I was marrying the very woman I had convinced myself didn’t exist for me.
“As we gather here on this secluded island beach, we are reminded of the beauty and innocence of how love begins. Fresh and new, such love is unmuddled by the turmoil of life. These two who stand here before me have decided to embrace one another. They have decided to cling to each other and walk through life facing the oncoming storms together, no longer trying to do it alone.”
The captain’s words hit home for me, and I felt tears rush to my eyes as I looked at Abby’s smiling face.
“Do the two of you have your own vows?” the captain asked.
“I’d like to say something, yes,” I said.
I turned around and got Abby’s ring from Bernie before I took her left hand within mine.
“For better or for worse. For richer or for poorer. Whenever you are sick or whenever you’re happy—I can promise you one thing. There will never be a time when someone else will be more important to me than you. There will never be a time when my company is more important to me than you. I thought that after I’d built my empire, there wouldn’t be any more room for someone to share my life with. I thought that my company would be my first and only love. But then I met you, Abby, and I realized that I’d always had a spot reserved for you. A spot I tried to fill with my company, to make me feel less alone in the world. You not only uncovered that revealing truth, but you stepped right into that spot, that hole. And no matter what, I will always be working to make sure that you know you come first.”
I slid her ring on her finger before I brought her hand to my lips. I saw a tear streaming down her cheek as Doris handed her my ring, then she took my hand in hers and cleared her throat.
“For better or for worse. For richer or for poorer. Whenever you’re sick or whenever you’re happy—I can promise you one thing.”
She slid my ring onto my finger before she looked straight into my eyes.
“I am done running,” she said.
Scooping her into my arms, I crashed my lips against hers. Her hands clasped my shirt, pulling me closer to her as Doris and Bernie clapped. The captain was chuckling at us as my tongue swiped across her lips, begging to taste her sweetness as the breeze from the ocean kicked up. It swirled around us, pushing us closer into each other’s embrace as my arms cloaked her back.
“I love you,” she said, into my lips.
“I love you, too,” I said, breathlessly.
“By the power vested in me by the State of California and the cruise line itself, I now pronounce you husband and wife. I’d tell you to kiss to the bride and all that, but it looks like you guys have that down,” the captain said.
I brought Abby against my body as Doris and Bernie cheered. Our bodies swayed in the breeze as we dug our toes into the sand. I buried my nose into the crook of her neck and took in the smell of her body.
Abby Thompson was now my wife, and the realization left me at a loss for words.
The captain pulled a pen from his pocket and we all signed the marriage certificate. Bernie and Doris signed as witnesses and I watched as Abby changed her name and officially became ‘Abby Thompson Murphy.’ A sense of pride unlike anything I’d ever felt trickled around my body from head to toe as the world faded around me. I wrapped her in my arms again as I held the marriage certificate, clinging to it just like I clung to her. I swept her off her feet and carried her off the beach, our lips giving in to the strong attraction.
We bid Doris and Bernie goodbye before I swept her off her feet again. They were going to explore more of the island, and I was taking my newly-wedded wife back to our room. I carried her up the bridge back to the ship as the captain followed us, and there was a crowd of people gathered on board. They turned and began clamoring toward us, but the captain intervened, as he stood in front of us and held out his hands.
“These two beautiful people have just declared their love for one another. Give them some space and allow them to enjoy their time together.”
“Did they get married!?” someone shouted.
“She’s wearing a white dress, you think that’s what they did?”
“Colin!? Are you and Abby married!?”
The crowd began to grow restless and I was ready to whisk Abby away. I was ready to push her through the crowd while the captain held them off so I could get her back to the room. But instead of feeling her cling to me, I felt her slip from my hands. Then, I watched her square her shoulders and step up beside the captain.
“We did get married, yes,” Abby said with a smile. “It was a beautiful, private ceremony. Full of love, light and sand.”
Everyone erupted into cheers and clapping as Abby stood her ground.
“Did you guys have your own vows?”
“Who witnessed the ceremony?”
“What kind of kisser is Colin!?”
Abby giggled as she looked back at me, her eyes full of life and her body relaxed for the first time in days.
“We did have our own vows, a wonderful couple we’ve come to regard as friends here on the ship witnessed the ceremony, and he is a fabulous kisser,” she said.
With every question they threw her way, she had a response. She was quick, light on her feet, and handled the crowd really well. People wanted us to pose for pictures, so she
