?”
“I’m not asking.”
“Well, you should be,” someone calls out, making us both laugh.
“You’re right.” He lowers to one knee, and the room goes so quiet, you could hear a pin drop. “Isabella Harris, marry me. If today taught me anything at all, it’s that life is too precious, too valuable, to wait. I love you, and I know that love won’t ever go away. I want you with me always. To raise our children and build our life together.”
“Still didn’t ask,” Kane says.
“Will you marry me, then?”
I lean in and press my lips to his. “Yes. I’ll marry you, Keegan O’Callaghan.”
“We have so much to celebrate,” Fiona says as she wipes a tear from her eye. “Babies and weddings. Two of my favorite things.”
“I love you,” Keegan whispers to me. “Let’s do it next week.”
I laugh out loud and then shrug. “I’ll find us the best weather day, and we’ll go from there.”
Epilogue
~Izzy~
“How did we do this in six days?” I wonder aloud as Fiona fusses with my veil. I’m in a guest bedroom suite at Kane’s house, getting dressed for my wedding day. Soon, in just a few minutes, someone will drive me over to the ceremony site where Keegan and I plan to build our home.
“You had a fleet of women at your disposal, that’s how,” Fiona says as she steps back and looks me over with a critical eye. “You’re a beautiful bride, Izzy.”
I turn to the full-length mirror and smile. The dress is perfect. And better yet, I picked it out. Not my mother. Or even my father, for that matter.
Everything about today is exactly the way Keegan and I want it to be.
“I’m sorry that your mother isn’t here,” Fiona says and stands next to me, looking at me in the mirror.
“I’m not.” I take her hand and hold it tightly. “She and my dad were invited, and they declined. They’ve made it clear how they feel. And, honestly, Fiona, I’m okay with it. You’ve been more of a mother to me in the past few months than my mom ever was. It should be you here helping me get ready to marry your son.”
“I wasn’t going to cry,” she says and dabs at her eye. “At least, not yet. But I’m just so happy for my boy. He found the perfect young woman for him, and it makes a mother’s heart soar to see her son so happy.”
“Well, thank you for raising such a good man.”
“You guys being mushy in here?” Maggie asks as she and Maeve walk inside. “Everyone’s over at the ceremony site, ready to go when you are, Izzy.”
“Oh, I’m ready.” I grab my bouquet and take a deep breath, relieved when I don’t feel like throwing up.
It seems I am getting past the worst of the morning sickness.
“Let’s do this, shall we?” The four of us walk down the stairs to the little ATV that’s waiting to give us a ride. When we get there, we’re laughing from how bumpy the ride was. Maeve, Maggie, and Fiona all give me hugs before they go find their seats.
“Thank you for walking me down the aisle.” I kiss Tom on the cheek and am delighted when he blushes.
“It’s an honor and a privilege, Izzy, my girl. Now, are you sure this is what you want to do? My Keegan is a fine boy, but he’s a stubborn one, as well.”
“Well, I can be stubborn myself. Yes, of course, this is what I want.”
“Good.” The music starts, and he pats my hand after I loop it through his arm.
As far as the weather goes, today was the best day. It’s partly cloudy with just the touch of a light breeze—and a one hundred percent chance of love.
As I walk down the aisle, I don’t see all of our closest friends and family around us, including the entire Montgomery family and their children. I don’t see the beautiful flowers and the arbor we managed to set up in record time. I don’t even hear the rush of the ocean behind us.
I only have eyes for one man.
Keegan’s eyes latch on to mine, and then they grow misty as he takes me in from head to toe. Every woman wants her groom to look at her just like this on their wedding day, and I’m not disappointed.
This, right here, is what I deserve. It’s what I need. And I didn’t find it in a stuffy church in Salem, Oregon, but rather on a little island in the Pacific Ocean with a handsome, wonderful Irishman.
“Okay, everybody, gather around! Single ladies!” I call out to all of the girls, and they form a half-circle behind me.
“Maeve, get a move on,” Maggie says, gesturing to her sister.
“What are we doing?” Maeve asks.
“Okay, get ready,” I say as I spin and then toss a smaller version of my bouquet over my shoulder. When I turn around again, I see that Maeve caught it.
“What in the hell?” she demands. “No. I didn’t sign up for this.”
“You came over here of your own free will,” Maggie says.
“I thought we were getting more cake. I don’t want this. I’m not getting married next. Here, Mary Margaret, you take it.”
“Nope, you caught it.”
Maeve turns to me. “Catch!”
She tosses it back to me, but I just laugh and immediately throw it back to her. “It’s yours now, whether you like it or not.”
“Well, shit.”
Are you excited for Maeve O’Callaghan’s love story! It’s coming this year, in Flirt With Me! You can read all about it, and find preorder links, here: https://www.kristenprobyauthor.com/flirtwithme
And don’t forget, With Me In Seattle MAFIA is just around the corner! Click here for more info: https://www.kristenprobyauthor.com/underboss
With Me In Seattle Character Glossary
With more than twenty stories in the With Me In Seattle Series, I figured it was time to include a who’s who in the world, listed by family. Please know this may contain spoilers for anyone who hasn’t read all of the books, but it’s a great reference for those who want to make sure they read about everyone.
The Williams Family
Luke Williams – Hollywood movie producer. Married to Natalie Williams, a professional photographer. Parents to Olivia, Keaton, Haley and Chelsea. {Come Away With Me}