A Bond Never Broken

Chapter 40

December 8th, 2015

The Palms Resort, Turks and Caicos

It was a beautiful Saturday morning. The tropical winter air was oddly warm and the view was amazing. The soft salty scent from the ocean filled the air. Off the balcony on the second story of The Palms Resort, I could see the light swells of the Atlantic Ocean. The small crashing of waves added to the peaceful instrumental background sounds as the ceremony was about to begin in a little while. I turned around as I heard a slight knock on the door. The door slowly opened and before me stood my father, dressed up in his suit. A soft-pink colored tie hung from his neck and a same colored pocket square was neatly tucked into the suit's pocket. A slight smile formed on the edges of my lips as I remembered how much persuading and how much I had to do to get him to wear it. I walked up to my daddy and smiled.

He gasped and took a deep breath, shaking his head. "My little girl is all grown up, she's a woman now." He choked out those few words and it took all I had not to burst into a fit of tears right then and there.

"Oh daddy," I breathed, "Don't cry." I wiped the stray tear slipping down his cheeks away.

He carefully wrapped his arms around me. We stood like that for at least a few minutes, cherishing the last few moments together before I became a wife.

"I just don't want my little girl to grow up." He chuckled.

I sniffed back a cry and whispered. 'Today I may become Luke's wife, but I'll always be your baby girl."

My dad wiped a tear before it fell and grinned. "Luke's outside the door waiting."

I just nodded and walked out into the hallway. There stood Luke, blindfolded by a satin handkerchief. I swear I've never smiled bigger than right in that moment. I carefully grabbed his hand. taking both of them into mine.

"Caroline?"

"Luke."

A smile appeared on his face and he let go of one of my hands so he could pull out an envelope. I did the same thing. We had written letters to each other and planned on reading them to each other before praying to God to bless our soon to be marriage.

Luke shakily opened the envelope he had probably sealed shut last night. He then pulled out a lined piece of paper. I recognized his writing, scrawled across the lines. I read it for him.

"Caroline,

I think about the time before you were a part of my life. I rememberbeing aimlessly drifting from one place to another, for I was berefta cause in my life. Along came you and from that day forth everything changed. You have given me so much that I can never pay you back and I know that I can only spend my lifetime loving you and make you fee l safe and secure in my arms. I know that you are that once in a lifetime gift that is bestowed upon lucky ones from Heaven above and you mean the world to me.

I find it difficult to find words to express all that you mean to me.From the moment we met, I knew my life would forever be changed. On that day, an angel appeared before me with blue eyes so captivating I lose myself in their gaze, a smile that can brighten the darkest depths of oceans, and a voice that just its very whisper overfills my heart with incredible joy.

We will always be with each other in every mode of life, in all ups and downs and in all untrodden paths of life. I promise to give you thelife you always dreamt of. We will surely make the best couple onearth. We will have several adventures of life together and evenpromise you the most wonderful intimate time. You too will rememberme always.

When we become old and weathered, covered in wrinkles, the curse of aging, I promise to still love you. To love you with the same love i had for you when we met, the love I have for you now, and the love I will have for you always.