Page 25 of A Trident Wedding

When she turned the knob and pulled the door open, she gasped, and the tears burned her eyes. Hanging in the center of the closet like a window dressing was her wedding dress with a note attached to it that read,I promised that you would get your happily ever after. At five o’clock there will be a knock on the door. Go with them and follow the trail of lights.

Her hands were shaking as she reached for the dress. As she wiped the tears from her eyes, she looked at the clock. She only had forty-five minutes to get ready.

At five o’clock sharp, there was a knock at the door. She was a little nervous that a stranger was coming to take her to her wedding. But when she opened the door, the eight men standing before in their Navy Dress Whites were anything but strangers.

“Oh, my, God!” She sobbed at the sight of all her uncles. Derek held out his hand and smiled. “You look absolutely beautiful. We are here to escort you to your wedding.”

She looped her arm with Derek’s, and they walked the lighted path that took them down to the beach. As they approached a large fountain, Derek stopped her. Without saying a word, he handed her a letter envelope. It looked old and worn, and she looked at Derek for him to explain.

Through tears in his eyes, he told her, “Your dad wanted you to have that on your wedding day.”

She looked at the envelope then back at Derek. “Do I read it now?”

He softly smiled. “I think he’d want you to.”

Alex walked over to the fountain and sat on the ledge.

She held her breath as she opened the envelope and pulled out the piece of paper. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Once she felt she had collected herself, she opened her eyes and began to read.

Dear Alex,

Since the day you came into this world, you have been my heart and soul. You were the ray of sunshine that helped me through some of my darkest days. You were the little girl that I swore I was never going to let grow up.

But if you’re reading this, it means you have blossomed into a woman who is moments away from sharing a life of happiness and love with the man that you’ve given your heart to.

It pains me not to be there to walk you down the aisle, but know I’m walking with you in spirit as you march toward your future.

I will be watching from above as you pledge your heart and devotion to the man you love.

And know that I will always be that angel watching over you and your family.

Always and forever,

Dad

Alex tried her best to blink back the tears, but it was tough. She never knew that her dad had written that letter, but it didn’t surprise her either. It gave her peace to know he was there.

She heard footsteps approaching and looked up and met Derek’s gaze.

She folded up the letter and tucked it into her bouquet.

“You ready?” Derek asked

“I am,” she whispered low. She could hardly speak because of the emotion she was feeling on the inside.

As she and Derek walked arm and arm, she heard the music begin to play, and she felt her body fill with excitement, knowing that in less than twenty minutes or so, she would become Mrs. Marcus Chambers.

As she rounded the final bend expecting to find her husband to be waiting for her, she was dealt another surprise that had her crying once more. Not only were all of their friends and family there, but Ace had managed to have the beach decorated with everything she had wanted for their wedding.

As another song began to play, Derek glanced at her. “You ready, honey?”

She gave him a teary-eyed, cheeky grin. “Ready as I’ll ever be.”

As Alex started down the aisle, she met Ace’s gaze. Seeing the tears in his eyes nearly brought her to her knees. He looked so handsome in dress whites. As they made it to the alter, Derek kissed her cheek before handing her off to Ace.

Ace took her and hand and brought it to his lips.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

She gave him the biggest smile she could muster.

“I’m more than okay. I’m marrying the man I love while my angel watches from above.”

They both smiled and glanced down at the seat on the end they had reserved for her dad.

Ace bent down and kissed her cheek.

“I love you.”

“I love you too, Ace, and I always will.”