Chapter That Ring: Epilogue

The wedding preparations are in full swing. I’m standing on the rooftop of the newly renovated hotel that Jadyn is almost ready to reopen—ahead of schedule, I might add.

Celebrity event planner Ariela Ross is here along with her team, and there are so many details that it makes my head hurt. Ariela tells me not to worry, that it will all be perfect, but she wants to make sure we are on the same page.

Mostly because of the crazy decor I asked for.

I gave her a photo of the Halloween bouquet Danny had given me and told her to use it as inspiration for the wedding. While she understood that orange has always been my favorite color, she didn’t think pairing it with black and neon green would look good for a summer wedding.

She walks me around the rooftop, pointing out the deep green topiaries decorated with orange and fuchsia floral that line the perimeter, the intricate macramé altar backdrop topped with vertically hung garlands, the colored ribbons flowing down the sides of the overhead canopy, which will not only keep paparazzi from taking photos from above, but also protect our guests from the sun.

“What do you think, Jennifer?” she asks. “Is it crazy enough?”

“It’s beautiful,” I say, getting teary-eyed, imagining marrying Danny in a few short hours.

“Perfect. As we discussed, we’ll have the ceremony here and then move to the hotel bar for cocktail hour. Our decor there, as per your request, is minimal. Reception in the Grand Ballroom and then back up here for dancing. We’ll remove the canopy, putting millions of twinkle lights overhead. They will reflect beautifully on the glass dance floor. There will be cream linen furniture pieces for lounging with just a few pops of color, most of which are these,” she says, taking my hand, leading me to a staging area, and showing me an ornately carved chandelier that is painted bright orange.

“Ariela, really, this is going to be the wedding of my dreams. Thank you so much.”

“Wait until you see the ballroom. It looks like it’s raining flowers in there. But you might want to wait and see it for the first time with Danny.” She checks her watch. “Speaking of Danny, you’d better get to the suite. Your bridal party should be about finished with the glam squad, which means it’s about your turn.”

Although our wedding party only consists of Devaney as my maid of honor and Damon as the best man, I invited Jadyn and her daughter, Haley, to the bridal suite. When I get back down there, Devaney’s hair is still being curled, and Haley is just finishing up with her pedicure.

I plop down on the sofa next to Jadyn, rubbing my hand across my face. I’m worried I’m getting sick. The last few days, I’ve felt tired and achy and bloated. And that’s the last thing I want to be during our honeymoon in the Maldives.

“You look a little peaked,” Jadyn says. “Are you stressed about the wedding?”

“No, it’s not that,” I say, rubbing the back of my neck, which feels a little feverish. “I think I might be getting the flu.”

Jadyn stares at me for a beat and then grins. “Let me guess; you’ve felt this way for a few days, but the flu you think is coming still hasn’t?”

My eyes brighten. That’s exactly how I’ve felt. “Uh, yeah. Is that going around?”

“And do your boobs sort of ache?”

“Ohmigawd, how did you know that? Did you have it?”

“Yeah. I actually have it now,” she says, running her hand across her very pregnant belly. “Any chance you’re late?”

“Late?

What are you suggesting? Like, that it’s not the flu? That I could be—oh my gosh! Oh my gosh!” I start to bounce. “Oh. My. Gosh. Oh. My. Gosh. I have to get a test. Now.”

“Hang on,” she says. “Does that mean, you’re late?”

“Only a few days. I was literally just thinking this morning how it would be just my luck that it would wait to show up while we’re on the honeymoon.”

She raises an eyebrow at me and grins. “If you’re pregnant, you won’t have that issue.”

“Can we leave? Can I leave? Will you come with me? Can we go buy a test? Like, now. Like, seriously, right now.”

“Of course we can leave. But you have to get ready for your wedding. And lunch is on its way up. I am also thinking maybe you shouldn’t be the one to go into a pharmacy near Rodeo Drive to buy a pregnancy test.”

“Oh shit, I didn’t even think of that.”

“Let me call down to the concierge. He can have someone go get it while we eat.”

“Okay. Ohmigawd.”

“Does that mean you will be excited if you are?”

“Yes! I’ve been dreaming of filling up that space on Danny’s arm with our children since our first date. And he’s definitely on board with having more children. Especially now that he’s retired.” I put my hand on her arm. “And I promise I will be so deliriously happy that I won’t have a single bitchy moment.”

“Yeah, I’m not sure you can promise that. Pregnancy isn’t easy.”

“Although,” I say with a laugh, “since I can’t control what comes out of my mouth on a normal basis, maybe I shouldn’t promise that.”

“What comes out of your mouth is usually really funny. So, what did you think of the decor you saw?”

“The wedding decor is amazing, but the hotel, Jadyn, it’s been resurrected. Just think, this is where you saved me.”

“I didn’t save you,” she scoffs. “Just gave you an option you hadn’t thought of. The rest is on you. It’s really good to see you happy. And I can’t even express my gratitude about how wonderful it is to see my best friend so happy. Whether you are pregnant or not this time, it doesn’t matter. I know it will happen for the two of you eventually.”

“That’s the story of our lives, isn’t it? Danny and I got together … eventually.”