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Back First Comes Love Save as PDF
Chapters (92)
  1. First
  2. Love Connection
  3. Zero
  4. One
  5. Two
  6. Three
  7. Four
  8. Five
  9. Six
  10. Seven
  11. Eight
  12. Nine
  13. Ten
  14. Eleven
  15. One Month Later
  16. Twelve
  17. Thirteen
  18. Fourteen
  19. Fifteen
  20. Six Months Later
  21. Sixteen
  22. Seventeen
  23. Eighteen
  24. Nineteen
  25. Twenty
  26. Twenty-one
  27. Twenty-two
  28. Twenty-three
  29. Twenty-four
  30. Six Months Later
  31. Twenty-five
  32. Twenty-six
  33. Twenty-seven
  34. Twenty-eight
  35. Twenty-nine
  36. Thirty
  37. Thirty-one
  38. Thirty-two
  39. Thirty-three
  40. I Have Never
  41. One
  42. Two
  43. Three
  44. Four
  45. Five
  46. Six
  47. Seven
  48. Eight
  49. Nine
  50. Ten
  51. Eleven
  52. Twelve
  53. Thirteen
  54. Fourteen
  55. Fifteen
  56. Sixteen
  57. Seventeen
  58. Eighteen
  59. Nineteen
  60. Twenty
  61. Twenty-one
  62. Twenty-two
  63. A Christmas Date
  64. One
  65. Two
  66. Three
  67. Four
  68. Five
  69. Six
  70. Seven
  71. Eight
  72. Nine
  73. Ten
  74. Eleven
  75. Twelve
  76. Thirteen
  77. Fourteen
  78. Fifteen
  79. Sixteen
  80. Seventeen
  81. Eighteen
  82. Nineteen
  83. Twenty
  84. Twenty-one
  85. Twenty-two
  86. Note from the Author
  87. Sneak Peek – To the Stars and Back
  88. Two
  89. Three
  90. Four
  91. Also by Camilla Isley
  92. About the Author

A thirty-hour flight, a visit to the Honolulu Marriage License Office, and a $95 Beach Wedding booking later, Jake and I are standing on a beautiful beach in Maui at sundown, holding hands before a minister. Jake proposed to me in the middle of Heathrow Airport, and on the journey to Hawaii, we talked and talked and talked about everything that has happened to us over the years. We had so many things to say, but it still felt as if we’d only said bye to each other the day before.

“Gemma and Jake,” the minister says, bringing me back to present.

I stare into Jake’s eyes.

“Congratulations to both of you today,” the minister continues. “You should enjoy this special moment in your lives. Today’s an exceptional day. Today your memories and hopes merge together. Today they become one. Today the word marriage has a special meaning. It means the end of the search for that special love. Today it brings fulfillment, it brings completion to your lives… Now to the proceedings. Jake, do you today, sir, take Gemma to become your lawfully wedded wife?”

Jake squeezes my hands. “I do.”

“And do you today, Gemma, take Jake to become your lawfully wedded husband?”

I squeeze back. “I do.”

“Would you please repeat these words after me: to love and to cherish…”

“To love and to cherish…” we echo.

“To have and to hold…”

“To have and to hold…”

“To honor and respect…”

“To honor and respect…”

“From this day forward.”

“From this day forward.”

“Now the rings exchange.”

Jake takes out of his jacket pocket two wedding bands we bought at a cheap jewelry shop at the airport.

“You are about to present rings to one another,” the minister goes on. “As you can see, rings are round. This circle will remind you that your love shall always be with no end. As you walk together through life, protect your love, always speak from your heart, and listen closely to one another. Cherish every moment you’re given together. And you’ll strive together with your love for each other. Now, on to the final words. Please repeat after me: with this ring, I marry you…”

“With this ring, I marry you…”

We both put a band on the other’s finger.

“I join my life to yours…”

“I join my life to yours…”

“All that I am, all that I have…”

“All that I am, all that I have…”

“All of my love, I gift to you.”

“All of my love, I gift to you.”

“And now, for the power invested in me by the state of Hawaii, it’s my privilege to pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”

***