Love protection. Book 1: to be loved

Our day

Abby POV: 

June 1st, 2006.

The air was crisp and clear, as if the world itself had conspired to create the perfect day for Abby and Samuel's wedding. The sun— drenched garden outside shimmered in the afternoon light, casting a golden glow over the lush green grass and flowers that seemed to bloom just for them. It was the kind of day that lived in dreams, where everything felt enchanted, as though time had paused for this very moment.

Abby stood by the window, her reflection caught in the glass. Her dress, a delicate ivory with lace details that shimmered in the light, was everything she had ever wanted. She had always imagined her wedding as something straight out of a fairy tale, and now, here she was, living it. Her heart fluttered with anticipation, her thoughts swirling with excitement.

The hours leading up to the ceremony were a blur of laughter, moments of quiet reflection, and sudden bursts of nervous joy. Every detail, every gesture, felt like part of a larger picture, one that was about to unfold. She was beautiful, radiant even, her eyes sparkling with impatience as she moved gracefully in her dress, ready to meet the man waiting for her at the altar.

When she was finally ready, she turned to her father, who stood with here, eyes brimming with emotion. For a moment, neither of them spoke. Then, his voice cracked ever so slightly.

— Your mother would be so proud, he whispered, his hand trembling as he gently wiped away a tear from her cheek. Abby felt the weight of his words, knowing just how true they were.

— I miss her," she replied softly, her heart aching with the familiar pang of loss, but today, that ache was also filled with gratitude and love.

They shared a quiet moment before he offered his arm, and together they made their way to the garden, where Samuel stood, waiting.

The ceremony began with a soft melody of strings, the music filling the air with a sense of magic and wonder. Samuel, standing at the altar in a stunning blue suit that perfectly matched his eyes, looked every bit the prince from Abby's dreams. His hands were clasped in front of him, his gaze fixed on the path where Abby would soon appear.

As she stepped onto the aisle, her father by her side, the world seemed to hold its breath. The soft rustle of her dress mingled with the gentle breeze, and the crowd fell silent, their eyes drawn to her. But Abby saw only Samuel. Her heart raced as their eyes met, and in that instant, nothing else mattered. There was an unspoken understanding between them, a silent promise that they were about to begin the rest of their lives together.

With each step, her heart beat faster. Samuel's eyes were filled with emotion, his lips curving into a soft smile that sent a surge of warmth through her. He was nervous too, but there was joy in every line of his face. When she reached him, her father placed her hand in his, and for a moment, they simply stood there, hands clasped, hearts full.

The vows came next, spoken with trembling voices and tear— filled eyes. As Samuel slipped the ring onto Abby's finger, his voice caught as he whispered, "I love you so much." Abby, her heart swelling with love, could only manage a soft, tearful "me too" in reply.

The ceremony was beautiful, but it was the celebration that truly captured the spirit of the day. Laughter echoed across the garden, glasses clinked in endless toasts, and the air was alive with the energy of friends and family coming together to celebrate this new chapter. Abby and Samuel spun across the dance floor during their first dance, the upbeat notes of "You Make My Dreams" lifting their spirits. Samuel twirled her effortlessly, her dress swirling around her in waves of fabric, and for that moment, the world shrank to just the two of them. They received a lot of congratulation. She takes a moment of calm, rejoining Thalia with Blaise. First of the group to take the parenting journey.

As the evening wore on, the celebration showed no signs of slowing. Guests mingled, the clatter of plates and glasses mixing with the soft hum of conversations and laughter. Abby had never felt more alive. She was surrounded by love, and at the center of it all was Samuel. There was, at her knowing, no magical accident, guest mixing. Her university friend was talking to the her friend here, normally.

And then, as the night began to wind down, Samuel stood up, drawing the attention of the room. His eyes sparkled with excitement, and Abby could sense that something special was about to happen.

— Abby, he began, his voice warm and full of affection. "I've got a surprise for you."

Abby, already a little breathless from the whirlwind of the day, watched as Samuel pulled a guitar from behind the table. Her heart skipped a beat.

— Is this what I think it is?" she asked, her voice trembling with excitement.

Samuel didn't answer with words. Instead, he positioned the guitar on his knee and began to strum softly, the chords of the song filling the room with a gentle, tender melody. It was the song: that kind of love, fitting us.

Abby couldn't take her eyes off him. As the notes echoed through the room, she felt tears welling up, the emotions of the day finally overflowing. And in that moment, Abby realized, with a clarity that took her breath away, that this was the kind of love people wrote songs about. This was the love that made everything else fade into the background, that made the world feel brighter and fuller, just because the other person was in it.

As the final note hung in the air, Samuel looked up at her, his own eyes glistening with unshed tears. "It's you, Abby," he said softly, his voice full of love. "I love you so much."

Tears spilled down Abby's cheeks as she whispered back, "I love you too." And with those words, she knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that this was the beginning of something truly magical, without bad word game.