Page 133 of Lassoed Love

“I know my parents are looking down on me, proud of everything that I have achieved, and proud of the man that I have found. Mum would have absolutely adored you, and I know for a fact that my fath—” She pauses, her voice cracking. I urge her to continue, saying, “It’s okay, baby.”

“My f-father would have taken you in as his own. He gave you his blessing, and that’s all I need to know that he loved you. You’ve been by my side through the worst of things, and I appreciate you in ways words can’t describe. But I look forward to showing you, for the rest of our lives. Love you, cowboy.”

Her words bring a smile to my lips. Her mention of high school brings back a flood of memories, reminding me of how far we’ve come together. I squeeze her hands gently, inhaling a shaky breath while mouthing the wordsI love youback to her.

As Isla finishes her vows, whistles break out from the crowd, and I notice the girls behind her wiping at their eyes. Tears slip from my own eyes, and I blink them away, but Isla reaches up to wipe them for me. A small laugh ripples through the crowd, and I hear Harrison behind me mutter, “Sappy fuck,” earning a smirk from me.

The celebrant acknowledges Isla’s words with a nod before turning to face me. “Xavier, it’s now your turn to share your vows with Isla,” he says, urging me to continue. As I stand before our loved ones, I inhale and exhale, feeling a surge of emotions.

Clearing my throat, I begin, “Shit. How do I beat that?” I say with a laugh, and the crowd follows suit. I clear my throat.

“A while ago, I stumbled upon some letters, including this one,” I explain, holding up the letter from Isla’s mother. "And, unashamedly, I took it," I admit with a sheepish grin, glancing up at Isla. Her reaction is a small gasp.

“Sorry, babe,” I apologise, prompting a huff of laughter from Isla. She whispers back, “Omg, I hadn’t even checked to see if it was stillthere,” shaking her head with embarrassment.

I take a deep breath, my eyes shining with emotion. “But in all seriousness, this letter, it means the world to me, and I can only imagine what it means for Isla. These letters… they are a testament to the love and support that Cheryl, Isla’s mother, has for her, and I promise to cherish and protect that love for as long as I live.”

I blow out a nervous breath and begin.

Oh. My. God.

As I stand before Xavier, watching him hold the letter in his hands—a letter from my mother that I have in fact, not yet read—a wave of nervousness washes over me. My body shakes with anxiety, my heart racing as I wonder what the letter says. I had tucked it away, intending to read it when the time felt right, but now, faced with Xavier holding it out to me, the time has come sooner than I expected.

How did he find it? How did he remember?These thoughts race through my mind, mingling with a sense of gratitude for his thoughtfulness. It’s just like him to surprise me in the most thoughtfulways, to remember even the smallest details. As I take a deep breath, I look up to the sky, imagining my mum and dad looking down on me from heaven.

“Hi, Mum. Hi, Dad,”I whisper in my head.“Look at me now, huh? I love you both so much. Thank you.”

The words bring me a sense of peace, a connection to them at this moment. I look up at Xavier, and he gives me a reassuring smile. With a gentle squeeze of my hand, he signals that everything will be okay. I take a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves, as he begins to read the words that my mother wrote. I hold on to his hand tightly, seeking comfort in his presence as I wait anxiously to hear her voice, her words, through him.

To the one who stole our daughter’s heart,

I write to you with a heart overflowing with love and gratitude. Though we have never met, I know you through the love you share with my daughter, Isla. You have become a part of our family in a way that I could never have imagined, and for that, I am truly grateful.

Isla has always been a special soul, full of kindness, compassion, and love. From the moment she was born, she has brought joy and light into our lives. And now, seeing her with you, I see a happiness and a light in her that shines even brighter.

I know that loving someone means opening your heart to joy and to pain, to laughter and to tears. I know that it means being there for each other through thick and thin, through the good times and the bad. And I want you to know that I am grateful to you for being there for my daughter in ways that I could not.

Isla, with her composed demeanour and strength, often hides the depth of her emotions. But underneath that composed exterior lies a heart of gold, capable of experiencing love in its purest form. Please guard her heart with your life, and in turn, she’ll do the same for you. As you embark on this journey together, I want you to know that you have our blessing, from both Callum and I.

I may no longer be with you in the physical world, but my spirit is with you always, watching over you, guiding you, and cheering you on. We both love Isla and you with all of our hearts.

Take care of each other, cherish every moment, and never forget the love that brought you together. And know that wherever life may take you, my love will always be with you, a guiding light in the darkness, a warm embrace in times of need.

With all my love,

Cheryl Thompson.

As Xavier finishes reading the letter, tears stream down my face uncontrollably. I’m a crying mess, my sobs echoing around us—I don’t give a fuck if people can hear me. Xavier pulls me into a tight hug, his arms warm and comforting around me. He places kisses on my head and whispers in my ear, “You are so loved; they love you so much. They’re always with you.”

He gently pulls away from me, his hands cupping my face as he wipes away my tears. The celebrant, still holding the microphone near us, looks on with empathy. Xavier reaches for the microphone, his voice steady and strong as he continues.

“Cheryl, Callum. Thank you,” he says, his voice filled withemotion. “Thank you for your words, your love, and your blessings. Isla means the world to me, and I promise to cherish her, to love her with all my heart, and to always be there for her.” He looks into my eyes, his gaze unwavering.

“I loveyou, Isla,” he says, his voice filled with sincerity. “And I always will.” I lean into his touch, feeling his love and the love of my parents surrounding me. In that moment, I know that no matter what challenges life may bring, as long as we have each other, we can face anything together.

The celebrant takes this moment to continue. “As they exchange their vows and rings, let us all bear witness to the love that we share, and let us all offer our support and encouragement as we begin this new chapter in our lives together," the celebrant’s words resonate around us, a solemn promise of love and commitment.

Bradley approaches us, a box in his hands, and from it, we each take a ring—symbols of our love and promises made. As we slide the rings onto each other’s fingers, a wave of emotion washes over me, knowing that these simple bands represent a lifetime of love and devotion.

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