Page 111 of Broken Bonds

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When Stella and I started planning our wedding, we agreed on one thing, neither of us wanted a lavish affair with thousands of people around us. First, we thought about renewing vows at the house in Los Angeles and then having a party in Kentucky. That’s until Valerie came up with the idea of having a destination wedding.

“You’re richer than Jay-Z and Beyoncé, you can choose anywhere in the world to get married. Take that little black card of yours, book a plane, and take us all to Paris. Boom, the wedding of the year.”

Stella and I just laughed, but she planted the seed. Since we are legally married already and just want to do something for ourselves, the possibilities were endless. We searched for hours surfing the net, until some photos caught our attention.

And yes, I hired a private plane to bring us to paradise. Lorraine, Felicia, Valerie, and my mother. Also, Ethan and his family, Josh and Mathilda, who helped us when we needed it are here at Saint Vincent and the Grenadines ready to celebrate with us.

Valerie hasn’t stopped complaining that none of the guests are single.

“How am I supposed to meet the love of my life if you don’t help the case?”

Stella just laughs at her friend’s witticisms. And speaking of my wife, I gave her free rein to organize the wedding together with the hotel planner, so she could have the wedding of her dreams. My only request was that when she walked toward me, she did it dressed in white.

The turquoise sea and an intricate arch of flowers behind me is the perfect background for our day, the clear and infinite sky, adorned with small white clouds that seem to be made of cotton.

The small group that accompanies us has been well accommodated in wooden chairs on the white sand. In the first row is my mother, who has Hannah sitting on her lap. My daughter is fast asleep. For her, her beauty sleep is more important than seeing her parents promise themselves eternal love. Everyone has their priorities, after all.

So here I am, in a beige linen suit and a pristine white shirt, no tie, and a couple of loose buttons. Beside me, Ethan as my best man. He has proven to be the best of friends, and since Alexandra and Stella have become so close, it seemed like the most logical choice. They have adopted us into their squad.

“Do you have the ring?” I ask him for the hundredth time.

“Safe and sound in my pocket,” he responds, slapping his chest with his hand, then looking at me with a shit-eating smile.

“You’ve been through this too,” I say through my teeth. “Josh has some good stories…”

My words die in my mouth because the music plays, our little congregation stands up and Stella appears in the hallway wearing a dress designed to make my eyes pop out as I swallow my tongue.

It’s delicate, long, and perfect for her. The fabric’s surface has some flowers and a neckline that reveals the curve of her breasts, small sleeves, and is fitted with a cut-out without it being too revealing. In her hands a simple bouquet of white roses.

Stella wears her hair down, gathered to the side of her head and since she’s not wearing a veil, nothing prevents me from seeing those eyes, that smile. The aisle is short, but it seems too long to me, as if her steps could not be fast enough. I can hardly believe she chose to dress like this for me. I can’t describe what I feel now in my chest. I’m a fucking lucky bastard.

As she walks toward me her gaze shines with tears and the smile that is drawn on her face pulls at the deepest part of my heart. Mine is firmly in place, although my feet are already moving toward her. I reach out to take her hand and plant a kiss on her knuckles.

“You’ve taken my breath away,” I whisper so only she can hear.

“I hope you have saved some for the moment of saying yes.”

“Nothing could stop me.”

Stella and I chose a traditional, but simple ceremony. We wanted to read the vows just like her parents did. One way to honor the two empty seats in the front row. Somehow, we are both sure that their presence is here with us today.

“Repeat after me,” says the minister. “I, Lionel Kral…”

In an instant, Hannah declares her desire to join the festivities. This tiny island in the Caribbean couldn’t contain her excitement—I swear her shrieks can be heard all the way to Miami. My daughter’s got some serious pipes.

This is the life we’ve chosen. We got lucky, but boy did we put in the effort. Fate was just waiting for us to chase after it. Now, my existence isn’t defined by broken bonds, instead every day we work to tie them closer together.

The End

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