CHAPTER 16
Jack and Elizabeth… I commend you to the families and friends in attendance, for the way you gave your lives to serve the community, for the times you practiced forgiveness with one another in our presence. For the way you cared for, protected and loved the children of our community as if they were your own... It is with great joy and a privilege for all of us to observe and participate in this beginning of life together as a family. Frank said.
The couple looked deeply at each other again, and with their hands they communicated in silence, in a world of their own.
Frank interrupted saying:
"I think you have a few words you'd like to share...
— My Elizabeth; Lovely! You made me a much better man, you taught me what it was to love. It has brought me so much joy that I am about to die. You showed me that when a person loves, he shares, he divides, and he fights together. At no point did you try to make me give up on my dream of being a police officer, even knowing the risk of my profession, but you dominated your fear and made me fight to be the best police officer that existed in me. With your eyes you gave me the peace I always need. And with his smile he always calmed my heart and made it throb almost out of my chest. You are my world, my life. I love you.
Jack kissed her hands, never taking his eyes off her, the air seemed to be lacking for everyone in that church.
— Jack, my love... I'm speechless to thank you for everything you've said to me... Today I want to thank you for your friendship, your love, your faithfulness and patience. I know my stubbornness has gotten you into big trouble... She chuckled softly...but it's my nature and I can't change that and because you accept me the way I am, without trying to mold me into other patterns, I just I can say thank you. Thank you for existing. Jack, you are the best gift God could have sent me in this life. Today I offer you my heart. You have become the joy of all my mornings and my prayers of thanks at night. It came very slowly into my heart, it was slow and gentle, a sweet promise of love and hope. I'm yours, Jack, body, soul and heart. I will love you from chalk dust to eternity.
Everyone laughed when she said that..., but everyone had no more tears, Hope Valle never saw a love like that;
Frank, choked with so much emotion, said:
— Do you want us to finish crying so much until we dehydrated?
And everybody laughed in that church... Take your vows.
"I, Jack Thorton, take you Elizabeth Thatcher, as my wife, to honor and love, through thicker and poorer, in sickness and in health, to cherish, love and cherish until death do us part.
"I, Elizabeth Thatcher, take you Jack Thorton as my husband, to honor and love, through thicker and poorer, in sickness and in health, to care for and love and cherish until death do us part.
Opall, went to the altar, after Abigail, indicated and carried in her hands a pillow in the shape of a heart with two rings on it. The girl received a hug from Jack and Elizabeth. The couple noticed the emotion the child was feeling at that moment.
And so the couple exchanged rings. But they were so lost in each other that they only realized when they heard Frank saying:
"From today on, this woman will be known as Elizabeth Thatcher Thorton.
"I now pronounce you husband and wife." Jack can kiss his wife...
But for the general joy and laughter and applause that appeared in the church, because Jack didn't even wait for him to say kiss and had already pulled his wife into his arms and kissed her passionately. They walked away smiling...
"Ladies and gentlemen, may I present Mr and Mrs Thorton.
There was a lot of applause, after they left the church, they received a lot of hugs and went to the cafe, where Abigail, Rose and other women had prepared a feast.