With a low growl, I pull the curvy woman towards me and kiss her, fully, passionately, and achingly. Marcy’s lips in return are tender, loving, and promising, and when we finally pull away from each other, we’re both breathless.
“I can’t believe I was such a fool about trying to pay you,” I rasp. “All I wanted to do was take care of you, sweetheart. I never thought how it would look from a different point of view.”
Marcy merely strokes my strong jaw and stares into my eyes.
“I know. It’s silly how if we’d both just taken a moment to talk, we would have realized we were on the same page much sooner and skipped all this hullabaloo.”
I nod.
“But I’m serious baby,” I rasp. “You don’t have to worry about finances ever again, sweetheart. I’m taking care of you because you belong to me. You’re mine.”
To my surprise, Marcy looks into my eyes, that chocolate gaze soft, and nods.
“I’m yours, Jared. Always.”
And with full hearts, we begin the next chapter of our lives together because this is how things were meant to be. Our stars were crossed at first because of diverging viewpoints on how she was being treated. But all along, I’ve only wanted to care for the curvy girl, and now that she understands my true motivations, we’ve worked it out. After all, a good woman is worth her weight in gold, and Marcy is much more than that. Maybe in the beginning she was bought and paid for, but as the man who adores her, I’ve always been more than happy to pay the price.
EPILOGUE
Marcy
* * *
Six months later.
I stare at my reflection in the dressing room mirror, surprised at how far I’ve come. My long brown hair is swept up into a messy up-do, with little curls and braids poking out here and there. I have a delicate tiara on my head, and my makeup is subtle yet flattering. To be honest, there’s a glow to my cheeks because the truth is that I haven’t been able to stop smiling since I woke up this morning.
“My blushing baby girl,” my mom hugs me from behind, tears in her pretty brown eyes. “You look like a princess, Marcella.”
I squeeze her hand, feeling my own eyes fill with happy tears. “I feel like one, Mom. But that’s what Jared does to me. I’m the center of his world, and he’s the center of mine too.”
“And that is exactly as it should be,” my mom nods knowingly. She plants a light kiss on my cheek. “Now, let me see my soon to be granddaughter. Miss Vivi, did you remember to fasten your shoes?”
I look over my shoulder at little Vi, who’s sitting on a nearby couch, swinging her chubby legs. As she does so, one of her patent leather shoes drops off her foot and tumbles to the floor. She giggles.
“No Nana, I guess I forgot.”
My mom laughs and scoops up the white shoe. “Here, let Nana help.”
We all laugh because little Vivi looks absolutely adorable in her tiny flower girl dress. She and I picked it out together and it’s darling. The outfit is made of tulle the color of lilac, and the bodice is covered with dainty lilac and white flowers. On her head, she wears her own tiny tiara that matches mine.
Even better, Vivi gave me a special bracelet today that I’m wearing on my wrist, and my heart turns over as I look at it. It’s a dainty silver chain with half of a heart on it that reads ‘Mama.’ On her own tiny wrist, Vivi wears a matching bracelet, but her charm says ‘Daughter’ instead. Tears fill my eyes because I’m so lucky to have a baby girl like Vivian. When I agreed to marry Jared, I knew I would be getting Vivian as part of a package deal, and it’s the best bonus ever.
“There you go, cutie pie,” my mom says, patting Vivi’s shoes after she finishes buckling them. “Now you’re ready to dance the night away at the reception. And you definitely won’t trip going down the aisle.” Mom winks at the little girl, who giggles.
At that moment, who but Petunia bursts into the room, looking stunning in her maid of honor dress. The deep purple makes her skin luminescent while the cut hugs her curves in all the right places.
“Okay, I managed to track down some bubbly!” she squeals. “Bottoms up, girlfriend!”
I shoot her a smile.
“Really Pet? Before the ceremony? Shouldn’t we wait until the reception?”
“Hell no!” she says vehemently, already popping the cork. “I can’t last that long.”
She hands me a flute, and we clink merrily.
“Here’s to Marcy!” Pet cheers. “Yay!”
I wet my lips, not really drinking, but then Pet pulls me aside.
“I hate to bring this up on your wedding day, girlfriend, but we haven’t caught up in a long time. So what happened to that guy? You know, the one who assaulted you?”