The Scent of Rain
Page 22
There was an established garden, but he had no idea if Jaena, this woman with whom he was to share his life, even liked gardening – he certainly knew nothing about it.
He stepped from the front door directly into the living room and stopped in surprise. Large windows across the back of the house gave uninterrupted views to the lake and a large deck had been built to further capture the views and provide an outdoor entertainment area. It was the last thing he had expected from the home’s exterior from the street.
Nor was the rest of the house unpleasing. The kitchen was on the small side – but hadn’t Jaena said she missed the small kitchen she and Madi had shared all her growing up years – and the bathroom and laundry were contained in the one room – but the living areas were large and a small third bedroom would provide an ideal place for Jaena to study.
The only down side – apart from the external appearance of the house – was that the landlord was after long-term tenants. With Jaena unable to view the house before their wedding, Mitchell had not planned on signing a long-term tenancy, but perhaps he could negotiate. If not, it was the best that he’d seen all morning and they’d be crazy not to take it – especially with the wedding just three weeks away.
He had spoken to Jaena the night before and she was happy with the way the wedding plans were coming along. As she had told his mother months before: Madi was experienced at planning a wedding on short notice. Furthermore, his mother had rung that morning and the news had been hopeful: Pop was coming home from Hospital and was determined to attend the wedding. It seemed that everything was falling into place.
He still hadn’t replaced his cellphone – if he had he could have sent photos of the places he’d looked at that morning to Jaena and she could have helped him decide. But it was just one more thing to do and with all the other wedding plans that seemed more urgent, he had put it off. Before now it hadn’t mattered – he’d been able to email Jaena or ring her from a landline – but standing looking out at the lake and thinking how perfect the house would be for the two of them apart from the tenancy agreement, he wished that he’d made it a priority.
Quickly he reached a decision. He turned to the real estate agent who was waiting. “We’ll take it. On one condition …”
*********
Madi carefully placed the headpiece atop Jaena’s hair, and then arranged the veil to fall evenly and gracefully around Jaena’s face and shoulders. She stood back to survey the effect.
“Oh my!”
“Will I do?” Jaena asked, smiling.
“You’ll more than do.” Madi choked up. “You’re beautiful.”
“Thank you.”
They both turned at a knock at the door. “You can come in now,” Madi greeted her husband.
Marcus took one step into the room, and then stopped. “Oh my!” Madi and Jaena smiled at each other. “You’re beautiful.”
Jaena laughed. “You’ll have to come up with something more original than that, Uncle Marcus. Mum has already told me exactly the same thing.”
Marcus walked into the room and kissed Jaena’s forehead. “The truth is, apart from your mother, I have never seen a more beautiful and radiant bride.”
Jaena grinned. “That will do.”
Madi glanced at her watch that had been a present from Marcus on her last birthday. She had protested then at the cost, but today it seemed the perfect accessory to her own attire. “We need to hurry if we’re to have family photos before we leave for the church.”
“Nothing – and I mean, nothing – is going to stop me from having family photos.” Jaena rose from the stool on which she’d been siting. “They’ll be the first family ones since your wedding day.”
Marcus smiled and put his arm around his wife. “You know, you did a good job. She’s not turned out so badly after all.”
Madi smiled up into his face. “We did a good job.”
“Yes, we did.” He kissed her lightly and then held his other arm out to Jaena. “Shall we?”
*********
Charles Gallagher sat in the front pew and watched his eldest grandson marry the granddaughter of his dearest and oldest friend. He had been asked to officiate at the wedding, but his most recent stroke had made it impossible. Instead his son – Mitchell’s father – and Jaena’s grandfather had officiated. He would say the prayer at the end of the service to bless the newly married couple.
The service brought back memories of his own wedding day. It had been not long after the war and they had chosen to have a very simple ceremony. There had been no bridesmaids, no flowers, and only the smallest of wedding cakes. But how happy they had been. He doubted few couples had been as happy. His wife had been taken from him while they were still relatively young and he still missed her daily. But he knew it wouldn’t be long now until he saw her again. His health was declining and even though they all pretended otherwise, he knew he wouldn’t be with them for much longer. But he was content to sit in the front pew and watch: watch his beloved grandson marry the granddaughter of his best friend. It seemed right somehow. Fitting. As if it had always been meant to be.
They made a handsome couple and looked so happy together. He enjoyed watching the looks that passed between them when they thought no one was watching. Looks that spoke of love and happiness, of shared secrets and mutual support. These two would do well, of that he was convinced.
He was amused, too, to observe his second grandson making eyes at the pretty bridesmaid and that she was looking for all the world as if she hadn’t noticed when it was obvious that she had and was secretly pleased. Well, well, well, perhaps there’d be another wedding in the Gallagher family. He didn’t mind if he was here to see it or not. He had righted the wrongs of many years … made peace with his old and trusted friend and found forgiveness … there wasn’t much else he desired … unless it was to see a great-grandchild before he died.
Slowly he reached for his stick. They had signed the register and Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell Gallagher were almost ready to walk down the aisle to begin their new life – together – as one – but first he must pray a blessing over them.
Hands trembling, he slowly began the walk to the front. Mitchell left the side of his bride to assist him the last few steps. Reaching for his grandson’s hand and that of his new granddaughter, he joined their hands and, with tears in his eyes, performed the last service he would ever render them in his lifetime.
The End