EPILOGUE
Amelia heard a soft sniff and looked over to see her dad staring straight ahead, his jaw clenched tight. She smiled as she gripped his elbow more firmly.
“It’s a happy day, Dad,” she said softly.
He glanced down at her, his eyes glassy with emotion. “I know, Berry. It’s just… I remember holding you in my hands when you were so small. You were mine to love and protect. Now I’m giving that responsibility to someone else.”
“I’m sure Ben would tell you that he’s not taking the role from you,” Amelia said. “He’s going to share it with you.”
Her dad gave a single nod. “And I couldn’t share it with a better man.”
That admission made Amelia’s smile grow.
“I was so disappointed when you broke up with him in high school,” he continued.
“Really? I didn’t know that.”
“I didn’t want to make you feel bad, but I wasn’t sure you’d ever find another guy who would treat you as well as Benji had.” He turned to give her a small smile. “And I guess I was right.”
Amelia heard the swell of music and turned to watch as her wedding party left the house one by one. First Shiloh, then Tracy, followed by Layla. Finally, her four flower girls and one ring bearer stepped out.
“I really am happy for you and Ben,” her dad said. “I’m glad that God led you two back together.”
“I am too. I can’t imagine life without him now.”
They’d gotten engaged on Christmas Day, and now, six months later, they were preparing to become husband and wife.
Those six months had included counselling for them as a couple and for each of them individually. Her health had stabilized, and as long as she stayed very aware of her body's needs, the flareups weren’t as frequent.
She’d still had a couple of bad stretches, but each one had taught her and Ben something.
“Ready?” her dad asked as the doors closed behind the flower girls. “We’re next.”
“Definitely.”
The woman they’d hired to organize everything held out Amelia’s bouquet. It was small but elegant.
Just as with her dress, the bouquet had been chosen with her limitations in mind. She hadn’t wanted a bouquet that was too heavy or bulky because that would mean she couldn’t hold it for long periods.
Her dress was also simpler than what she might have chosen had she not had a body that tired so easily.
It was an A-line style with a sweetheart neckline.
The shoulders and sleeves were made of lace appliques that also covered the bodice.
The long skirt was light chiffon over a satin underlay, but it had no train.
She and Annie had worked together on it, and Amelia was proud of how beautifully it had turned out.
Her heart raced as they prepared to leave the house. The coordinator and her assistant opened the double doors that led out to the back deck and the lawn, where rows of chairs had been set up.
Beautiful sunlight greeted them as they stepped out of the house, bringing a smile to Amelia’s face. They were getting married on the Burke estate, just as Ben’s siblings had done in years past.
Though there had been no budget for the wedding, she had kept her choices simple, going for an understated elegance.
Above the rows of white chairs were drapes of sheer white voile material that created an ethereal look but also offered the practical benefit of filtering out the bright sunlight.
A white tent stood off to the side where they’d have their reception later.
But right then, she looked beyond where the wedding guests were seated to where Ben waited for her. He stood in front of an arch made of tree branches and flowers, wearing a dark gray suit, his hair a tumble of curls that Amelia had told him not to tame for the day.
Standing up with him were Luca, Julian, and Cole. His nephew, TJ, was their ring bearer, and he stood proudly with the men at the front, watching as Amelia and her dad made their way down the aisle.
When her gaze met Ben’s, Amelia’s excitement deepened, but it also settled something within her. This was right. It was where they were supposed to have ended up.
The walk felt like it took forever, her dad keeping her to a slow, steady pace that matched the music. It didn’t, however, match the excitement and pull that made her want to run to Ben.
Once they reached the front, Ben left the men he’d been standing with. He held out his hand to her dad, who took it, then pulled Ben in for a hug.
“Take care of my little girl,” her dad murmured, just loud enough for the three of them to hear.
Ben looked her dad straight in the eye and nodded. “Always.”
That was enough for her dad, who then turned to Amelia. He wrapped his arms around her. “Go with my blessing and all my love.”
Emotion choked her, and for a moment, Amelia was thrown back to the days when it had been just him and her, and how hard he’d worked to take care of her.
“Thank you, Daddy. I love you.”
“I love you too, Berry.”
Moving apart, her dad took her hand and held it out to Ben. With a smile, Ben took it, then gazed down at her.
“Hello, beautiful,” he murmured.
“Hi, love.”
They shared a heartbeat of a moment, then went to where her mom waited to give her a hug before they walked over to hug Ben’s parents.
Finally, they moved to stand in front of Pastor Simmons, who was waiting for them with a broad smile. He’d been part of the counseling they’d had over the past few months, and Amelia knew that he was rooting strongly for them.
When they’d planned the wedding, they’d both agreed they didn’t want a large wedding. However, by the time they included all the family members on both sides, they had a fairly good-sized group. There were only a handful of people attending who weren’t related to one of them.
The pastor greeted everyone, then had them sit. As he guided them through the service, butterflies fluttered in Amelia’s stomach. She’d written out and memorized her vows, and she hoped that she could get through them without crying.
When the pastor turned to her with an encouraging smile, Amelia took a deep breath.
“Ben, I think I fell in love with you the first time I saw you. A tall teenage boy with a warm smile and sparkling eyes, you were like a light in the world. And when you turned that smile on me, I could hardly believe it. You were then, just as you are now, the greatest blessing in my life.”
Amelia gripped his hands more tightly. "As a teen, you helped me believe that I could achieve my dreams, even when I doubted myself. And when life took us in different directions, I never stopped thinking about you.”
She paused, her throat tightening with emotion as she looked into Ben's eyes.
The love she saw there steadied her. "When we found each other again, I was broken. Lost. But you didn't see the brokenness. You just saw… me. You’ve shown me that I'm more than my accomplishments or my limitations. You’ve loved me through some rough patches and never faltered. And for that, I am so grateful.”
Amelia took another deep breath. “Ben, I promise to love you faithfully, to embrace your dreams as my own, and to be your partner through every joy and challenge.
I'll be at your side as we walk this path together, holding your hand as we celebrate victories or face hard times.
And I promise to never again let you go.
You are my heart, Benjamin Burke, and I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with you. "
Ben's eyes shimmered with unshed tears as he squeezed her hands. Clearing his throat, he began to speak, his voice steady but filled with emotion.
"Amelia, my Lia. When we were teenagers, you were the girl who made my heart race and my palms sweat.
You were the one I wanted to impress, to make laugh, to make proud.
When we found each other again, I realized you're still that same girl who makes my heart race, but now I see so much more.
Your strength amazes me. Your determination inspires me. Your love humbles me.
"I promise to be your partner in every sense of the word. To support your dreams and help you carry your burdens. To celebrate with you in times of joy and hold you close in times of sorrow. I promise to listen when you need to talk, and to always be a safe harbor in the midst of life’s storms." Ben's voice caught, and he swallowed before continuing.
"I promise to remember that while your body might have limits, your spirit doesn't. I will cherish you as the woman God created you to be.
To love you completely, faithfully, and without reservation for all our days.
Most importantly, I promise to never take for granted the miracle of finding you again.
You are the love of my life, Amelia Madden, and I will spend every day making sure you never doubt it. "
Amelia blinked back tears as Pastor Simmons led them through the exchange of rings. The weight of the wedding band Ben had chosen for her, sliding onto her finger, felt right, like the final piece of a puzzle falling into place.
“I’ve had the privilege of getting to know Ben and Amelia well,” the pastor said.
“And I’m so blessed to stand here with them, before God and each of you who loves and cares for them, to witness them pledge their love and commitment to each other.
It is my distinct pleasure to present to you, Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Burke. ”
With a broad smile, the pastor turned to Ben. “Ben, you may kiss your bride.”
As Ben reached to cup her face in his large, strong hands, Amelia rested her hands on his waist and gazed up at him.
“I love you,” he said as he leaned forward to press his lips to hers in a gentle, lingering kiss. Their first in this new chapter that was opening up before them.
~*~
Ben stared up at the screen above the ice, taking in the image as Amelia filled it. Her expression was focused as she watched the skaters on the ice with Lexi by her side.