Chapter 39
All the years of hurt and disappointment fell away and she stepped into his arms. A long tender hug went on for a while until he stepped back and said, "Your mother would be so proud of you Samantha…and so am I. Now let's go out there and get you married."
Nodding as she tried to blink back tears, she took his arm and they headed to the backyard.
In the yard all the guests were in the rented white chairs with an aisle down the middle. But Sam saw none of that, she only had eyes for AJ standing in front of his row of rose bushes.
Francesca started up the aisle and her father asked her, "Does your Admiral know how lucky he is?"
"I'm the lucky one, father," she told him as they started down the aisle. "He's a wonderful man."
"He has to be or you never would have chosen him."
The ceremony was very traditional. The kiss at the end was all that Sam had dreamed of in her secret little girl fantasies.
The guests applauded and there was even a cheer or two. People gathered around them offering good wishes and hugs as well. AJ had the caterers set up on the paitio and everyone was invited to help themselves.
When people began moving towards the food tables Sam took AJ over to where her father stood talking to Leroy Jethero Gibbs. As they approached the two men, Gibbs said he was going to get something to eat. "AJ, I want you to meet my father, General Samuel Blaze. Father this is your new son-in-law Admiral AJ Chegwidden."
"It's a pleasure to meet you Sir," AJ said as the two men shook hands.
"My daughter and Gibbs both tell me you are a good man. All I want is for you to be good to her."
AJ was tempted for just an instant to say, 'Unlike you have all these years?' However, he didn't do that, instead he promised, "I can assure you that is my plan. She is very precious to me."
The newlyweds couple found themselves along for a moment and AJ turned to his new wife to tell her, "You look like a princess in that dress. So beautiful."
"It wasn't what I wanted at all. I was looking for something sleek and graceful but even after trying on several just like that nothing seemed right. Then the girl that was helping me suggested this one and I fell in love with it. I'm so glad you like it."
"I do and one day you could pass it down to our daughter."
Sam smiled and put her hand on her necklace, "My father gave me these pearls, they were my mother's. We could pass them down to our daughter too. Or if we have a son he could give them to his bride."
"Let's get something to eat so we can cut that great cake you ordered," he suggested.
"Remembering your promise no cake face smashing!"
"Did I promise that?" he teased.
"Yes you did!" Sam insisted.
"Okay no cake smashing," AJ agreed with a grin.
Later as the guests were leaving Gibbs found a moment alone with Sam, "Are you glad that you called your dad?"
"Yes Gibbs. The change in him was night and day. I don't know what you said to him but it was actually like he was a different person. Thank you."
"I simply told him that this was probably his last chance with you and if he didn't change his attitude he could lose you forever since you were starting a family of your own now."
Hugging him she emotionally thanked him again before AJ came up to her and said they needed to head to the airport. For the last two weeks Sam had been asking him where they were going on their honeymoon, but all he would tell her was that they were going somewhere warm.
Sam was a bit surprised when they landed in California that night. AJ had kept telling her that they were going somewhere spectacular. Sam was trying hard not to be disappointed, but California really didn't seem spectacular to her. What she didn't know was that AJ had planned this night for them to relax before the next day.
To be continued…