That was enough for her dad, who then turned to Amelia. He wrapped his arms around her. “Go with my blessing and all my love.”
Emotion choked her, and for a moment, Amelia was thrown back to the days when it had been just him and her, and how hard he’d worked to take care of her.
“Thank you, Daddy. I love you.”
“I love you too, Berry.”
Moving apart, her dad took her hand and held it out to Ben. With a smile, Ben took it, then gazed down at her.
“Hello, beautiful,” he murmured.
“Hi, love.”
They shared a heartbeat of a moment, then went to where her mom waited to give her a hug before they walked over to hug Ben’s parents.
Finally, they moved to stand in front of Pastor Simmons, who was waiting for them with a broad smile. He’d been part of the counseling they’d had over the past few months, and Amelia knew that he was rooting strongly for them.
When they’d planned the wedding, they’d both agreed they didn’t want a large wedding. However, by the time they included all the family members on both sides, they had a fairly good-sized group. There were only a handful of people attending who weren’t related to one of them.
The pastor greeted everyone, then had them sit. As he guided them through the service, butterflies fluttered in Amelia’s stomach. She’d written out and memorized her vows, and she hoped that she could get through them without crying.
When the pastor turned to her with an encouraging smile, Amelia took a deep breath.
“Ben, I think I fell in love with you the first time I saw you. A tall teenage boy with a warm smile and sparkling eyes, you were like a light in the world. And when you turned that smile on me, I could hardly believe it. You were then, just as you are now, the greatest blessing in my life.”
Amelia gripped his hands more tightly. "As a teen, you helped me believe that I could achieve my dreams, even when I doubted myself. And when life took us in different directions, I never stopped thinking about you.”
She paused, her throat tightening with emotion as she looked into Ben's eyes. The love she saw there steadied her. "When we found each other again, I was broken. Lost. But you didn't see the brokenness. You just saw… me. You’ve shown me that I'm more than my accomplishments or my limitations. You’ve loved me through some rough patches and never faltered. And for that, I am so grateful.”
Amelia took another deep breath. “Ben, I promise to love you faithfully, to embrace your dreams as my own, and to be your partner through every joy and challenge. I'll be at your side as we walk this path together, holding your hand as we celebrate victories or face hard times. And I promise to never again let you go. You are my heart, Benjamin Burke, and I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with you."
Ben's eyes shimmered with unshed tears as he squeezed her hands. Clearing his throat, he began to speak, his voice steady but filled with emotion.
"Amelia, my Lia. When we were teenagers, you were the girl who made my heart race and my palms sweat. You were the one I wanted to impress, to make laugh, to make proud. When wefound each other again, I realized you're still that same girl who makes my heart race, but now I see so much more. Your strength amazes me. Your determination inspires me. Your love humbles me.
"I promise to be your partner in every sense of the word. To support your dreams and help you carry your burdens. To celebrate with you in times of joy and hold you close in times of sorrow. I promise to listen when you need to talk, and to always be a safe harbor in the midst of life’s storms." Ben's voice caught, and he swallowed before continuing. "I promise to remember that while your body might have limits, your spirit doesn't. I will cherish you as the woman God created you to be. To love you completely, faithfully, and without reservation for all our days. Most importantly, I promise to never take for granted the miracle of finding you again. You are the love of my life, Amelia Madden, and I will spend every day making sure you never doubt it."
Amelia blinked back tears as Pastor Simmons led them through the exchange of rings. The weight of the wedding band Ben had chosen for her, sliding onto her finger, felt right, like the final piece of a puzzle falling into place.
“I’ve had the privilege of getting to know Ben and Amelia well,” the pastor said. “And I’m so blessed to stand here with them, before God and each of you who loves and cares for them, to witness them pledge their love and commitment to each other. It is my distinct pleasure to present to you, Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Burke.”
With a broad smile, the pastor turned to Ben. “Ben, you may kiss your bride.”
As Ben reached to cup her face in his large, strong hands, Amelia rested her hands on his waist and gazed up at him.
“I love you,” he said as he leaned forward to press his lips to hers in a gentle, lingering kiss. Their first in this new chapter that was opening up before them.
~*~
Ben stared up at the screen above the ice, taking in the image as Amelia filled it. Her expression was focused as she watched the skaters on the ice with Lexi by her side.
He was probably the only one who saw the tense set of her lips and knew what caused it. She’d woken in pain that morning, but she’d been determined to finish out the competition. He knew it would mean days of recovery, but it was a price Amelia was willing to pay in order to be there with her skaters.
In the three years since they’d gotten married, she and Lexi had started a full-fledged coaching/choreography business. They focused on female singles skaters and had already helped two reach the podium at the World Figure Skating Championships. They also had three who were doing well in the junior ranks and would no doubt excel once they reached the senior level.
Amelia rarely traveled out of North America for competitions, finding it too difficult with time changes and long hours on a plane. However, she made exceptions for the top competitions like the Olympics or the Worlds, which was the reason they currently were in Prague.
They were in the arena for the women’s free skate, and one of their skaters was sitting with a shot at a medal after the short program. The other one had had a rough short program, which meant the podium was out of her reach.
