Chapter Twelve: The lucky ones
Sometimes I wonder how did I get so lucky… the smile on my face can't be bigger and my heart is about to burst with joy watching my daughter and Simone talking and laughing without a care in the world "it feels like yesterday, doesn't it?" Aiden whispers in my ear "what?" I say confused "just yesterday they were babies and now…look at them, talking about wedding dresses" I look at him smiling "our baby is engaged, who saw that coming huh?" we laugh, just like 8 years ago when a very nervous Carl informed us he and Amy were dating, "I can't say I didn't…again" Aiden smiles and holds me tighter "I'm so happy for them, for her… she's getting married with her best friend" he adds, and I hear the happiness in his voice "you know what makes me even happier?" I ask him and he looks curious "what?" "She will never know what a broken heart is".
"Mom! Come here, we want to show you something" Amelia says from outside, "what's going on?" I ask, sitting beside Simone "what do you think of this dress?" She shows me a beautiful Danielle Caprese, with a delicate sweetheart neckline, it's a sheath gown in beaded lace with natural waist and ends perfectly in a chapel train... "Sweetie, it's beautiful…" I say with tears in my eyes, Amelia hugs me "this is the one then" Simone squeals in delight, "I told you! I'm calling my mom immediately" she goes inside and I take Amelia's hands "I still can't believe it" she smiles softly "me either… I always thought I would end up alone, being a genius with a very demanding career, and now here we are" "now it's your turn to be the cover of Voulez" she blushes and I laugh "hey, we've all been through it, now it's your turn" Simone sits beside us "she's right" she adds pointing at me and Amelia rolls her eyes "thank you for that Moon" "don't be silly, you'll love the photo shoot with Margaux".
Two weeks goes by before I receive the edition of Voulez I was waiting for, and when I see the cover a goofy smile appears on my face… I can see my baby with the same dress I wore for my photo shoot with Aiden, Carl has his arms around her waist and smiling at the camera… just like Aiden did. My phone rings and I don't need to look at the screen to know who's calling me… "do you like it?" a very anxious Margaux asks, "I…I don't know what to say, it's exactly the same cover…" "it was her idea, obviously the rest are different but she wanted the cover to be the same… I think you two started a family tradition" I laugh, "wow…who knows?" "by the way, read the article, they don't know anything about it yet, I only sent you an early copy" I start turning the pages "you put pictures of them in Paris?" I can hear her smile "yes! And some of them studying" we laugh, "Simone gave me some too, so there might be a few surprises" "I will read it with Aiden tonight…oh, before I forget Charlotte called" "what did she say?" "she'll be here next month with Josh, Christian has some work so he's flying a couple of weeks later" "good, we still have three months before the wedding and a lot of stuff to do" I sigh "tell me about it" "right? You have to thank heaven Amelia's keeping it simple… I'm sure Simone will drive me crazy when the time comes" she says laughing "let her be, she's just excited because she and Amy will be actual sisters now".
I hang up a while later, "Aiden, where are you?" I start looking for him when I see Nolan's figure standing outside "hey, how are you?" he groans "been better, I hate the media" since the announcement of the engagement of Amelia Mathis and Carl Porter, reporters have been all over us and the kids. "I understand how you feel… but after a few weeks you get used to it, remember when they started dating?" he rolls his eyes "oh yes, I think I'll never forget that, they made such a drama out of their age difference and look at them now" "yeah… hey, did you see Aiden?" he nods "yes, he was on his way to the city" "why?" I ask curious "well he said something about a special gift for the kids" he chuckles "they're not kids anymore" "I know…. Anyway, I started looking into my stuff and I found this", he shows me my delicate silver necklace with a double infinity pendant, "I thought I'd lost it on the beach" I say surprised and Nolan hugs me "now you can give it to Amy, it'll be her something old" I kiss his cheek, and hug him again.
"Hey handsome, what were you doing in the city?" Aiden smiles at me before kissing me "I missed you too beautiful" "I never said I did" I say playfully, he kisses me again "I don't need to hear it, I know it" "mmm, so damn cocky" "I can show you, if you want" I smile into the kiss, "maybe later" I wink and he wraps his arms around me. "Jack showed me the latest Voulez" he says a wile later, "Oh right, Margaux sent us a copy" I go to our room and he follows me "look at it, remember our cover?" I ask him and he seems far away "I will never forget it" he says grabbing me before kissing me slowly, and I'm in heaven. "We should stop… Amelia's coming over" he says and I sigh "the special gift?" he nods, "yes, very special gift".
Just like Aiden said, 20 minutes later Amelia and Carl enter our house "hi mom" she hugs me "how are you sweetie?" "good, kinda nervous but good kind of nervous" I smile and she kisses my cheek before doing the same with Aiden; "Hi Emily" Carl hugs me "hi Carl" "you look beautiful" I blush "oh Carl I already like you so there's no need for that" he kisses my cheek "you're still my godmother, and… it's true"; "stop trying to steal my wife" Aiden says smiling and I go near him "don't worry, Amy already has him" we all laugh. After dinner, I smile looking at Carl and Amy…he has his arm over Amelia's shoulder while she tells Aiden all about her patients; "Amy, Carl… Emily and I have a gift for you" Amelia looks at me, she has always been able to read me like an open book "don't even try it" I say serious, but it doesn't last long when I see Carl smirking "Mom, Dad you don't have to give us something" Amy says and Carl agrees "like always, she's right…" Aiden shakes his head "you don't even know what it is yet" "he's right" I say smiling; Amelia sighs "fine, you win" "good! Here it is" he gives them a key I know extremely well, "no dad, you didn't!" Amy says with tears in her eyes, Aiden takes her hands "yes I did, our lovely villa in Capri…is now yours" "you two deserve it" I say and they still haven't said anything…. "and what do you think? Aiden asks sweetly "I don't know what to say" I take my godson's hand "then don't say anything, just make our baby happy every single day" Aiden says "keep making her happy every day" I correct my husband, "don't doubt it" Carl says and Amelia kisses him.
Before I realize, we're picking Charlotte and her family at the airport. Margaux is impatient "they should be here by now" Jack pulls her closer to him "Babe their flight just landed, you know how this works" she huffs in frustration, I have a huge smile on my face… it's been 2 years since our last trip to Berlin and I miss my sister "the kids will be thrilled!" I say and Aiden nods "Amelia still believes Charlotte's flying next month with Christian" "Oh Josh must be so big" Margaux says excited "he must be so excited to finally visit the states" Jack adds and I agree "I know, Charlotte is equally excited to have him here… she also told me she had a surprise for us". We wait for another 20 minutes until I feel a little someone crashing with my legs "Emmy!" I hug my nephew "Josh, look how big you are" I say surprised, he's only eleven but apparently he will be as tall as his father "Josh, go say hello to your godparents" I hear Charlotte's voice, I watch Carl hugging Jack and Margaux, before I hug my dear sister and I feel something… "Charlotte, I thought you…oh my god, is that what I think it is?" she nods "I'm pregnant Ems, 4 months to be exact" I hug her tighter "I'm going to be an aunt again!" "yes, another little niece" Aiden gets near us "congratulations Charlotte" he hugs her and I can't stop smiling, she receives more hugs from Margaux and Jack, "we actually have another surprise for you but, why don't we go to the house first?" Aiden and Jack take their luggage and Margaux takes Josh's hand "yeah, let's get out of here".
On the way back, I text Nolan and the kids to let them know we're on the way "so, none of them knows I'm here?" Charlotte asks and Josh giggles, Aiden shakes his head "Well, Nolan does but the kids believe we're only getting together for lunch" Jack laughs from the driver's seat "you have to let them know you're pregnant first or they'll jump on you" Margaux laughs too "I'm sure Nolan will be able to control them" "Right!" we all say at the same time, before laughing again.
Aiden pulls over our front yard and I can see Nolan, Carl and the girls smiling "About time! I'm starving…" Simone says exaggerating "Moon, stop complaining…" Charlotte yells behind the car and the three of them run to her side "Charlie!" "Careful with the pregnant lady kids" Aiden says and their eyes light up, including Nolan's "I missed you so much" I hear Amy telling her while Nolan makes his way through them "get away kiddos it's my time to congratulate her" he says and we all laugh "so, new nephew or niece?" Charlotte hugs him "niece" Nolan's eyes widen "we will always be outnumbered won't we?" Josh laughs "I'm kinda hungry too" Simone raises her arms "let's go Josh, you're not the only one" Amelia and Carl follow them inside, while we all hug Charlotte once again "welcome home".
"I can't believe you're 24… and you 27!" Charlotte says to the girls and Carl before they leave "I feel so old" she says and Margaux puts her hand on her shoulder "imagine how I feel, my boy is getting married" I raise an eyebrow "and you're just getting started" Charlotte smiles, "I can't wait to see my Josh like this though…" "what do you mean?" I ask "look at Amy and Carl, so in love, so happy…and Simone so independent, so strong" "so stubborn" Margaux adds laughing and Jack yells "just like her mother" we laugh and Charlotte puts her hands on her growing belly "by the way, how's Voulez doing?" Margaux smiles "amazing! About a month ago we did the cover with Carl and Amy… and Simone's doing great too, when the time comes I know the magazine will be in good hands" she says proudly "I bet Pascal would be proud" Charlotte says fondly and Margaux eyes cloud for a moment, I take her hand "we all miss him". The guys sit with us, "hey Charlotte, what's the other surprise?" Aiden asks, he's so curious. Charlotte laughs "I knew you wouldn't be able to wait" "c'mon tell us" Nolan says, sounding like a little kid… Charlotte smiles at them "Christian has a job offer here in the US, we're staying here".
After that, days flew by so fast… Nolan hands me a tissue while I'm trying to stop my tears. We're all waiting for Amelia's grand entrance, Carl stands smiling nervously at the altar with his best man trying to keep him calm. "it's time" Nolan whispers when the music starts and we watch a radiant Simone making her way to the altar, Josh follows her with the rings and then I see my smiling husband with our daughter by his side, "She looks gorgeous, doesn't she?" I whisper to Nolan "she does Ems, she does" he says proud, Amelia stops beside me and gives me a kiss "I love you mom" I smile "I love you too honey". Aiden kisses her hand and then put it in Carl's hand, they're smiling and I can see a few tears escaping Amy's eyes. Aiden wraps his arms around me and kisses me "I love you" "I love you too Aiden". The priest asks them if they have their own vows and both nod "Amelia Mathis, I… wow, I can't believe we're here today, you have been my best friend my whole life and I think I've been in love with you my whole life… I used to lie to myself saying I loved you like a sister because how could a beautiful genius like you notice me? I remember the first time you told me you loved me, we were outside your house studying and my heart was about to burst! I wanted to tell you how I felt so bad and thank god you were braver than me- Amy chuckles- from that day, you've made me the happiest man on earth and today I promise you I will try to do the same for you for the rest of our lives" Aiden and I are crying, I'm so so happy for them. "Carl Porter, I will never forget that day… never, I remember being there trying to focus on my report but it was impossible I needed to tell you how I felt so badly but I wasn't sure…then I remembered something my mom said you must be brave and I just spit it out. You're my first and only love, the love of my life, the one and I'm so glad I am yours… and I'll be by your side every day for the rest of our lives, just like I promised you 8 years ago, because I always knew this was forever". I see Jack hugging Margaux and Aiden whispers in my ear "I love you" I kiss him deeply, "I love you too" I say putting my head on his shoulder.
Simone stands "Ok, the maid of honor speech time now!" she says excited. Moon looks at Carl and Amy "My older brother and my very best friend, who I love like a sister… I'll be lying if I said I never saw this coming, because c'mon! he might be the best brother in the whole world but no sixteen year old in his right mind would rather hang out with his little sister and her bff on a friday night than going out with his friends, you two belong together and what makes me even happier is that now, we legally are sisters!" we all raise our glasses laughing, the venue's crowded with friends and family, even a few of Margaux's nieces and nephews are here. After the new husband and wife's first dance, Aiden and I approach them "do you mind?" he asks Carl and he shakes his head "Emmy" he says softly "it's been years since the last time you called me that" I say smiling, he holds me tighter "my godson and my son in law, I bet your mother is jumping up there" he looks at me "you think?" "she's just as proud of you as I am Carl" he kisses my cheek "I love you Emmy"; the song finishes and now it's Margaux and Jack's turn, Aiden takes my hand while we dance together and I watch Christian doing the same with Charlotte and Simone dragging Nolan to the dance floor.
I sigh and Aiden pulls me closer to him, "hey, what's going on?" he says worried, "nothing bad…just thinking" I smile at him "about?" "us, our family… I always thought I wouldn't live long enough to have all this" he kisses my forehead "that makes two of us, but we raised a beautiful and very, very smart young woman; we have a big family around us and the rest of our lives ahead of us". Later in the night I can finally sit down and talk quietly with my daughter, she's smiling and glowing with happiness "thanks for the necklace again mom" she says touching the pendant "now you can pass it to your daughter when the time comes" I hug her "so, how does it feel to be married so far?" her smile gets bigger "as happy as I've always been with him" "good, now go and let Margaux have a couple of pictures of you" "Mooom, I don't want to" she complains and I smile "for me please?" I kiss her cheek and she stands up "just for you". I watch my family laughing at something Christian said and I feel tears pooling in my eyes. 28 years ago I felt like my life had no way out, like I had no future ahead of me…like the Graysons took everything from me, I now realize how wrong I was…they didn't take anything from me, from us… it was the other way around, they gave me my future on a silver platter. "Ems, come here!" Nolan yells and I join them on the dance floor, we spend the rest of the night dancing and laughing… and sharing the occasional embarrassing story about the bride or the groom, like the big and loud family we are.
~A&E~
This is it, the last chapter… it feels like a long journey is over. Sorry for the delay, I had this done a while ago but my birthday got in the way and then my life went into "chaos mode" so I didn't have time to post it. Anyway, I'm going to miss this universe… and even though right now I don't have any plans for a sequel or something like that , I might come back to it later.
Thank you again to every single one of you who took the time to write a few words, and to all of you that took the time to read this story… like I'm always telling you it means so much to me!
For the last time, I hope you enjoyed this journey as much as I did, and specially this last chapter.
Kisses, Cami