Page 60 of The Destined SEAL
“Harper and Ben have written their own vows to each other, and they would like to share them with you today. Ben,” the pastor says, clipping a small microphone on the edge of my capped sleeve and one to the open collar of Ben’s shirt. “Whenever you’re ready.”
Ben bites his lip in a grin. “I love you, Harper Jean, sneeze queen. Every moment and mistake in our lives has led to this right here. It could have happened earlier,” he says, looking at the audience when they laugh. “But it wouldn’t have meant as much as it does right now. Standing here after trials and tribulations that would make Gandhi question our sanity means that despite everything else in our past, we choose each other. You are the part of my life that has been constant because of how much I love you. I’ve never been scared of the depth of my feelings for you because I fell for you gradually. A little bit at a time during each phase of our lives. Now I’m at a level so deep I’ll never make it back to the surface in this lifetime. It’s only deeper from here to eternity. I vow forever to you. You hold all of my yesterdays, and I vow to give you all of my tomorrows.”Ben works down a hard swallow and cradles the side of my face. “You’re my girl now. I knew you’d be my last dance.”
It’s my turn to sniffle, sob, and halfway choke on emotion. “I love you,” I say to Ben, laying my hand on top of his. “How am I supposed to follow that?” There’s tittering from our audience as I try to compose myself enough to get my vows out.
Ben smiles wide and pulls me into another hug. “Finally!” he announces. “I made her cry out of happiness!”
Everyone roars with laughter at that comment, and while highly inappropriate, it’s also pretty endearing at the same time. We’re allowed to poke fun at our torrid past.
I pull away from the hug. “All right. I’m ready,” I reply, sucking in a deep, cleansing breath.
The sun is almost gone, and the sky sets the perfect backdrop for this moment, and I’m overwhelmed with gratitude. How could I possibly appreciate a life with Ben without realizing how challenging it’s been without him?
“I could say a million things to you about how our marriage will be one that stands the test of time, but you already know that. I could tell you how everything about you is what I love, but you know that too. The fact that we’re standing here right now is a testament to our love. A weaker variety would have run in the opposite direction, would have sneered at computer pairing logistics.” I smile when I see tears form in Ben’s eyes. “My vows to you are simple, because after all these years I think this is the vow that means the most.” I have to clear my throat. “You are the person who knows me most in this world. Every single piece of me, down to the cellular level is imprinted with your kindness, your understanding, your love of country, your persistence, your knowledge, your love.”
I pause, pressing my lips together. “I vow to be your best friend because those are just as important as wives. I promise to never take another breath for granted. I promise to take all ofyou and love it the best way I know how.” If you don’t believe in magic, I’d tell you to look skyward. The answers are out there. You just need to know how and when to look. I’ve never seen it so clearly than I do in this moment.
I cross my hands in front of me, and with tears filling his eyes, Ben does the same, grabbing onto mine. I take in a deep, jagged breath and say, “Harbenny, Harbenny, getcha, bitchen some, we rule the world, you’re my life plus one.”
Our parents stand, cheering like maniacs, the only people in on the joke, and the pastor pronounces us husband and wife. I leap into Ben’s arms, and we kiss like our lives depend on it.
At this point, they kind of do.
