A World To Give

Nelson steps in to help out his company when his twin sister, Rowan,
unexpectedly leaves to take another job. While assuming her identity, he
realizes that there is a lot more to the world than he’d previously known and
he decides to take some chances he never took before.

Nelson discovered a whole new world!

---

Author's Note: It all comes to a climax as everyone collides in Bill's Condo. Thank you for all the wonderful comments on this story. I really appreciate the support. I hope you all enjoyed the story of Nell, Bill and Rowan. I certainly enjoyed writing it.. ~Clara.

Image Credit: https://perchance.org/beautiful-people
 
 
Chapter 7
 
It took a moment or two for a rather embarrassed Nell to find the ‘adults’ section of the pharmacy. She’d really enjoyed the previous two nights with Bill, but she needed something to… there it was. ‘Trojan Arousal and Release Personal Lubricant.’ It wasn’t something that Nelson had any experience with, but Nell needed to embrace the use of such things if they were going to continue their bedroom romps.

“May I make a suggestion?” A young man with a crop top and gold tipped short hair said.

Nell had been sure no one was nearby. Where had he come from? This was very awkward for her. She wasn’t sure how she was even going to pay for these things without blushing, let alone have a discussion with someone. “Oh… I was just…”

“No need to be embarrassed, sweetie,” he said as if they were old friends. “I see you reading the cartons, so it’s obviously new to you. Believe me, sweetie, I’ve tried them all. That stuff is good, but this is better.” He picked up box labeled ‘KY Yours & Mine.’ “Try this. I guarantee you’ll love it.”

“Oh…” she was still embarrassed, but relieved. “Thank you so much.”

“My pleasure, sweetie. I’ve been there. The first time buying these things is always the weirdest.”
 
 

 
 
“Hello?” Rowan called as she leaned out of the kitchen. “Anyone here?”

No answer. The coast was clear.

She padded on her bare feet to the living room and looked around. She didn’t see her bag. Then she saw it over by the elevator and she remembered having left it there when she had entered and was looking around.

As quickly as she could, Rowan hurried to get the carry on bag. She had just laid her hand on it when the elevator, which opened directly into the condo, chimed.

“Oh, shit,” Rowan said in a quiet panic. She turned and ran back towards where she’d come.

“Hold it right there!” A woman’s voice shouted.

Rowan stopped and stood as straight as she could. Then, after a deep breath, she turned to face the woman. “Hello. I’m…”

“I know exactly who you are.” She held out a Manila folder. “In fact, I know absolutely everything about you, NELSON Egan.”

Rowan was confused. Who was this woman and why was she holding a folder with information about Nelson?

“I’m not Nelson,” Rowan said. “I’m…”

“Yes, I know all about this ‘Nell’ nonsense. I don’t know what you’ve done to enchant my William, but you’ll never get your fingers on his money, you cheap, dirty, little fairy.”

“Now just a minute!” Rowan was not only angry on Nelson’s behalf, but she was also insulted on her own behalf, too.

“No. Here’s the deal, MISSY.” The elevator chimed. “You get your butt out of Naples tonight and you never – and I mean NEVER – make contact with my son again, and I won’t call the police and press charges, but so help me God…”

“What the Hell is going on here?” Bill shouted as he entered his apartment.

“Bill! This woman…” Rowan started but was interrupted.

“William, I am sorry to have to be the one to tell you this, but this ‘GIRL’ that you are so taken with is no girl at all. She, or rather, HE is a phony.” She held up the folder. “I hired a detective to look into this person, and the report I got was confusing, but I eventually figured it all out. This tramp is just a conman, William.”

“Wait, wait, wait… You hired an investigator to check out my fiancé!?” Bill, who never sounded flustered was obviously losing his temper. “Who the hell do you think you are!?”

“I’m your mother, William, and you’re not listening to me.”

“I heard every word you’ve said,” Bill said, angrily. “You had no right, mother, no right at all to interfere with my life. I told you I was in love. That should have been enough for you.”

Andy, who had gotten off the elevator with Bill and was still carrying his order of Cuban take-out, tried to maneuver down the hall past Bill’s mother to assist his new friend, but Bill’s mother blocked him. “Mrs. O’Connell…” he started to explain, but the older woman stopped him.

“Don’t say a word,” she spat at him. “Remember your place. You are just a driver. This is a family discussion.”

“That’s enough, mother,” Bill said, taking a step forward. “Andy is my employee and my friend. You will treat him with respect, and as for Nell…” in fact, Bill had not yet grasped the fact that his mother had mistaken Rowan for Nell.

“Oh, for heaven’s sake, William!” Abruptly, she closed the swallow distance between herself and Rowan, and then without any warning, she grabbed the towel that was wrapped around Rowan and gave it a mighty pull.

Rowan let out a surprised shout as her nakedness was revealed to everyone.

There were a few seconds of paralysis that seemed to freeze everyone until Andy grabbed the towel from the grip of Bill’s mother and threw it back around Rowan.

Bill’s mother’s mouth was agape. She was standing in shock, having seen not the body of a young man when she’d removed the towel, but the body of a slender, attractive young woman.

“Oh, my God,” she said. “Oh, my God…”

Bill pushed past her and assisted Andy as he ushered Rowan back towards his quarters. “I’m sorry that happened,” he said quietly. “She had no right to do that. I have no excuse for her behavior.”

“Where’s Nelson?” Rowan asked as quietly as possible.

“She went to the pharmacy across the street. She’ll be here in a few minutes. Then we can get this straightened out.”

“No offense, Bill, but your mother is nuts.” She turned to Andy. “You need to stop him from coming up here until that crazy woman is gone. I don’t want her attacking Nelson.”

“Good idea,” Andy said. “I’ll run down now.”

“I’ll get my mother back into her apartment,” Bill said. “Give me five minutes.”

Andy ran to the elevator and pushed the button. Luckily, it opened immediately.

Bill went straight to his mother. “What the hell were you thinking, mother?”

“William… I swear… all the research I received… I was sure… I… I… I… never meant to… oh, God. That woman! I need to talk to her.”

“You’ll do nothing of the sort,” Bill snapped. “Come on. Let’s go down to your place and talk. Maybe, just maybe, if Nell forgives this UNBELIEVABLE breach of trust, we might come and say goodbye before we leave tomorrow.”

He guided her towards the elevator door. When it opened, he ushered her in and pushed the button for her floor.

“William…” she began

“No, mother, let me speak. I told you I loved Nell, didn’t I?”

“Yes… you did.”

“And instead of being happy for me, you took it upon yourself to launch this investigation into her life. Is that about right?”

“Yes, but William… you’ve worked so hard for everything you’ve earned. I had to look into who was after your money.”

“Goddamnit, mother, Nell is not after my money. If anyone took an aggressive approach in this relationship, it was me. Nell has been the cautious one, mom. I have been the eager one. I mean… come on, mother… don’t you think I would know if my fiancé was a man or a woman!? We’ve slept together, for crying out loud!”

His mother took a deep breath. “William… I do not care for the way you’re speaking to me right now.”

“Well, too bad, mom! Even if Nell wasn’t who she says she is, then you had no right to interfere in my life like this. Honest to God, I have no idea who you are right now!”
 
 

 
 
The elevator opened in the lobby and before Andy could even step out, Nell was about to step in.

“Ah, Miss Nell!” Andy said, out of breath and looking upset.

“Andy,” Nell smiled. “Did you forget something?”

“Forget something?”

“At the restaurant. Did you forget something at the restaurant?”

Andy shook his head. “No, Miss. I came down to stop you from going upstairs for a few minutes.”

“To stop me from going upstairs? Andy… what’s going on?”

Andy looked around and sighed. “Miss… right after you and Mr O’Connell left the estate in Key West, a visitor showed up.”

“Who.”

“Your sister. Rowan.”

“Rowan!? What was Rowan doing in Key West. She’s not even supposed to be on this continent.”

“She was worried about you, Miss. She had been trying to catch up to you for several days.”

“Where is she now?”

“Upstairs, Miss. She came here with me but…” he went on to tell Nell the story of what had happened upstairs.
 
 

 
 
“I’m changing my apartment entry code, mother,” Bill said to his mother after five minutes of angry conversation. “I need to cool down now. I’ll call you in the morning. We’ll see how things go from there.”

“William, please…”

“Mom… you don’t get it. You’ve violated my trust in the worst possible way. Let’s call it a night before we say things we can’t unsay. Alright?”

She nodded. “I was just doing what I thought was right, William.”

He pushed the elevator button and shook his head. “I’m done fighting for tonight, mom. Goodnight.” The door opened and he got in.
 
 

 
 
“Rowan!?” Nell called as she stepped off the elevator followed by Andy. “Rowan!?”

“She’s in my quarters, in the back, beyond the kitchen.”

They both hurried back there with Nell shouting a few times. “Rowan!?”

“Miss,” Andy said, trying to control the situation. “Please remember that Mr O’Connell’s mother lives downstairs. We don’t want her coming back up.”

Just then the door to Andy’s quarters opened and Rowan appeared. She was dressed in clothes that were not appropriate for Florida, and her hair was still wet from her shower. “Nelly!” She gasped as she threw her arms around Nell’s shoulders and she hugged her brother tightly. “Nelly… I have been trying to catch up you for days. I’m so happy you’re ok.”

Nell hugged her sister back and when it ended, she said, “Rowan… I’m so much better than ok. I’m sorry you were worried.”

Rowan took half a step back and looked at her brother. “You do look amazing. Much prettier than I do at the moment, that’s for sure.”

“I think you look as beautiful as always,” Nell said.

Rowan’s eyes opened wide. “Nelson… that’s the first time you’ve ever given me a compliment.”

Nell smirked. “Sorry about that. I’m… kind of a different person now. Becoming this… new person and being with Bill… well… it’s opened my eyes. I’m sorry you had to come all this way.”

“I see you’ve found each other,” Bill said as he arrived on the scene.

Nell smiled and moved to be beside Bill. “Ro… I wanted to tell you, but I couldn’t reach you. Bill and I are getting married.”

Rowan smiled. “So I’ve heard, although I found it pretty hard to believe. I mean, when I left for London, I had a twin brother who I assumed was straight and I was hoping would date my neighbor. Then, out of the blue, I apparently have a twin sister who is dating one of the most eligible men in America. I never expected that.”

“I hope you’re not still worried,” Bill said.

Rowan smiled. “Bill… I never expected my brother to find someone to love him. I could not be happier that you two are together.”

“We should eat before the food gets too cold,” Andy said.

The four of them sat around the kitchen table and chatted while Andy and Rowan ate. Bill told them about his mother and that he, and possibly Nell, if she felt up to it, would meet with her in the morning. “I’m sure we can reconcile things,” Bill said. “I don’t expect her to apologize, but I think we can work things out.”

“That’s great, boss,” Andy said, using his napkin. “Ummm… listen, boss, I was wondering if I could take next weekend off?”

“Sure,” Bill said. “You haven’t taken any time off in years. You probably have ten weeks or so of vacation time coming to you. Are you going someplace nice.”

“London,” Andy said to the surprise of both Bill and Nell. “I promised to show Miss Rowan some of my favorite places.”

Bill smiled. “Ah. That pub you like… The Harp… is at the top of that list, I suppose.”

“Wait,” Nell said. “So, you two…?”

“Are getting to know each other,” Rowan interrupted.

“That’s wonderful,” Nell smiled. “So, you’ll stay with us until the weekend, then?”

“No, I can’t,” I have to be back in London by Wednesday. So, I’ll have to find a flight for tomorrow morning. But now that I know you’re ok, I can concentrate on my job again.”

Nell squeezed her hand.

“Say, Andy,” Bill said. “Why don’t you call one of the charter companies and setup a private plane for Rowan?”

Andy smiled. “Ok, boss.”

‘And just to make sure that everything goes well, why don’t you accompany Rowan to London and take a few extra days off – on me. You can use my suite at The Savoy.”

Andy’s smile broadened. “That’s very kind of you, boss. Are you sure you can spare me for the whole week?”

“I’m sure.”
 
 

 
 
“Everything here is always so fresh,” Bill’s mother said as they sat at a table in the small restaurant a couple of blocks from the condo building. They had all walked there, but not together. Bill and Nell came together, and Bill’s mother came on her own. They had just placed their orders and passed their menus back to the waitress.

“Yes. I have never had a bad meal here,” Bill agreed. “Now, mom, I think we need to discuss what happened yesterday.”

She huffed a bit. “Must we? It was just a mistake.”

“And it came about because you took it upon yourself to stick your nose into things that were of no concern to you.”

His mother looked about and sighed as if this was all so unnecessary. “We’ve been through this, William. “You’re correct. I overstepped my bounds, but I did it out of love. I’m sure that Nell understands that.” She looked at Nell expecting support.

“Actually,” Nell said, “I don’t. I can’t imagine any situation in which I would rip off another person’s clothing – or covering.”

“Because you don’t have children, dear. Once you do, you’ll understand that a mother is always protective of her children. William can be… impulsive. I was only looking out for his best interests.”

Bill and Nell looked at each other. There was a long pause in the conversation.

Finally, Bill pulled out his wallet and pulled out too many twenty-dollar bills and laid them on the table. He stood. “Mom… you know I love you, but… this is too much. If you ever want to be a part of our lives, and possibly the lives of any children we may have, then you need to take some responsibility for what you did.”

His mother batted her eyes and looked around the restaurant. “Sit down, William. Please don’t make a scene.”

“I won’t,” Bill said. “We’re leaving.” He offered a hand to Nell.

Nell looked at the older woman. “Bill… I think I’ll stay and have breakfast with your mother, if that’s ok with you.”

More than a bit surprised, Bill reached for the back of his seat to pull it back out so he could sit, but Nell put her hand on it.

“If you don’t mind, Bill…”

Bill paused but considered the situation. “If you’re sure…”

Nell nodded.

“I will see you back in the condo,” he said as he leaned down and kissed his fiancé’s cheek. He looked at his mother and nodded. Then he left.

There was a long period of silence between the two women in Bill’s life. Then, as the food was laid on the table, his mother said, “Last night was unfortunate, I admit, but the information I received was confusing. It indicated that there was a Rowan Nelson Egan and a Nelson Rowan Egan and that they both graduated from the same college and worked for the same company… I guess it was just too confusing for me. I should have realized that there was only one person.”

“No, there are two,” Nell said. “My sister, Rowan, lives in London. She used to work at Global with me, but she left recently.”

Bill’s mother looked confused. “So… your name is ‘Nelson?’”

Nell nodded. “My mother had a complicated idea for naming us. I am Nelson Rowan and my twin sister in Rowan Nelson. I hope that clears that up.”

Bill’s mother nibbled at her omelet. “I’ve never met a woman named Nelson before.”

“Have you ever met a man with the first name Nelson?”

She thought for a moment. “No. I suppose not.”

“And have you ever met a woman named Rowan?”

She thought again. “No. I don’t think I have.”

“I’ve only met one, and she’s my twin sister.”

“Are you identical?”

Nell still hated that word. “No. Very similar, but not identical.”

Bill’s mother accepted this. “And William?”

Nell waited.

“Do you really care for him?”

“I love him, Mrs O’Connell. I love him with every atom of my being.”

Bill’s mother smirked just a bit. “And I suppose his money has nothing to do with it?”

Nell looked disappointed. “I don’t think there’s any point in answering that. I’ve made my feelings clear. If that’s not enough…” She stood and pushed her chair in. “Please remember I tried, Mrs O’Connell. I love Bill and I tried to make it possible for you and Bill to maintain what you have, but… Just remember… I did try.”

She left.

Nell had walked about half a block when she heard someone calling her name. She turned and saw Bill’s mother hurrying to catch up.

“Nell,” the woman said, “I… I am sorry. I am sorry for last night, and the private investigator, and mostly… I’m sorry for being who I am… or who I have been. I would like us to start over, if that’s possible.”

Nell smiled. “I am a big fan of new beginnings, Mrs O’Connell. I would love to start over with you.”
 
 

 
 
“Sophie, could you help me with this?” Nell asked.

“Of course, Mrs O’Connell.” Sophie came up behind Nell and closed pulled up the hidden zipper in the pale violet, chiffon gown. It was a flowing creation that fitted Nell’s slender build beautifully. “That is lovely,” she said.

“Thank you,” Nell smiled. “It looks like it’s going to be a beautiful day for a wedding, and you’ve done a wonderful job getting everything ready on the beach.”

“Thank you, Mrs O’Connell. I’ve enjoyed doing it. I wish we’d done something this elaborate for your wedding.”

Nell smiled. “Small and private seemed like a better idea at the time, and besides, it isn’t the wedding that’s important; it’s the marriage, and I’m very happy with my marriage.”

“As you should be.”

“Mommy, look! Uncle Andy gave me a starfish!” The little girl said, running into Nell’s room.

“Oh, Ellie,” Nell laughed. “Can’t you stay clean for ten minutes?”

They had adopted Ellie when she was nearly two years old, just a few months after their wedding, and she had brought more joy to their lives than either Bill or Nell could have imagined.

“I’m clean!” The five-year-old smiled. “I’m just a little wet at the bottom of my dress, but it will dry.” Always the pragmatist and always full of joy.

“That dress has got to look nice for Auntie Rowan’s pictures, Ellie. Sophie, could you grab me a hairdryer from the bathroom.”

“Sure,” Sophie giggled. She retrieved the appliance.

Nell plugged it in and began drying her daughter’s flower girl dress. It was the same color as Nell’s, but knee length and more modest. Nell’s dress showed just a little bit of the cleavage she had decided to have added to her torso about sixteen months after the day she’d first put on one of Rowan’s outfits. They were not big or showy. Not even as big as Rowan’s. Just perky little A-cups that made her feel more complete.

“We don’t have time to do this again, Ellie,” Nell explained. “The wedding is in less than an hour and you and I have to go help Auntie Rowan. Ok?”

“Ok, mommy.”

“I’m going down to the beach to make sure everything is ready, Mrs O’Connell.”

“Thank you, Sophie. I’ll be down soon.”

“No, Mrs O’Connell. You deal with your sister and your friends. The boys and I have everything under control.”

Minutes later, Nell joined Jessie, Nadine and Melissa in the bedroom that was typically referred to as ‘Rowan’s Room.’ Lately it had been modified to ‘Rowan and Andy’s room.’

“How do you live like this!?” Jessie moaned, looking at her useless phone. “It’s the twenty-first century, for crying out loud! Get some freaking WiFi down here.” It was a familiar rant. Jessie had visited twice previously and, on both occasions, went into what Bill referred to as ‘online withdrawal.’

Nell laughed. “You get used to it. In fact, you look forward to it.”

“Insane, that’s what it is, insane…” Jessie continued. “If your husband weren’t retiring, maybe he could afford cable and WiFi in this dump.”

Nadine and Melissa laughed along with Nell. “This place is incredible,” Nadine said. “I never get tired of it. It’s absolutely beautiful.”

“It’s like a fantasy,” Melissa added. “White sand, palm trees, blue water… I can’t believe a place like this even exists.” It was Melissa’s first time at the estate, and she was really enjoying it.

“Thank you,” Nell smiled, happy they liked her home, “but it’s pretty much as Bill had it when I got here. I love it too.” She looked around. “Where’s Rowan?”

“Staff meeting,” Jessie said. “Bill came by and asked her to go downstairs for a minute.”

“Is she dressed?”

“Not even close,” Nadine said. “She’s in a slip and a bathrobe.”

“Oh, for goodness sakes,” Nell said. “He’s stepping down in three months, and he can’t stop being the boss. I’ll go get her. Ellie, you stay with Auntie Jess, Auntie Naddy and Auntie Mel, ok?”

After Rowan’s weekend away from London, her supervisors at Bannon & Wick seemed to feel that, perhaps she wasn’t the right choice for the position. She rode it out for six months, but it became obvious that they didn’t think her heart was in her work. Who knows? Maybe it wasn’t, because at that same time that she started working there, she started spending a lot of time thinking about Andy.

After six months, she thought about going back to Global, but Bill heard she was considering a change and offered her a very good position in his company. Since then, she had risen in the ranks and had made herself indispensable.

Nell hustled down the stairs to Bill’s office and knocked as she entered. “I hate to interrupt…” Nell noticed that Rowan had been crying. “What’s goin on in here?”

Rowan was looking at a multi-page document and shaking her head. “I don’t even know what to say.”

“Say yes,” Bill encouraged. “You can say no, too, but I suspect you want to say yes.”

She shook her head and smiled. “Your timing is odd, I have to say. Couldn’t we have discussed this tomorrow?”

“I wanted it to be a wedding present,” Bill shrugged.

“What are we discussing?” Nell asked.

Rowan held up the papers. “Your husband wants to make me a full partner in O’Connell and Associates and have me become the new CEO.”

Bill had never once discussed business with Nell, so this was just as big a surprise for her as it was for Rowan.

“Would you have to pay Bill money to do this?” Nell asked.

“No,” Bill said. “I’d stay on as a board member and continue receiving my share of profits. I just wouldn’t be selling the company outright.”

“Bill,” Rowan said, “we’re talking about billions of dollars that you should have coming to you.”

“I’ve got billions of dollars, Ro. More than I will ever need. What I want is for the company to stay in the family. Who knows, maybe someday your child, or Ellie may be the CEO. That would be nice, wouldn’t it?”

Rowan shook her head. “This is… it’s too much, Bill. Can I talk to Andy about this?”

“Of course,” Bill smiled. “You know, Andy is about to become an unemployed driver-slash-assistant, who is looking for a nice place to set up a tiki bar. So, my guess is he’d be pretty pumped about the financial security this offers.”

“He probably will be, but I need to bounce it off him anyway.”

“Ok.” Bill looked at his watch. “Hey, what are you doing down here? You better go get dressed.”

Rowan laughed and headed towards the door, but she stopped and turned back to Bill. “Thank you, Bill. This is… it’s unbelievable.”

Bill shrugged. “Honestly, Ro, I think you’re the right person for the job.”

She nodded and turned.

“I’ll be right up,” Nell said.

When Rowan had left, Nell went to her husband and hugged him.

“What’s this all about?” Bill asked.

“You’re a good guy, Bill O’Connell, you know that?”

He ran his hands up and down Nell’s smooth arms. “I’m doing my best, Nell.”

The sound of his voice saying her name still made her weak in the knees.

“You’re the best.” She kissed him. “You’re daughter, on the other hand…”

Bill laughed. “I know. I was the one who stopped her from wading in the ocean and brought her up to you. She isn’t the lady her mama is, but she’s pretty damned awesome.”

Nell smiled. “She is.”

“Is she sitting with the other bridesmaids after she throws her rose petals?”

“She’s sitting with your mom. She’d rather sit with Jessie, Nadine and Melissa, I’m sure, but that might upset your mom. So…”

“It’ll be fine,” Bill smiled.

“I better go help Rowan get dressed.”

“Mommy, Auntie Ro said I’m the prettiest girl here.” Ellie said as Nell came back into the room.

“Wow!” Nell laughed. “Auntie Ro is really nice to say that, isn’t she? Doesn’t Auntie look beautiful?”

“She does.”

“Yeah, I look beautiful, alright,” Rowan laughed, “with my makeup running because my stupid brother-in-law wants to give me the world.”

Nell hugged her, and they were joined by Ellie, of course. “He doesn’t have the world to give, Ro. He wants to give you an opportunity. He already has given the world away, and I’m not giving it back.”

“You’re going to take it, aren’t you?” Jessie asked, positive that there was no other option.

“I don’t know,” Rowan said. “Maybe… probably… I mean… I should, right? … I just don’t know.”

“Nay,” Nell said to Nadine, “I think that my hairdresser, Steph, is still doing my mother-in-law’s hair and makeup. Could you knock on that door and ask her to touch up the bride before the wedding?”

“Sure.”

Rowan looked in the mirror and shook her head. “I don’t know if there’s any fixing this mess,” she laughed. “Just look at my face.”

Nell stood next to her sister. “I love your face. I look at it every morning when I look in the mirror.”

It was true, they did look very similar. NEARLY identical. Rowan had changed her hair style and color a few times in the last three years. Currently she sported a slightly longer cut that was a golden brown. It was very pretty. Nell retained the Rowan look she’d adopted at the start of her new life.

When her makeup had been repaired and a few preparatory breaths had been taken, Nell and the girls got Rowan’s gown ready. It wasn’t a lacy, puffy meringue affair. It was a sleek, silky gown that hung beautifully on her. It had been designed by a trendy designer that Rowan had begun to patronize when her income had allowed her to invest in such things.

A photographer memorialized the dressing of the bride in dozens of pictures, the final one being Nell and Ellie buttoning up the row of dozens of tiny buttons on the rear of the dress.

Then they headed to the beach and the actual wedding service. It was a secular affair with a local Justice of the Peace presiding and about fifty people in attendance. Mostly friends of Rowan’s and a few friends of Bill and Nell. Of course, Lloyd and Franny from Ken’s Restaurant were there. They had closed the restaurant for the day to attend – something that had only happened once before, and it was to attend Bill and Nell’s wedding right here, in this same spot.

Bill and Andy and the rest of the groomsmen waited by the arch of flowers, all looking handsome in their tailored tuxedos.

The string quartet began playing the Pachelbel Canon, which meant it was time for Ellie to walk down the aisle formed between the folding chairs, spreading rose pedals as she went. When she reached the arch of flowers, Melissa followed. When Melissa reached the arch of flowers, Nadine followed her, and then Jessie stepped off when Nadine reached the arch.

As they waited for the quartet to start playing the Handel Hornpipe, Rowan said, “You know, when I was a little girl, I used to dream about my wedding, and it was never this beautiful.”

Nell smiled at her sister, happy that she was happy.

“But no matter where I pictured my wedding – in a country church, at a cathedral, at a winery – one thing was always constant: you were always beside me.” She hugged her sister. “Always my Man of Honor.”

“Sorry I let you down,” Nell said with a smile.

“Never,” Rowan smiled and squeezed Nell a little tighter. “Who would have thought that the Egan kids, the poorest scholarship kids at Worcester Polytechnic Institute would end up this happy. You are happy, aren’t you?”

“I couldn’t be happier, Ro. I’m married to a man who I love and who loves me, I have Ellie and I get to live here… at least most of the time.”

Rowan kissed Nell’s forehead. “My beautiful little brother,” she said. “Oops. I got lipstick on your forehead.” She rubbed it off just as the Handel ‘Hornpipe’ began.

“I have to go,” Nell smiled. She took a few steps, then stopped, turned and said, “I love you, you know.”

Rowan smiled. “I love you, too, Nelly. And I love that we say to each other all the time now.”

“Me too.”

Suddenly, Ellie reappeared. “Mommy, they’re waiting for you. Come on.”

“Ok, my little love,” Nell’s said with a big smile. “Take mommy’s hand and let’s go.”