To Love, Honor and Cherish

by Timothy Paterson

  Chapter 30

  Joe and Mary were busy making plans for their wedding. Betty was helping as much as she could. Joe wanted the day to be perfect for Mary.

  They kept the extravagance to a minimum, but there were some things that Joe spent a little bit more on. He found a designer to work with Mary and Betty to design her wedding dress. He also wanted the Spanish mission to be filled with flowers.

  The reception would be held outside, under big white tents, with a dance floor and a band. Francisco’s catered the food.

  On the morning of their wedding day, the weather was perfect. The sun was sending colorful beams of radiant light down to the earth. The grass was still covered with morning dew and the aroma of wet grass and hyacinth flowers filled the air.

  Joe and Matt awoke early and left the house before Mary woke up, so that Joe would not see her before the ceremony. They went to the mission church to make sure all the last minute details had been taken care of.

  The church was beautiful. The two hundred year old walls contrasted nicely with hundreds of flowers all throughout the church. Joe and Matt met with Pastor Jacobs to go over any last minute instructions.

  When Matt asked Joe if he was nervous, Joe replied, “I’m not nervous, but I am very anxious and excited. I have been waiting for this day my whole life. I love your sister more than anyone or anything in my life.

  About an hour later, Betty arrived with Mary and the rest of the family. Betty, Mary Eve, Sarah and Becca went to another part of the church to get ready, while the guys found Matt, Joe, and they started getting ready.

  John and Paul escorted the guests to their seats as they arrived. The church was soon filled with people. The ceremony was minutes away. Mary was so excited and nervous, she thought she would faint.

  She was wearing something old- a pair of earrings from her grandmother, something new- a pearl necklace that her mother had given her, something borrowed-a handkerchief from Sara, and something blue-a garter belt.

  Betty was looking at Mary and had never seen her look more beautiful or happier. After Paul and John had seated everyone else, they escorted Joe’s grandparents to their seats and then escorted their father to his seat. Mary told her mother that she wanted her to walk her down the aisle alone, not with her father. Jim understood and respected her decision.

  Pastor Jacobs, Joe, Matt, Mark and Luke came into the church through a door near the altar and took their places. The music started playing and the door at the back of the church opened. Slowly, one by one, the ladies entered the church. First, Sarah, then Becca, then Eve; the Maid of Honor came down the aisle. The bridal march started playing and everybody turned around to watch the bride enter.

  When Joe saw Mary enter the church, he was awestruck. Mary was so beautiful, in her white gown that she looked like an angel. Joe and Mary were both trying hard not to shed any tears. When Betty and Mary reached the altar, Pastor Jacobs asked, “Who gives this woman in Holy Matrimony?” Betty replied, “I do. “Betty lifted Mary’s veil and kissed her on the cheek. Then she placed Mary’s hand in Joe’s hand, and then went and sat down with Jim.

  Matt sang a solo beautifully. After the wedding homily, it was time for the exchanging of vows. Joe watched Mary as she said “I do!” and he almost lost it right there. Then it was Joe’s turn. Pastor Jacob turned to Joe and asked him; “Joseph Thomas Williams, do you take Mary Anne Rogers to be your wedded wife, ‘to love, honor and cherish’ as long as you both shall live?”

  As he said those words to Joe, Joe thought he saw his parents standing in front of the altar with a white light surrounding them and big smiles on their faces. He thought that he must be hallucinating, but then he felt a warm feeling in his chest that was radiating from them. They were sending their love to him. As Joe said ‘I do!’ his parents faded away.

  After Joe and Mary had exchanged rings, Pastor Jacobs said; “Joseph and Mary, It is a privilege and an honor to pronounce you husband and wife. Joe, you may now kiss your bride.”

  When they kissed, Mary and Joe felt so much love fill their hearts that they thought they would burst.

  As they turned to face their friends and family, pastor Jacobs said, “I am pleased to introduce Mr. and Mrs., Williams.”

  The guests cheered as Joe and Mary left the church. Once outside, Joe picked up Mary, swung her around and they kissed again. Then, fifty white doves were released and they flew straight up into the sky and were gone.

  The reception lasted several hours, well into the evening. Everyone was having a great time, laughing, singing and dancing. Joe danced with Betty who was now his mother-in-law and Mary danced with her father, though she was not yet ready to resume a father-daughter relationship yet.

  Matt and the rest of Mary’s siblings had a surprise for Mary and Joe. They performed a few romantic songs for them, with Matt playing the guitar, Mark and Becca played the piano, Luke played the saxophone, John played the drums, Paul played the violin and Sarah played the harp. They all sang as well.

  Everybody at the reception really enjoyed their songs, but no one enjoyed them more than Mary and Joe.

  During a quiet moment, Betty found Joe and Mary, pulled them aside, and asked Joe if they saw anything unusual during the wedding ceremony.

  Joe suddenly got serious and asked her what she saw. Betty was hesitant at first, but then she began; “During your wedding vows, I could have sworn that I two people, a man and a woman standing in front of the altar, right.”

  Then Mary said, “I saw them also. I didn’t say anything because I thought I imagined them”

  Joe just stood there, not saying anything for a moment and then he said, “So, it was real. My wish came true.” Suddenly, a feeling of warmth, like the one he felt at the wedding, filled his whole body, from head to toe. Mary asked Joe “Who were those people, Joe?”

  Joe could barely talk and finally, he got the words out; “Those people, or rather angels, were my parents. It was something I had wished for in my prayers. I wanted my parents to be at our wedding. My prayers were answered.” In fact, I think they are with us right now, because I feel their love in my heart.”

  Joe’s voice was quivering as if might start crying. Mary gave him a great big hug, the love that Joe was feeling from his parents flowed into her body as well, and she realized it was his parents’ way of telling her that they approved of the marriage and that they loved her as well. They both stood there, holding one another for quite a while.

  After Joe and Mary had cut the cake and Mary had tossed the bouquet, they said goodbye to everybody and then they were taken by limousine to the San Francisco Towers Hotel, which was the best hotel in town. They checked into the honeymoon suite and they did not leave the suite until late the next afternoon.

  The next evening they headed for the airport. Joe would not tell Mary where they were going on their honeymoon.

  She knew that they were leaving the U.S., because she had to get a passport. When they arrived at the airport, Joe finally told Mary what his present for her was.

  “Mary, for our honeymoon, we will be going to France, Germany and Italy, spending seven days in each country.” Mary was ecstatic, as she had always wanted to travel to those countries.

  Their honeymoon seemed like a fairytale. It was very romantic and the weather couldn’t have been more perfect. They visited Rome, Venice, and Paris, Versailles and Hamburg as well as several other cities. After three weeks of traveling abroad, they were missing their family and were glad that they were going home.

  When they arrived home, Joe had another surprise for Mary. Mary didn’t want to move too far away from her family, so while they were gone, part of the second floor had been remodeled. Betty had moved into Joe’s old room, and a construction crew came in and connected the master suite with Mary’s room into a private suite for the two of them.

/>   The new suite consisted of a master bedroom with private bath, a large living room with a large comfortable couch, a small table with chairs, an entertainment center, and a small kitchen with refrigerator, stove, coffee maker, a cabinet filled with dishes for two. It was like having; their very own apartment within the house.

  A door had been added, leading to the outside complete with a private staircase, so that they could come and go at night without disturbing the rest of the family. The project had been finished two days before Joe and Mary returned.

  When Joe and Mary arrived to the door that used to lead into Betty’s room, Joe picked up Mary and carried her into their apartment. Mary fell in love with it immediately. Betty had decorated it personally using all of Mary’s favorite colors. Mary loved being so close to the family, yet also having their privacy. They could help Betty with the younger children and their activities.