I’ve had so many inquiries about Kira and Franklin from Secrets From The Heart that I thought I’d give you a glimpse into their wedding day. This is the epilogue which was deleted from the final version of the book. I hope that you will enjoy it.
Epilogue
One year later…
Everything was in order and Kira was so excited about the most important day of her life. It had been a whole year since she and Franklin got engaged and things couldn’t get any better.
“What are you thinking about?” Gail asked Kira after she slipped the last satin covered button in the loop on the back of her strapless lace gown.
Kira couldn’t believe that she was standing in a beautiful white ball gown wedding dress with a train as long as the path to the inn. She was so grateful to Franklin’s mother Shirley for custom designing the dress for her.
She knew that the day would be an emotional one because she’d decided to get married on her aunt Sophia’s birthday. She couldn’t be more thrilled than to honor her in that way. But the emotions that she’d experienced were…
“Kira, did you hear me?” Her cousin asked, interrupting her thoughts.
“Yes, yes, I’m sorry, Gail.”
Her cousin stood in front of her, freshly made up and glowing. Working together to redecorate the inn, Kira never thought that she and Gail would become close, but she’d grown to love her cousin.
As they put together the updates and upgrades to the inn offerings, Kira figured out quickly that Gail wanted to shine too and she found her place within the business, she had grown by leaps and bounds. Kira couldn’t’ be prouder. Of course, she knew that Ben had something to do with it.
“I’m good, Gail. You hurry and slip on your dress,” Kira instructed her. “The others will be along shortly, I’m sure.”
“Okay, only if you’re sure,” Gail said, fluffy the skirt of Kira’s dress.
“Yes, go on and slip it on. I’m not going anywhere.”
As soon as Gail lifted her mint green floor length dress off the bed and slipped into the bathroom, Kira heard the door opening.
“Auntie,” she said to Mary Louise as she walked into the room. “Is something wrong downstairs?” Her aunt was acting wedding coordinator. A job that Kira didn’t want her to take, but Mary Louise insisted.
“No, the guests just started to arrive, so I asked Mrs. Potter to assist. Don’t you look beautiful.” She came around on the other side of the room. “I came so that I could give you something.”
Kira had no idea what it could be but just knowing that her aunt was giving her a gift warmed her heart. “What is it? I’m excited.” She eyed the blue velvet pouch that her aunt was holding.
“I thought that you should have your aunt Sophia’s most precious piece of jewelry.” Mary Louise said as she removed the classic string of pearls from the bag.
“Should you be giving me something that Charlie had given to her?” She didn’t want Franklin’s father to see her wearing the beads and a whole other fight ensue. Nope, they were done with that at least between the Bennett’s and the Davis’.
“I know and I spoke to Charlie and he said that they rightfully belonged to you.”
Kira threw her hand to her chest. “Really? He wants me to have them?”
“Yes, both he and his wife Shirley thought it was a wonderful idea. He said that knowing that his new daughter-in-law had them made him feel good.”
Kira threw herself in her aunt’s arms. “Oh auntie, thank you so much.” It was more than an honor and because Charlie gave them, it was a double blessing.
“This will be my something old,” she said retreating from her aunt’s embrace.
“Do you have your something new, borrowed and blue?” Her aunt asked.
“Well, my dress is new and I have on a blue garter.”
Mary Louise stepped back. “So you don’t have anything borrowed then?”
Kira shook her head. “No. Is that bad?”
She watched as her aunt removed a stunning double strand pearl and diamond bracelet. “Auntie, I can’t take your bracelet.”
“You’re not sweetie. I want my bracelet back,” Mary Louise said before she chuckled. “This will serve as your something borrowed. It belonged to your grandmother.”
Kira stretched out her arm and allowed her aunt to place the delicate piece on her. The diamond clasps glittered against the jewels in her gown. She then assisted with the necklace. “It matches my dress perfectly.” Kira touched the impeccable pearl-colored beads as her aunt secured the clasp. “I promise to take care of them.”
Mary Louise kissed her forehead, and the tears ran down Kira’s cheek. She loved the feel of the pearls as they warmed her skin. “Thank you,” she said, turning so that they both could look at her in the mirror.
“Perfect,” her aunt said. “I’ve got to get down here. It’s a scorcher today. I’m glad we decided to get the tent.”
Kira heard her aunt and only for a split second did she worry about her custom designed wedding cake from Holly Bradley’s bakery. She and Franklin wanted to get married in the ballroom that they had their first dance in, but the number of people from Clover who wanted to attend exceeded the capacity, so they extended it to the open land.
“Are you happy baby?” Her aunt asked.
“I couldn’t have chosen a finer man than Franklin.”
Mary Louise grasped Kira’s shoulders and squeezed them. “I like him too.”
Gail finally came out of the bathroom before their aunt left the room. “Oh sweetie, don’t you look lovely in your dress.” Mary Louise walked over to her. “You’re going to knock Ben’s socks off with this number.” She turned to Kira. “Doesn’t she just look beautiful. Both you girls do.”
Gail hugged her aunt. “Don’t cry auntie.”
“Right, she just blew me away,” Kira added.
“I can’t help it. Me and your uncle never had children, so you girls have always been special to me.” She caught the tear that slipped out with her finger. “Let me get out of here. I’ll send someone up for you when it’s time.” Mary Louise said before leaving the room.
Gail came to stand beside Kira. “Can I tell you something?”
Kira turned in her cousin’s direction. “Of course. I hope you’re not going to tell me that you hate my dress,” she said jokingly.
“No, I just wanted to say that I was wrong about you.”
Kira understood how people draw conclusions. “Listen, it’s okay. I always try my best to gather my own opinion about people.”
“You’re so strong and determined.”
Talk about a shocker. Kira had no idea what to say to Gail’s statement. “Thank you, Gail.”
“I was always talking about you tearing up the family. Making them angry at the both of us. Boy was I wrong. You show so much strength; even with Franklin’s dad. That couldn’t have been easy.”
Kira didn’t respond verbally, but she did pick up Gail’s hands and squeezed them to her chest. They hugged each other tight and then they heard a knock.
“Don’t tell me it’s time already, auntie just left.” Gail said, straightening out Kira’s tiara.
Since it was so hot that day, she decided not to wear a traditional veil only a jeweled crown in her short hair. The dress was hot enough. She needed to be able to breathe at least a little bit.
“Go and see for me, please Gail.”
Kira positioned herself so that she could see that it was Ben. It tickled her how he was wooing Gail. She was happy for them and hoped that their journey ended in happily ever after.
“It’s Ben bringing me the bouquets.”
“So, Amelia’s here too, already?”
“I guess.”
Kira’s thoughts went to Franklin and the excitement in her belly started all over again. By the end of the day, she’ll be Mrs. Franklin Bennett.
