Epilogue

Of course the day was perfect. Genny and Dallas deserved nothing less than true perfection on the most special day of their lives. Sunshine in abundance. Blue sky overhead. Green grass beneath their feet. Wild flowers blooming profusely. Birds chirping. Fiddlers playing alongside flutists. The melodies ancient. Celtic. Cherokee. Sometimes a subtle blending, just as the bride herself was a mixture of the two noble people.

Genny had never been more beautiful than she was this spring afternoon in June when she exchanged vows with the man she loved. Of course the groom was handsome. In his simple black suit and gray-striped tie, his attire complimented his new wife’s unadorned antique white sheath of sheer organdy over an aged silk underlay. Genny’s granny, Melva Mae Nelson, had wed her true love, Jacob Butler—the present day Jacob’s grandfather—in the dress Genny wore today. Her long shiny black hair hung loosely to her waist, unfettered by jewelry or a headpiece and veil, the sparkling diamond on her finger, now mated to the simple gold wedding band, her only embellishment.

Jazzy joined the group of unwed women as Genny prepared to toss her bouquet of pale pink wild roses. Jazzy’s life had changed unbelievably in the past six weeks since she’d nearly died at the hands of a madwoman. Nothing would ever be the same again. Her views on life in general had altered. She was stronger, wiser, far more cautious. And she was happier than she’d ever been, mostly due to her relationship with Caleb McCord. She hadn’t told him she loved him. Not yet. It wasn’t that what she felt for him wasn’t love, but after what she’d gone through with Jamie, she wasn’t ready to commit her whole heart to anyone. Not until she was sure. Not only of the man, but of herself.

She trusted Caleb and believed he loved her. But she couldn’t forget that he was now the Upton heir or that Miss Reba, despite Big Jim soundly defending Jazzy to his wife, still disapproved of her. Caleb hadn’t moved into the Upton mansion, but everybody knew who he was now. She’d told him that he couldn’t put off the inevitable for much longer and he hadn’t disagreed with her. He still lived in the rental cabin and still worked as the bouncer at Jazzy’s Joint. But even he admitted that he was considering Big Jim’s offer to come into the family business empire.

Jazzy supposed she didn’t quite trust Caleb to choose her, to put her first, if it came to a choice between her and what his grandmother wanted. And someday soon, it would come to that. He understood that she would want marriage and children. And Miss Reba would oppose their union. They hadn’t discussed marriage. Not yet. But they would. She’d been the one who’d suggested they take their relationship slow and easy and give themselves plenty of time to be sure. Reluctantly, Caleb had agreed.

Maybe things would work out for them. It was what she wanted, what he professed he wanted, too. But she needed time. She was barely on the mend after her long hospital recuperation. And there was another relationship she had to work out first—the relationship with Reve Sorrell.

Reve had called her while she’d been in the hospital. And in the weeks since her release, they had talked on the phone several times. Jazzy had questioned Aunt Sally about her birth and her aunt had told her the same old story again and again. No twins. No second child. Corrine Talbot gave birth to one baby girl. Jazzy had no sister. No twin. But a part of Jazzy doubted her aunt. Her gut feelings told her that Reve was her sister—her twin.

Before she could move forward with her life and make a commitment to Caleb, she had to find out the truth. And from some things Reve had said recently, Jazzy was pretty sure she felt the same way. If Aunt Sally wouldn’t help her unearth the truth, then she’d have to find another way to discover who she really was. Caleb had promised her that he’d do everything he could to help her. For the first time in her life, she had a strong, reliable man at her side.

All the bridesmaids fluttered and giggled as they lifted their arms and reached for the bouquet that sailed toward them. Maybe it was because she stood a couple of inches taller than the others, or maybe because Genny aimed directly at her, Jazzy wasn’t sure, but the bouquet of wild roses landed in her uplifted hands. She clutched the fragrant nosegay to her bosom and laughed. Would she be the next Cherokee County bride? Would she and Caleb truly find their happily ever after? With bubbly happiness warming her heart, Jazzy glanced around the crowd and her gaze connected to Caleb’s, who stood alone, away from the crowd.

Barefoot, as were Genny and her other attendants, Jazzy ran across the field at the back of Genny’s house where the outdoor ceremony had taken place. She raced straight into Caleb McCord’s open arms. Life was good. And the future looked bright.