The stars, they lit up the sky like the night we were married. We traced the constellations with our fingertips and made wishes that had long since come true.
“What are you thinking?” Nick asked.
“That my greatest gift, my most precious miracle in this wonderful life I’ve led has been you. I love you, Nick. They are tiny words and they are abused all too often in society, but they come from my heart and soul. I love you.”
“I love you too, Riley, and those words come from my heart and soul. You have been every moment of magic in my life and every moment I’m alive has a whole new meaning to it since you’ve come into my life.”
“I want you to do some things for me when the baby grows up. If by some miracle Polly gives you the girl you want,” I began, smiling at him. “I want you to give her the necklace A.J. gave me. And if the baby is a boy I want you to give him my wedding band to wear on a necklace when he gets older.”
“Riley, I can’t take that band off your hand,” Nick said, shaking his head.
“Nick, I don’t need the band when I’m gone. I had the promise that was made with it. The promise is all that matters to me. Just give Gabriel the ring or Star the necklace. Please.”
“All right,” he agreed, quietly.
“And watch out for A.J. for me. I love him very much, Nick. He’s been my best friend and I don’t think he’s going to take this very well. He’s going to need you just as much as you’re going to need him.”
“I promise.”
“One more thing.”
“Yes, goldie locks?”
“Don’t mourn me. No sorrow, no tears, no regrets. Just celebrate my life, show our baby how happy I was, how happy we were, and never forget that every moment you have is the most precious gift you could ever imagine. Promise me you won’t mourn me, Nick.”
“I promise, Riley. I promise.”
“Hey, sunshine?”
“Yeah, baby?”
“You’re my hero,” I whispered and then slowly I closed my eyes for the last time.
“And you’re mine,” he answered, smiling as he held me in his arms.
~~~~~~******~~~~~~
Seven years later
Nick jogged down the stairs and walked through the house. He smiled as he walked past the picture of himself and his wife taken the day they were married. He kissed his fingertips and pressed them to the glass before walking outside.
He spotted the beautiful little girl almost instantly where she sat up in her mother’s tree. Walking towards Riley’s Tree he looked up and smiled at the pretty blonde with the violet colored eyes
“Star Riley Carter, what are you doing up there?” Nick called up to his six-year-old daughter.
“Hey, Daddy. I’m looking at forever,” she answered, smiling down at him. She was her mother’s daughter both in looks and spirit.
“Have you seen your brother?”
“He’s on the beach like always.”
“Well come down while I go get him. I’ve got a surprise for you,” he said, walking towards the beach.
“Gabriel, come up here,” Nick called to Star’s twin brother and his son.
“Coming,” Gabriel answered, grabbing the shoes he had kicked off and running towards his father. He was his father’s son, his own hair like spun sunshine and his eyes like his father’s deep blue.
“What’s up?” Star asked, dropping to the ground beside them.
“I’ve got a surprise for you two,” Nick said, walking them to the car.
“What is it, Dad?” Gabriel asked.
“You’ll see,” he answered as he loaded the two in the car. A few minutes later he pulled up outside of one of Orlando’s most elite hotels.
“What are we doing here?” Star asked.
“See that fountain over there,” Nick said, pointing across the parking lot to the large fountain that centered the courtyard.
“That thing is huge,” Gabriel observed.
“That’s where I met your mother. I swept her right off her feet and fell in love with her the moment I saw her,” Nick explained.
“Did she fall in love with you at first sight too?” Star asked her father.
“Yeah, goldie locks. Your mom and I were meant to be. That’s where I asked her to marry me too.”
“That is so cool,” Gabriel added.
“Let’s go play in it,” Nick said, breaking into a run as he raced his children.
They jumped in splashing and laughing as they played. Nick watched his two children playing and he could swear he could hear Riley’s laughter mixed with theirs. He smiled and splashed them.
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