This subject
was addressed by a very good friend of mine on Facebook. In her post, she
indignantly expressed her view on how African parents keep such a tight rein
on their children that even when they are past 18; they still feel they have
the right to tell them what to do and constantly interfere with their lives.
So
true, especially here in Nigeria. Culture
dictates that children should respect, listen and obey their parents because
being their parents; they are older and wiser. Children are brought up to take
their parents' guidance and as the years go by, they find themselves
continually doing as they are told and decisions made for them... after their
own decisions are tossed aside and ignored.
"Mummy
and Daddy" are always right and we are the ignorant children who must
listen to them because Culture (which is held over our heads like a gun)
dictates it. If in a situation where the grown child stands up to them, they
are dubbed 'disrespectful', 'stubborn, and sometimes even 'ungrateful'. "After all," so goes the usual tirade meant to manipulate and guilt,
"we are your parents, we raised you, clothed you, sent you to school and
you think you know better?" In the eyes of Nigerian parents, children are
still children and don’t seem to notice they’ve grown at all.
In more developed countries, children go off to
begin their lives away from their parents when they get to 18 or 21. Here, such
a thing is pretty much impossible.
One reason is the economy, with the staggering cost of rents and hard-to-find jobs; what 18 or 21-year-olds will be able to get their own place?
The other
is parents; who adamantly refuse to let
their children move out of the safety of the family house, either in a misguided sense of over-protectiveness or
they simply want to keep their children under their control.
When my friend
talked about how a young woman she knew was forced to quit her job and move to
the village because her tyrannical father ‘said so’; I felt very sorry for her,
especially since she had her life planned out only to be ignored and shoved
aside because Daddy for some reason wanted her to move to the village. It’s
more about control, than knowing what’s best for her.
That’s all we
hear in Nigeria; ‘Mummy and Daddy knows what’s best for us’; in almost every
aspect of our lives; from what we were to what course to study at the
University. They do all they can to guide us, except onhow to be independent and they are seldom
given the chance to stand on their own. In the end, the children’s lives are
ruined because they cannot stand on their own, after such a long period of
dominance and dependence.
I know a woman
in her thirties who still lives with her mother.Even if she had enough money to rent a place
of her own, her mother had already warned her she would not allow it. Her
reason? “Letting you live on your own will be like putting a curse on you.”
I’ve gone over that weird sentence and till now, I still don’t know what that means.
Nigerian
parents would say that parents in the Western world spoil their children and don’t
discipline their children enough and spoil them. But it’s not like Nigerian
children are better off under their parents’ dominating control either. How do
they expect their children to grow if they won’t let them grow?
There’s a major emphasis on having children in
this country, if you don’t have children, you’re nothing. Yet children most
times are treated like property, not human beings. Their needs are met yes, but
what about their emotional needs?
They say they
know what’s best. I say they are being
damn selfish.
I'm breaking my new rule of not posting on a Tuesday to congratulate our Golden Eaglets for winning the U-17 World Cup tournament in Chile; after defeating Mali 2-0. With this victory, the Golden Eaglets have made history by winning the U-17 World Cup for the 5th time. It was a great outing for Nigeria and no doubt, the Golden Eaglets are coming home to a well deserved heroes' welcome. No doubt the Eaglets were spurred on by determination and true team spirit, hence made Nigeria proud with this wonderful achievement.
So congratulations Golden Eaglets for bringing the Cup home and to the team captain, Kelechi Nwali for his Adidas Golden Ball and Bronze Boot award and to Victor Osimhen (the highest goal scorer) for winning the Adidas Golden Boot award. Well done guys!
Up Naija, UP NIGERIA!
Taking her by the hand, Bo led Carly to the upper
deck. After the ceremony, they had to pose for several photos, share their
first dance as a married couple, cut the cake and listened to speeches from
Roman, Shawn Douglas, Melanie and then Caroline. After more dancing, Bo wanted
to be alone with his bride.
Drawing Carly into his arms, they moved in time to the
music, eyes on each other. ‘Have I told you how much I love you?’ Bo asked
softly.
Carly smiled at him. ‘Not nearly enough, no.’
‘My mistake. I love you, Mrs. Brady. Very much.’
‘Mrs. Brady,
how wonderful that sounds.’ Her fingers linked behind his neck, looking up at
him intently. ‘And you’re the most wonderful man in the world, you’ve always
been.’
Bo’s arms tightened round her waist, touched by the
heartfelt words and the love in her eyes. ‘And?’
‘And kind, caring, utterly selfless and you’re the
love of my life.’
‘And?’
Carly saw the teasing glint in his eyes and laughed.
‘I’m not going to give you a swell head, Bo Brady!’
Chuckling Bo kissed her again, possessively and Carly returned
it, clinging to him. ‘I love you,’ she whispered after it ended. ‘And I’m so happy.
Finally marrying you, finally going to share my life with you in the truest
sense. Definitely not what I imagined when I came back.’
‘Things turned out differently and in a good way.’ Bo
replied. ‘The night I was at The Java
feeling sorry for myself, there you were. Even then I thought about how you
happened to be there, at that time.’
‘Just like the time you happened to be at the café in
Alamainia, and saving me from Lawrence even though I was a complete stranger.
And then seeing you again in Salem, in the middle of your grief.’
‘Yeah,’ Bo’s
expression was rueful as he vividly remembered the encounter on his pier. ‘I went
away angry but you were already on my mind. And I was scared of falling in love
with you and almost threw away happiness. That day you flat lined and Dr.
Horton pronounced you dead, I rode off to Green Oakes. I was so angry and
heartbroken… and felt so cheated, thinking about the fight we had before you
got called to the hospital.’
‘It was my fault,’ Carly said tearfully. ‘I had no
right to accuse you of resenting Nicky.’
‘No… no… it wasn’t your fault; don’t say that.’ Bo
placated her. ‘It wasn’t. You just wanted make up for the lost years, you
couldn’t know Lawrence was egging Nicky on like that, using him against us. If
there’s anyone to blame, it’s Lawrence. And he’s dead; he can’t hurt you or
come between us ever again.’
‘I know.’ Carly nodded again.
‘Fate’s a whole lot kinder to us this time. We’re
together, for good. Don’t you ever
believe otherwise.’
‘I won’t, ever again.’ Carly promised. ‘Bo, can you do
something for me?’
‘Of course, princess. What is it?’
‘Say the Mayan prayer to me, please. The second part.’
Stroking Carly’s cheek, Bo recited softly:
‘‘I know now that the voice of man can reach to the
sky
I know now that the gods have heard as I prayed
I know now that the gifts I asked for have all been
granted
I know now that the word of old we truly have heard
I know now that our future days will have no number
I know that only good will come, my love, to us.’’
The last word faded off as his lips met hers again.
As soon as The
Blue Pearl docked, they exchanged heartfelt hugs with their family and
friends, thanking them all for celebrating such a special day with them. Marcus
was the last to hug Carly, once again congratulating her.
Before they
walked down the gangplank, Carly tossed the bouquet and they hurried down hand
in hand to the waiting limousine in a hail of rice and rose petals, everyone
waving at them frantically.
In the car, Carly brought something out of her white
purse; Bo’s jade ring from their symbolic Mayan wedding. After staring at it,
unable to speak, Bo gave it to Carly and held out his right hand. Carly slid it
onto his third finger.
The bedroom was dark except for the flickering flames
of the candles. After their impassioned lovemaking, Bo and Carly lay against
each other under the sheets; swimming in blissful afterglow.
‘Are you asleep, princess?’ Bo whispered after several
minutes of silence.
‘No… just resting my eyes.’ Carly murmured, rubbing
his chest.
Bo kissed the top of her head, his hand moving down
her naked back. ‘It’s like we’re back at the hut.’
‘Our hut,’ Carly smiled in the dark, eyes still
closed. ‘I always remember our hut and that night; the happy feeling it was
just the two of us in our own special world. Corazon Del Cielo.’
‘“The heart of heaven.”” Bo translated, also smiling
at the memory. ‘It sure felt like it, after everything we went through because
of Victor. I could finally call you mine and make you mine.’
‘That’s where we are right now; in the heart of
heaven.’ Carly replied, still rubbing his chest.
‘And it’s always going to stay like this, princess;
for the rest of our lives.’
Nicholas had surprised Bo and Carly with first class
tickets to Cancun and said he booked a bungalow at a marvelous hotel there-
all-expense paid- insisting it was his wedding gift to them. Knowing how much
his stepson wanted to atone for the past, Bo had joined Carly in thanking him
sincerely. They were going to set off for Cancun in the morning. Carly especially,
couldn’t wait to see their beloved Chichén Itza again after so many years.
‘Caitlin Alice Melissa Horton, I baptize you in the
name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.’
Bo and Carly watched as Father Matt made the sign of
the cross over the forehead of their granddaughter before handing her over to
her godmothers, Maggie and Chelsea; Caitlin’s godfathers were Max and Brady.
Carly held her granddaughter at the end of the ceremony,
smiling down at the rosy cheeked, green eyed baby. ‘She’s so beautiful, just
like her mummy.’ She said.
Melanie grinned. ‘I got that from you, Mum.’
‘Maybe the next
one will look like me,’ Nathan suggested.
Melanie gave him a playful swat on the arm while Bo
watched Carly as she held their first grandchild; smiling at the happy expression
on her face. Two years of marriage and they were still as close as two people
deeply in love could be and more than happy. Fate was definitely been kinder to
them this time around, the shadows of the past firmly behind them.
‘Here, let me hold her,’ Caroline said and Carly placed
the baby into her arms. ‘Oh… aren’t you a precious little thing!’ she murmured,
everyone exclaiming over the child. Justin was present with Adrienne, having
long made up with her and finally got Bo and Carly to forgive him. Victor was another
story however. He was yet to warm towards Carly and Melanie, Melanie especially;
still unable to forget his son had a romantic relationship with a girl who
turned out later to be his granddaughter. Melanie and her parents could care less
about him or his opinions hence didn’t bother inviting him to Caitlin’s
baptism. Besides, there was another reason to celebrate that day and his
presence would only ruin things for everybody.
At Bo and Carly’s house, the guests sang “Happy
Birthday” to Carly; Melanie setting down a large cake with lit candles in front
of her.
‘Make a wish, make a wish!’ Ciara urged, clapping her
hands.
‘Yeah, go on Carly!’ Shawn Douglas added.
Smiling, Carly blew the candles amidst a round of applause.
Later that night, when they were alone, Carly told Bo what she wished for. ‘Many
more years with you and our family.’
‘I certainly second that, princess. Which reminds me,’
he took out a small box from the nightstand and gave it to Carly. ‘Happy
birthday, with all my love.’
‘Oh Bo…’ Carly’s eyes filled with tears as she pulled
out the white-gold chain. Dangling from it was a star shaped diamond pendant,
as beautiful as the first one he gave her so long ago. ‘The North Star, which
guides the weary traveller home.’ she sniffled, hugging Bo. ‘I love it and I
love you.’
‘I love you too, princess.’ Bo’s kiss was that of heartfelt
tenderness. Taking it from her, he clasped it round her neck, the pendant
glittering in the light.
‘You aren’t still sad we never had another child, are
you?’ he asked, as they lay on the bed; arms round each other. Nursing a faint
hope she might be able to conceive again, Carly had consulted one of the
doctors at the hospital. But after going through some tests, she was gently
told it just wasn’t possible.
‘No. I feel a bit down sometimes when I think about it
but then I remember what I already have; our Melanie and Shawn D, Ciara and
even Chelsea. And now we have a granddaughter. So no… I’m not sad at all. I’m
happy with what I have. Especially you, sailor.’
‘I’m really glad to hear that, I don’t ever want to
see you unhappy.’
‘I’m more
than happy,’ she whispered, staring at the hazel eyes looking back at her.
‘Remember what I told you on the first day of our
honeymoon?’
‘I remember,’ she stroked his cheek. ‘“Once Fallen, NowBlessed.”’’
Bo insisted on being the one to break it to Melanie.
And Melanie, like Bo rightly surmised, hit the roof; stubbornly refusing
believe what he told her until she and Max were given photocopied entries of Lawrence’s diaries, the
documented statement from his lawyer and most importantly, the DNA results;
which they went through carefully. When she was done, Melanie sat in her chair;
looking stunned, so was Max.
‘I… I don’t know what to say. Max…’ Melanie turned to
him.
‘It doesn’t make any difference to me Mel, it
doesn’t!’ Max assured her, tears in his eyes. ‘You’re still family, always.’
Melanie squeezed his hand before finally stared up at
Bo, as though seeing him with new eyes. Trent Robbins, the man who heartlessly
pimped her out, who abused Max as a child; was not her father. Bo Brady, tough yet kind and protective; was her
father and Carly Manning, the woman who practically brought her and Nathan
together… her mother. Which meant
Phillip was her uncle. That was even harder to swallow, considering
her past with him. And yet… it didn’t seem important.
‘Bo… I mean… oh dear God,’ she covered her
mouth with her hand, tears springing from her eyes she got up. Bo enveloped her
in his arms, pressing his cheek against hers, his own tears creeping from his
eyes as Melanie clung to him.
Melanie pulled away slightly to touch his face
tentatively, sniffling. Bo stroked her hair; for the first time realizing
Melanie had Carly’s vivid green eyes. How could he not have noticed there was
something familiar about the hot headed girl the whole time she was living in
Salem? The hot temper was no doubt from him and her fiery independent spirit came
from Carly. Their child was a living reality.
‘Dad,’ she whispered, savoring the word.
Smiling through his tears, Bo kissed her on the
forehead. ‘Right now, all I can say is how glad I am you’re my daughter,
sweetheart.’
‘Hothead and all?’ Melanie asked, smiling back;
overwhelmed but so happy.
‘You already know from past experience I’m a lot
worse.’ They laughed, hugging each other close. Max joined them and Melanie
hugged him too. ‘You’re still my brother, Max. And brother-in-law, once you and
Chelsea make it official.’
Max smiled faintly, subdued by the big reveal but
happy for Melanie all the same. For a very long time she’d carried bitterness
towards Trent for prostituting her to men, struggling to overcome her unhappy
past. Now she was given this unexpected gift of parents and a large family; of
which he was a part of. She may not be his flesh and blood but will always be a
huge part of his life.
‘So that means Shawn D and Nicholas are my brothers,
Chelsea and Ciara my sisters, Brady, my cousin.’
‘That’s right.’
‘And… Carly’s my Mum.’
Melanie’s voice broke, ashamed of the memory of their first encounter.
‘You got to know Carly once you realized you were
wrong about her, Mel.’ Max said quickly. ‘Don’t beat yourself up over what
happened before.’
‘Max is right,’ Bo agreed. ‘That’s all in the past.’
Melanie shook her head in wonder. ‘Lawrence Alamain
tried to kill me and this woman Vivian wanted to let Mum keep believing I was dead.
Why would she do a thing like that?’
‘Because she’s a vicious old bitch.’ Bo said coldly.
‘The same reason she made Carly believe Nick was stillborn and passed him of as
her adopted son; she wanted Carly to suffer. According to her years ago, Carly
broke her precious Larry’s heart when
she left him and finding out I got her pregnant after she decided to go back to
him was a betrayal; a betrayal that deserved to be punished.’
Melanie shuddered, biting her lower lip. ‘Carly’s
everything good and decent. For anyone to deliberately cause her so much pain
like that, that’s just sick and cruel. I’m glad that bastard’s dead, I hope
he’s burning in hell right now for what he did to Mum, to the three of us.’
‘I’m sure he is right now.’ Bo said, Max nodding vigorously.
Max suddenly turned to Bo. ‘Does Carly know?’
‘She doesn’t. I wanted to make absolutely sure and
tell you and Melanie first. Shawn Douglas knows though and probably telling
Chelsea as we speak. Once we tell Carly, we’ll tell the family.’
‘Let’s go tell her now.’ Melanie pleaded, very anxious
to hug Carly.
Bo gently broke the news to Carly and her reaction was
disbelief then shock at the revelation their baby actually survived and who
their daughter was. Melanie ran into her arms and the two women shared a
heartfelt hug, crying.
‘Mum… Mum…’ Melanie kept saying in between sobs. ‘I’m
so sorry for what you went through.’
‘The past’s the past,’ Carly whispered, drinking in
the sight of the child she mourned for years and now held in her arms. ‘And now
I have you right here with me; my daughter… my little girl. Our little girl,
Bo…’ she stretched out her hand to him and Bo went to them, kissing her and
then Melanie before enveloping them both in his arms in silent family communion
for several minutes; more than grateful for the miracle given to them.
The Bradys and the Hortons’ reaction that Melanie was
Bo and Carly’s daughter couldn’t be described. Nathan especially was shocked at
the sudden revelation but more than delighted to have Carly and Bo as his
parents in law. After getting over the shock
his best friend was actually his cousin, Brady joined the others in accepting
her as one of their own. John couldn’t help pointing out the sheer coincidence;
Shawn Douglas and Ciara were both Brady and Horton, Melanie ended up having
their status by being a Brady married
to a Horton. Shawn Douglas, Chelsea and Ciara too were happy to have another
sibling in their midst; willingly adding Nicholas to their circle. Marcus was
overjoyed at the news when Carly called him in New York to tell him.
Hope had no choice but to accept the situation but
Victor found it very hard to; as Melanie almost married Phillip and he had
blamed Carly for Melanie’s defection. Now it turned out to be a blessing in
disguise that they never got married after all but Victor, who was never good
at apologizing; kept his distance. It didn’t bother Melanie one bit; she never
liked Victor. The fact he was her grandfather didn’t mean they had to be close.
On the night of the rehearsal dinner, the family; at
Caroline’s request; had a Thanksgiving Mass in church.
Carly turned to smile at Bo as he joined her on the
roof. ‘Tomorrow’s the big day. You should be in bed.’ he said, covering her
shoulders with a plaid shawl.
‘I couldn’t sleep. I can’t stop thinking over how in a
short time, our happiness got doubled. It still seems like a dream to me, Bo;
our little girl alive and right here with us the whole time. For years I
grieved over our baby, wondering if it was a boy or a girl and what might have
been. And now… this miracle.’
Bo wrapped his arms round Carly from behind. ‘Fate’s
really been kind to us this time.’
‘Before this came up, I worried sometimes Fate might
pull another nasty surprise on us after we’ve been so happy. I know it’s crazy
and wrong to be so negative but you understand, right?’
‘After what you went through? Of course I understand
you being scared.’ Bo pressed his lips against the side of her neck. ‘But I
really feel it’s going to be okay from now on, Carly. I believe it. And you should too.’
He turned round in his arms; the moon light illuminating
her face as she looked up at him. ‘When we first met years ago, I was so
unhappy and lost. I thought love brought so much pain and I was afraid of
loving you. But you kept me from
sliding further into that dark place; just by loving me. When you left, I never
thought I would ever see you again. We shouldn’t question fate anymore,
princess. The fact that fate brought Melanie to Salem and then you back into my
life, during a very difficult time; proves that we’ll never lose each other again.
We’ll never be apart again.’ Bo ran his fingers over her face. ‘Remember the night
we made up after I found out the truth about Lisanne Gardner’s death? And we
drove up that hill? I made you a promise.’
Carly was silent, her mind going back that night. She smiled.
‘You said, “Our love story’s never going to end.”’
‘It’s never
going to end.’ Bo vowed. ‘I love you Carly, we’ll never be apart ever again.’
Carly’s wedding dress was of a 1800s inspired style; short
sleeves and made from lace, embroidered with sliver and floor length, molding
her figure. With it, she wore the three strand pearl necklace and droplet
earrings Alice Horton bequeathed to her. Her curled hair spotted a hand beaded
flower wedding comb and on her wrist, a white gold bracelet.
Belle carefully applied makeup on Carly’s face;
nodding her head in satisfaction when she was done. ‘You’re all set now.’ She said.
Carly looked at her reflection in the mirror, seeing a
glowing, radiant bride looking back at her; more than ready to be joined in
matrimony. ‘Thanks Belle.’ She said.
‘I’ll go see if the limo’s here.’ Belle left the room.
Melanie put her arms round Carly from behind. ‘You
look so beautiful, Mum.’
Carly smiled, patting Melanie’s hand. ‘I’m marrying
the man I’ve loved for so long and my daughter’s here to witness it. What could
be more wonderful? I’m so blessed Mel. I have you; I have your father and the
family… everything I thought I lost when I made such a terrible mistake.’
‘Now, now… none of that talk on your wedding day,’
Melanie said briskly, straightening up. ‘You were a victim, so was Dad. And today’s
the start of your new life, new memories.’
‘You’re right.’
Belle came back into the room, followed by Frankie. ‘The
limo’s downstairs. Let’s get you married.’
Carly got up from the chair and Melanie passed the wedding
bouquet over to her. ‘You look beautiful, sis.’ Frankie said, carefully kissing
her on the cheek so not to ruin her makeup.
‘Thank you.’ Carly touched his face. ‘Thank you so
much for being there for me, you and Nicholas.’
Frankie’s smile was of deep affection. ‘What else
could we do otherwise? You deserve all the happiness in the world and I’m glad I
was able to do what I could. Come on now, Bo’s waiting for you.’
‘Yes, let’s go.’ Carly enthused, filled with joyful
anticipation as the four of them left the loft.
The ceremony was to be held on the upper deck of The
Blue Pearl. Chairs were arranged on either side of the carpeted aisle; and at
the end, a flower bedecked arch. As soon as Carly arrived, the boat was to
immediately put out to sea and the ceremony will begin.
Sami’s younger son, Johnny was the ring bearer and
Ciara and Claire flower girls, the two looking lovely in their pink chiffon dresses,
holding their baskets as they waited with Caroline and the others on the lower
deck.
‘Do I look okay?’ Bo asked anxiously, adjusting his silver
grey tie for the umpteenth time. Roman sighed in exasperation and straightened
it yet again.
‘If I’ve told you once, I’ve told you a million times,
you look great. By the way, touch that
damned tie one more time; I'll toss you into the ocean.’
Shawn Douglas and Nicholas, the groomsmen; laughed. ‘Chill
out Papa, you’re going to be a nervous wreck before the ceremony starts.’
Bo paced, devastatingly handsome in his dark suit; a small white gardenia boutonniere in his lapel. ‘I can’t help
it, Shawn D; I’m so anxious to marry Carly.’
‘Yeah, we know.’ Roman rolled his eyes. ‘And in a few
minutes, you’re going to so stop with the pacing and try and calm down.’
With effort, Bo did what he told. From the moment he realized
he’d fallen in love with Carly again, he dreamt of this moment; when they’ll
finally belong together and call her his wife. The few minutes Roman described
felt like hours… where is she?
‘I understand how you feel though,’ Nicholas said as
they stood waiting together, Shawn Douglas chatting with his uncle. ‘If it wasn’t for
Vivian and Lawrence, you would’ve been married years ago. I’m really happy you and
my mother have this day.’
Bo nodded, patting Nicholas on the shoulder. ‘Thanks, Nick.
I really appreciate it.’
‘I also want to apologize again, for the way I behaved
years ago… driving a wedge between you and Mum,’ Nicholas went on, ashamed. ‘Looking
back, I despise myself for it; causing trouble between you and Mum like that. She
so wanted to make up for the lost years and I took advantage of it. I was no
better than my father.’
‘You’re nothing
like your father.’ Bo corrected him. ‘You love your mother, you went out of
your way to make things right and thanks to you and Frankie, we found out who
our daughter is. Lawrence would only do a thing like that if he wanted
something else in return. You turned out great and I thank you for what you did
for us. You’re Carly’s son and from on, I regard you mine.’
Moved, Nicholas exchanged a hug with his soon to be stepfather;
feeling the guilt of his past behavior fading away.
The boat suddenly began to move and people started
climbing up the stairs to the upper deck to take their seats. Carly has
arrived.
Flustered but eager, Bo took his place at the arch;
waiting; Roman, Shawn Douglas and Nicholas with him.
After an agonizing five minutes, Ciara and Claire appeared, walking down the
aisle scattering petals from their baskets. Johnny came next, holding the large
satin pillow bearing the white gold rings. Then came Melanie, closely followed by
Belle; the two young women in matching cream dresses. And finally the bride and
everyone rose to their feet.
The live orchestra, instead of the traditional wedding
march; played (at Bo’s request) an instrumental version of a song they danced
to on their date; “I’ll Be” by Ed Mcbain. The tune was soulful and beautiful
and Bo felt the lyrics summed up what he felt about Carly.
The
strands in your eyes that color them wonderful
Stop me
and steal my breath.
And
emeralds from mountains thrust towards the sky
Never
revealing their depth.
Tell me
that we belong together,
Dress it up
with the trappings of love.
I'll be
captivated,
I'll hang
from your lips,
Instead
of the gallows of heartache that hang from above.
And I'll
be your crying shoulder,
I'll be
love's suicide
I'll be
better when I'm older,
I'll be
the greatest fan of your life.
Carly looked like she’d stepped from the cover of a
historical novel; she looked beautiful and angelic, her radiant eyes fixed only
on him as she walked down the aisle on her brother’s arm. Bo smiled at her,
loving her so much and grateful this day had finally arrived. Carly stared up
at him, love and joy all over her face. Frankie handed her over to Bo; who
immediately took her hand, squeezing it. Everyone sat down.
The minister began, ‘Dearly beloved, we’re gathered
here on this joyous occasion to witness these two people joined in holy
matrimony. As we all know, marriage is a sacred institution that must not be
taken lightly. Do you both have your vows?’
‘Yes, we do.’ Bo turned to face Carly. ‘Carly, there
are many words I can describe how much I
love you and they still won’t be enough. Because my love for you can’t be
expressed by just words. You are my everything and you complete me. I promise
to always love, honor and protect you. I promise to be faithful, patient and understanding.
Above all, I’ll always be by your side, through thick and thin. I love you,
princess.’
The women wiped their eyes discreetly. The minister
turned to Carly. ‘Carly.’
Carly hoped she would get through her vows without
crying, deeply touched by Bo’s heartfelt words. ‘Like you, I don’t have enough
words to express how much I love you and what you mean to me. You’re the love
of my life, my protector and my best friend; oh… and you complete me too.’ Her
voice shook. ‘When two people are in love like we are, they aren’t separate individuals;
they are one person. I promise, above all else, to live in truth with you. I
promise that I will always walk with you… hand in hand, through thick and thin.’
She sniffled, forcing the tears back. ‘I love you, sailor. So much.’
‘Now, Bo Aurelius Brady; do you take this woman to be
your lawfully wedded wife?’
‘I do.’ Bo said, his eyes on Carly’s face.
‘And do you, Carly Manning; take this man to be your
lawfully wedded husband?’
‘I do.’
‘May we have the rings please?’
Johnny moved closer to the couple, holding the cushion
up. Bo took the smaller of the rings. ‘Carly, with this ring; I take you as my
wife.’ He said softly; feeling the proudest of men as he slid the ring onto her
finger.
Carly took the other ring, aware her hand was
trembling. ‘Bo, with this ring, I take you as my… my husband.’ Managing to hold
her hand steady, she slid the ring onto his finger.
‘You both have made your declarations before God and
by the powers vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now
kiss the bride.’
Everyone rose to a round of thunderous applause as Bo
and Carly exchanged their first kiss as Mr. and Mrs. Brady.
