Epilogue

	The sun and shadows played catch-me-not on the grass under the large
Japanese Maple in Marina’s back yard.  The day was perfect. The sky was painted with
wispy clouds on a rich blue canvas but the breeze that filtered through the garden was
just enough to make it not too hot.  Everything was perfect!
	Mikki curled her fingers together at the back of her husband’s neck and beamed
upwards into his eyes.  The soft trickle of the little waterfall was music to her ears as they
took this moment alone, away from their guests, in her favourite secluded spot of the
garden.  She knew they would soon have to rejoin their guests, but for the moment, just
to feel his arms around her waist and dissolve in the magic of his eyes was enough.
	Reese looked down at his wife, the dreamy, far-off look in her eyes bringing a
smile to his lips. “Where are you, Mrs. Kincaide?” he said softly.
	“Hmm?” she murmured, then she sighed, her mind slowly re-living the past few
hours. “Paradise.”
	
	It had been the most beautiful wedding. Of course Mikki was biased, since it was
her own, but she could think of no other occasion that she had been to that could match
it.  Marina had outdone herself, making the already magical garden into the perfect
setting for their day.   The pagoda had been decorated with all manner of flowers woven
around the supports and draped over the roof.  Instead of walking through the guests,
who had been seated on the lawn, Mikki had approached from the house, making her
way over flagstone and across the foot-bridge and finally coming into full view to the
hushed sighs those gathered to watch.  Max had lead the way -- with Joey. 
	Yes, the prodigal Joey had returned, and Mikki smiled to herself. Now that was a
whole other story in itself, and she still had to pry all the details out of her friend, but right
now all that mattered was that her two best friends were both there to share the most
important day of her life with her.  There wouldn’t be a day without them!  If not for their
meddling she would never have met Reese, and she had to admit, she was more then
grateful to them. 
	Never had that fact been more meaningful to her than when she had stepped
into the pagoda and faced the man she would spend the rest of her life with.  The look of
admiration in his eyes had made her knees weak.  Because the garden itself was a work
of art, Mikki hadn’t wanted an extravagant dress, nor had she wanted white.  She
wanted to blend in with the beauty around her, not stand out.  She’d chosen a long
simple empire waist dress, sheathed in ecru lace, with an off the shoulder neckline lined
with antique lace edging.  The cream coloured roses that draped over the pagoda
matched her dress almost perfectly. 
	“You look beautiful!” Reese had whispered, as she had taken her place beside
him, and he had broken with tradition to place a gentle kiss on her hair as he took her
hand in his and held it tight. 
	The ceremony had passed like a dream, and soon he was scooping her into his
arms for a real kiss, their first kiss as husband and wife, and Mikki had never felt so
happy.  When she had come to her senses it had been to the sounds of clapping and
cheers from the crowd, and reluctantly she had floated back to earth. 
	There had been a whirlwind of activity after that. Mikki’s parents were so happy
for her,  Patrick had beamed proudly just as if Reese had been his own flesh and blood,
and  Emily had positively gushed over her, exclaiming how she had known from the first
time she’d set eyes on Mikki that this was the girl for Reese.  Mikki had laughed playfully
when her mother-in-law had proclaimed for all to hear how she had seen that very first
day just how deeply in love with each other they had been.  Oh if she only knew, Mikki
thought, then she glanced at Reese, and smiled. Though neither one of them would
have admitted it at the time, Emily was absolutely right!
	Monica had been just as vocal about their union, reminding everyone --
especially Reese -- that she had been the one to bring the bride and groom together. 
	“You should apologize to your Aunt for the despicable way you spoke to her.”
Monica? boasted. “Stop meddling in your love life, indeed! If I hadn’t meddled in your
love life would you be standing here today with this lovely bride on your arm?”
	“All right, Aunt Monica.  I’ll admit, the luck was finally with you.” Reese conceded. 
	“Luck! There was no luck about it. Pure match-making skill, that’s what it was!”
	Reese had laughed, and Monica had joined with him and pointed out that they
would do well to remember her role and repay her by producing a grand-niece or
grand-nephew or two before she got too old to enjoy them. 
	And Marina and Thomas, who had sat silent yet proud in the front row.  Their gift
of the garden for the ceremony had made the day more perfect than it ever could have
been anywhere else. Mikki had felt Reese all around her as she had walked towards the
pagoda. His art was everywhere, and with it, his soul, that wrapped around her and drew
her to him where he waited.  Yes, Marina and Thomas were just as much family as
Emily was. They had welcomed her with such warmth and Mikki was proud to have been
taken into their hearts and their home so openly. Marina’s constant doting was always
contrasted by Thomas’s calm and silent knowing smiles, and Mikki loved them both
dearly.
	And Lucas.  Mikki laughed as she remembered how Lucas had brooded over the
pairing of the bridesmaids and ushers. Lucas was paired with Joey, which irked him to
no end, and it annoyed him even more to see the smug look on Jake’s face as he took
the hand of the red-headed Max and led her away from the pagoda after the ceremony. 
Lucas had shot his step-brother a playful scowl but dutifully escorted Joey out of the
pagoda. It made Mikki laugh to see the men jostling for top spot in Max’s affections,
because she knew full well the girl wasn’t interested in either one of them.
	Sandy and her new husband had rounded out the bridal party, and Mikki had
been so happy that everyone who was important to her had been there with her to share
this perfect day.  As they had mingled with the rest of the guests and Reese had
introduced her to family and friends, the dream had felt like it would never end, yet she
had been thankful when Reese had taken her hand and silently led her away from the
crowds who mingled around the buffet tables set up on the main lawn.  They had slipped
away un-noticed, and when at last they had emerged from the trees at the water’s edge
and the soft playful tune of the waterfall had met her ears, Mikki had never felt happier. 
For a long time they had just stood there, wrapped in each other’s arms, reveling in the
moment.
	“Paradise.” she whispered, in response to her new husband’s question.  “There
is no where else I’d rather be right now”
	He reached down and kissed the tip of her nose. “I really wouldn’t care where I
was right now.” he said, smiling. “As long as I was with you.”
	She sighed, and rested her head against his chest, listening to the beat of his
heart playing harmony to the trickle of the waterfall.  He was absolutely right, and she
knew it. Paradise would be wherever they were together.  The garden was magical, the
waterfall so soothing, and the fact that Reese had created it all left her awestruck.  The
knowledge that he could -- and would -- create any dreamscape she desired in the
gardens of the magnificent old house and shop that would be their home was thrilling.
Never the less, she knew too, that even if he never lifted a finger to build her a garden,
and no matter where they were going to live, Paradise would always be within the circle
of his arms. 

	“There you are!”  Emily’s cheery voice penetrated her thoughts. “Oh look at you
two!  We simply must remember to get the photographer to take this shot! You look like
you belong here.”  She beamed at them, her arms resting on each other in front of her in
a look of contented pride.  “I do hate to intrude, but speaking of the photographer, he’s
here.  We’ve been looking everywhere for you.  Marina, bless her soul, thought you
might be here.” 
	Emily rested a hand on each of their shoulders, stretched onto her tip toes and
planted a kiss on her son’s cheek, then gave one to her new daughter-in-law, and Mikki
clearly saw tears glinting in her eyes. “I’m so happy for you both.” she said, and then she
turned and whisked herself away before her tears betrayed her and rolled down her
cheeks. 
	“I guess we really should go back.” Reese said, looking down at her with his
arms draped lovingly around her waist. “What do you think, Mrs. Kincaide?”
	She smiled up at him dreamily. “I suppose we should.  It’s not polite to keep
people waiting, and I do want pictures to remember this magical day by.” She lifted her
lips to his and kissed him. “I Love you Reese Kincaide!” she breathed against his lips. 
	“Mmmmm.” He murmured. “I Love you too.”
	His arms slipped from around her and their hands found each other instinctively,
as they slowly made their way out of the solitude of their quiet spot and emerged from
under the trees to the busy chattering of their guests. Mikki smiled. It was a perfect day!
Now if she could just get Joey alone for five minutes to find out more about that
impressive looking man was that had been hovering by her side ever since they had
arrived ...