Samantha was looking forward to sharing the news with her parents. He suggested they wait until dinner to tell them, she had forgotten all about the planned dinner, New Years Eve had even escaped her thoughts. She was so taken with his proposal and the plans that she was forming in her head, her head was spinning. She took a deep breath and tried to ground her thoughts, reigning in her emotions so she could think clearly.
Samantha's parents had met Roy when he came by to pick her up to go to New Jersey. She had been ready to bounce out the door but they invited him in and he, being a gentleman, obliged. They were impressed with him and his hesitant manners. What Samantha did not know was that before he got into the truck, after he closed Samantha's door, he had asked her father if he might present Samantha a marriage proposal. Her father, knowing that both of his girls were headstrong told him that he doubted that his approval would carry any weight but that yes, Roy had his approval.
Mike smiled as he returned to the house. He liked this Roy from Nebraska, he was, it seemed, by the book, the old book at that. He spent the day thinking about his little girl, he was distracted every time his wife tried to speak to him.
When his daughter asked his opinion about shoes to go with her dress that evening, he just replied, “I like the blue ones.”
“But daddy, I have red ones or black, there are no blue ones.” she protested.
“Exactly,” he responded.
She left him alone after that but asked her mother what was up with Dad? Her mother was equally at loss about what was in the man's head. She told her daughter to just watch him in case he was coming down with something.
Chapter Ten -
Samantha got home and raced up the stairs to her room shutting the door, she did not think she could avoid speaking if she were to see anyone. So excited, she would not be able to help herself, she would just blurt it out.
Roy came by at eight to pick them all up for dinner. He was not wearing jeans, he was in a brown dress suit and tan shirt with a bolero tie. He still wore his cowboy hat and boots but the boots appeared to have been cleaned up a bit, the worn leather was waxed.
The three women of course were dressed to the nines. Samantha in her sapphire blue dress and the rhinestone jewelry. Her sister was in jade green and her mother in pale lavender and pearls. Mike of course wore a dark suit and tie befitting his age as a business man would. The five of them fit nicely into Roy's pickup and they went off to dinner. They did not ask him but he had his own idea about where to go. He drove following his GPS directions to the Hotel DuPont where a table was reserved for them in his name.
He had no idea where he was taking them but he had read about the Hotel DuPont, that it was a lovely spot. He decided that that was where he should bring them, he made the reservation from his ranch in Nebraska. He was happy to have chosen a nice place once he saw it. The article he read had been right. It was formal and gracious.
Sue and Mike were impressed, she caught his eye as they walked in the door of the hotel speaking with a brief glance. Amy was thrilled to be taken to such a luxurious looking spot to bring in the New Year and Samantha only had eyes for her Roy. They could have been eating burgers at a corner fast food place and she would have been delighted.
They were seated at a corner table with a good view of the musicians and the decorated tree that stood to the side of the stage.
With out ordering, a basket of blini and caviar with a magnum of Champagne were brought to the table, the bubbly was poured for them and Roy stood. He drew Samantha up to stand beside him and reached his arm around her shoulder.
“I have wonderful news to share with you tonight,” he began, “Your daughter, Samantha, has agreed to be my wife. I am delighted and grateful to you both,” he looked at her parents, “for raising such an amazing young woman and I look forward to sharing a full life with her.”
Both Mr. and Mrs. Winston applauded, Amy jumped up and kissed her sister on the cheek then she sat and applauded too. The flutes were sipped while the menus were discretely placed on an unused edge of the table.
Diners at the tables around them stopped and looked when they became aware of the applause. The head waiter came to the table and asked if they would like to share their news with everyone. Roy was reluctant standing back, Mr. Winston agreed and went up to the small stage.
Bringing his champagne flute with him, he took the microphone offered him and began, “It seems like only yesterday I was the father of a tiny baby girl and now.” he paused, “Samantha has been a delight as she grew up and every day since. Today I learned that my first daughter is choosing to leave us, she has agreed to marry a wonderful young man, Roy Winston. He is going to bring her to his home in Nebraska where they will bring us, we hope, many grandchildren.”
He finished with a hearty, “Congratulations Roy, darling.” He looked at his daughter raising his glass before draining the last of his champagne. As he finished and applause washed over them. Roy and Samantha had taken their seats during her fathers announcement, now they were asked to stand again. The musicians took up a waltz and Mike drew his wife onto the dance floor while Roy took Samantha's hand and led her to their first dance together. Other dancers joined them, when the music stopped they returned to Amy at their table. She had chosen her meal from the menu and the others began to browse the options, Samantha knew Roy's choice and decided that it should be done well here so she too, ordered the prime rib. Her father pleased Roy when he asked for his rare while Sue and her younger daughter Amy choose fish entrees.
Roy stayed on a few days into the New Year and then needed to return to the ranch. Samantha reluctantly stayed in Delaware with out him. She spent her time planning her wedding. The usual bevy of showers, shopping and fittings took place, all condensed into three weeks time. Then, it was time, the wedding was to take place.
Samantha was breathtaking in off the shoulder ecru lace and pearls. Her gown boasted a sweetheart Basque waistline with a simple panel of lace for a train that fell from her shoulders to grace the floor. She had a matching white wool wrap that was covered in matching lace.
Amy choose her maid of honor dress in turquoise, it set off her creamy pink complexion and dark hair to perfection. The bride was attended by three bridesmaids, friends and relatives, in a paler blue. Her mother wore mint green.
Roy's sister arrived from California with her husband the evening before the wedding, his only family. Samantha herself collected her at the airport in Philadelphia wanting to have a few moments with her before they were whisked off to the rehearsal dinner. She told her that she wished she could have included her in the wedding party but that geography and time constraints made it impossible. She asked that they both sit at the table with her parents at the reception, as Roy's only family in attendance, the honor was theirs.
Roy had arrived earlier in the day, he borrowed the same mega-cab truck from the car dealer when he arrived at the rehearsal and the following dinner. Seeing Samantha again for him was like the warm sun after a long winter blizzard. He had to remind himself constantly that she had said, “Yes,” when he asked for her hand. Knowing that she would be his wife just amazed him every time he thought about it.
Samantha and Roy decided that instead of a limousine they would dismiss tradition and leave the church for the reception in the huge truck. It was a little piece of their history that they wanted to preserve, besides, fitting Roy's height into the back of a limo might not be easy. Samantha thought it perfect, her gown would not be crushed as it would need to be to fit in the limo. The rest of the wedding party traveled in the traditional black stretch.
Roy cut a dashing figure with his larger than life height, hard worked muscles and western accessorized tuxedo. He had purchased his tux in Nebraska and styled it so suit himself with a western styled bowed yolk arching across the back of his broad shoulders and his bolero tie, and he bought new boots in black to go with the tux. He thought, correctly so, that he would not have time to fit himself in the few short days
he had in Delaware.
Samantha was an amazingly beautiful bride as her father walked her down the aisle, any bride in love is beautiful, but Samantha literally glowed with joy. Today she was marrying the love she had been looking for. She had no romantic notions this time around. She knew she was going to live on a working ranch where she expected to have to pull her weight. She looked forward to it. This was no dreamy eyed, young girl floating in a fantasy. She was facing life with both eyes open now and she was over joyed when she got to the end of the aisle and her Roy was waiting to stand next to her.
Love, she thought . . . Page 4