“You realize that these people need you more than they want you. The two of you have a rough road ahead of you. And yes, I know that Mark will not let you down; but it won’t be easy,” Mira said.
“We both have his father’s support, and he has promised to keep the girls in check. He feels annoyed that they thought they could run everybody’s life the way their mother had.”
Usually, when there is a wedding going on, there are always plenty of people willing to help wherever they can. This was not the case. Some hypocrites were afraid to show support to Lucille because of the Zanton girls. The so-called “upper class” was intimidated by possible repercussions if they were to help. On the other hand, they wanted to help if only to find out what was going on . . .
But that didn’t matter, because there was Ljuba, Lucille’s oldest and dearest friend. As always, she and her family came to the rescue.
“Now, let me make one thing very clear!” Ljuba stated. “Mira, Lucille, and I are quite capable of doing whatever is necessary for the wedding.” This was her precious Lucille who was getting married, and no one was going to put her down.
“Ljuba, you need more help than that,” Mark pleaded. “Let me know if there is anything I can do.”
“Mark, we have friends who are going to help us — without the local traitors who would only want to gossip. We don’t need such distraction.”
“All right, have it your way. But let me know if you need me.”
The two families gathered together for some final consultations. The wedding was to take place at St. Stephen’s Church in Gomilka, and the reception was to be at the Zantons’ place (The House).
“Too bad for Joe that he will not see you getting married to Mark. He always liked him.” Ivan was reminiscing. He remembered Mark as a young schoolboy, and now he was marrying his sister.
Father said, “I am getting all kinds of positive reactions from the villagers and good wishes for both of you.”
“The same here,” Mark added. “You are not alone on that one, Father.”
“There hasn’t been much to celebrate around here since the war, so the villagers are ready to party. You can’t blame them. We used to have the best parties in quite an area around us. I am certain we will have them again. Lucille is the right girl for you, son, and parties or no parties, we will be united again.”
There was an overwhelming welcome for Lucille at the house as far as the hired help were concerned. Those people had been witness to the entire goings-on for years and they were more than ready for a big change. Besides, they liked Lucille for who she was and the sort of person she was. These people were not to be fooled. Some of them had even been born there and experienced the good and the bad that had befallen the family for many years. Lucille was a breath of fresh air. The possible benefits of her coming were obvious everywhere throughout the house.
The day before the wedding, Father suggested to Mark, “Son, how about we take a walk to the vineyard and recapture some of the old memories.”
“I am with you, Father,” Mark replied.
“Things will be different now that you are not going to be torn in all directions.”
“I am just tired from all the running around. I don’t know how Lucille does it. She is terribly organized and well ahead of the game, yet I can’t get it all together without getting frustrated. I have to be honest with you, Father, I can’t wait for all this fuss to end. All I want is to have some routine back and fewer worries. Actually, I feel better already just talking with you. Thank you for everything.”
“The pleasure is all mine, son. I feel lucky to have you. I have always enjoyed your company.”
“I am feeling lucky today, too. Let’s drink to that.”
May 25, 1925 started as an overcast day. It was a slow start and a quiet morning. While the rest of the world went about its normal, everyday routine, for the people in Gradsko Selo and Lipa, this day was far from normal. One of the most eligible bachelors in the area and a fine young woman named Lucille were about to be married. After all, he was a popular, as well as a wealthy, young man and he was marrying a very special girl from Lipa.
As you might expect, some were against this union, and others remained neutral. But this was a big event for this particular church. The newlyweds had both attended this church all their lives, so this event was not to be missed.
Lucille sighed, “Ah, I am a bundle of nerves and can’t relax. I wish I didn’t have to go through all this commotion and I wouldn’t if it weren’t for Mark. I have to stay calm for him. I wonder how he is doing.”
Mark, on the other hand, wanted to get the whole thing over with. He wanted Lucille all to himself without anyone’s getting in the way. “What is the weather like outside? Let’s see.” He was anxious.
“It is raining outside. That is not a good sign,” Lucille worried. “I once heard an old wives’ tale that, if it rains on a bride’s dress, she is going to have an unhappy life. But I will be with Mark, and the two of us will face the world together.”
Poor Helena was having a hard time getting ready. “This could very well have been my wedding day, marrying David, had fate not robbed me of my health as well as David at the same time.” Getting ready and having to put up with her sisters’ bickering would not be an easy task for anyone. Helena didn’t really feel as much resentment toward Lucille as she pretended in front of her sisters. Lucille had been very good to her — more than she deserved.
At noon, it started to rain again but just a nice gentle rain. What else could go wrong? Mira and Ljuba had everything under control with the help of their friends.
At this time, the congregation from the church would be making their way home to have lunch. But on this day, not too many were thinking about lunch, as they were invited to the wedding and would be attending the reception at the house.
Lucille looked beautiful. It had taken her all morning, after a sleepless night, to find herself. With Mira and Ljuba by her side, she made it just fine.
Ivan teased, “How is my baby sister today? Oh yes, I have to stop calling you that — after all, you are about to be a married woman. By the way, I am on time; but are you?” He kept teasing her in order to keep things light. He knew his sister very well and her ways of thinking. He knew that she wanted to share this with her family, especially with her beloved mother. And there was another void. Her brother Joe would not be there, either, to share this day with them.
“Not even a card,” she said to Ivan. “This is supposed to be the happiest day of my life.”
“Then keep it that way, kid.” Ivan pinched her cheek and went out for a moment. Ivan also felt disappointed about Joe but refrained from commenting.
Ivan was younger than Mark, so the two did not attend the same classes at school, but they knew each other quite well and were to become great friends in later years.
“Ivan, how good to see you,” Mira greeted her brother. “I wish your brother was as attentive as you. Well, you know what I mean.” Then she hugged him so hard, he couldn’t breathe.
“I could get used to this, you know. I mean this affection and all.”
“Ivan, I am afraid for Lucille. Those Zanton girls could be a danger to anyone they oppose.”
“Don’t you worry about Lucille. She can take care of herself. You are forgetting how mighty that girl can be if provoked. She is not unlike old Pepper used to be — good-natured but proud.”
“I hope you are right. Anyway, we have to believe that she will be all right.”
“Mark will take good care of her.”
Lucille’s dress was a creamy taffeta with a lean bodice, round neckline, long lace sleeves, and a full, long skirt that draped longer at the back. Her veil was short, her shoes were handmade with love and given to her by Ivan. She wore the same accessories as Mira at her own wedding. Her pearl necklace was beautiful and had been given to her
by her mother a long time ago. And Ljuba made her floral bouquet.
“Lucille, you look pale but beautiful. It is time to go,” Ivan said.
“Look, it has stopped raining.” She was happy for that.
“Your brother-in-law is being very generous about this wonderful horse-and-carriage idea,” Ivan observed when they were being picked up.
“Yes. I had no idea that he was treating. I just assumed that the Zantons were providing the transportation.” She was really pleased. “He is not only a good brother-in-law, but a good husband to Mira.” They were both aware of that.
As they reached the church, there was an enormous number of people waiting, and the church was packed — some were there to support the newlyweds and some out of curiosity.
Mark’s eyes filled with tears when he saw Lucille and Ivan walk down the aisle.
You are so beautiful, he thought to himself. This is our moment and it will be our future.
The service was nice; it was very traditional. Neither could later remember much of it. The reception went well and peacefully. An abundance of food, music, laughter, and singing, as well as drinking, took place, and it lasted way into the morning hours.
None of that much mattered to the newlyweds. Their world was now untouchable. They had been waiting for this for a long time. Absorbed in their own happiness and devotion to each other, their future did not seem so bad, now. They could now start a new life and a new family of their own. They could now show the world what love can bring.
At noon the next day, Mark and Lucille showed up at the house to thank Father Zanton for all his support and to see if anyone was still there.
What they discovered was trouble. The girls right away started to make comments.
Before Mark could react to the negative behaviour of his sisters, his father stopped him in order to prevent a colossal outburst on all sides.
“I have everything under control,” stated Father Zanton firmly. “This is the day after a beautiful wedding in our home, and we are going to be happy for the couple in question, or we are going to leave and never come back! Take your choice, my darling daughters.”
The conversation soon turned to gossip, as it usually does after any wedding. Who was wearing what and who got drunk . . .
A lot of pressure was coming from the girls, so Father kept them on a short leash. He would not compromise, and they had to cool down. There was no mistake that the girls loved their father. It was simply hard for them to change their ways, as they had been spoiled.
The next day, Lucille found herself waking up in her new home, where, some time ago, she wasn’t even allowed to visit.
“I just want to linger here forever with you by my side. I am no longer lonely.”
“I wish I could accommodate you and make your dream come true but, there are a few things to be looked after, and lying here isn’t going to get them done.”
“Oh, you must spoil my illusions, must you?” And she struck him on his arm lightly.
“Come on, let’s get down for some breakfast. I am sure the girls can’t wait till we do, and we are keeping them waiting.” Mark nudged her and jumped out of bed.
“Good morning, sleepyheads,” Anna greeted the two of them. “What is your pleasure for today?”
“Sleeping!” both of them answered at once. They all laughed.
“Good morning, Father.” Mark saw him first.
“Good morning, Grandpa,” smiled Lucille.
Everybody and everything stopped.
Then Lucille spoke again. “I have had the wish to call you that for the longest time. And no, I am not expecting yet. You will have to give us some time before we announce any such news.”
“What brought that on?”
“I used to listen to Monika’s kids when they called you that with such love that it made me jealous.”
“You sure frightened us all,” Mark was laughing now even more.
“That is perfectly all right — we need some happy faces around here,” Grandpa now continued. “And you may call me ‘Grandpa’ any time.”
“Will somebody please tell me what you want for breakfast?” Anna demanded.
“Actually, I’m starved and I am sure that you all need some nourishment after yesterday,” Lucille said. She had been quite upset with the girls, because it was only the first day after their wedding, and the girls had no consideration, giving them no time to start a new life. She was not hungry after that. But she was hungry now.
“There is nothing a good night’s sleep won’t cure,” she said. “Today, I am as good as new, and you guys watch out. I just might give you a hard time, as soon as I get something to eat.”
After they all had enjoyed their bacon and eggs, there was laughter and chatter in the kitchen.
“I have always said that everything happens in this kitchen. I mean everything important, that is.” Grandpa was happy to be able to continue the good, old-time kitchen conversation. The house was bustling in an ordinary way, and Lucille could still see Grandpa standing proudly beside them in front of the church at their wedding, showing them off.
Anna finished washing the dishes and went out. The rest of the hired help waited to ask all kinds of questions. Mark noticed this and took Lucille with him outside to greet them all, and from then on, it was easy. Even Bruno, the family dog, took only two days to get friendly with Lucille and he asked her for scraps by wagging his tail right in front of her. She was happy about that.
The following Sunday, Mark and Lucille stopped by the Brunes’ place after the church service. It was time to visit with the two of them and the children. They wanted to thank them for being so good to them during the worst times. Mat and Mark really clicked. The friendship that had formed between the two of them was strong and lasting.
“How would you like to come to our place next Sunday for dinner so we can discuss the wedding?” Lucille asked. “And of course we can then gossip a bit. There is so much I would like to talk about.”
“Mat, how would you like to come to the vineyard with me so we won’t have to listen to all the gossip? I mean, after dinner, not before.”
“I am with you, Mark. Trust me, they won’t miss us at all. I haven’t been there for quite some time, and it will do us both good to unwind.” Mat then sighed deeply.
“Anna, where is Milena? I would like to send her to fetch Monika and her family to come for dinner tomorrow. She hasn’t been here in a while,” Lucille said.
Grandpa interrupted, “Don’t bother, Anna, I will go and have a talk with Boris and see if everything is all right. You know Monika, she may not be feeling well but she doesn’t tell us. Something is not right, there; I could see it in Boris’s face the other day, but he is not allowed to say anything.”
But on Sunday, they showed up, and Helena joined them, reluctantly. Ivan also showed up unexpectedly.
“Look what the wind blew in,” Lucille was happy to say. “My mother used to say, you never have to call them in if there is food on the table. You want to join us?”
“You are asking me? I have been looking forward to this meal the whole week. Mira spilled the beans about the dinner, and I decided to invite myself in case you forgot to invite me. (The truth of the matter was, Grandpa asked Mira to let Ivan know about the dinner to surprise Lucille. He knew how Lucille felt about Ivan, whom she didn’t get to see as much as Mira.)
“I didn’t know about this. Grandpa, did you have anything to do with this?” Lucille inquired. Grandpa just grinned.
Later, they all settled outside under the tree, Grandpa with his pipe between his teeth. He now felt content with his life again as things were settling down after the wedding. He wished that Mother could have joined them. However, a lot would have to be done — sooner rather than later.
“We must raise some cash, but how? Between the three of us, we should be able to
figure it out.” Grandpa was hopeful. “The bank is being helpful for now. They know that we are not poor, but there is a limit to how far we can stretch that. It is awkward, to say the least.”
“If we sell some of the land now, we are sure to feel sorry later. On the other hand, if we sell some of our forest, who would buy it right now? We need the cash now.” Mark was thinking out loud.
Lucille piped up, “Grandpa, how about selling off trees from the forests, the ones that are far away and no one would even miss. Mark told me some time ago that some of you have never even seen that part of the land belonging to the family.”
Mark agreed. “Father, how about it? You said yourself that those trees are mature, and that some of the finest furniture had been made off that part of the forest.”
“My dear child, you are a brilliant girl!”
“So is it settled, then?” Mark felt like dancing. After all the headaches about the cash, this could work well and possibly quickly. “We have to make a plan as to how to get the wood from that part of the forest . . . or should we sell the trees as they are? In which case, the buyers would be removing the trees with family supervision.”
“Let’s do some of each. The wood would be sold for fine furniture, plus some of it would be given to the girls so that they could have furniture made from it.” Grandpa was being fair as always.
“When do we start?” Mark was unable to hold back.
“Do we have any buyers?” Lucille inquired. “I am sure Ivan could help us there. He could casually mention it at one of his Municipal meetings; but I am sure the two of you have your own ideas as how to go about it. The Zantons have always been very advanced business people. Even I know that.”
“Let’s drink to our new beginning.” Grandpa lifted his glass.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Lucille Fits In
THE PLAN WORKED WELL. With plenty of help and the weather still co-operating in September, this money-making idea was overwhelmingly successful — until one day when one of the horses came home dragging Mark behind him with a broken leg and some cracked ribs. Mark had broken his leg while they were cutting trees and he refused to have one of the men take him home. He wanted the production to continue and simply took one of the horses to ride home, as he had done time and time again.
A Touch of Light Page 14