Not That Kind of Girl (36 page)

Epilogue

Bea smiled as little Gloria kicked off the wedding procession, scattering petals along the dirt path with wild abandon, her chubby arm sweeping high and wide with each toss. Her parents beamed from their position with the rest of the bridal party, as bewitched by their dark-haired little girl today as the day she came into the world, five years before.

Ring bearer Rocco Rousseau went next. The kid looked about as bored as humanly possible, and kept tugging at his bow tie. Halfway down the path he noticed one of his shoes was untied. He tossed the silk ring pillow into a prickly pile of brush so that he could redo his laces the best he could, which made the crowd gasp. Rocco retrieved the pillow, dusted it off, and announced, “We’re good!”

The rowdy ring bearer’s parents were next. Bea watched Josie and Rick make their way gingerly along the path, Rick escorting the pregnant matron of honor. This would make kid number four for the couple. Uncle Teeny sat in the front row with two squirming toddlers on his lap. Thank God they lived in a big house, was all Bea could think.

Lucio and Ginger stepped onto the dirt path next, somewhat out of place in this wild setting. They were so glamorous in their formal attire that they seemed destined for a Hollywood red carpet instead of the red dirt of Utah. Lucio delivered Ginger to her position as bridesmaid with a soft kiss on her cheek. That man sure knew how to do it, Bea thought with a sigh.

Next, the groom slid into his place to Bea’s left. Eli and Bea exchanged an affectionate glance, and suddenly, Bea felt as though she would cry from the sharp beauty of the moment.

The truth was, everyone she loved most in the world was gathered here that day, in this breathtaking spot in the Utah desert. She’d been to the Dog-Eared Ranch many times over the years, and knew the venue Roxie and Eli had chosen for their ceremony was a bit on the dramatic side. But nothing could have prepared Bea for the magic of it all as it began to unfold in front of her.

The sunset now bathed everything and everyone in a warm blush. A gentle wind ruffled the women’s dresses. Enormous cliffs and mountains shot up from an ocean of rolling pastureland, while Bea stood under a natural arch of rock that would serve as the couple’s altar. And there, at the opposite end of the path, stood the Goddess Bride, waiting for Bea to give the signal that the time had come.

She grinned at her friend, relieved that Roxie had opted for the real deal of a wedding dress and not some boring get-up. She’d had to sit Roxanne down a few months ago and spell it out for her—
you’ve made everyone wait too damn long for this day to show up in some off-white pantsuit.

Bea stood a bit taller, thinking that these days she was not only a canine agility trainer and licensed minister, but a fashion consultant, to boot!
Who’d’ve thunk?

Bea gave the nod to Roxanne. With great happiness, Bea watched her friend stroll up the path toward the groom. Eli gasped as she came closer, and Bea couldn’t blame him—Roxie looked regal in her creamy strapless gown, her long dark hair loosely pulled off her neck and away from her face, fresh flowers laced through the strands. Roxanne’s dark-eyed prettiness had softened over the years. She was now in the fullness of her beauty, composed and sure of herself and radiating contentment everywhere she went. Bea wiped a tear from her eye and patted her pants pocket, double-checking that she’d brought tissues. She was sure as hell going to need them.

Eli beamed at his lovely bride and offered his arm as she joined him at the altar. Together, the couple took a step forward to stand directly beneath the towering stone arch. Eli whispered something to Roxie and she nodded and smiled.

Suddenly, the bride raised two fingers to her lips and a sharp, high-pitched whistle erupted, surprising everyone. Applause began a moment later, when every dog in the vicinity came running up the path, plopping down in a row behind the bride and groom, tails swooshing in the dirt. Each dog bore the indignity of a black bow tie or a white lace kerchief at their necks, depending on their gender. Even Martina.

Bea laughed with delight and opened her arms, the power and beauty coursing through her. Silently, before she said a single thing aloud, she thanked Gloria for showing the way, and for being right here at her side on this day. Of course she was there. If it weren’t for her, none of this would have come to pass.

“Welcome, everyone,” Bea said. “We are gathered this evening for the marriage ceremony of Roxanne Bloom and Eli Gallagher—
finally
.”

A wave of laughter and applause moved through the crowd, only to be gathered up in the breeze and carried across the landscape.

“This is a fortuitous occasion, as many of you are aware, but you may not know all the details. That’s where I come in.” Bea scanned the gathering of smiling faces. “Did you know that these two people met almost six years ago to the day, at a wedding ceremony held eight hundred miles from here? Did you know they were instantly drawn to each other but spent another year trying to deny the attraction? Did you know that once they acknowledged their feelings it took only days before Roxie had a ring on her finger, but another five years came and went before this day arrived?”

A few chuckles erupted in the crowd.

“We are here to celebrate Roxie and Eli’s journey. They could have turned their back on love—God knows they had their reasons. But they didn’t. They persevered. They chose each other. They chose to live in the light of their beloved.”

Bea’s eyes found Rachel’s smiling face among the guests, and she was filled with gratitude for how her own life had changed.

“Who would have thought that the four women who stood in the middle of a San Francisco dog park all those years ago and officially gave up on love would be standing here, now, on this windswept ridge, literally surrounded by it? Who could have predicted that the women who’d once vowed to settle for life with their dogs now have a life filled with children, spouses, family, true friends,
and
their dogs?”

With a barely noticeable hand gesture from Eli, the line of sitting canines began to howl in unison. It took a long while for the noise and laughter to die down so Bea could continue.

“To go back to the very beginning, you’d have to say that Roxie and Eli’s love story began seven years ago, when a man named Ira Needleman passed away. As fate would have it, our Josie, who was an obituary feature writer at the
Herald
at the time, interviewed his widow, Gloria, for an article. With that single act, a series of events were set into motion, lives were changed forever, and a whole world was brought into being.

“The elderly widow told Josie to be brave enough to ask for what she wanted in life. The very next morning, Josie met Rick and did something completely out of character—she asked him to join her for a cup of coffee. He said yes.”

“I have to go to the bathroom,” Rocco announced. His father leaned down and whispered in his ear. As the words “hold it” floated in the breeze, Bea knew she needed to wrap this up.

“As fate would have it, Rick and Josie’s wedding was where Ginger met Lucio and Roxie met Eli. As most of us know, Ginger and Lucio’s grand romance began almost immediately, when she fainted into his arms because her bridesmaid’s dress was too tight.”

“The best night of my life!” Lucio called out, to applause.

Bea smiled. “However, Eli and Roxie weren’t looking for love. They didn’t want it. But one day, Roxie needed Eli, and when she asked for his help, he came running.” Bea paused for effect. “And he’s been chasing her ever since.”

Laughter coursed through the crowd, the loudest coming from the groom himself. The second loudest came from his sister, Sondra, the proud (and now very wealthy) head of the i-vomit-on-all-men empire. A movie loosely based on the Web site, starring Jennifer Aniston, was now in production.

“I’m just kidding about the chasing, of course,” Bea added, winking at Eli. “We knew they’d get around to making it official at some point—Eli and Roxie have always done things their own way, on their own timetable, enjoying every minute of the journey. Maybe that’s what makes them such a resilient couple. Every challenge has only brought them closer.”

It wasn’t Bea’s imagination. Most everyone assembled there on the ridge took that as their cue to steal a glance at Eli’s biological father, a bald old man with a cane who stood alone near the edge of the gathering, a cautious smile on his face. These days, Raymond Sandberg’s relationship with Eli was polite and distant, which seemed to work for all involved. It said a lot about the old bastard that he showed up here today, Bea thought. He’d lost his license to practice law—along with his looks—but somewhere along the way he’d gained some humility. Bea nodded to him in acknowledgment.

She took a deep breath. “Without further delay, it is my honor to serve as a witness to the love Eli and Roxie share, the love they’ve built with each other with patience, trust, and faith. The bride and groom will now say their vows.”

Bea moved back and to the side, as Eli and Roxie took center stage. They turned to each other in the warmth of the sunset and Bea was overwhelmed by the affection and certainty she saw in their faces.

“My beautiful Roxie Bloom, my lovely warrior priestess,” Eli said. “I will forever remember the day you and Lilith entered my life. I knew the second I walked through your door that I was taking on the challenge of a lifetime. Plus, I had to deal with Lilith.”

Roxie shook her head at him in mock annoyance, smiling the whole time.

“You have changed me forever, Roxanne. With you by my side, I know there is no obstacle that can’t be conquered, no joy that can’t be experienced. I thank you for choosing trust over fear, love over discord. Of all the men in this great big world, I thank you for choosing me.”

Roxie blinked rapidly, then shot Bea a look of panic. Bea tapped her pants pocket to reassure her she had the tissues.

“Roxanne, would you be my wife?”

“I will,” she said. Rocco handed Eli the ring. Eli reached for Roxanne’s left hand and slipped the gold band along the length of her slim finger. Bea made a grab for the tissues—for herself, not the bride.

Next, Roxanne took both of Eli’s hands in hers and focused on his eyes. Bea watched her friend’s panic simply melt away, to be replaced by a smile.

“Elias Jedidiah Gallagher, you came into my life as a patient and wise mentor. You became a lover and a friend and my partner in all things. You are a unique human being, created by chance, nurtured by love, and blessed with the gift of helping the creatures of this world.”

Roxanne nodded to collect herself, her chin trembling so slightly that Bea and Eli might have been the only ones to notice.

“Your love gave me courage, Eli,” Roxie went on. “Your love healed me. Your love settled my spirit. When I decided to give you another chance all those years ago, I gave myself another chance, as well.”

Roxie took the ring Rocco held out to her. She grasped Eli’s left hand and asked, “Eli, would you be my husband?”

“I will,” he said softly.

Bea blew her nose, too wrapped up in the moment to realize a lull had settled over the gathering.

“Psst.”
The ring bearer jerked his thumb toward the couple.

“Oh!” Bea stepped forward again. She crammed the tissues into her pocket and cleared her voice.

“Clearly, Eli and Roxanne were blessed from the start, their union part of a plan too vast for any of us to understand. But it is my pleasure now to add my humble blessings, in front of friends and family and this never-ending sky. Eli and Roxanne, may you keep your feet on the ground and your hearts open to the mystery. By the power vested in me by the state of Utah, I pronounce you husband and wife.”

The couple turned toward the cheering crowd and basked in the celebration, their forms in relief against the flaming sunset. After a moment, Eli placed his hand on the small of Roxanne’s back, bent her away, and kissed her with such conviction that, but for a few audible sighs, the crowd went silent. They popped to a stand together, laughing.

The bride and groom motioned for the dogs to lead the way home. With hands intertwined, they took their first step forward.

Bea jolted in surprise when someone grabbed her left hand. It was Josie, who gazed at her with wet eyes and a huge smile. Ginger then snatched Bea’s right hand and pressed close to her friend’s side, grinning in delight. Together, the women watched in awe as their beautiful friend began her newest adventure.

Suddenly, Roxie turned, her face beaming, the breeze ruffling loose strands of her dark hair. She held out her hand to them, motioning for her friends to come along.

St. Martin’s Paperbacks Titles
by Susan Donovan

The Night She Got Lucky

Ain’t Too Proud to Beg

The Girl Most Likely To …

The Kept Woman

He Loves Lucy

Public Displays of Affection

Take a Chance on Me

Knock Me Off My Feet

Praise for the Novels of Susan Donovan

THE NIGHT SHE GOT LUCKY

“This second in Donovan’s stories of dog-walking friends is a wonderful combination of love and laughter, with serious moments as well as some intrigue. The animal characters are a delightful addition to the story.”

—RT Book Reviews

“
The Night She Got Lucky
is a sexy, sweet, and simply delicious contemporary romance.”

—Joyfully Reviewed

“A cute, funny, and sexy tale from beginning to end.”

—Romance Reviews Today

AIN’T TOO PROUD TO BEG

“Donovan whips up a fine frappe of romantic comedy and suspense.”

—
Publishers Weekly

“A delightful new series.”

—
RT BOOKreviews

“This is a terrific book and one that fans of Ms. Donovan, and new readers of first-class romantic comedies, don’t want to miss.”