Epilogue

SIX MONTHS LATER...

Ira dug her toes into the warm sand of Island, the fine grains slipping between them as she sniffed the vibrant red hibiscus in her bouquet. They smelled like sunshine, happiness, and hope. Perfect for a beach wedding.

The setting sun painted the sky in rich hues of gold, orange, and purple, while a gentle ocean breeze played with the floaty blue bridesmaid dress she wore. It made her want to spin, just to feel the fabric dance around her legs, but she reined in that impulse.

Today wasn't about her. Today was Ying's day.

The sheer joy on her sister's face as she walked up the aisle left Ira with tears in her eyes. Her heart felt like it had grown too big for her ribs to contain. And the love and awe on Prigkhing's face? That put the sunset to shame.

"This really is the perfect place for a wedding," Ira whispered to Kate. "I'm pretty sure she bought this island just so they could get married here. Does she look happy?"

"Shh," Kate hissed back. "Of course she's happy. It's her wedding day."

"Yes, but can you see if she's actually happy?" Ira leaned out slightly to get a better view. "I can't see anything."

"Shhh." Wisanu's soft admonition blended with the gentle whoosh of the waves.

Ira contented herself by studying the white lace butterflies delicately embroidered on her sister's dress. The breeze made them flutter as if they were alive.

"I love that dress." Ira hadn't meant to say that out loud.

"Me too," Kate whispered.

"She's not so bad in her dress either," Ira murmured, eyes trailing to Prigkhing.

Dressed in a strapless white dress, Prigkhing exuded the effortless charm of a woman who knew exactly who she was and what she wanted. The sun-kissed glow of her skin made the dress shine even more.

Wisanu half turned his head in Ira's direction. Ira quickly zipped her lips and tried not to fidget.

The officiant, one of Prigkhing's uncles, cleared his throat. "Friends and family, we are gathered here on this beautiful evening to celebrate the love of Ying and Prigkhing."

Ira found herself tuning out the speech, her gaze drifting to the front row.

Tawan sat next to Tan and Phong.

Tan cradled Becca, Ira's baby niece, rocking her gently back and forth. Ying had delayed her wedding six months just so the newest member of their family could be here. Phong, meanwhile, had eyes only for Kate.

And Tawan?

Tawan's head moved slightly from left to right, constantly scanning the area, always alert. It was an occupational hazard, Ira knew. Even now, on an island, surrounded by loved ones and security, Tawan was watching. Protecting. It was ingrained in her.

But Ira didn't mind.

Because even though Tawan was always aware, always prepared, her attention always found its way back to Ira. Their eyes met across the sand. Ira gave her a slow, deliberate wink.

"You're supposed to be watching the brides," Kate whispered.

"I am." Ira shifted her bouquet slightly to hide her mouth. "Hey, I've seen you sneaking peeks at Phong, Kate."

Wisanu frowned at them. He'd become much better at it now that he had a daughter. Ira dutifully focused her attention on the happy couple. Prigkhing took Ying's hands in hers and started to sing.

"Ying, I love you with my whole heart. I love you with my entire soul. Today. Tomorrow. Always. On this day, I promise to stand with you through the storms. I promise to catch you when you fall. On this day, I promise to share with you all that I am and all that I will be. On this day... and every day... from now and for always... I'm yours."

Prigkhing slipped a ring onto Ying's finger. Ira's eyes welled up, and she saw Kate reach for the tissue Wisanu pulled from the bouquet he held for Ying. She couldn't see Ying's face when she said her vows, but her sister's voice carried on the evening breeze, clear and certain.

"Prigkhing, I love you. You are the song of my heart and the joy of my soul. On this day, I promise to be a light in the dark, a comfort in the cold, and a shoulder to lean on when life is too much to bear on your own. From this moment on, I stand with you. From this moment on, I am yours."

Ira could almost hear her sister singing those words. They were perfect.

The official smiled his approval. "Let no one and nothing come between you, and let the vows you've made to each other give you strength. Let the road rise to meet you. Let the winds guide you, and let your family and friends, witnessing this day, provide you comfort. You are, now and forever, wife and wife."

"Oh yeah," Ying said as she swept Prighking into her arms for a long kiss.

"You may now celebrate," the official said with a laugh.

The audience leaped to their feet and cheered as Ying and Prigkhing walked back down the aisle, radiating joy. Bridesmaid and Bridesmen from both sides paired up and followed.

Ira waited for Tawan at the end of the aisle. It didn't take long for her to weave through the crowd to Ira. She held out her hand. "Come on. I want to show you something."

"Show me what?" Tawan's lips quirked. "I think that fancy dinner your brother put together with his chef comes before the party."

"Wouldn't you rather inspect the shoreline with me?" Ira wiggled her eyebrows just in case she didn't get the implication.

Tawan leaned in as if for a kiss, then bypassed Ira's lips to whisper in her ear. "When I inspect something tonight, it won't be the shoreline."

Her breath on Ira's ear kindled a fire that promised all kinds of interesting things.

"Ira!" Wisanu called out. "We need you for pictures."

The fire winked out, replaced by a knot of frustration. Ira groaned. "How long do you think that will take?"

She eyed the photographer, who was setting up cameras and lighting by the arch, along with the people waiting for their turn in front of the camera. It could take all night.

"Duty calls." Tawan pressed a chaste kiss against her cheek—short and entirely unacceptable. "Chin up, Earn. Go be with your sisters. I'll wait for you."

Ira leaned her forehead against hers. "I love it when you call me that."

"I know."

Ira kissed her with the enthusiasm of a soldier going to war. "Don't dance without me."

"Ira!" Wisanu shouted, this time with a little more impatience. With a sigh, Ira left Tawan standing by one of the unused dance floors and hurried back to the beach. "I'm here. I'm here. Where do you want me?"

The photographer, a tiny dark-haired woman in bare feet and white linen called Berenice, waved Ira over. "Let's do some siblings shots first, then we'll add the bride back in, then we'll branch out to the rest of the extended family. Okay, baby sister, you go to the right, Wisanu to the left."

Ira dutifully stood next to Kate in the lineup. She peered around Kate at Wisanu. "I'm not sure I'm comfortable with the baby comment." Kate poked her in the ribs. "Get back in line."

"The sooner you settle down and pose, the sooner we can eat," Wisanu reminded them.

"I feel like we're in a police station having our mug shots done," Ira muttered.

Berenice shot her a sharp glance, then broke into a grin. "You know, you're right. This isn't good at all. Come on, guys, let's get more natural with this. Loosen up. Kick off the shoes and let's take a walk."

They left their white sandals in a pile near the wedding arch and set out. They walked slowly, kicking the warm sand with their feet, while the photographer and her assistant hovered with the camera. Ira impulsively grabbed Kate and Ying's hands and swung them like she did when they were kids. "This has been the best day ever. You're absolutely radiant, Ying."

"You really are," Kate agreed.

"I think we all are." Ying squeezed Ira's hand. "I love your hair that color. It suits you."

"It's like fire," Kate said. "Burns hot and fast, and it's all-consuming. Just like her."

"Hey!" Ira nudged her with her shoulder. "Okay, sure, maybe I'm a little impulsive."

"A little?" Wisanu asked dryly. They all giggled.

"Okay, a lot. And I've made some, um, bad choices." Ira paused. "But that's over now."

"Oh, I hope not," Wisanu said. He stopped walking, and the four of them formed a circle. "Ira, you bring joy to our lives. You always have."

"That's why it hurt so much when you went solo," Ying said. Even now, after all these years, her voice held a note of sadness whenever she spoke about The Day.

"Well, that and you didn't seem to get how much it was going to affect all of us." Kate's sardonic smile took the sting out of the words.

"I was a real little shit." Ira danced ahead so she could get in front of them. "I was selfish, and self-centered, and cruel."

"Yes," Kate said. "You were."

"When you were taken... when we thought we were going to really lose you..." Wisanu choked up.

"That's over now," Ying said. "All of it. It's in the past, and it's time for a clean slate. Today is all about beginnings. So from here on, we do better. Besides, somehow, it feels like it was all just... meant to be. Because you struggled, Wisanu and Tan came together. And because I was trying to figure out who I was without, well, us, I found Prigkhing."

"Good point. If we hadn't been taking a timeout," Kate said, "I might never have tried to branch out into movies. Then I never would have met Phong. So I think everything turned out... pretty good, actually."

Tears filled Ira's eyes. Their forgiveness meant everything. "I love you all. So much. And... I guess I might never have met my warden if you all hadn't forgiven me, despite everything. Probably not."

"Definitely not, because you never would have met that asshole on our movie set." Kate's face darkened. "I can't believe someone we trusted betrayed us like that."

Ira grabbed Kate's hand. "Like Ying says, it's over. I get to be here with all of you on Ying's super-special, fantastically magical day. Everything really is perfect."

Wisanu held out his arms, and they all fell into them. "We have each other. Always. No matter what. Family is forever."

"Family is forever," they all repeated. They huddled in the group hug for several long minutes.

All the broken places had finally been mended. Ira didn't even bother to stifle the tears.

"Uh guys, do you mind if the bride gets some action here?" Prigkhing called out.

Their heads swiveled in her direction. Prigkhing stood in the waves with a big grin on her face while the water soaked the edges of her dress. The bridesmaids were scattered along the beach behind her. Ira couldn't tell if they had tried to stop Prigkhing from joining the siblings or if they wanted to come too and were afraid to intrude. As far as she could tell, Prigkhing had never met a barrier she couldn't cross. Ying beamed at her and beckoned. "Group hug. Everybody's invited."

The photographer madly clicked and circled and offered pose suggestions while they all rehashed the ceremony and the courtship. Ira found herself scanning the tree line for signs of Tawan. She wasn't in the wedding party, so she wasn't supposed to be in this set of pictures, but it seemed wrong not to have her there. She wanted her with her. Finally, she spotted her standing under a tree just ahead of them. Watching and waiting.

"Ying? Do you mind if we get some group shots with Tawan?"

"Yeah, I want some with Phong too," Kate said.

"I want shots with all of us. Get everybody here." Ying waved at the rest of the group. "Where's Tan?"

"He's helping the chef get dinner ready," Wisanu said. He pulled his cell phone out from somewhere in his suit and started texting. "I'll get them."

Ira ran to Tawan. "Come on. The bride wants group shots with all the group."

"The bride? Or her bridesmaid?" She walked with her back to the group.

"Both." Ira grinned at her.

"Okay," the photographer said, "let's wander back to the arch, but this time with this group. We can do one big, posed shot there with the lights."

"I really feel sorry for her," Ira said. "It's hard enough with a normal family to get people to sit still for photos."

"We're not normal, true, but we're family," Kate said.

"Yes, we are," Prigkhing agreed. "Though I think my parents are still too starstruck over Phong to consider him one of us just yet. Pretty sure they watched him more than me today."

"No, they didn't," Ying gave her a little nudge. "They both were crying during our vows. I saw your mother hand your dad a tissue. It was super sweet."

"Kate, have you two set a date yet?" Wisanu asked. "It's been months since Phong proposed."

"We've been too busy to nail it down. Besides, I'm pretty sure we're just going to elope." Kate wrinkled her nose. "This is too much work."

"No, it's not," Ying protested.

"It's a little work," Wisanu admitted. "But it's worth it. Don't worry, I'll help you put it together. That's what I do."

"Let's just focus on this wedding for now." Kate sounded a little panicked. "I don't need all the people and the fancy stuff. I just need Phong and you three and maybe a cake."

"Amen to that," Tawan muttered.

Ira's stomach grumbled. "Speaking of cake, is it time to eat yet?"

"Oh, we're already late to dinner." Wisanu laughed. "This is why I like to be running the wedding instead of being in it. It's easier to wrangle. That's okay. It's our party. They'll wait."

It took another hour before the photographer and the brides were satisfied that every shot on the list had been taken. They ate dinner on the deck, under the stars and twinkle lights. Then it was time for speeches, and of course, Prigkhing sang a song she'd written just for Ying. Ira found herself swaying to the soft rhythm and sweet melody.

"This will go viral," Kate said. "Especially if they use footage from actual weddings for the video."

"Definitely," Ira agreed.

"Will they use this one?" Tawan asked with a carefully neutral face.

Ira wrinkled her nose. "Of course not. This is private. Just for us."

Wisanu stood and clinked his champagne glass. "Let's open it up for toasts."

"Or roasts," Sun, Prighking's brother, said.

"Can't we have both?" LT asked.

"Are they all going to give a toast?" A sudden thought struck Ira, making her palms sweat. "Was I supposed to give a toast at this thing?"

Wisanu flashed her a smile. "Only if you want to, Ira."

As it turned out, after hearing a few speeches from Prigkhing's family and from Kate and Wisanu, Ira did want to.

Two hours later, Ira finally managed to lead Tawan to where she'd been trying to go all day.

More twinkle lights lined the winding path from the pool deck through tropical gardens to the beach below.

"They really did turn this into paradise," Ira said. She squeezed Tawan's hand. "I can't believe Prigkhing bought Ying this island. It's insane. Who owns an island? It's like owning a castle."

"Yeah, it's a little much for me," Tawan said. "I could see getting married somewhere more personal. Like a sunflower field."

Ira's heart skittered. She hadn't expected that. Tawan had been thinking about getting married. She hadn't mentioned it before, but maybe watching Ying and Prigkhing had inspired her.

She tried not to get too excited. If Tawan was going to surprise her with something, she didn't want to ruin it. "Sunflowers get pretty tall. It might be hard to see the brides."

"Depends on the time of year." Tawan gave her a quizzical look. "Exactly where are you taking me?"

"You'll see." Ira pulled her toward a group of trees with a swing suspended between them. She was happy to see nobody had discovered it yet.

Tawan took a seat on the swing, then pulled Ira down next to her. "Are there fireworks or something?"

"No." Ira leaned into her. "I just wanted to be here. With you. Looking at that."

Tawan pushed the swing into gentle motion with her feet. "You wanted to get away from the party to be alone with me?"

She nestled closer. "Is that bad?"

"No." Tawan kissed her hair. "I'm just surprised. I know how much you love a party."

"I love you more." Happiness rolled over her like the waves. "This is my new favorite place."

"We've never been here before," Tawan pointed out, as unromantically practical as always.

"Not this beach, silly. I mean me and you. Sitting like this. I searched for this... us... for so long, but I didn't know that's what I was doing. I know that doesn't really make any sense. I just knew something was missing. I made a lot of bone-headed decisions trying to figure it all out."

"And now?"

"Now I have you." She sighed, happy and content. "You're my missing piece."

"Yeah." Tawan's arm tightened around her. "I think I was searching for us too."

Ira shifted slightly, letting her fingers trace slow circles against Tawan's wrist where their hands were intertwined. The warmth of her skin, the steady rhythm of her pulse, the way Tawan's thumb instinctively brushed against the back of her hand—it was everything Ira never knew she needed.

The sound of distant laughter and music from the wedding reception barely reached them out here. It was just the two of them, bathed in the golden glow of the twinkle lights, the soft lull of the waves a gentle background melody.

Tawan exhaled, the sound deep and content. "I don't want to go back," she murmured against Ira's temple.

Ira turned her face into the curve of Tawan's shoulder, breathing her in. "Then don't."

Tawan chuckled, low and husky. "I think they'd notice if the bridesmaid and the best bodyguard disappeared."

"They can survive without us," Ira whispered, tilting her head back just enough to meet Tawan's gaze.

Tawan's dark eyes flickered with something warm, something that made Ira's breath catch. Slowly, Tawan reached up, pushing a stray lock of Ira's hair behind her ear, fingertips lingering along her jaw.

"I've been thinking about this all day," Tawan admitted.

Ira swallowed. "Yeah?"

Tawan's lips hovered just above hers. "Yeah. About getting you alone. About having you all to myself."

Ira's fingers tightened around Tawan's, heart thudding as heat curled low in her belly. "So what are you waiting for?"

Tawan didn't hesitate.

She cupped Ira's cheek and kissed her—deep and slow, like she had all the time in the world. Ira melted into it, into her, into the way Tawan's lips moved against hers like a promise, like a secret meant only for them.

Ira shifted onto Tawan's lap, straddling her thighs, feeling the press of strong hands at her waist as Tawan pulled her closer, deepening the kiss. She was warm everywhere, burning from the inside out as Tawan's hands skimmed the fabric of her dress, fingertips teasing the curve of her back.

"You're beautiful," Tawan murmured against her lips, voice rough with desire. "You have no idea what you do to me."

Ira exhaled a shuddering breath as Tawan's lips trailed lower, down the line of her jaw, along the sensitive skin of her neck. She arched into her touch, fingers threading into Tawan's hair, holding her closer.

The wind carried the sound of waves rushing onto the shore, but Ira barely noticed anything beyond the way Tawan's hands mapped her body, the way her breath hitched as Ira dragged her nails down her back, the way her name sounded on Tawan's lips—Ira—like a prayer, like a need neither of them could ignore any longer.

"We should go inside," Ira breathed, her lips brushing against Tawan's as she spoke.

Tawan's hands tightened on her hips, eyes dark with hunger. "Are you sure?"

Ira kissed her again, slow and deep, answering without words.

Tawan groaned softly, standing in one smooth motion with Ira still wrapped around her. She carried her effortlessly up the path toward the private villa, away from the wedding, away from everything except the fire simmering between them.

Ira knew, with a quiet certainty neither of them had said out loud, that Tawan wanted that too. For the rest of her life, wherever she was, her home would be in Tawan's arms.