“How about Monday morning? Is that soon enough?”
She beamed as she bobbed her head vigorously.
Leland was grinning. “You remind me of me,” he said. “I was the same way when I was a younger man.” He put his hand out to Temple, and the men shook hands firmly. “God bless you both. I’m glad to welcome you to the family, son.”
Temple gave Leland’s hand another shake, then went over to where Lucille sat. “I want you to meet my mother, Mrs. Winslow. You two are a great deal alike. I know you’re going to get along.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
The Bride
“There’s the music for your cue,” Leland said with a smile. “Are you ready, dear?”
Sharon thought back to when she was a little girl. She saw herself going to her father with some hurt she had suffered, asking for his sympathy. Now as she stood dressed in her wedding gown, she knew this would be the last time she would turn to him for her needs. I’ll have Temple from now on, she thought. “I’m ready, Dad.”
“You look absolutely beautiful, Sharon.” Leland’s quick glance took in her simple, sleek, white silk wedding dress. Sharon wore a bridal cap trimmed with orange blossoms and carried a bouquet of orchids and roses. He saw a pristine beauty in his daughter that seemed to have emerged with her decision to marry. He had learned during the past three days since Sharon and Temple’s startling announcement that the well of joy in her had reached overflowing. As he looked into her eyes, he saw the deep happiness there. “Come along,” he said. “I hope I don’t trip and fall down the stairs. I’ve got to stay on my feet long enough to give you to your husband.”
Sharon took her father’s arm, and they left the bedroom and advanced to the top of the beautiful curving stairway. As they descended in time to the music, she took in the small group that was standing in expectation. She had decided to have the wedding in the large foyer at the foot of the stairs, which had enough room to seat thirty people. Her mother had invited mainly family members and very close friends, including Hannah Fulton. She also caught a glimpse of Seana and her father, both of whom stood by the wall. Sharon lifted her eyes and saw Temple standing beside the minister. Her husband-to-be was wearing a navy blue suit, which picked up the color of his light blue eyes, and a dark maroon tie with a starched white shirt. He stood tall and straight, and their eyes met as Sharon reached the bottom of the stairway and advanced to where Temple and Reverend Snyder waited.
“We have gathered here this morning for a celebration—the joyous union of Temple Smith and Sharon Winslow,” Reverend Snyder began. “The family of God has instituted the ordinance of marriage so that a man and a woman need not be alone. . . .” Sharon listened attentively to Reverend Snyder’s words, and when he said, “Who giveth this woman?” she heard her father say, “Her mother and I give her freely.” She turned and kissed her father, seeing a hint of tears in his eyes. He turned and went to sit beside her mother, while Sharon joined Temple in front of the minister.
The ceremony continued, and Sharon did her best to concentrate on the words being spoken, storing them in her memory to reflect on throughout the coming years. At the minister’s instruction, she faced Temple and felt his large, strong hands around hers. A seriousness marked his features—yet at the same time an unmistakable happiness.
“Do you have the ring?”
Sharon looked into Temple’s eyes as he said, “With this ring I thee wed.”
She placed a ring on his finger and repeated the words, “With this ring I thee wed.”
Then they pledged their vows, and Sharon felt a quiet joy, conscious that this was the moment she had been waiting for all of her life.
“By the authority vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”
Temple put his hands on her shoulders and pulled her gently toward him. Sharon lifted her face and felt his lips touch hers. When he lifted his head, he said, “I love you, Sharon—forever.”
“And I love you too, husband,” she whispered.
They made their exit to the triumphant sound of the piano, which had been moved into the foyer for the occasion. They headed to the large dining room, which had been set up with several tables to receive the guests.
Temple exploded with a deep sigh. “Whew! That was harder than going over the top back in the trenches.”
Sharon flashed a look at him, not sure if he was serious. “Was it that hard to take a wife?”
“No. I was just afraid you would change your mind at the last minute,” he teased.
Sharon reached up and touched his cheek. Her voice was soft as she whispered, “I’ll never change my mind, sweetheart.”
He leaned forward and kissed her, and then a hubbub of voices overwhelmed them as family and friends came in to congratulate them.
****
After following a narrow crooked road for what seemed like a long time, Temple stopped and waved at the scene that lay in front of them. “There it is. Your honeymoon cottage.”
They had enjoyed a festive luncheon with their wedding guests before driving all afternoon, and now the sun was dipping low in the west. Sharon leaned forward in awe. “It looks like something that might be on a calendar or a painting. It’s beautiful!”
The valley was rimmed on three sides with rising foothills, and the trees’ autumn colors glowed in the waning sunshine. The lake reflected the yellow, crimson, and gold of the trees on the perfectly still water. A dock pointed the way to a wood cabin, weathered and silvered by time, with a roof of cedar shakes. An enormous rock chimney rose at the gable end, and even as Sharon took in the scene, she saw two deer grazing not twenty feet away.
“It’s not the Waldorf-Astoria, but it should do as a honeymoon getaway.”
Sharon was delighted. “Who does it belong to?”
“To me. Or rather, to us now.”
“You own this?”
“I bought the land a long time ago, and I built the house too, mostly with my own hands. It’s been my secret place for years. It’s where I come to unwind. Come on. I’m anxious for you to see it. You’d better like it ’cause you’re stuck here for as long as I can keep you.”
Sharon reached over and took his hand. He squeezed hers, then took the wheel and drove down the steep road, saying, “When it rains too much it’s impossible to get a car in here. Maybe we’ll have floods and have to stay here for a year.”
Sharon laughed, for she saw that Temple was enjoying showing his special place to her. She wondered where he had gotten the money to buy it but assumed that land this far away from the main roads had come cheap.
When they stopped in front of the cabin, he got out and came around to open her car door. “I’ll get the suitcases later,” he said. “I want you to see the inside.”
Sharon walked toward the door and waited until he unlocked it. He shoved the door back, then said, “I like old customs.”
He swept her up into his arms and walked inside, turning her around so she could see the interior. He held her as easily as if she weighed nothing as she studied the cabin. “I had it cleaned up and stocked with groceries. Do you like it?”
The large room had an enormous stone fireplace at one end with a rack full of split firewood beside it. In front of the fireplace was a large brown leather couch that looked big enough to sleep on. Two chairs flanked the couch, and small wooden tables sat next to them. The floor was pine with colorful woven rugs at strategic places.
On one side of the room picture windows allowed the fading sun to throw its beams into the gleaming kitchen. A small round table with four chairs defined the dining area, and along the walls were shelves containing books, magazines, and a collection of carved wooden figures.
“Let me down,” she said. “I want to see this.” When she got to her feet, she walked around exclaiming, “It’s beautiful!”
“You like it? I’ve spent a lot of time out here. I hope we’ll do the same together. Come on. I’ll show you the bridal suite.”
Sharon followed him to the door on the wall opposite the windows and stepped inside before him. The bedroom was also very large. A double bed dominated the room, and the only other furnishings were a dresser and a desk. Temple pointed out the door that led to the adjoining bathroom. One wall was nothing but windows, allowing the light to flood through.
“You’ll be spending a lot of time in here. I hope you like it.”
Sharon turned quickly and saw Temple trying to stifle a grin.
She flushed and said, “Proud of yourself, aren’t you?”
“Come on. Let’s take a walk by the lake.”
They left the cabin and walked along the shore of the lake. Darkness was falling fast, and he held her hand as if he were afraid to let her go. And she held his, glad for the strength of his grip.
“Do you come here a lot?”
“Yes, I built it after I lost my wife. I’ve spent a lot of good hours here. It’s the quietest place I know.”
A flock of geese rose from a cove, making a miniature thunder with their wings. Sharon watched them as they rose into the air and disappeared into the fading light. She felt full and at rest. “This is so peaceful,” she said quietly.
“Yes, it is. I hope you don’t expect company, because there won’t be any. Or there usually isn’t. Come on. Let’s go back and cook supper.”
He started to turn, but she held him and drew him back. Putting her hands on his chest, she said, “I needed someone so bad, Temple. I have for a long time.”
He put his hands over hers and kissed her lightly on the lips. “Well, you have me as long as I’m around.”
****
Sharon had openly confessed that she was no cook at all, but Temple proved to be a very good cook. He took pains to please her with their first supper together, fixing pork chops, fried potatoes, corn and tomatoes, and biscuits.
When they sat down to eat, Temple bowed his head and asked a simple grace. “Lord, we thank you for this food, and I thank you for this woman and pray that I may always be a good husband to her.”
“And I pray, Lord, that I may be a good wife to Temple. And I thank you for this place. Amen.”
Temple reached out and lifted his glass of milk. “It’s not champagne, but let’s toast the bride and groom.” He waited until Sharon lifted her glass, and they touched them, making a slight tinkling sound. “ To love,” he said simply, “and to the beautiful harp that is no longer silent.”
“I’ve thought about that song so much,” Sharon said after they had sipped their milk. “I’m not sure I understand it completely, but I love it. Would you sing it for me again, darling?”
Looking into her eyes, Temple softly sang the lilting melody:
“There’s a harp that is silent, whose strings were of gold,
And whose song, as the jasper, was clear,
Oh, its cadence so rare was of beauty untold
As it fell like a charm on the ear.”
“You’ll have to write a new verse,” Sharon said with a smile. “A verse that tells how the harp begins to play again.”
“Yes, I think it is playing a lovely melody now.” Temple spread some butter on a biscuit and took a bite. “You married me without knowing much about me.”
“I know you love me, and that’s all I require.”
They finished eating, then washed the dishes together. When the last dish was done, Sharon felt nervous. “I think I’ll take a bath before I go to bed,” she said.
“You go ahead. I’ll read for a while.”
Sharon gave him a quick glance but could read nothing in his face. She went into the bedroom and shut the door, and for one moment stood there breathing rapidly. A fear came over her, but she did her best to shove it away as she unpacked her clothes and put them in the dresser. She had bought a few new clothes, mostly things for out-of-doors, for Temple had warned her about the isolation of their honeymoon cabin. But she had bought new lingerie as well. Reaching into the suitcase, she lifted out a shimmering white nightgown of pure silk. Giving her head a slight shake, she moved into the bathroom.
She took a hot bath, dried herself, then slipped into the nightgown. It clung to her figure like a second skin, and as she brushed her hair, she wondered if she would be what Temple expected. She had no experience with men, but Temple had been married, and she was nervous lest she prove somehow inadequate.
Moving into the bedroom, she slipped under the covers and lay there, her mind active with private thoughts.
She heard the door open, and Temple entered. He shut the door and went into the bathroom, and after a while she heard the water running.
She noted that he was singing again, and then after what seemed like a short time, he came out. She had her eyes closed, but she could tell he had turned the light off. The bed sagged then, and as his shoulder touched hers, she turned to face him. “Temple,” she whispered, “I don’t know how to be a wife—but I love you.”
His arms went around her, and she felt his rough palm on the smoothness of her cheek. “I love you, Sharon, and when two people love each other, everything will find its place.” She threw her arms around him and held him close. Feeling his arms tighten about her, she thought, This is my husband—I’m not alone anymore!
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Seana’s Rule
Clayton carefully rolled out of bed one chilly October morning and looked out the window at the brilliant fall colors. He was recovering well, but he still had to move slowly. In the month since his accident, the cut on his leg had completely healed, but the cast would remain on his right arm for another couple of weeks. The doctor had told him his ribs would take quite a while longer to heal completely. He found satisfaction in the fact that he was now able to dress and shave himself, and Seana had pronounced him sufficiently recovered that she could return to her work and studies at the hospital.
After getting dressed, Clayton went downstairs and found his mother alone in the dining room. “Good morning, Mother.”
“Oh, Clayton, sit down. I know you’re still having a lot of discomfort.”
“Not bad at all,” he said cheerfully. “I think Seana’s prayed me out of most of it.”
“She’s a pleasant girl. And an excellent nurse.”
“She’s a taskmaster—that’s what she is,” Clayton said with a grin. He sat down at the table, and when Mabel brought him a plate of ham and eggs and toast, he began eating enthusiastically. He had lost a little weight as a result of the accident but had already regained some of it. “I’m going to the office today to see if I can help Dad.”
“Oh, Clayton, you’re not ready for anything like that!” his mother said.
“Sure I am. I’ll move slowly, and this wrist here is going to be a problem for a while, but it’s something I want to do.”
“Your father has talked to you about the troubles at the business, hasn’t he?”
Clayton quickly looked up. “Yes, but I didn’t think he had told you.”
“He didn’t want to worry me, but he told me two days ago. It sounds serious indeed.”
“It is, but we’ll get through it somehow. Since the accident has kept me from going back to classes this fall, I promised Dad I would do whatever I could to help with the business.”
“I’m not sure there’s much you can do. We may have to sell this house.”
He was surprised to hear his mother say this and even more surprised that she did not seem overly troubled by the thought. “Maybe it won’t come to that, Mom. Dad says since the bank turned down his loan request, he has applied for several smaller ones at other banks. Anyway, I want to help, even if it’s just to give him moral support.”
“All right. Don’t stay all day, dear.”
“I won’t. I’m going by Sarah’s too.”
Lucille was greatly disappointed in Sarah Mellon, for the young woman had made only two brief visits to see Clayton during his long recovery. Both times she had seemed rather distant, but Lucille expressed none of this, on
ly saying, “Give her my best wishes.”
“Of course, Mom.”
****
After spending some time at the office, Clayton drove up to the Mellon mansion overlooking Central Park. When the butler showed him into the drawing room, Sarah received him in a lukewarm fashion. It had not been difficult on her two brief visits to his home to sense that she was not pleased with him. The two sat on opposite love seats facing each other, and Clayton felt uneasy. “I’ve decided to go work with my father, Sarah.”
“Oh, so you’re not going back to college?”
“Not until things with the company are settled.”
“So things are not any better with your father’s business?”
“No, it’s quite possible that it will go under.”
“I see. That’s really too bad, Clayton.”
He heard a tone in Sarah’s voice that had not been there before. There was a formal quality to it, almost as if she were deliberately placing a distance between them. He knew how much the Mellons stressed money and social position, and now he said rather coolly, “Even if we don’t lose the business, it’s going to be a long, hard struggle to come back. That’s what we’re asking God to do for us, though.”
“I see.”
The brevity of her reply caused something to turn inside him. He had fancied himself in love with Sarah, but now as he sat there facing her, he understood that whatever he had once felt was now gone. They had never been formally engaged, and suddenly he was very grateful for that. He made up his mind. “Things are going to be a lot different for my family.”
“Yes, I suppose so.” Sarah rose and said curtly, “Maybe when you get things all sorted out you can call me. We can have lunch or something.”
“That would be nice,” he replied politely as he rose, realizing he was being dismissed. “Well, I must be going. Good-bye, Sarah.”
“Good-bye, Clayton.”
She made no attempt to touch his hand or receive a kiss. The two stared at each other for a moment, both of them knowing their relationship had ended. “I wish you well, Sarah,” he said quietly before turning and leaving the house. Once he was outside and walking toward his car, he tried to feel hurt but discovered with mild surprise that he could not. Instead there was only a sense of relief. As he got into the car and pulled away, he knew he was leaving something behind that he had once valued very much.
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