Epilogue

Disclaimer: All rights to the Mother-Daughter-Book-Club series belong to Heather Vogel Frederick. "Are you ready?" Megan asks.

I nod and smile, not because the question was meant for me, but because I know that's how Emma will respond.

"I've never been more ready for anything in my life," Emma replies, smiling slightly. "Even if I feel as though I could throw up."

"Well, honey, you don't have to go through with it if you're nervous. Twenty-three years old is awfully young to be getting married," Mrs. Hawthorne frets.

Emma rolls her eyes, but she gives her mother a squeeze on the arm. "Seriously Mom, this is what I want. I'm sure of it."

"And just so you know," Cassidy pipes up, "marriage really isn't that bad."

She holds up her left hand where a gleaming gold band resides, courtesy of a certain Tristan Berkeley. The two of them got married at a Boston courthouse two months ago, which Cassidy claimed was so that she didn't have to go through the pain of planning a wedding.

"Gee, Cass," Becca says. "I never thought I'd hear you say that you were happy being married."

I laugh. We're all clustered in my old bedroom at Half Moon Farm where Emma and Stewart decided to hold both their wedding ceremony and reception. Outside, I can hear the guests milling around in the field where we've set up chairs as well as the usual barnyard noises.

Mrs. Hawthorne, who is still as efficient as she was at our book club meetings a decade ago, checks her watch. "We should probably be heading downstairs to get ready for the procession."

Emma nods. "Just give me a minute. I want to make sure my bridesmaids are ready."

She orders us to line up and inspects us carefully, occasionally pointing out a stray curl or wrinkle in our dresses. Finally, she deems us suitable and we begin to troop out the door. I linger behind.

"I'll be there in a second. There's something I want to do," I tell Emma, who nods and follows her mother down the stairs, mindful of her long train.

I stand in front of the full length mirror and stare at my reflection. Megan designed all the dresses for the wedding party and as the maid of honor I'm wearing a pale pink dress that flutters just past my knees and has a modest v-neck. Paired with three inch heels, I feel I should be ready, but I feel as though I'm missing something.

A moment later, I realize I need a piece of jewelry. Digging through my dresser I find a few bracelets and necklaces and try them on. However, none of them seem to go with the dress. I'm beginning to think I should just abandon the idea and join my friends downstairs when I remember there is one more piece of jewelry: a necklace which has sat in my closet, untouched for five years. Darcy's necklace.

I find the box, which I stowed away the summer after my freshman year with a vow to forget it, and open it. The blue jewel is as stunning as it was when I first saw it and when I clasp it around my neck I give a rueful laugh. Of course this would be the necklace that completed my outfit.

Giving myself a final look over, I head downstairs, feeling self-conscious about the pendant. I feel as though everybody's staring, but nobody gives it a second glance…Until I'm outside in the yard in the afternoon sun, lining up with the other bridesmaids and groomsmen.

Darcy, who is Stewart's best man, spots the blue stone around my neck and gives me a wink. I flush as I shuffle over to him: we've been assigned to walk down the aisle together.

"Nice necklace," he whispers even though it seems unlikely anybody will hear him through the commotion.

"Whatever," I say, searching the crowd for Jonas. I spot him and he waves in response.

"I knew you'd wear it someday," Darcy continues, ignoring my effort to snub him.

I'm about to retort when the wedding march begins to float from speakers set up. Darcy and I are given the cue to begin our walk down the aisle and we walk slowly, as ordered two nights ago at the wedding rehearsal.

When we reach the wedding arch, I find my spot and turn to watch Emma come down the aisle. She looks gorgeous in an ivory colored dress, her brown hair pinned up and as radiant as the sun. Mr. Hawthorne looks as though he could burst with pride as he walks his daughter down the aisle.

Stewart looks transfixed by the sight of Emma and I feel a slight pang of sadness. After this, nothing will be the same. Emma will have a part of life that I won't be able to follow her into, not to mention that she and Stewart are planning to move to Texas for a publishing job Stewart was offered.

The ceremony is very simple, but it brings nearly everyone to tears. When Emma and Stewart have their first kiss as man and wife, there's nearly a mob to congratulate them. They said they wanted a small wedding, but they ended up inviting nearly two hundred people. I join the crowd and soon as swept close to Emma.

Hugging her, I speak softly in her ear. "Congrats, Em. I hope you and Stewart are really happy together."

She smiles back at me. "Thanks, that means the world to me."

Just as the sun is beginning to set, the reception begins. It's held under a white tent, pitched in the field next to where the ceremony was. A dance floor is set up with tables set up around it and the food is catered by Mrs. Sloane-Kinkaid.

"Well," Jonas says smiling as the two of us sit at a table, holding hands.

We've had a stable relationship although we've had our fair share of rough patches. We're still together, which is what counts. And our commitment is now shown by a diamond ring which I received a week ago.

"Well," I echo, smiling back at him. "The wedding craziness is over for Emma and Stewart—"

"—and just beginning for us," Jonas finishes.

"I can't wait," I tell him. "How about a winter wedding?"

He laughs. "Winter sounds good to me."

His laugh trails off as a tall figure approaches our table. It's Darcy Hawthorne. He looks casually handsome. He's taken off his suit jacket and loosened his tie and his hair is rumpled.

"Hi," he says.

"Hi, Darcy," I say uncertainly. We've kept our truce of civility, but never gone out of our way to be friendly.

"I was wondering," Darcy says, "if you'd like to dance with me."

I glance at Jonas. "Ummm…"

"Strictly friendly," he promises.

Jonas shrugs. "It's up to, Jess."

"Sure," I say, accepting Darcy's hand as we head to the dance floor.

"So," I say once we're swaying to the music. "What brought this on?"

"I thought we'd dance at least once. It is Emma's wedding after all."

"What about your date?" I ask, glancing at a nearby table where a tall brunette is staring at us.

"She'll be okay without me for a few minutes," Darcy says casually.

"Still the player, huh?" I tease him gently.

"I suppose," he shrugs. "Never quite found 'the one'."

I look away awkwardly, not sure what to say. Six years ago I would've thought I was "the one", but right now we're in a completely different position.

"Oh, hey!" he says quickly. "I didn't mean to make things weird. I just meant that I haven't clicked with anyone."

"Uh-huh," I say, still aware we're treading on sensitive ground.

"Okay, well there was another motive for asking you to dance," he admits.

"Yeah?"

"I wanted to talk to you without Jonas around. Not,"—he catches my glance— "about anything romantic."

I absent-mindedly touch the necklace around my throat, and he smiles. "See, it looks great on you."

"Darcy-" I warn.

"I meant it in a platonic way," he assures me. "Which is what I wanted to talk to you about. I think that I want to be friends."

I stare at him. Maybe it's the ring around my finger that I feel will serve as a physical reminder that nothing will happen or the fact I truly believe he's moved on, but I throw caution into the wind. "I don't know if...Well, you know what? What the heck. Let's try it."

"Seriously?" he whoops and scoops me into a hug.

I laugh. "Put me down, Darcy. People are staring."

It's true; most of the people on the dance floor have paused and are looking curiously at us. However, Emma looks delighted and comes over.

"Did it work?" she asks Darcy.

"Obviously," he replies.

"You helped him set this up?" I ask her, arching an eyebrow.

"Think of it as your wedding present to her," Darcy says with a grin.

I shake my head, but I'm laughing. It's good to be able to joke around with Darcy and Emma. Just like the old times.

The song has finished by now, and I return to my table where Jonas is still sitting.

"All good?" he asks. When I nod, he smiles. "That's great. I was wondering when the two of you would bury the hatchet."

"You're kidding me," I say. "You knew this would happen?"

"I guessed," he corrected me.

I kiss him. "You're the best boyfriend, I mean fiancée ever."

The reception begins to wind down at about two in the morning. People are stumbling home, weary from dancing (and maybe a few too many drinks).

Emma looks tired, but happy. "I can't believe I'm married," she tells me.

"I can't believe it either," I laugh. "What happened to the two little kids we used to be?"

"Gone," Emma says wistfully. "But I kind of like where I am right now."

"Me, too," I agree.

Suddenly Emma's gaze falls on something over my shoulder and her eyes widen. "Oh my god," she says.

"What?" I ask, spinning around.

I follow her line of sight and see it's focused on a table on the other side of the dance floor that's littered with champagne glass. At it are sitting two lanky men, holding a conversation.

I squint. "Is that…Darcy and…Jonas?"

"Yeah."

"And they're talking...together. Normally."

Emma laughs. "Jonas is a catch, Jess. Hold onto him. Not many guys would be that easygoing with their fiancée's ex-boyfriend."

I nod, keeping my eyes on them. "I know. I'm not planning to."

Emma pats my shoulder. "I'm going to go find Stewart."

She leaves me still in shock. They're seriously talking together as if Jonas and I aren't engaged and Darcy isn't my ex-boyfriend. And then I can't help but smile. It's what I wished would happen. My past and present are finally meeting and I couldn't be happier about it.

A/N: AHHH! It's done! I can't believe it! I hope you all like the ending, and it wraps up the relationship of Darcy and Jess. It's a bit cheesy, but I like that kind of thing (if you hadn't noticed).

Leaving reviews telling me if you liked the epilogue or the story in general will make me incredibly happy and maybe even make me post a new story soon!

Thank you for all my loyal readers and reviewers: you are the reason I haven't given up writing!