Stepmother shares heartfelt wedding vows with her four-year-old stepson, and his response is truly touching

There’s something uniquely moving about weddings that often brings tears of joy to everyone involved. Four-year-old Gage learned this lesson in a profound way during his father, US Marine Corps Sergeant Joshua Newville’s wedding to Senior Airman Emily Leehan in Ripley, New York, a few years back.

Little Gage was doing a great job of holding it together until the moment his father’s bride began reciting vows she had personally written for him. That’s when the emotions hit him hard.

As Gage stood proudly by his father’s side during the ceremony, he had no idea that Leehan had prepared a special set of vows just for him. When she began to share them in front of a teary-eyed audience, it quickly became overwhelming for the little boy.

As Leehan started: “I want you to be safe, and to try your hardest and to be a good person”, Gage could no longer contain himself and burst into tears, throwing his arms around her.

The audience collectively gasped, responding with a heartfelt “awww” as Leehan tried to comfort him, saying: “Don’t cry, baby”. At that moment, it was clear that Gage’s emotional outpouring was entirely understandable.

Leehan continued: “The last thing I hope you learn is that you are a special boy. You are so extremely smart, handsome, and kind to others. You have helped shape me into the woman that I am today, and while I may not have given you the gift of life, life certainly gave me the gift of you”.

It wasn’t just Gage who was overcome; both Leehan and Newville shed tears as they continued with their vows. Gage certainly captured the spotlight, not just with his adorable suit and innocent gaze, but also with a reaction that is sure to resonate with viewers everywhere.

According to ABC7, the newlyweds, Leehan and Newville, returned to active duty immediately after their wedding and couldn’t head off for a honeymoon right away. Instead, they went back to Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst to begin their married life.

Despite the busy schedule, their ceremony was unforgettable. You can watch the heartwarming video of Gage’s reaction to Leehan’s vows below, be sure to have some tissues handy! It was a truly beautiful ceremony and a poignant reminder of love’s incredible power. We wish Joshua and Emily all the best in their journey together.

My Daughter’s Twin? I Confronted My Husband About a Possible Affair—What I Discovered Will Shock You

When a new family moved in next door, I couldn’t help but notice how much their daughter looked like mine. It made me suspicious. Could my husband be having an affair? I needed to ask him, but the truth I discovered was much worse than I expected.

Emma and Lily, my daughter, were playing together in our backyard. They were twirling around like two bright sunflowers trying to catch the sunlight. Their laughter should have made me happy, but instead, it made me feel uneasy.

I squinted, trying to find any difference between my daughter and the new neighbor’s girl. But it felt like I was looking at two identical pictures. They had the same golden curls shining in the sunlight, the same button noses, and the same playful sparkle in their eyes.

The only clear way I could tell Emma apart from Lily was that Emma was about an inch taller than her new friend.

“Heather?” Jack’s voice broke through my thoughts. “Are you okay? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

I forced a smile and looked back at my husband. “Just thinking.”

I didn’t mention how I was worried that our perfect little world might be on shaky ground.

Jack looked confused for a moment, but then Emma came running over and grabbed his hand.

“Come push Lily and me on the swing, Dad!” she shouted.

“Uh… sure, sweetie.” His smile didn’t seem genuine as he let Emma lead him to the swing, where Lily was already waiting.

Source: Midjourney

“Can I go first, pleeease?” Lily asked.

“Okay, but then it’s Emma’s turn,” Jack replied.

As he helped Lily onto the swing, I couldn’t shake the feeling that they looked so comfortable together, like a father and daughter. That thought twisted my stomach with worry.

Later that night, after I tucked Emma in, I found myself looking through old photo albums. I flipped through pages of Emma’s baby pictures, hoping to find some feature that clearly showed she looked like Jack.

“What are you doing?” Jack’s voice startled me.

Source: Midjourney

He stood in the doorway, looking confused.

I quickly shut the album. “Nothing. Just… reminiscing.”

“Reminiscing…” he repeated, frowning a little as he looked over my shoulder at the photo album in my lap.

I could see the questions in his eyes, but he didn’t ask any. Just like I didn’t bring up the growing distance between us or why he always changed the subject when I mentioned our new neighbors.

Days turned into weeks, and my suspicions grew like weeds in a neglected garden. Every shared laugh between Jack and Lily, and every nervous glance when I mentioned the neighbors only fed the growing doubt in my mind.

One sleepless night, I couldn’t hold it in any longer. I turned to Jack in bed.

“Is Lily your daughter?” I asked suddenly.

The words hung in the air like smoke, heavy and suffocating. Jack’s body went stiff.

Source: Midjourney

“What?” He turned slowly, his face full of shock. “Heather, what are you talking about? Where is this coming from?”

“Don’t play dumb, Jack. The girls look exactly alike. And you’ve been acting strange ever since Lily and her family moved in.” My voice trembled. “Just tell me the truth. Did you have an affair?”

Jack sat up, running a hand through his hair. “This is crazy. Of course, I didn’t have an affair! I promised you before God. How can you think I would break that?”

“Then why won’t you talk about them? Why do you shut down every time I mention Lily?”

He hung his head, and his silence spoke louder than words. I could almost hear him thinking, deciding what to say or not say.

“I can’t… I can’t talk about this right now,” he finally said, swinging his legs off the bed.

“Jack, don’t you dare walk away from me!”

But he was already out the door, leaving me alone with my thoughts and fears.

Source: Midjourney

The next morning, I woke up to an empty bed and a note on the nightstand. “Gone to work early. We’ll talk tonight.”

Classic Jack, always avoiding confrontation.

I spent the day in a haze, trying to act normal while my mind raced with worry. By afternoon, I couldn’t take it anymore. I needed answers, and I knew just where to find them.

“Emma, sweetie,” I called out. “Why don’t you go play with Lily for a bit?”

Emma eagerly ran out the door, and I waited an hour before I followed, my heart pounding in my chest. I knocked on the neighbor’s door, forcing my best “neighborhood mom” smile onto my face.

Lily’s father answered, his friendly grin faltering slightly when he saw me. “Hey, it’s Heather, right? It’s so good to finally meet you! Please, come in. I’m Ryan. Emma’s out back with Lily if you’re looking for her.”

“I am… could you call her, please?” I replied, trying to keep my voice steady.

As soon as Ryan turned his back to call the girls, I started searching through his living room.

Source: Midjourney

There were many framed photos of Ryan and Lily with people who mostly shared Ryan’s dark hair and olive skin tones. I guessed they were his family. But why were there no photos of Lily’s mom?

Then it hit me—why had I never seen Lily’s mom?

I peeked down the hallway. That’s when a large photo of a blonde woman hanging on the wall upstairs caught my eye. Without thinking, I hurried up the stairs.

“What are you doing?” Ryan’s voice came from behind me, startling me.

Source: Midjourney

I turned and saw Ryan frowning at me. A million excuses rushed through my mind, but none came out. I had to know the truth.

“Is that Lily’s mom? Where is she?” I asked, pointing at the photo.

Ryan flinched. “Yeah… that’s Mary. She’s no longer with us.”

“Because of Jack?” I hurried down the stairs. “They had an affair, didn’t they? And that’s why Lily and Emma look so much alike, isn’t it?”

We talked for hours, and Jack finally shared years of family secrets and shame. With each revelation, I felt the space between us getting smaller.

As the sun began to set, I heard Emma and Lily’s laughter coming through the open window. Jack and I moved to the window to watch them, two golden heads bobbing in the fading light like sunflowers.

I leaned against him, feeling the steady beat of his heart. The girls still looked like two copies of the same photograph, but now I understood the deeper truth behind their resemblance.

The girls’ similar looks weren’t a sign of betrayal but a sign of healing: a second chance for a broken family.

Emma and Lily’s laughter echoed in the backyard again as they twirled around, and it felt like a promise of new beginnings. This time, the sound didn’t chill me; it warmed my heart.

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