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With a satisfied little yawn, Abby snuggled against her husband and
rested her head on his chest. With one arm hugged around her, Jake gently rocked
the swing back and forth. He wasn't ready for the day to end, and was going to fight
for every last second that he could. When Abby didn't say anything for the space
of several minutes, he checked to see if she was still awake.
"What a lovely day," Abby sighed dreamily, as a cool breeze gently fanned
her cheek. It was June, and even though the sun wouldn't set for another few hours,
Abby could feel evening approaching. She shut her eyes and relaxed in Jake's arms.
"Abby?" he whispered. "Could I tell you something before you go to
sleep?"
"I'm not sleeping," she mumbled groggily.
"I mean it, Abby," he squeezed her shoulder. "It's important."
"Okay, I'm really and truly awake," she softly laughed, forcing her blue
eyes wide open. "It's all your fault, Jake. You fed me, and now you're rocking
me to sleep." When the swing came to a stop, Abby realized that Jake wanted
her attention. "What is it?" she wondered, sitting up and looking at him,
inquisitively.
"Before the sun goes down on our first anniversary," said Jake, "I
wanted you to know how deeply grateful I am to you, for being my friend."
"You don't have to thank me!" laughed Abby. But her mirth was quickly cut
short when she saw tears welling in Jake's eyes. He grasped her hand and pressed
her fingers to his lips.
"Your friendship has meant so much to me, that I don't think you even realize
what you've done," he whispered.
"You don't have to say anything," she tenderly assured him. "I understand."
"Do you, Abby?" Jake clutched her hand tightly, and searched the two deep
pools looking back at him. "This life is so different from what I've known in
the past," he breathed, "I can't even begin to compare it to what you've
given me. I wouldn't know where to start."
"It's all right," Abby consoled him, gently brushing away a tear that rolled
down his cheek, "I know you love me, Jake. You don't have to find any words
for me to know what's in your heart."
Drawing her to him, Jake kissed her, until she thought the very ground beneath their
feet would surely fall away and they would find themselves airborne like the kite
he had bought her. The young man gulped in a deep breath and gazed lovingly at his
wife.
"Thank you for being my friend, Abby," he quietly whispered.
Unable to speak, Abby tenderly caressed his face and kissed his lips. Wanting more
privacy than the front porch afforded, Jake carried his wife into the little yellow
house and firmly shut the door.
"[Jake's] mouth is most sweet: yea, he is altogether lovely. This is [Abby's]
beloved, and this is [her] friend."
~ Song of Solomon 5:16 ~
"As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons.
I sat down under his shadow [canopy] with great delight, and his fruit was sweet
to my taste. He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner [kite] over me
was love. His left hand is under my head, and his right hand doth embrace me... stir
not up, nor awake my love, till he please."
~ Song of Solomon 2:3, 4, 6, 7 ~
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