Page 83 of Creed 2: Black Widow

EPILOGUE

TAYLOR

Taylor stood on the balcony and marveled at the beauty of the gardens of the executive mansion. Admittedly, Taylor had had reservations about getting married at the governor’s mansion. She didn’t want a stuffy, pretentious wedding. It was bad enough that a slew of politicians was going be in attendance. But the grounds of the executive mansion were nothing short of breathtaking and not to mention convenient.

She and Victor had gone through so much. Between making the arrangements for Rosemary’s funeral, battling the press, and planning their wedding, Taylor just wanted easy.

“Taylor, baby, if you plan on gettin’ married, you better get in this dress,” Taylor’s mom, Martha, called out from the dressing room.

Taylor’s satin robe danced in the warm, May breeze as she walked through the Victorian-inspired doors. As soon as she entered the dressing room, she saw Nicole and her mom holding her wedding dress with tears swimming in their eyes. Bella narrowed her eyes and crossed her arms.

“If that woman comes in here and shoves me in that chair again because y’all made me cry, I am gonna besooomad.”

The smile on her mom’s face warmed Taylor’s heart. Over the years, Martha Montgomery has made no secret of her desire for Taylor and Nicole to get married and produce grandchildren. They all assumed that Nicole would be the first to jump the broom, but Victor came along and shook things up.

“Wait!” Victoria called out.

She and Bella came hurrying across the room. Victoria was carrying two bottles of Veuve Clicquot, and Bella was carrying champagne flutes. Both were beautiful in their bride’s maid’s dresses. Taylor had allowed all of her attendants to choose their own design and color, as long as it was cohesive with her modern monarchy themed wedding. Victoria chose royal blue, and Bella chose burgundy.

“We need to knock back a couple before you step into that gorgeous gown,” Bella suggested, handing Taylor a glass.

Victoria carefully poured champagne into Taylor’s glass. She turned to Martha and Nicole. “You too. Put that dress down and have a little sippy sip.”

Martha chuckled and shook her head at Bella and Victoria. “The two of you are a bad influence. But I guess we have time for a toast.”

Martha and Nicole carefully placed the gown on a chaise lounger, spreading the long train so that it wouldn’t wrinkle.

“Now we drink,” Bella declared.

Taylor watched as Bella handed out glasses, and Victoria poured. Seeing the two of them working together was something that she thought she’d never see. Victoria and Bella, settling their differences had allowed Taylor to be closer to them both. She was definitely happier not being the friend in the middle of a beef between friends.

“Wait for me!” Maria shouted as she exited the bathroom.

She was stunning in her bronze, Victorian off-the-shoulder bride’s maid gown. Bella handed her a glass, and Victoria filled it. Taylor looked around the room, proud of the strong, beautiful women that she’d been blessed enough to have in her life.

Taylor cleared her throat to silence the chatter and get the ladies attention. Once the room was silent, Taylor raised her glass.

“Since my enablers insisted that I get boozed up before I say I do, I feel the need to propose a toast. It has not been an easy road traveled to get to this point, but it was definitely worth it. I want you all to know that I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for the love and support of the dynamic, strong, loyal, fierce, and the beautiful women surrounding me. I love each and every last one of you.”

Taylor could feel the moisture pooling in her eyes. Earlier, at Nicole’s insistence, she’d sat in a makeup chair for over an hour. Since she had no intention of returning to that chair, Taylor raised her glass higher and concluded her toast.

“To you!” she shouted

Taylor and the ladies took a sip from their glasses.

“Hey, y’all,” Taylor called out before the chatter could resume. “I need y’all to hurry up and knock that shit so that I can go and marry the man of my dreams.”

The ladies laughed and did as instructed. Soon, they were all scrambling around the room, getting ready for Taylor’s big day.