The Blossoming: The Third book in The Green Man Series

by Sharon Brubaker

  “That’s a fabulous idea,” Sylvia said. “And instead of the black Friday madness, we could come downtown on Saturday for shopping and tea.”

  “Sounds like a plan,” Anne told her smiling. “I think I’m going to love having a daughter!” She grinned at Sylvia.

  They paid for their lunch and poked about in several of the shops. Halfway down one block, there was a small courtyard and garden below the street level. You could stare down from the fence, and see a little garden, a fountain, and a few benches. It was quite beautiful and peaceful, but the most surprising thing of all was the giant sculpture of a Green Man on the opposite wall. Sylvia took in a breath and smiled. Would this garden Green Man bring her luck? Was it a sign? Amazingly, the courtyard was beside the store “The Mariage Jardin” or ‘marriage garden.’ It was the small, wedding boutique Anne had been looking for. Anne and Sylvia opened the door and an elegant woman with long gray hair greeted them. She introduced herself as Lily Dubois and asked how she could help them.

  Sylvia told her how she needed a gown for her wedding in September. Ms. Dubois nodded calmly and asked if she had any particular styles in mind. Sylvia smiled at this and told her that the mermaid style and poufy gowns with tons of tulle were not her favorite. Ms. Dubois smiled in return and nodded. She asked Anne and Sylvia to sit in two, comfortable, upholstered, side chairs while she bustled towards the dresses to make some choices as she asked Sylvia her dress size.

  Soon Ms. Dubois was back with a rolling cart hung heavily with several dresses. She told Sylvia and Anne that she carried a variety of vintage dresses and several of independent designers. She began to show the dresses to Sylvia and Anne. Their eyes had glowed with anticipation before she led Sylvia to a dressing room.

  Sylvia fell in love with the vintage dresses. The first one she tried on was from the 1940’s, made of heavy satin. It clung in all the right places, and the feel and weight of the fabric were fantastic. It had an incredibly detailed beadwork border on the neckline, and long sleeves. Sylvia had always read about ladies with their skirts rustling. This dress had a quiet ‘swoosh, swoosh’ as she walked.

  “I absolutely love this dress,” Sylvia told Anne when she walked out.

  “It’s stunning,” Anne agreed, “but, the fabric looks heavy. Would it be too hot for early September on the Chesapeake? Usually, it’s quite warm that time of year,” she reminded Sylvia.

  Sylvia knew Anne was right. Reluctantly she took off the dress. She tried on another that Ms. Dubois told her was a new designer who liked fashions from the 1950’s. It was a sweet dress with a pleated chiffon overskirt over silk. There was simple, ribbon detail under the empire waist bodice, at the neckline and at the elbows where the chiffon blossomed into a bell sleeve. Lovely but all agreed, it was not the dress for Sylvia. They made their way through a few more dresses. Finally, Ms. Dubois handed Sylvia a lovely lace dress. She hadn’t liked any of the lace dresses at the other stores, but this one was different. The lace was delicate leaves! The bodice was covered in lace and the overskirt of chiffon had leaves trailing down to lacy leaves that adorned the bottom of the dress. It was sleeveless but clever. The lace leaves climbed over the shoulder to the back of the dress. It dipped in a lovely curvy circle low on her back with the lacy leaves cut out and stiffened a bit for detail. About thirty satin covered buttons gave access to the dress on the side. It was perfect. She knew it from the moment she saw it, and even more so when she put it on. Sylvia beamed and walked out to Anne.

  Anne breathed a sigh. “Yes, absolutely, yes!” she told Sylvia. She took a variety of pictures and sent it to Mary, Gwen, and Carol.

  Ms. Dubois’s eyes were twinkling as well. “I can’t believe it,” she told Sylvia. “It’s as if this dress was made for you. I don’t think it needs any alteration at all! On that note,” she asked earnestly, “what shoes will you be wearing?”

  Sylvia had honestly not considered shoes and she admitted this to Ms. Dubois.

  “It is amazing that your gown fits you so well and will not need alteration, but depending on the shoes you choose, it could be a complicated modification to lengthen or shorten the gown with the lace and illusion. This is a vintage gown and one that was created by an independent designer. My suggestion would be to purchase a shoe with a modest heel. I do have some available if you are interested in looking at them.”

  Sylvia looked at Anne, who nodded. Sylvia told Ms. Dubois, her size and she went in search of shoes that would fit Sylvia. She returned with four boxes. One pair was a plain, white pump that could be dyed. Another box contained an acrylic version of Cinderella’s slipper. A third shoe box had a sandal and the fourth a brocade, peep toe pump. Sylvia quickly said no to the acrylic, the fake glass slipper. She tried on the conventional pump, and the sandal, but was not impressed. When she tried on the brocade, peep toe pump, both Ms. Dubois and Anne nodded and smiled. It was a white brocade of leaves and flowers with small Swarovski crystals at the centers of the flowers.

  “It’s not too much?” Sylvia asked the ladies, “with the crystals and all—with all of the lace?”

  They both shook their heads.

  “They are really comfortable,” Sylvia said, surprised, as she walked around the room.

  “It’s that nicely rounded toe area,” Ms. Dubois said. “You could dance for hours in that shoe and your toes would not be squashed. They remind me of the shoes of the 1940’s,” she said with a small sigh, and a smile as if she had a happy memory of that time.

  “I like it,” Anne said, “They look lovely with the gown. The leaves and flowers extend the design of the lace and leaves on your gown.”

  Sylvia lifted up the hem of the dress and smiled at the shoes. “Well, I just love them,” Sold,” she stated firmly.

  Ms. Dubois helped her out of the gown and wrapped it up carefully giving Sylvia instructions on how to care for it. In between, Anne relayed the positive comments from Mary, Gwen, and Carol about the gown.

  When they left, Sylvia made sure she looked at the Green Man sculpture on the garden wall as they walked toward the car. She quickly blew a kiss to it, as Anne turned to look at a store across the street. Now they were definitely giddy and laid the gown carefully in the back of the car, and the shoe bag on the seat, before heading back to Millersville where Phil started coals for a fabulous steak dinner.

  Anne asked if Sylvia wanted to keep the gown in Millersville, but she declined. She thought aloud that Marian could keep it, until closer to the wedding. She and Jon were due back from their latest trip tomorrow, and Sylvia owed her a call.

  Anne gave Sylvia an enormous hug before she left the next morning. “Oh, Sylvia,” she said with emotion, “I can’t tell you how much I am looking forward to having you as my daughter-in-law. Helping you choose your wedding dress meant so much to me. Thank you.” Anne brushed away a small tear.

  Sylvia gave her another hug, before climbing into her car. She headed back to North Bay and Bayside in an elated mood.

  Owen must have been watching for her, because when she pulled into the driveway, he and Percy were at the car door almost instantly. He opened it for her and she flew into his arms. Percy whined after a minute of their hugging and kissing reunion.

  “Oh, you!” she said to Percy happily giving him a hug as well. “I love you too,” she assured him.

  She turned back to Owen and brushed the loose curl that fell onto his forehead. “It’s good to see you,” she said huskily. “I missed you.”

  “I, no,” he hesitated and gestured to Percy, “we, missed you. The house is empty without you, and I am empty as well,” he admitted.

  Sylvia kissed him again. Thoroughly. “Let’s go inside,” she suggested.

  He took her overnight bag from the back seat and reached for the bag holding the wedding gown.

  “Uh, uh, uh!” Sylvia teased, “No peeking!” and she waggled a finger at him.

  “Okay, okay!” he said, raising both his hands, “hands off.”

  “Anyway,” Syl
via said, “I need to ask Marian if I can keep it at her house.”

  “Well, that’s convenient,” Owen told her.

  “What do you mean?” she asked, curiously.

  “Marian and Jon asked us to come over for dinner tonight, that’s why,” Owen explained.

  “Oh!” Sylvia replied, surprised, “I thought they were away until tomorrow.”

  “They were, but now they’re back,” Owen told her. “Apparently, Marian is in a fever to give you something for your bridal attire. Also, she wanted to talk to us about a minister she knows.”

  “I’ve heard bits and pieces about this from the moms,” she told Owen. “I will give Marian a call to see what we can bring tonight.”

  Chapter 10

  “Cherish your human connections - your relationships with friends and family.”Barbara Bush

  It had been a while since Marian, Jon, Owen, and Sylvia had been together due to work and travel schedules. They sat on the terrace under the large, spreading oak tree, having wine and small things to nibble on as they caught up with each other’s lives. John and Marian had traveled extensively through Europe earlier in the year and now were enjoying domestic travel. Their latest trip was to New England, to the Adam’s family National Historical Park. John was a descendant of John Adams, his namesake, of Revolutionary Era fame. As much as Owen was a scientist, he was raised with his father’s enthusiasm for history and he asked a lot of questions. His father, Phil, was focused on the Civil War era, but Owen had many strong memories discussing the American Revolution with Marian’s husband, Bran, an expert on that time period. Sylvia caught them up on wedding plans.

  Sylvia turned to Marian, “Mom said you had a minister or someone who could marry us?” she asked.

  Marian’s eyes twinkled, “Yes!” she gushed, “you met him at one of our parties,” she told them. “Dr. Luis, a very tall, dark skinned man with a mustache.”

  Owen and Sylvia shook their heads, not remembering anyone with that name.

  “What does he do?” Sylvia asked, probing, thinking she might remember.

  Marian hesitated a moment before answering, “He’s a professor of sorts,” she began.

  “Oh, Marian!” Owen interrupted, “that’s ninety plus percent of your guests. Your parties are always crawling with Ph.D’s.!”

  Marian laughed, “Yes, that’s true. But, Dr. Luis travels everywhere and lectures. He’s not tied to a particular institution of higher learning.”

  “What subject does he lecture on?” Owen asked.

  “I would say its philosophy and comparative religions,” Marian replied.

  Sylvia wracked her brain, “I can’t think of anyone like that, that I met at one of your parties.”

  “Maybe, it will come to you later,” Marian assured her.

  “But, can he marry us?” Sylvia asked.

  “He has the authority,” Marian told her, “I’m sorry you don’t remember him. Do you want me to ask him if he would marry you two?”

  “That would save us a lot of bother,” Owen replied. “Anyone you know and trust, Marian, we’ll trust.”

  “Should we call?” Sylvia asked. “I don’t want to put you out.”

  “Mmm…” Marian murmured, “I believe he’s currently out of the country. I’ll contact him and let him know the particulars.”

  “And, let us know his fee,” Owen told her.

  “All right,” Marian said, “But, I’m sure it will be nominal at best. He would do this as a favor.”

  Both Sylvia and Owen looked skeptical.

  “Okay,” Owen said, “if you say so.”

  “Carol will be delighted!” Sylvia commented, “That’s one more thing to check off the wedding to-do list.”

  “She should be a wedding planner,” Owen and Marian chorused at the same time.

  “That’s something I keep telling her,” Sylvia agreed.

  Jon went to light the coals on the grill and Owen followed him. He bent Jon’s ear about information on sailboats. Sylvia and Marian took the wedding gown and shoes upstairs to ‘Sylvia’s room’ in the house. Marian pulled a silk-wrapped package that bulged mysteriously from the top drawer of an antique bureau.

  “Something old,” Marian said, “that you can borrow or keep, your choice,” she told Sylvia smiling.

  Carefully, Sylvia unwrapped the delicate silk. The silk was a very, very old scarf that had been wrapped carefully about the object inside. Inside, Sylvia found a bronze headpiece made entirely of small, delicate leaves. She gasped in delight.

  “Oh, Marian!” she cried. “It’s beautiful and it is absolutely perfect!”

  Marian was delighted with Sylvia’s expression. “Try it on,” she urged Sylvia.

  Sylvia stood in front of the mirror and put on the headpiece. Marian told her it had belonged to her grandmother at the turn of the twentieth century and had been handed down through her family.

  “Since you are the closest thing I have to a daughter or a granddaughter, I thought it should go to you,” Marian said with some emotion.

  Impulsively, Sylvia gave Marian a hug. Sylvia had looked in the mirror before she replied, “I can’t even believe this,” she told Marian. “First, it’s gorgeous, but it is also perfect for the gown. Let me show you.”

  Sylvia unzipped the bag and pointed out to Marian the simple lace leaves that adorned the gown. The headpiece and the dress looked as though they had been made for one another.

  “Sylvia!” Marian cried admiring the dress and headpiece, “You’re right! The headpiece is perfect! What a gorgeous wedding dress!”

  Sylvia stood in front of the mirror again, this time holding up the gown in front of her to see herself in the mirror with the dress and the headpiece. She also pulled out the brocade shoes too. Marian admired them as well, nodding with the approval of all the wedding garments.

  “If you check with your mother,” Marian said, “I think your grandmother had lovely pearl earrings that would look very nice with the gown.”

  “I will check with Mom,” Sylvia promised her.

  “Now, let’s get both of these away safely so that I can get back to dinner,” she told Sylvia.

  The gown would not fit into the antique, tiger oak chifferobe that graced the room. Instead, Marian and Sylvia put the dress into a closet that was carefully built into the wall of the master bedroom before they went to join the men. They were still talking about sailing. Marian disappeared into the kitchen, and Sylvia quickly followed so that she could assist.

  “We’re keeping it simple tonight,” Jon admitted. “You will be shocked and amazed that Marian actually picked up some pre-made items!” he informed Sylvia and Owen. “I thought the earth would come to a stop,” he teased his wife.

  “Oh, you!” Marian retorted, smiling as she slapped him lightly with a dish towel.

  “It’s all right, Marian,” Owen teased, “not everything needs to be made from scratch or gourmet.”

  “You know I enjoy cooking immensely,” Marian said primly, “and you reap the benefits.”

  “I certainly do,” Jon smiled and said while patting his tummy. “I know it’s the “Freshman Fifteen” for college, but I can’t recall what the weight gain is for newly married couples. It’s at least twice what freshman experience, I think.”

  Jon grilled tuna steak and fresh vegetables that were in foil packets. They continued to sit outside and ate until the twilight fell and the mosquitoes started feasting. Then, they retired to the kitchen for dessert and more conversation.

  “You are coming to the Bayside Picnic next weekend, aren’t you?” Sylvia asked.

  “Of course,” Marian said. “Anne, Phil, and Mary are coming, aren’t they?” she asked.

  “Yes,” Sylvia said, “and our neighbors, Kim, and Craig as well as Skip and Maureen. It will be a fun group. I’m not sure if Carol and Joe are coming or not. I can find out this week.”

  Their evening ended on a high note, sitting comfortably in the kitchen away from the biting mosquitoes.
Owen and Sylvia brought fixings for ice cream sundaes and they put together their own concoctions.

  “Oh, my,” Jon said, “I don’t think I’ve had an ice cream sundae in years. That was good.”

  “Mmm,” Sylvia agreed, “Usually, I’m a chocolate chip, cookie dough, kind of gal,” she admitted, “but, that salted caramel ice cream is fantastic!” She was going to say something else but yawned instead.

  “Work tomorrow,” Owen reminded her, “We should head home soon.”

  “Work and wedding cake sampling,” she told Owen.

  Marian asked where they were going to sample wedding cakes. Sylvia told her that Carol had set up an appointment at a bakery in nearby, Newark, Delaware.

  “There is a small bakery on the way to Havre de Grace,” Marian suggested, “’Desserts by Diane,’ is the name. It would give you another option.”

  “Thanks, Marian,” Sylvia said, “I’ll call them tomorrow. And, we really should be heading home.”

  She stood up to give Marian and Jon hugs.

  “Thank you for the headpiece, Marian,” Sylvia said, “It’s perfect and very, very special.”

  Marian hugged her again, “As I said earlier,” she told Sylvia, “you are the closest thing I have to a granddaughter.” She turned to Owen and told him, “and you, Owen, are the closest thing I have to a grandson. How lucky am I that you are together!” She bathed them both with a radiant smile.

  Chapter 11

  “I don't think it's possible to have a wedding without it being stressful!”

  Debra Messing

  As Sylvia suspected, Carol wanted to pepper her with wedding questions the next day. They were swamped with work for the upcoming ‘Bay Days’ and some other projects, and the wedding conversation had to wait until lunch. On the way to the cafeteria, Sylvia filled Carol in on details of the gown, headpiece and shoes being stored at Marian’s. She also told Carol that Marian had found them a minister.

  “Wow!” Carol replied, “You’re checking things off this list pretty quickly. I can’t wait to see your gown!”