by Smith, A. T
“Absolutely I will,” I answer excitedly.
“Do you reaffirm your love for him, and will you love, honour and cherish him in sickness and in health, for richer for poorer, for better for worse, and forsaking all others, be faithful to him for as long as you both shall live?”
“I do.” I breathe heavily, trying to control the need to cry my fucking eyes out in joy.
“Although you can do this anywhere you like, this might be a good place for you to both say something about one another.” Leighton takes a breath in and I exhale, waiting for his words.
“Abigail, Angel. You are the very thing that brought me back to life, made me breathe again. You made it possible to wake every day and see a ray of sunshine in a dismal world. We have been through so much since I met you, so many bad things, but also so many unbelievably amazing things that I couldn’t think of anyone better to spend the rest of my life with. You have given me my daughter, my beautiful little girl and you have loved my son, Joseph as though you had carried and birthed him yourself. Your strength and perseverance is admirable and makes me love you all the more.” I begin to cry, big fat ugly tears trailing my face.
“Leighton,” I say, needing him to finish.
“Please, let me finish baby.” I nod to him to continue. “Sweetheart, you are the blood that pumps in my veins, you are every breath I take, every thrum of my heart. You control me, you own me and keep me alive. There isn’t a thing I wouldn’t do for you, I would cross endless waters and deserts to have you with me forever. When I take my last breath in this life, I will do so loving you and holding onto the precious memories we have created. All I ask is that you love me the way I do you. It’s you and me Angel, forever and eternity.” He finishes and I smile at him, my tears falling free. Leighton’s own tears have spilled, trailing his perfect face.
“Abigail, would you like to say something?” my dad asks me and I nod, breathing deeply to calm myself.
“Leighton, God, where do I start? Before I met you, I was nothing. I was homeless, destroyed and beyond help. I imagined my last day being around the corner and I begged for it. Then one day, as though someone had heard my prayers, you appeared in that dark alleyway and dragged me back to life. You grabbed a hold of my heart and gave it the squeeze it needed to pump again, you gave me a reason to want to live another day. It took months to have you as mine, but just knowing you were there, keeping me safe, was what made me love you. You have given me so much in this new life that I would spend every living breath making you happy and making sure I deserved you. When we found out we were expecting Melissa, God that day completed everything. We were finally a family and I couldn’t have asked for more in this world. Then Joe.” I look to my son sitting on the front row, his smile so bright and carefree.
“Then Joe appeared from nowhere and suddenly I saw the world so much clearer. I took him in and loved him the second I saw him. Seeing him, seeing what he created made me want to be a part of his life. I will always love him like my own son, he is my son Leighton. I guess, what I want you to know is that with every waking breath and every dying thought, you will be forever on my mind, forever in my heart and forever in my soul. I love you Leighton and I always will.” I breathe out in relief, glad to get all of it off my chest.
“Leighton, I understand you have rings.” my father asks and Leighton signals for Antonio.
“Abigail and Leighton, on your wedding day you exchanged rings as a symbol of the never-ending circle that symbolises the eternal quality of God’s, unending strength, and unending love.
May you always wear your rings as a reminder of your wedding vows to each other, and your commitment to continue to live in unity, love and happiness. To remind you of that commitment made on your wedding day, you will now renew your pledge.
Leighton, please place your gift of a ring on Abigail’s hand with the words, ‘With this ring I renew my pledge of love and commitment. ’”
Leighton slides the new ring above my wedding ring, the simple platinum band with diamonds so beautiful and perfect. “With this ring I renew my pledge of love and commitment.” He speaks, lifting my hand to kiss my rings.
“Abigail, please place your gift of a ring on Leighton’s hand with the words, ‘With this ring I renew my pledge of love and commitment.’”
I do the same, slipping the platinum band over his finger, lifting and kissing them. “With this ring I renew my pledge of love and commitment.”
My father speaks out. “God bless these rings and the two who exchanged them in love on their wedding day. Keep Abigail and Leighton safe in the circle of your protection and love. Marriage is a commitment to learning to care for one another in mutually fulfilling ways. It is not an act but a life-long relationship always in the making. Marriage deepens and enriches every facet of life. Happiness is fuller, memories are fresher, commitment is stronger, even anger is felt more strongly, and passes away more quickly. Marriage understands and forgives the mistakes life is unable to avoid. It encourages and nurtures new life, new experiences, and new ways of expressing a love that is deeper than life. When two people pledge their love and care for each other in marriage, they create a spirit unique unto themselves which binds them closer than any spoken or written words. Marriage is a promise made in the hearts of two people who love each other and the potential of marriage requires a lifetime to fulfil.”
“One of the great blessings of marriage is the joy and responsibility of raising a family. Abigail and Leighton have been blessed with the lives of their children, Melissa and Joseph. We now have somebody very important who wants to say something.” I watch as my son, Joseph stands and makes his way to me.
“Baby,” I say as he leans up and kisses my cheek. The boy is tall, far taller than anyone else his age.
“Mum, you look beautiful,” he says to me, budging his father aside to take my hands. Before placing his right hand in my left, he hands Leighton a piece of paper. “I have come up here today to pledge my love to you as my mother. You were there when I was lost, I had no one. I lost my auntie, the only person I considered a mother and you were there for me without a second thought. You have treated me as your own and loved me the same. You gave me the gift of family. I now have parents, a sister and so many uncles, aunties and cousins I’ve lost count. Today, I want you to give me the gift of legally becoming my mum. I want the world to know how special you are and how much I love you.” He reaches round and takes the paper from his dad. He opens it and shows me.
A handmade certificate is presented to me along with a legitimate form.
This is to confirm that Abigail Rose Lock is the legal parent of Joseph Leigh Lock. I read those words, ignoring everything else on the paper. Tears fall again as I look to my son, smiling. “So what do you say mum, you in for the long run?” Joe asks me and I fall into him, wrapping him in my arms.
“Joe, I love you so much. You are my son forever,” I tell him. He looks to me and wipes my tears away before kissing my cheek.
“Thank you for everything you have given me, I am the luckiest kid alive. Now, finish remarrying dad so we can party.” He smiles and backs away, placing my husband’s hands back into mine.
“Leighton and Abigail, today you have renewed the promises and vows you made to each other on your wedding day. You have symbolized the renewal of the marriage union by the joining of hands, the taking of vows, and by the exchanging of rings. It is with pleasure that I conclude the ceremony of renewing the vows of marriage that joined you and forever binds you as husband and wife. Please celebrate this renewal of vows with a sign of affection…. You may kiss!” my father says and Leighton takes his permission and grabs me around the waist, looking into my eyes.
“I love you, Mrs Lock,” he whispers before dipping me and smashing his lips against mine. His tongue invades my mouth and explores me so expertly I’m a puddle on the floor. “I love you too, Mr Lock,” I reply as he releases me.
“Everyone, I give you Mr and Mrs Leighton Lock.” Ever
yone in the room stands and applauds, cheering and yelling at us. My daughter runs to me, launching herself into my arms. Joseph joins us and hugs his father. “Love you mummy,” Melissa says, placing a big sloppy kiss to my cheek before squeezing me really tight.
I am finally home, I’m finally complete.
Chapter Forty Leighton
I hadn’t even known Joe was going to do what he had done. I had helped him get the adoption through but he had planned this interruption to the ceremony himself. It was the most incredible thing I have ever seen him do. To see the joy on Abigail’s face when he told her they are legally son and mother, is beyond anything I could dream for.
He is something incredible that is for sure. He is so smart and knowledgeable. His brain is always on overdrive, learning and trying to find out everything about everything there is to know about. He follows Stephen Hawking like his life depends on it, always reading his work and trying to know everything there is about space and the endless possibilities it holds.
I watch as my wife dances and enjoys her evening. Her face, the smile that lights up the room when she walks in hasn’t left her face since this morning. I love surprising her, it’s the most beautiful thing in the world to see her excitement and elation.
I turn as I hear the microphone screech, a tapping clearing the noise. “Can I have everyone’s attention please?” Antonio calls out and we all turn to face him. I make my way to the front with my brother, sister, wife and children.
“Many years ago, I fell in love with the most incredible girl there was. Stupidly, I let her arsehole brother scare me away from her. It was the worst mistake I have ever made, but being away from her, brought me my daughter, Chloe. This life, as we all know it, has had some major ups and downs. And the biggest high, other than the birth of my little girl, was Georgia walking back into my life and completing me again.” Antonio holds his hand out to the bottom of the stage, asking for my sister to climb up. We help her, lifting her up so she can get footing on the makeshift area.
“Leighton and Brandon, I thank you and I will for the rest of my life, for allowing me your sister. I know it must be hard to let her be with someone like me, someone with my reputation, but there isn’t a thing I wouldn’t do in this life for your sister. I would move heaven and earth to please her and keep her safe. I love her beyond what words could express, so let’s let actions do the talking.” He turns to face Georgia, taking her hand in his.
“Baby, you are my world, everything that keeps me breathing. Let me be a part of your world, let me feel complete entirely.” He drops to his knees, holding open a ring box, a glistening diamond set in beautiful platinum. “Georgia Cassandra Lock, would you do me the amazing honour of being my wife?” he asks her and her hands fly to her mouth, tears falling from her green eyes. I can’t be more proud of my best friend than I am now. Having the courage to fight for them, against all odds.
“What do you say, baby? Should we spend the rest of our lives together?” he asks her again and she nods throwing herself into his arms, knocking him onto his arse.
“Yes, God yes Antonio, I’ll be your wife.” She cries, clinging to him.
We all cheer and clap for them, my heart so full it could burst. Everyone is growing up and making their own lives. I am so happy Antonio has finally found his someone, after years of fucking around.
When they climb down from the stage, my sister runs at me and Brandon and clings to us both. “Did you two know about this?” she asks us and Brandon answers.
“Yes, he asked for our permission at Leigh’s wedding.”
“What, and he’s waited this long? How?” she asks, just as surprised as me that Ant had not popped the question before.
“To be honest, I think he would have proposed that night if he could but then everything happened with Abigail and her father and things spiralled from there. This is the first time we have all been stable and happy in so long. It was perfect timing,” I explain, lifting my sister’s hand to kiss it. “It’s beautiful, sweetheart. You are going to make one beautiful bride.” She begins crying again, cuddling my brother and I.
“Will you two…” she stops to stop her flow of tears from mumbling her words. “Will the both of you give me away at the wedding? You both mean so much to me and are the closest thing I have to a dad,” She asks looking at Brandon and me, the same eyes as me looking back up.
“Of course, sweetheart. I would be honoured,” I answer and Brandon agrees too.
“Could I have my fiancée back please, lads?” Ant asks, swopping Georgia away and placing a chase kiss to her lips. “God, isn’t she perfect,” he pretty much screams out.
“That she is, but as any brother, if you hurt her Ant I will break every bone in your body and then feed you to the lions at the zoo.” I smile, patting his back before hugging him. He was like a brother to me when my own family had abandoned me, he is the closest thing to family I have apart from my actual family. Blood doesn’t matter to any of us, we are family regardless of the red shit that flows through our veins. My father had pretty much ensured that blood meant shit to me and that the bond and love you hold for someone will triumph anything.
“I’d expect nothing less from you, brother. Same goes for Abbi, she is my sister in every way and if you break her heart I will obliterate you.” He smiles proudly at me and we laugh.
“I’d expect nothing less, brother.” I mimic his answer.
“Party time,” Ant says, sweeping Georgia away to the dance floor.
“Everything is perfect now, brother,” Brandon tells me. I don’t see him often, he is busy with his supermodel wife and business, but when I do see him it’s like he completes my life over again.
“It sure is, I couldn’t ask for more in this life now. Just to spend my years with my family and friends. It’s all I’ll ever ask. Go, April is looking for you, go and dance with her, I’m going to find my wife,” I say, hugging him firmly before patting his back.
“Catch you later, man,” he says, sauntering off to his sexy arse woman who grabs his jacket lapels and smashes her lips to his, grinding against him. I suppose there is one bonus with your wife being a supermodel, she has the confidence and body of an angel.
I search for my own wife, creeping behind her and twirling her around in my arms. Thomas and Nate walk off laughing, finding a sneaky corner to steal a few kisses before one of the children find them. I imagine it won’t be long before they are both married to one another.
“Hey wife,” I say, stroking her back through the incredible opening at the back. The white is glorious against her skin, illuminating the radiance it possesses.
“Hey baby. Thank you for today it meant the world. It’s like someone is looking out for us for once. That was the best beginning to a new era. I just hope we get to have a proper wedding night this time,” she says and my cock twitches to life imagining her beneath me and writhing.
“Hmmm, I hope so too. I need my cock inside of your tight body, baby. I miss you around me already.” I kiss her neck, devouring her taste. I can feel my arousal escalating, knowing I should be backing away, but as she pushes her heat into me I can’t help but grind myself into her.
“It’s been twelve hours, Leighton, but I need you in me so fucking bad. I’m dripping wet and my pussy is trembling with the need for you.” I growl into her ear, yanking her hips back onto my erection. I just wish she was naked and my cock was actually slipping through her wet folds and into her vice-like heat.
“Upstairs now,” I say, knowing it is already closing in on midnight. The children are asleep in their rooms or passed out on chairs. The twins and Chloe are asleep in their prams.
“Yes… Sir,” she answers me and runs off. I apologise to everyone for our departure but they are all more than happy for us. They tell me they will wrap everything up and make sure people get home safe or in a room for the night.
I run the halls up to our room, more than excited to see my wife. I open the door and it’s empty inside, the b
ed sheets not even creased. The small light in the en-suite is on and I tiptoe into the room and across the floor to the bathroom.
Abbi sits on the edge of the toilet seat, smiling. “Baby, you okay?” I ask, edging forward.
“Perfect, I’m absolutely perfect Leighton. Happy wedding day, husband. I love you,” she speaks and hands me an envelope.
I open it, cautiously, wondering what she has concealed in it. I shake the contents out.
A plastic stick lands on my hand, followed by a pair of tiny baby socks. Engraved on the socks is Baby Lock. I gasp, my eyes widening. I look to the plastic stick, turning it over to see two red lines on the clear screen. “For real?” I ask in shock, staring at my wife.
She nods, a smile so wide on her face I fear it will fall off. “Yes, we’re having a baby, Leighton,” she tells me, waiting to see my reaction.
I sit down, gathering my bearings. Nothing in this world could have made today or the rest of my life any more perfect than discovering I am going to be a father again. “I’m going to be a dad again?” I ask.
“Yes, you’re going to be a daddy.” She laughs and cries and I follow suit, picking her up from the edge of the toilet and spinning her around.
“How long have you known, Angel?” I ask her, knowing she has to have had suspicions to take the test in the first place.
“A week, I’ve been waiting for the perfect time to tell you and well, you made that day today.” She smiles at me, her perfect lips so desirable. I kiss her hard, still holding onto the tiny socks and the stick that confirms my future.
“Thank you, thank you for everything you have ever given me. I can’t wait for this baby, already. I love you so much, Abigail. Forever and always, Angel,” I tell her, kissing every part of her face, her eyes, her cheeks and nose, her chin and jaw then her perfect rosy red lips.
“I love you too. I owe you my life, Leighton. I will do anything in my power to please you,” she whispers to me, wrapping her arms around my neck and climbing up me to wrap her legs around my waist.