With the Spin of a Bottle

Epilog

Epilog

Five Years Later 

Leena P.O.V.

"I now pronounce you husband and wife. Mr. Wesley, you may now kiss your bride." The preacher announced and Reed swooped in to claim his first kiss as my husband. The crowd cheered and my heart soured. My belly fluttered, but I didn't know if that was due to nerves, excitement, or the tiny life growing inside. We hadn't told anyone that we were pregnant yet, not wanting anyone to think that was the reason we were getting married. We also just kind of wanted to savor the feeling privately, before the chaos started. I knew that my brothers would want to kick Reed's ass for knocking me up before we could say "I do" and I knew that my friends would be all over me, wanting to start planning a baby shower already.

It was time for us to exit the church and we did so, hand-in-hand. We smiled and waved at our guests, loving that everyone could be there for our big day. Reed's whole basketball team took up the whole back of the church and I was proud of the rowdy boys for showing manners in the church today. Reed had become a high school counselor, as well as a high school basketball coach. He had always loved sports and some of his greatest high school memories involved the basketball team. After dealing with Chase and Paul, he'd chosen the counseling route, hoping that he'd be able to save other lost souls who were just like those two.

I'd gotten my degree in early childhood education and had been teaching first grade for the last year. I absolutely loved it. The kids were amazing and I loved helping them grow. I had some amazing co-workers too and couldn't ask for more. I had always heard that some people, who got a teaching degree, never ending up teaching, deciding to go a different route in the end, but I couldn't imagine doing anything else. Growing up with three brothers had helped prepare me for a room full of rambunctious six year olds every day and I'd taken to the job like an instant pro. Not to toot my own horn or anything.

Maddie and Josh followed us out of the church, as they were our Matron-of-honor and Best-man. They'd been married for about eight months and they'd just announced that they were expecting as well, so I could imagine how excited Maddie will be once we tell her our news. Maddie and I grew up as close as sisters and I had no doubt that our children would grow up close as well. She had finally fully recovered from her ordeal with Chase and had gone on to open a women's shelter. It was all ran on donations and let me tell you, with Maddie's persuasion skills, she could talk a Priest into sinning. So her shelter was never hurting for money. Josh had become an accountant and ran Maddie's books for her. He also had a private office where he worked as a financial advisor and did people's taxes, during tax season.

After Maddie and Josh exited, Josie and Blake followed, also part of our wedding party. They had been married for four years and had two adorable children. They'd gotten married right after the birth of their first child, Jacob Blake Rowen. They never once regretted keeping him and while it had been hard, at first, they'd pulled through and were more in love than ever. Their second child was born two years later and Josie had gotten a daughter. Jasmin Jo Rowen was born with a head full of red hair, like her mother, with the sass to match. Jazzy Jo was a force to be reckoned with and her father was already dreading the day boys would come knocking on their door.

Blake had taken over Gus's when his uncle decided to retire and while he'd kept the small-town-bar atmosphere, they now served delicious food, which Josie cooked. Between the two of them, they were a dynamic duo and people traveled from out of town to eat at Gus's. Blake had bought the building next door, knocked down the wall and expanded, creating more room for tables. It was a booming business and I knew it would continue to do well, with the two of them behind it.

Blake's Uncle Gus had finally swallowed his pride and went to talk to Blake's mother apologizing to her. I'd finally gotten the story behind that, as well. Apparently, Gus Rowen had kicked his sister to the curb when she got herself pregnant with Blake, all of those years ago. Gena Rowen hadn't ended up as lucky as Josie had, with Blake. Blake's father had been a one-night stand mistake and Gena hadn't been able to track him down once she found out she was pregnant. Gena, like Josie, had refused to give up on her baby. He wasn't a mistake to her, but Gus hadn't seen it that way and since Gus had finished raising Gena when their parents passed away, Gus was the only parent Gena had. Once Gus finally admitted that he'd been wrong and that he couldn't imagine their lives without Blake in it, Gena had started to forgive him. They were still working out their differences, but for Blake's sake, I'm glad that they had gotten this far.