....................I woke up to the sound of the crashing waves and the gulls on the beach I looked at the clock next to the bed 6.32am I got up and walked into the bathroom and splashed water on my face to help to wake me up before going back into the room I picked up my bag of things and grabbed a pair of shorts and a tank from the bottom of the bag I slipped on my sneakers and crept out of the room not to wake any one I got in the elevator and went down into the Lobby as Russell walked in talking on his cell in one hand with coffee in the other.
“I’ll call you back” he said spotting me and hanging up “Well the bride’s up early”.
“It seemed like a perfect time to go for a run” I smiled looking out of the back of the hotel as the sun was coming up “If My Mom or anyone asks for me let them know where I am”.
“I can do that honey” he grinned. I walked out of the hotel and headed for the beach and started to run I’d gotten about 2 miles down the beach as my phone started to ring I stopped and answered it.
Me * hello.
Ben * running on the day we get married.
Me * it helps calm the nerves.
Ben * I was sneaking in a call before the others wake up to tellyou I love you and our bed felt empty last night even with Justin and Gabe sharing it with me.
Me * does that mean you’re trying to tell me something.
Ben * yeah your Grandpa’s are trouble they got these too wasted.
Me * oh well other than that was last night okay.
Ben * yeah we had fun, how was yours.
Me * good I missed waking up with you.
Ben * from tomorrow you’ll wake up with me everyday I’m around.
Me * I know, it’s only 8 hours till I get to see you.
Ben * 7 hours 47 minutes actually.
Me * okay smarty I’m on the beach with only my phone so 8 hours was a guess.
Ben * I’m being shouted baby I need to go but I’ll see you in a while.
Me * I’ll be the one in the big dress.
Ben * I think I’ll find you.
Me * Love you.
Ben * love you too.
I hung up the phone and pushed it back into my pocket I turned to look out over the ocean at the sail boat in the distance I headed back to the hotel walking up the steps that I’d be walking down in a few hours people were already setting out chairs and decorating with flowers.
“Good morning” Dannie called form where all the girls were having breakfast on the patio. “We might have guessed where’d you be”.
“Calms the nerves” I smiled sitting down Mom handed me a coffee.
“We’ve just been discussing the something old something new stuff” Mom said sitting back down. “And we know you got some things at the bridal shower but we have some other options for you” she handed me a box. “This can be your something old” I opened the box and saw Mom look at grandma in side was the choker that I’d seen in mom’s wedding pictures.
“Your Grandpa gave that to me on our wedding Day” Grandma smiled and “I gave it to your Mom on hers its only right she passes it to you”.
“Wow I love it” I nodded running my fingers over the pale blue teardrop stone. “Thank you” I got up and kissed Mom and Grandma.
“I can’t wait to see Jacks face when he sees you wearing it” Dawn grinned.
“Okay if we weren’t already on the verge of tears” Skye said choking up “I can give you these for something borrowed” she took my hand and pulled something from her pocket letting a chain drop into my open palm followed by dog tags. “They were Troy’s and I know you’d have loved him and he would have loved you and Ben” .
“You sure” I asked feeling the cold metal in my hand she nodded
“For all the Marines with us and not” a single tear rolled down her cheek I hugged her. “Love you Tess”.
“I’ll carry them with my flowers” I said wiping my eyes “Love you too”. I sniffed. I looked round the table everyone was sitting quietly a few tears were being wiped away.
“Okay” Dannie said taking a deep breath “After that you’re soon to be husband wanted me to give you these” she handed me a box and an envelope I opened the envelope and opened the note
Baby
Something new for you because you have my heart unconditionally and forever, no matter how far away I am you need to know I love you and you are the first thing I think of when I wake up and the last thing I think of when I close my eyes to go to sleep.
Can’t wait to see you on the arm of your Dad before you become my wife
Forever Your Marine
xxxxxxxxxxxxx.
I felt my bottom lip tremble as I handed Skye the note so I could open the box Mom sat on the arm of the chair I was sitting in and put her arm round my shoulder as I lifted the lid it show a bracelet with a heart attached with the letter B engraved on it. I smiled as I fetched it from the box and Mom put it on my wrist.
“Well I think we have the old, Borrowed and new covered” Grandma smiled “What about the blue”.
“I have that covered” I nodded knowing that only Mom, Skye, Dannie, Sami and Katie had seen my dress.
“Ladies you all need to start to get your hair and makeup done” Russell said clapping his hands as he walked over “Tess really the bride should not be sweaty and running shorts on the morning of her wedding” he said throwing up his hands dramatically.
“Okay I’m goingto shower” I laughed getting up and heading for the bridal suite………………………………………
……………………. Ben was sitting on the front step playing with Marine.
‘Not thinking of doing a runner are you” Toby asked handing him a coffee.
“No today I’m marrying my dream girl” he sighed moving so Toby could sit down.
“I’m glad Tess found a guy like you” Toby smiled “ And I’m so glad I didn’t have to kick your ass harder when you and her had problems” Ben stared to laugh.
“Yeah I was thinking about that the other day you were the one that seemed to help clean up the crap” Ben smiled .
“No Tess always knows she has got people she can turn to, we don’t need to tell you what she means to us” Adam said leaning on his arms “And the same goes for you we’ll all be there if you need us for anything”.
“Thanks that means a lot, you don’t know how intimidating you guys can be” Adam started to laugh. “I’m serious The Day I walked up to the bleachers when Tess was playing soccer after we’d kissed and Logan gave me the talk he doesn’t know this but I was terrified”.
“I know it now” Dad said coming out of the front door Ben groaned.
“Hell it’s not just you, facing him on the Island after Tess had had a shit fit at me over Lilly was as bad” he said shaking his head and pointing to AdamDad high fived Adam “I’m glad you were all so easily brought off with Whiskey”
“Yeah we are pretty easy aren’t we” Adam smirked “Tess asked me to give you this” he handed Ben the note and the box before getting up.
“Hey Marine you have 5 minutes” Toby said from the living room window “To get in the shower”.
“What are you the water police” Adam called back.
“No I just got a call from my sister telling me to make sure we were on time” Toby laughed, Dad and Adam both walked inside to start to get ready leaving Ben on the step Ben opened the note.
I was so stumped on what to get you as a wedding gift the things I’d have liked to have got would be great here but they would be things you couldn’t take on deployment with you till I saw this You can keep it withyou where ever you are.
I want to say Thank you for kissing me on the beach, Thank you for gagging me and making me listen to Nickelback, Thank you for putting up with the crap I’ve said, Thank you for being My Ben, My best friend, My Marine.
I love you with every inch of my body (get your mind out of the bedroom I know you to well even as I wrote that).
always in my life my dreams and my thoughts
the soon to be Mrs. Anderson
xxxxxx.
he carefully folded the note and picked up the gift box and opened it to find a silver coin. He smiled as he read what it said as Ollie poked his head round the door.
“Ben Uncle T said you need to get your ass in the shower and get your Blues on”
“Okay I’m coming” Ben smiled getting to his feet and walking inside the house…………………………….
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