A Forever Family (Forever #6) (23 page)

Ellery

The dress Mason chose for me was perfect. He had really outdone himself with this one. As I slipped into my white, strapless, slim line gown with the notched neckline, I felt like a princess. My hair was done in a loose updo with a few cascading curls and fresh flowers perfectly placed throughout.

“Mom. You look gorgeous!” Julia smiled as she kissed my cheek.

“Doesn’t she?” Mason said.

“Thank you. I can’t believe how fast all this is happening.”

“Daddy’s been planning this for the last two months. I’m really surprised you didn’t find out. I thought for sure Peyton would have spilled the beans.”

“I asked her about it last night and she said she wanted me to be surprised for once in my life. Isn’t that what I told her at her birthday party?” I laughed.

There was a knock on the door and Collin walked in. “Wow, Mom. You are stunning.” He walked over and kissed my cheek.

“Thank you, my sweet boy. Shouldn’t you be with your father?”

His lips curved into a small smile. “I’m walking you down the beach.”

Tears formed in my eyes and Mason noticed. Running to grab a tissue, he handed it to me.

“No. No, Elle. Don’t you dare. You’ll ruin your makeup.”

I dabbed my eye with the tissue as Collin held out his arm. “No tears, Mom. I’m proud to walk you down the aisle and hand you over to Dad.”

I threw my head back because I started to lose control of the tears.

“Collin, stop talking to her. You’re making her cry,” Mason said.

“Sorry. I don’t mean to.”

“I’ll be okay. Just give me a minute.”

“Clarissa, come here! We need a makeup fix stat!” Mason yelled across the room.

After Clarissa fixed my teary eyes, we walked out of the room and took a limo to the beach.

****

Connor

Julia took her place as Ellery’s maid of honor and I waited for Collin to walk my wife down the aisle and take his place as my best man. As I looked beyond the people that had gathered to come watch us renew our vows, I could see my beautiful bride on the arm of my son. I promised myself that I wouldn’t get emotional, but seeing her standing there, dressed in white, I couldn’t help it. I swallowed hard as the music began to play and they started their journey down the aisle. She was even more beautiful today than she was all those years ago. As they approached, Collin kissed her cheek and gave her hand to me, then took his place by my side.

“You are so beautiful, Ellery.”

“So are you, Connor,” she whispered with a tear in her eye.

We stood before our guests as the minister said a few words and we happily renewed our wedding vows. I slipped the band on her finger and brought it up to my lips.

“With this ring, I thee wed,” I spoke.

She took my hand and slipped on my wedding ring and brought it up to her lips.

“With this ring, I thee wed.” She smiled.

“You may kiss your bride, Connor,” the minister spoke.

I leaned in and our lips tangled into a passionate kiss. Our guests rose from their seats and clapped as we embraced each other. After taking what seemed like a million pictures, we headed to the Beverly Hills Wilshire for our reception dinner.

It was a night full of celebration and one that would forever be in the memories of our family and friends.

Connor

Two Years Later…

What can I say? Ellery and I spent time in Spain, Paris, Italy, and the Caribbean during the past couple of years. Our travels got cut short because Collin and Amelia got pregnant and gave us the surprise of our lives. Twins. A boy named Christopher and a girl named Chloe. Both of them were in shock because Amelia didn’t even know that twins ran in her family. Needless to say, they had their hands full and needed us. Collin was doing an excellent job with Black Enterprises and he made me very proud. Julia became pregnant again and we had just found out she was having a little girl. We also attended a very special wedding this past year to celebrate the marriage of my brother, Lucas, and his new bride, Hailey. The restaurant quickly became known world-wide and was very successful. So successful that Lucas decided to open another restaurant in Los Angeles. Hailey started her own clothing line and was flourishing in the world of fashion. Both of them were incredibly happy and it was nice to see my brother find someone special to share his life with.

Unfortunately, Ashlyn lost her battle with cancer and passed away a few months ago. Even after everything she had put me and Ellery through over the course of the years, she had become a changed woman and it was sad to see her life end so quickly after she spent so many years rebuilding her life and reinventing herself.

As I sat at my desk in the penthouse, I picked up the side-by-side picture of our wedding day and the day we renewed our vows. Our story wasn’t always perfect. From day one, we had our ups and downs, but no matter what life threw at us, our love was strong and unlike any other that pulled us through. My life changed the day I saw Ellery standing in my kitchen and that was a day that I’d never forget. Even now, I’d stand in the entrance while she’s cooking and think about the first words I’d ever spoken to her. “Did I not go over the rules with you last night?” The words which led to our beautiful life together. A life full of happiness and joy and the creation of a family with so much love and such a tight bond, that nothing could ever break us.

We are the Black family and we will continue to live life to the fullest. Our story may have ended, but we know that we’ll be in your hearts forever.

The End

I’m sure you’re all shedding some tears right now as I am writing this. I want to thank each and every one of you who have followed the Black family from the start. What was supposed to be a standalone novel had turned into five full length novels and two novellas because you demanded more of Connor & Ellery’s journey together.

The creation of the Black family wouldn’t have been possible without your support and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for wanting more of this incredible and wonderful family. The journey I have gone on writing these books for my wonderful readers was an absolute joy and the Black family will always hold a special place in my heart just as I know they will in yours.

If you haven’t already done so, please check out my books. They are filled with heartwarming love stories, some with millionaires, and some with just regular everyday people who find love when they least expect it.

Millionaires:

Love, Lust & A Millionaire

His Proposed Deal

Lie Next To Me (A Millionaire’s Love, Book 1)

When I Lie with You ( A Millionaire’s Love, Book 2)

A Love Called Simon

Then You Happened

Coming Soon:

Love, Lust & Liam

Second Chance Love:

Remembering You

She Writes Love

Love In Between (Love Series, Book 1)

The Upside of Love (Love Series, Book 2)

Sandi Lynn is a New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author who spends all of her days writing. She published her first novel, Forever Black, in February 2013 and hasn’t stopped writing since. Her addictions are shopping, romance novels, coffee, chocolate, margaritas, and giving readers an escape to another world.

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