That afternoon came
upon everyone very quickly, but things managed to get done.
The front yard at
Plumfield had been prepared for the wedding that was to be held there in an
hour. Chairs were set up, leaving an
aisle down the middle. A large table
was set up on the far side of the yard, waiting to be filled with delicious
food and drinks for the celebration after the wedding.
There were beautiful
flowers and decorations up all over the yard.
The sun was shining
and the birds were singing. Yes, it was
a beautiful day for a wedding…or two.
* * * * * * * * * * *
* * * * * * * * * *
Five minutes before
the wedding was to begin, the guests had been seated and everyone in the
wedding party had taken their place.
Reverend Daniels had taken his place up in front of the guests with Nick
and William, dressed in their freshly pressed suits, beside him.
Franz, William’s best
man, and Dan, Nick’s best man, were standing on the other side of the nervous
grooms.
From behind the
grooms, you could the beautiful, flowing strains of an old antique violin being
played.
The reverend looked
over at the owner of the violin and nodded.
A hush came over the small crowd as Nat began playing an old, familiar classical
piece of music.
Still in their seats,
family and friends turned to watch the bridesmaids descend down the aisle. First walked Michaela, followed by Jo’s sisters,
Meg and Amy. All dressed in gorgeous
blue bridesmaids dresses.
As the bridesmaids
found their places, Demi and Daisy, Meg’s twins, came walking down the
aisle. Demi was carrying a tiny pillow
with four rings on it, and Daisy had a basketful of flower petals. She was slowly taking them out of the basket
and dropping them on the ground.
As soon as the twins
got to the front, Nat began playing the first chords of “The Wedding March”.
The audience rose to
their feet and looked up at the front door of the house. Rebecca Quinn appeared in the doorway. On her arm was her mother, Elizabeth Quinn. As they walked down the aisle; William
watched his bride, dressed in a gorgeous white dress, walk toward him.
Rebecca stepped up
and stood next to her future husband.
He smiled down at her and quietly whispered, “I love you.” She smiled back up at him.
Just a few feet away,
they heard Nick let out a low gasp.
Nick watched as Jo walked down the aisle toward him. He smiled as he looked at her young escort
then back up at his mother.
“Wow, she sure is
beautiful,” Nick thought to himself, mouth beginning to droop open. As Jo walked up beside him, she lightly
pushed up on his chin to close his mouth.
“Wait for the cake,” Jo quietly joked to him.
“Very funny,” he said
as the music ended. They turned toward
Reverend Daniels, and the ceremony began.
* * * * * * * * * * *
* * * * * * * * * *
“Dearly beloved,” the
reverend began. “We are gathered here today to witness the marriage of William
Laurence and Rebecca Quinn,” he smiled at them then turned toward the other
couple, “and Nicholas Riley and Josephine Bhaer in holy matrimony.”
“If there is anybody
here that does not agree to these marriages, then speak now or forever hold
your peace.” It was quiet.
“Good,” he smiled and
turned to the first couple. “Who gives Rebecca to be married to William?”
“I give her,” Elizabeth
told Reverend Daniels. She turned to
her daughter, gave her a kiss on the cheek and sat down.
Reverend Daniels
turned to the second couple. “And who gives Jo to be married to Nick?”
Everybody looked at
the little boy standing behind Jo, “I give Mama to marry Nick,” Robby told the
preacher in a very mature voice for a six-year-old. Everyone smiled as Rob went to sit down in the front row with
Laurie and Bess. Jo lightly chuckled at
the idea of her six-year-old son giving her away.
After Meg sang a
beautiful version of “O Perfect Love” accompanied by Nat, Reverend Daniels
turned back toward the couples.
“William, repeat
after me.” There was a brief pause, then he began. “I William, take thee, Rebecca, to be my lawful wedded wife…”
William began,
holding tightly onto Rebecca’s hands, “I, William, take thee, Rebecca, to be my
lawful wedded wife…”
“To love, honor, and
cherish…”
“To love, honor, and
cherish…” he looked directly into her eyes as if she were the only one there.
“For better, for
worse, for richer, for poorer…”
“For better, for
worse, for richer, for poorer…”
“In sickness and in
health, forsaking all others…”
“In sickness and in
health, forsaking all others…” Tears were beginning to form in his eyes as he
thought of the sickness they had just been through.
“As long as we both
shall live.”
“As long as we both
shall live.” William finished up, and gently squeezed Rebecca’s hands.
Reverend Daniels
turned to William’s bride, “Rebecca, repeat after me. I, Rebecca, take thee, William, to be my lawful wedded husband…”
“I, Rebecca, take
thee, William, to be my lawful wedded husband…” She looked straight into his
big, blue eyes.
“To love, honor,
cherish, and obey…”
“To love, honor,
cherish, and obey…” Tear began to well up in her eyes.
“For better, for
worse, for richer, for poorer…”
“For better, for
worse, for richer, for poorer…”
“In sickness and in
health, forsaking all others…”
“In sickness and in
health, forsaking all others…”
“As long as we both
shall live.”
“As long as we both
shall live.” As she finished, William lifted up his finger and lightly brushed
away a tear that began to flow from her eye.
The reverend turned
to the other couple…
