Bride and Prejudice: Epilogue A Perfect Day

by tarskeewee08

What is a perfect day? Many people have their own definition of a perfect day, for Evangeline standing before the man of her dreams carrying his child and solidifying their union made today completely sublime.

Standing at the French doors to her balcony in her robe coat she looked out over her land and saw the people busying themselves with turning her home into the fairytale her wedding was destined to be. She smiled realizing the castle was more alive than it had been in over a 100 years.

Cambridge England in the spring was a wondrous sight to behold. Flowers blooming under the bright yellowish glow of the sun lined the hills. They appeared hand painted by god brilliant primary colors on top of the back ground of lush emerald green grass that covered the hills across the countryside giving off a picturesque beauty that stops your breath.

Evangeline couldn't have picked a more perfect place for her wedding. Looking down into the yard she saw the 200 white chairs separated in blocks of 50 all covered individually in white duvets with satin bows on the back. The white runner she was to walk was covered in soft white rose petals and it stretched from the steps of the veranda to the foot of the platform she was to greet her prince on.

Their wedding arch was also decorated in large white roses sprouting from a dark green vine that wrapped around intertwined around the arch. Everything was white and silver as she wanted it and it gave off the elegance and purity of her blessed event.

The stage to the left corner also draped in a heavy white cover with a large white ribbon circling it. She saw the band setting up and smiled at how wonderful everything was coming along.

"Would you get out of that window so I can fix your hair!" Layla snapped.
Evangeline turned around and saw Layla standing at her vanity mirror with an exasperated look on her face.

"Okay calm down" she said smiling going back to sit down.

Marcie sat in the corner of the room rocking the baby to sleep she decided to leave as the girls came in to lay her down.

Nora and Ming walked in past Marcie carrying makeup bags and accessories for her try on. Evangeline turned her head and frowned "I'm wearing his grandmother's pearls."

"Well that counts for something old. But we need something borrowed and something blue" she said dropping her bag on the bed.

Nora looked at her friend. "You look so radiant Van, maybe we should go with very little makeup."

"You think so?" Evangeline said turning her head to the mirror.
Layla popped her with the comb "Stop moving I can't pin your hair up if you keep moving around like that!"

"Sorry!" Evangeline said rubbing her shoulder
Hearing a knock at the door the ladies all look toward it frowning. Nora was the first to move and walked over to it confused. "Who is it?"

"I need to see her!" John said leaning outside the door.
"John!" Evangeline said rising from her vanity stool shocked.
"Van, I need to see you baby" he said putting his hand to the door.
"Go away John!" Ming snapped
"John you can't see her you know that!" Nora said surprised he would try.

Layla forced Evangeline back down on her stool "Don't even think about Vangie!"
"What is it John?" Evangeline yelled over them.
"I just want to see you one last time before we go for it" he said smiling.
"Nope!" Ming said coming to the door "Its bad luck and you know it. Now go away before I open this door and you have to deal with me."

"Guys I want to see him too" Evangeline whined.
Nora looked at her amused "Are you serious? You guys spend every waking moment together and you can't wait this one out?"

"Ladies, I don't want to break tradition and I will close my eyes but I need to see my bride to be…" John said hoping he would get through to them.

Layla rolled her eyes "Good grief yawl are sickening"
"John close your eyes" Ming said walking over and getting a scarf to tie around Evangeline's eyes.

"You can't be serious" Nora asked shocked
Ming looked back at her "Its their wedding day and they get what they want within reason. Plus we will be here to supervise. Grab that scarf and go to the door and do John"

Layla shook her head and went to sit down on the bed "This is a bad idea"
Nora got another scarf from the bag and went to the door "John your eyes better be close when I open this door or I am slamming it back shut."

John folded his arms and closed his eyes "Fine.."
Nora opened the door and saw him standing in his black tux with white bow tie and white shirt. His hair was freshly cut and his face smoothly shaven with his mustache trimmed handsomely. Nora took a double take at her best friend's Prince and saw for the first time how remarkably handsome he was. "Well you going to put it on or what?" he said smiling

Nora smiled and walked out the room to tie it around his eyes. Layla leaned over on the bed and looked at John in the hallway getting blindfolded "Ooooo Vangie John looks hot girl"

Evangeline laughed as Ming helped her up and led her to the center of the room. "Now can you see me?"

She smiled "Nope, blind as a bat"
"Good! Bring him in Nora!" Ming shouted
Nora pulled John in and the girls looked at the both of them blindfolded longing for each other and smiled. They were too cute.

"John?" Evangeline said
"Ladies can we have a moment alone?" He asked stepping to the direction of his voice.

Layla shook her head no "Nope, we can't leave you guys alone…plus the wedding starts in a hour I need to finish her hair and Nora hasn't even started on her makeup!"

Nora patted John on the back "Of course we will John, you guys got 10 minutes." She said leading him directly in front of his bride.

Layla rolled her eyes and Ming went over grabbing her arm pulling her off the bed. "We will be outside the room timing you guys" she said leaving. Nora smiled and followed them out.

John hearing the door closed reached for her hand and took it in his. "Hey sunshine"
"Hey John….what's wrong?" she said going to him and letting him hold her.
"I had to hold you before we took our leap" he said rubbing her back
Evangeline lay her head on his chest "You have the rest of our life to hold me babe."
"I know but before I make a public profession of love to you, I wanted to make one more private one"

Evangeline letting go of him laughed lightly "John how many other ways can you say it baby?"

"I can say it like this" he said kissing her lips softly.
"Or I can say it like this" he said kissing the inside of her neck.
"Or I can just simply say to you, that today is the best day of my life. I can tell you that I will love and protect you both as a husband and father should." he said touching her belly wishing he could look into her face.
"You will never regret the day you decided to marry me"

Evangeline teared up under her blindfold and reached up to kiss him. "I love you so much John!" she said overcome with happiness.

They held each other and she wanted more than anything to savor this moment between them for eternity. The girls came back in the room announcing time was up. John was reluctantly escorted out and Evangeline sighed ready to get past the formality of vows and down to the business of being with her husband for good.

Walking down the isle toward her Prince Evangeline saw the crowd of friendly adoring faces smiling at her from her peripheral view but kept her eyes trained on the man that meant the most of all.

Looking into his face as he smiled at her approaching she knew that marrying him was what should have happened 14 years ago. But a sense of contentment washed over her when she realized she wouldn't change one moment of the journey that led them to this point. Carrying their child inside of her ready to embark on their new life she floated the rest of the way.

They two of them exchanged vows both of them accepting the fact that love was multi layered. There was the pain and joy, doubts and regrets, mistakes and triumphs combined ensuring that acceptance of it all makes a couple last forever. As she said I do and heard him say the same their life was full circle. Her day couldn't be more perfect

At the reception in the ball room of their home Evangeline sat at the table with John watching Layla and Ming dancing and twirling around solo on the dance floor. The twins came on to the dance floor trying to keep up with Ming but she made it clear she was a one woman show. The wedding coordinator had the band change tempo and announced the dance of the Mr. and Mrs. McBain. Ming reluctantly stopped her one woman show and chased her sons off the dance floor. The guests clapped as John spun his new wife around the dance floor and she let him lead her in a dance that made her feel beautiful.

"Did I tell you how beautiful you are today?" he asked holding her close and gazing into her eyes.
"I think so but as your wife I should warn you that a minimum of three beautiful's a day are required."
He laughed and spun her away from him and back into his arms "Mrs. McBain you have me completely under your spell"
"Mr. McBain you haven't seen anything yet"

After dancing and cutting the cake. The festivities began and they were pulled apart by friends and family members gushing over their happiness for the couple. Evangeline laughed and told most that she was only 6 weeks pregnant and found out only two days ago herself. Everyone was overjoyed with the new addition to the McBain family.

Walking out of the ballroom to get her bouquet for the toss Evangeline bumped into her mother in law. Eve smiled at her "You made a beautiful bride dear"

"Thank you Eve"
"Would be too much to ask for a hug from an old foolish woman" she said opening her arms to her.

Evangeline walked into her arms smiling "Of course not"
They embraced and Evangeline could feel the sincerity in Eve's congratulations. It was more than she could have hoped for. Letting her go and wiping at he tears she raced over to the end to get her bouquet.

After the bouquet toss to her sister and garter toss to one of the servants. Evangeline snuck off with John to share their moment away from the crowd. They watched from a secluded spot as their family mingled and celebrated their day and marveled at how happy they both were. Their love was complete.

The End.