Winter in Kentbury (Kentbury Tales #6)

Epilogue

Holden

I stand in front of the mirror, adjusting my tuxedo, barely recognizing the man staring back at me. In a few short hours, I’ll be marrying the love of my life, and somehow, that fact still feels unreal. Just months ago, the thought of being here, about to call Jenna my wife, was nothing more than a dream I never dared to hope would come true. But here I am, about to make the most important promise of my life.

Landon steps up beside me, clapping a hand on my shoulder with a grin that tells me he’s just as excited as I am. “You ready?”

I meet his eyes in the mirror, my own reflection softened by a smile I can’t contain. “I’ve never been more ready for anything in my life. I’ve dreamed about this day for so long . . . part of me still can’t believe it’s happening. Feels like any minute now, I’ll wake up, and it’ll all be gone.”

Landon shakes his head, pulling me into a tight hug. “This isn’t a dream, Holden. You’re here, and you’re about to marry the love of your life. I couldn’t be happier for you, man. You deserve this more than anyone I know.”

I smile, and in that moment, I feel grounded, standing here with my brother by my side. He’s right. This isn’t a dream—it’s the best kind of reality. Coming home to Kentbury has changed everything for me, and for the first time in my life, I feel like I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be.

The McFolleys joke about Kentbury having some kind of magic in its soil, and now, standing here in a tuxedo, waiting to marry Jenna, I can’t deny it. Coming back here brought me back to her, and I wouldn’t change a single thing.

“You’re right,” I tell Landon, straightening my tie one last time and meeting his eyes with a steady gaze. “Life’s hard, but with the right person, all of it—the struggles, the setbacks—it’s worth it. I just wish I hadn’t taken so long to see that she was right in front of me all along.”

Landon nods, his voice low, carrying that quiet reassurance only a brother can offer. “Sometimes our heads get in the way of our hearts. But you finally figured it out. You two . . . you’re perfect together. She’s the missing piece you didn’t know you were waiting for.”

I take a deep breath, letting his words sink in. I’m ready. I step out of the room and head toward the gazebo, the late-afternoon sun casting a warm glow across the flower-strewn pathway. Purple and white roses—Jenna’s favorite—adorn every arch and beam of the gazebo, filling the air with their sweet fragrance. Raffa McFolley stands there, waiting with a knowing smile, ready to guide us into the vows we’ve both waited too long to say.

I feel the anticipation building in my chest, each step toward that gazebo making my heart beat a little faster. And then the music starts, soft and melodic, and I look down the aisle to see her, my Jenna, the love of my life.

My breath catches as she steps into view, radiant in a dress that looks like it was made just for her. The gown is soft, layers of lace and satin cascading down to the floor, catching the light with a delicate shimmer.

The bodice hugs her frame, intricate lace forming a sweetheart neckline that highlights the graceful curve of her shoulders. The dress seems to glow around her, like she’s surrounded by some otherworldly light, and as she walks toward me, her eyes on mine, I feel my heart expand in a way that’s almost overwhelming.

She reaches the gazebo, her hand slipping into mine as her eyes lock with mine. I’m filled with an indescribable warmth, like everything I’ve ever needed is right here in front of me.

Raffa begins, his voice steady, warm. “We gather here today to celebrate the union of two people who have journeyed a long way to be together. Life may have separated you once, but love brought you back.”

Jenna and I exchange a smile, a quiet acknowledgment of everything we’ve been through, everything that brought us to this very moment.

Raffa looks to Jenna first. “Jenna, would you like to say your vows?”

She nods, taking a soft breath, her hand holding mine tightly as she begins.

“Holden,” she starts, her voice soft but steady, her eyes shining with unshed tears. “From the moment I first met you, you captured my heart in ways I didn’t even understand back then. You were my friend, my dream, my forever crush. I tried so hard to move on, to convince myself that we were just a beautiful ‘what-if.’

“But you were always there, in the back of my mind, the one I was waiting for. Being with you now, getting this second chance . . . it’s like a dream I never thought would come true. I vow to love you with every part of me, through every high and low, through every challenge and triumph. I will stand by your side, support you, and remind you every day that you are my heart, my home, my forever.”

A tear slips down her cheek, and I reach up, gently brushing it away, feeling my own emotions rising. She squeezes my hand, her lips trembling in a soft smile.

Raffa turns to me, nodding. “Holden?”

I take a breath, my voice catching as I begin. “Jenna, you’ve been the light that pulled me out of my darkest places. Even when I didn’t think I deserved a second chance, you gave it to me. You gave me hope, love, and something I thought I’d lost—myself.

“I promise to be the man you believe I can be, the partner you’ve always deserved. I vow to cherish you, to protect you, and to love you for as long as I’m alive. You are my heart, my soul, my everything. You brought me home, Jenna, in every way that matters. I love you more than words can say, and I will spend the rest of my life proving that to you.”

Jenna’s lips quiver as she smiles through her tears, and I can’t help but smile back, feeling the overwhelming urge to kiss her right then and there. Raffa chuckles softly, sensing the moment.

“Holden, you may now kiss your bride.”

I pull her close, my hands framing her face as I lean down, capturing her lips in a kiss that’s soft, deep, and full of all the love I feel for her. Her arms wrap around my neck, pulling me closer, and for a moment, it’s just us, wrapped in this perfect, timeless moment.

As we finally pull back, her eyes shine up at me, her smile radiant. The warmth in her expression reminds me of that one winter in Kentbury that brought us back together. From bud to bloom, we’ve nurtured our love. Today marks the beginning of a new season. And in Jenna’s arms, I have found my home. I’ve found my forever.