when you are at your lowest. They will hold you as you cry and laugh together in your triumphs and failures. They are the hands of the one you will share your innermost secrets with, and who will always be there for you, even when all others have left.”
A lump caught in her throat as Lash gazed deeply into her eyes. He had already done all that Michael had mentioned. Memories fluttered through her mind: Lash laughing with her around Welita’s table; embracing her in the New Mexico hotel room while she cried; holding back her hair when she was sick, even when she tried to push him away. He’d always been there by her side.
“The binding cord represents the love that binds you together,” Michael continued. “A love that began centuries ago, that not even Time itself could sever from your hearts.”
Naomi heard someone blowing his nose loudly, followed by a “that’s so beautiful” in a thick Russian accent.
“Naomi and Lahash have their own vows that they would like to say to each other. Naomi?”
She nodded at Michael and then took a nervous breath as she gazed deeply into Lash’s hazel eyes. Warmth filled her heart, feeling the love coming from him and all around her. This was the Heaven she had wanted. She had a family who she loved on Earth, and now she had a second family here. She could see herself living here for all eternity with them, and that’s why she said her vows not only to Lash but also to his family.
“Lash, I love you. I’ll tell you ‘I love you’ every single day and never get tired of saying it. Without you, my heart would go on beating, but my soul would stop living. I give you my heart freely and make you my heart’s protector. And I promise to hold and cherish your heart, too. I know I’m a little stubborn...”
He raised an eyebrow.
“Okay, I’m hard-headed. We’ll more than likely disagree about things and argue, but always remember...” She cupped his face with her free hand. “I’ll always be by your side loving you, even when I’m angry. I promise to listen to not only to your words, but to your heart. I promise I won’t run away.”
Tears wet his dark lashes, and his Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed.
“We’ll battle the good times and the bad, together.” She paused, taking a deep breath before she continued, her voice quivering. “Lash, I’ve never felt closer to God than I do when I’m with you. With you, I’ve learned about faith and forgiveness. I once thought angels were perfect. We’re not. But you and I, we are perfect together.”
She gazed deeply into his eyes, eyes she could drown in forever, and whispered, “I love you.”
“I love you.” His voice was raw with emotion.
Michael cleared his throat and turned his red-rimmed eyes to Lash. “Lahash?”
Lash nodded and took a folded piece of paper out of his pocket. “I wrote something down.” His hand shook as he tried to open it with his free hand. “I wanted to make sure I did this right. You deserve the best.”
He dropped the paper, and his eyes widened. “I’m sorry.”
He bent down to pick it up, and she stopped him. “You don’t need that. Just say what’s in your heart.”
“I want you to have the best.”
“I already do.”
He bit down on his lip as tears lined his eyes. “Naomi,” his voice shook. “I lived most of my life with a closed heart, never letting anyone in. And then you came into my life. Because of you, I’ve opened my heart, not only to you, but to family and friends. I thank the Heavens that you were brought back to me because...” He swallowed thickly. “Because with you, I not only have the love of my life, but I have my family back, too. It’s because of you that I’ve found the strength, the courage to love again. You...you set me free, and I’m... I’m no longer afraid.”
Hot tears slid down her cheeks as Lash’s voice sailed into her heart.
“Naomi, your love makes me have courage. It makes me want to be a better man because...because...” Tears flowed down his sweet face, and his voice squeaked with intense emotion. “Because even when I make mistakes, you still love me. Even when I sound like I just inhaled helium and am talking like Alvin the chipmunk, you still love me.”
Naomi giggled, and laughter filled the garden. He was so funny. God, she loved him.
He brushed the tears from his eyes with the back of his sleeve and took a deep breath. His face turned serious, and he gazed into her eyes again. “No matter how much I stumble, I know you’ll always be there for me, to pick me up. Naomi, you are the woman of my dreams, my memories, memories that I carried in my heart, my soul. Even when my memories were hidden from me, you were always there on the edges of my mind, never forgotten.
“I can’t promise I won’t screw up again or that I won’t make you mad. But I can promise to love you with every fiber of my being. And I promise to always stand by your side, holding your hand as we take on whatever the future gives us.”
He reached to her, and his thumb gently brushed the tears from her cheeks. Leaning in closer, his breath caressed her lips as he whispered, “I’m forever bound to you, my love. My Naomi. My angel.”
She closed her eyes as he pressed his lips against hers, kissing them tenderly. And when she opened them, she saw Heaven in his eyes.
Epilogue
“Lash, will you hand me the pot holders?” Naomi bent down and looked at the enchiladas. They looked about right. She was trying Welita’s recipe tonight. She was not the best cook and had no idea how they would turn out. Luckily, the only one who had tasted Welita’s awesome cooking was Lash. So she didn’t have to worry about comparisons.
A hand slapped her behind, and she yelped. “Lash! What are you doing?”
He pressed himself against her. “What do you think?”
His hands stroked her bottom and then worked their way to the front. She quickly turned around. “Everyone will be here in a few minutes.”
Feverish lips pressed down on hers, his tongue caressing the inside of her mouth. He nipped and sucked on her bottom lip as his hand stroked the back of her neck.
She melted.
When he pulled back, his eyes sparkled with mischief. “You were saying?”
“Family...potholders...dinner. What?”
He chuckled and waved the potholders. “Allow me.”
“Lash, really. You have to stop doing that.”
He took out the pan of enchiladas and placed it on the counter. “Oh, you want me to stop?”
“Well, not stop. Just not right before company’s coming over. Wait until after they’re gone.”
He drew her against his chest, and she moaned as she felt him?hard, strong?and she thought of all the naughty things they could be doing at that moment. Maybe she could call the dinner off. Maybe tell them she was sick.
Damn! She couldn’t do that. Angels don’t get sick.
“What about during? I can think of some interesting ways to entertain ourselves. Where’s the tablecloth? We’ll need some coverage.”
“Lash! Your parents will be at the table!”
“That just means we’ll have to be extra sneaky, and you’ll need to control yourself.” He waggled his eyebrows. “Besides, we’re newlyweds. They expect us to do things like this.”
Her jaw dropped, and he gave her a wink.
“Ha, ha. Very funny,” she said, shaking her head.
There was a knock at the door.
“Set the table. I’ll get it,” he said.
Rachel, Uri, and Jeremy stepped into the house, followed by Raphael and Rebecca.
“So, what’s for dinner tonight?” Uri asked as everyone took a seat around the table.
“My grandmother’s enchiladas,” Naomi said.
“She makes the best enchiladas,” Rebecca said as Raphael held out a chair out for her.
“You had some? I thought you were watching over her in your angel form,” Raphael looked at her,
