chapter 326: Wedding Vows
chapter 326: Wedding Vows
Chapter 326: Wedding Vows
Abigail
To the left of the arbour stood Joy, Sonia, Edith and Lucy. To the right were my husband-to-be, accompanied by his best friend, his brother, Damien and little Luke leaning against his father's leg half asleep. My eyes fell on Rodrigo's and everything finally fell into place, he and I were the only two left in the room, inside the depth of each other's heads and silently communicating through our hearts and eyes. He had a proud smirk on her face that made my lips turn up into a timid smile. When Alec and I reached the end of the aisle, Rodrigo reached his hand out for mine. Alec passed me on, placing a kiss on my head through the veil before joining the empty seat beside Agnes in the front row.
“Welcome, everyone.” The officiant said. Rodrigo took both of my hands in his, caressing my skin with his thumb.
“We are gathered here today to join Rodrigo Alvarez and Abigail Miller in holy matrimony.”
I looked down at our hands as the officiant spoke, feeling Rodrigo shake in my hold. When I looked at him, his eyes were on our hands as well, his eyes met mine before he gulped anxiously. Tightening my hold, I gave him the most reassuring look I could muster up. He nodded, telling me he was okay.
“If the bride and groom could now exchange vows, please.” He announced.
Rodrigo let go of my hand and looked around nervously before his gaze switched over to me again. He cleared his throat and reached into his pocket, pulling out a neatly folded up note. The sound of him opening it up was the only sound in the room as everyone waited in anticipation.
“Umm, just so everyone knows.” He began.
“I put this together real quick in jail last night so it might not be up to par.” Laughter erupted in the room as I rolled my eyes at him. He smiled jokingly, looking solely into my eyes.
“Compared to others, we haven't been together that long.” He took a moment and continued.
“But what we have has proved that time doesn't mean shit.” More laughter.
“Because in the span of just a couple of years with you, I have learned to love and care harder than most. And considering that I didn't give things like this the time of day before you, I would say I am getting the hang of it pretty well. What am I trying to say is that, you are everything I could have dreamed that love was and more. I don't know how after the entirety of terrible things I have done, the universe still believed that I deserve to be with you. A person whose kindness, care, loyalty and love have dominated the otherwise dark world I live in. Every day, I aspire to be better in every way for you and our daughter Joy. To protect you both with my life and bring you all the happiness that I can until the day that I die.”
Tears fell from my eyes as he folded the paper back up and put it back in his pocket. I heard sniffles around me as Sonia walked up and handed me the paper I had written my part in.
“Whipped.” I held back my laughter at Nicolas's comment, seeing Rodrigo shake his head as he closed his eyes, probably wishing he could punch his best friend as everyone hollered in laughter, whistling and clapping.
I opened the paper, my hands shaking as I read the words across the page, unable to even look Rodrigo in the eyes. The moment brought an unknown wave of giddiness, similar to what I had felt around him at the beginning of our relationship but it was different. After this day, everything would be different.
“Like a lot of others, I have dreamt of this day since I was a little girl.” I said, already feeling my chest ache with happiness and tears roll down my face.
“I never anticipated feeling this way about anyone but you blew what I assumed love was out of the water. We have gone through so much and throughout it all, you have proved time and time again that when you say you love me, when you say you will protect me and care for me no matter what, you truly meant it. From the beginning, I have felt that you deserve more than what the world has given you and having the blessing to marry you will give me the opportunity to do that for you. I will love, cherish and protect you every day until you know that you deserve it.”
He dropped his head, pretending that he was scratching his eyes but I was close enough to spot the tear that escaped from his stubborn eyes.
“I want to spend the rest of what I hope is a long life together, side by side with you and our daughter because you are the love of my life, Rodrigo. I couldn't imagine standing here with anyone else and being as happy as I am with you.”
“May we have the rings, please.” The officiant said.
“Luke,” Capo whispered from behind Rodrigo. Nicolas and Damien joined in, trying to wake our ring bearer up.
“Luke,” his father said once more before he finally snorted into consciousness, whining grumpily as he rubbed at his eyes.
I smiled, waving at him and he grinned back tiredly, realizing where he was. With the rings in hand, he walked over in his little suit and handed them over to the officiant, taking my hand and placing a kiss on it before standing beside his father once again. He handed the ring to us, telling us to repeat after him as we had placed them on each other.
“With this ring, I, Abigail, take Rodrigo to be no other than yourself. Loving what I know of you and trusting what I do not yet know, I will respect your integrity and have faith in your abiding love for me, through all our years and in all that life may bring us.” I said, placing the ring on his finger.
“With this ring, I, Rodrigo, take you, Abigail, to be no other than yourself. Loving what I know of you and trusting what I do not know, I will respect your integrity and have faith in your abiding love for me through all our years and in all that life may bring us.” Rodrigo repeated.
By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife.” He said.
“You may…”
I gasped as Rodrigo threw the veil over my head and pulled me in, his soft lips pressing against mine in a gentle, deep and passionate kiss. Everyone stood to clap as others whistled. The room was loud but I could barely hear it, he had overtaken all of my senses and made them prioritize him. His lips, his arms around my waist and his hair in between my fingers and the racing beat of my heart against his, it was as if we were alone and nothing else mattered. When he pulled away, we both smiled, getting back to reality as we faced the large audience who had just seen such an intimate moment.