A Time to Love

by Al Lacy

“I said, are you as excited about the honeymoon as I am?”

  “Oh. Sure. I’ve always wanted to see Vermont in the summertime.”

  “Me, too,” Linda said, taking a deep breath. “Oh, Lewis, I’m so happy! Just think of it! By this time tomorrow night, we will be Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Carter on the train heading north for Vermont!”

  There was a moment of dead silence, then Lewis said, “Yeah! Just think of it!”

  Linda leaned forward to look at Lewis’s eyes by the glow of the street lanterns. “Darling, is something wrong?”

  “No. Why?”

  “You seem so pensive. Like your mind is a million miles away.”

  Lewis chuckled hollowly. “Oh. I’m sorry. Of course there’s nothing wrong.

  I’m just a little nervous, that’s all.”

  “About what?”

  “About what!” he said incredulously. “In case you didn’t know it, girl, yours truly has never gotten married before! I’m a groom for the first time in my life! So I’m nervous!”

  Linda laughed. “Well, I’ve never been a bride before, either! I’m pretty nervous myself.”

  The harbor came into view, and Linda’s attention shifted.

  “Oh, look, darling!” she said. “The moon’s reflection is magnificent on the water’s surface.”

  Suddenly they heard pounding hooves and iron wheels grating on the cobblestone street. A police wagon whipped past them, accompanied by an officer on horseback. He glanced back at them as he rode by. The police wagon and horseman sped toward the edge of the harbor, then made a right turn up the shoreline.

  “I wonder what that’s all about,” said Lewis.

  Linda craned her neck to follow the movement of wagon and rider, but they soon passed from view.

  Lewis guided the buggy up to the rim of the dark water and pulled rein. “Would you like to get out for a few minutes?” he asked.

  “Oh, yes. I love to stand right at the edge and watch the moonlight flicker on the surface. It’s very romantic.”

  Lewis set the brake and jumped out of the buggy. He hurried around to Linda’s side and helped her down, keeping hold of her hand as they stepped to where the water lapped the shore.

  They could hear excited voices from the direction where the police had gone.

  “Trouble of some kind,” Lewis said, looking in the direction of the sounds.

  After a moment of silence, Linda said, “Lewis, I hope Janet doesn’t embarrass us some way tomorrow night.”

  Lewis nodded. “Yeah. Me, too.”

  “I think Mother and Daddy are sorry they pushed me into asking her to be my maid of honor. She certainly embarrassed them tonight.”

  “That she did.”

  “I’m really not sure why Janet agreed to be my maid of honor. She actually surprised me.”

  Lewis shrugged.

  “Well,” Linda continued, “she sure made it clear tonight that she’d rather have been just about anywhere else.”

  There was silence again, then Linda said, “Lewis, I just thought of something.”

  “What’s that?”

  “As cantankerous as Janet was tonight, I wouldn’t put it past her to just not show up tomorrow night.”

  Lewis’s eyes widened. “You mean not be there for the wedding?”

  “Yes. Especially after Daddy made her excuse herself to the Diamonds before she left tonight.”

  Again they heard the sound of pounding hooves. Soon the police wagon and galloping team materialized out of the darkness and rumbled by within a few feet of where they had parked the buggy.

  When Lewis saw the policeman on horseback coming, he led Linda to the street. The policeman saw them and drew rein.

  “Sorry we about ran you over when we came by earlier, folks,” said the officer, his Irish brogue strong.

  “What happened?” Lewis asked.

  “A young woman tried to commit suicide over there by those warehouses. She jumped in the ’arbor and a couple of night workers saw ’er go in. One of ’em dived in to save ’er while the other one went for help. I was on me beat at the time near there. By the time I got to the spot, the fella had pulled ’er out, but she’d almost drowned ’im, fightin’ him off, screamin’ that she wanted to die. While he pumped water from her lungs, I rode fast for the paddy wagon so’s we could get ’er to the hospital.”

  “Will she be all right?” Linda asked.

  “I think so, missy. She was breathin’ a bit shallow an’ coughin’ when we put ’er in the wagon, but at least she was breathin.” He shook his head. “Ever’ once in a while, we have somebody wants to end it all an takes a jump into the ’arbor. We usually don’t know about it till the body washes up on shore. This girl was plenty fortunate somebody saw ’er go in an’ cared enough about savin’ ’er to jump in after ’er.”

  “And the man who went in after her?” said Lewis. “How is he?”

  “He’ll be all right. Took in some water and got himself some scratches on the face, too.” The officer pulled out his pocket watch, angled it toward the nearest street lamp, and said, “Ain’t you two out a little late?”

  “We’re getting married tomorrow night,” said Lewis. “We were just spending some time in one of Linda’s favorite spots.”

  “Gettin’ married tomorra night, are ya? Well, congratulations. I hope ye have a happy life together. My Maureen and I ’ave been married now for forty-two years.”

  Linda smiled. “Well, congratulations on that, Officer—”

  “Shanahan, missy. Patrick Shanahan.”

  “I hope you and your wife have many more happy years, Officer Shanahan.”

  “Thank ye, missy,” the officer said and grinned. “Well, I’ve got to stay on me beat. You two don’t stay ’ere too much longer, okay?”

  Lewis pulled the buggy up in front of the Forrest house, hopped out, and helped Linda down. When she felt his arms encircle her waist, she raised up on tiptoe and kissed him.

  He led her up onto the front porch, kissed her soundly, and said, “Good night, Linda.”

  She sighed. “Well, darling, the next time I see you will be through my veil when Daddy and I start down the aisle.”

  “And I’m sure you will look beautiful,” he said, and kissed her again. He watched her go inside, then climbed into the buggy and drove away.

  As Linda stepped inside the house, she could hear her parents talking in the parlor.

  Adrienne cut off in the middle of a sentence when she saw Linda come in. “Have a nice drive?” she asked.

  “Yes. The next time I see Lewis, he will be standing in the church, waiting to make me his blushing bride.”

  “Sure you don’t want to call it off till you turn forty, honey?” Nolan asked. “It’s hard to let go of Daddy’s little girl.”

  Linda leaned over his chair and kissed his cheek. “Now, Daddy, you wouldn’t want your little girl to be an old maid, would you?”

  “Sounds all right to me,” he said with a chuckle. “At least till you’re forty.”

  “Maybe your sister will be the old maid,” said Adrienne. “The rate she’s going.”

  “I heard what you were saying about Janet when I came in, Mother, and I agree that her attitude was bad tonight. She made no pretense of the way she feels to be a part of the wedding.”

  Nolan glanced at Adrienne and said, “I wish now that we hadn’t pressured Linda to make Janet her maid of honor just because she’s her sister.”

  Adrienne’s face took on a pinched look. “I … I was so hoping that by her being with Christians in the wedding party, she might decide to get her heart right with God.”

  “I’m afraid it’s going to take more than that to get Janet interested in turning to the Lord,” Nolan said.

  Linda sighed. “You’re right, Daddy. I wish Joline was my maid of honor. But all we can do now is proceed as planned.”

  2

  THE BOSTON RAILROAD STATION was bustling with summer travelers as Ed and Frances Diamond escorted Ed’s mothe
r toward the terminal building.

  “What time is it, son?” Grandma Esther asked.

  “It’s 5:20, Mom. We’re doing fine. Your train doesn’t leave for another twenty-five minutes.”

  “Well, I want you to put me on the train and leave right away. I don’t want you two being late to the wedding.”

  “You worry too much, dear,” Frances said. “We’ll stay till you pull out, then head for the church. The wedding isn’t till seven o’clock.”

  They passed through the doors to the terminal and into a milling crowd.

  As they threaded their way through the press, they saw trains marked for New York City; Washington, D.C.; Portland, Maine; Atlanta, Chicago, Kansas City, and New Orleans. Just beyond the latter was the train to Philadelphia.

  “See, Mom,” Ed said, pointing to Grandma’s train. “We made it in plenty of time.

  Ed and Frances helped Grandma into her coach and sat her down next to an elderly woman about her age. Before Ed had finished putting the luggage in the overhead rack, the two ladies were chatting. Ed and Frances hugged and kissed Grandma good-bye, then stepped off the train just as the conductor was giving his last call to board. They moved up close to the coach and waved at Esther through the window. The engine bell rang and steam hissed from the sides of the train as the whistle blew and the big steel wheels began to turn.

  The deacon chairman and his wife watched until they could no longer see Grandma’s window, then weaved their way through the crowd, heading toward the parking lot. They were approaching the spot where the train to New York City was taking on passengers when Ed grabbed Frances’s arm and stopped cold. “Look at that!” he said.

  Frances’s gaze focused on the boarding passengers, and her eyes widened in shock.

  Nolan and Adrienne Forrest drove through the streets of Boston with their youngest daughter sitting between them. The parents were already in their wedding clothes, but Linda wore a simple day dress and everyday shoes. Her wedding dress, shoes, and other paraphernalia were carefully boxed and lying in the back of the carriage.

  Linda was thrilled about establishing a new home with Lewis, but pulling up roots long buried in Forrest “soil” wasn’t easy. It was a little frightening to be leaving the security of her childhood home. She had grown up in a warm and caring Christian love, one she had vowed to duplicate in her own home with her own family.

  The carriage was drawing near the church, and the sight of it caused Linda’s heart to pick up pace. It was almost six o’clock, and there were other vehicles already in the church parking lot, two of which belonged to Todd Oliver and Earl Watson, two of the groomsmen. The third groomsman, Harold Smith, had planned to ride to the church with Earl Watson.

  Linda looked around for Lewis’s buggy and thought that best man Frank Simons had no doubt “borrowed” it to decorate with banners and a sign saying Just Married. It was probably hidden somewhere around the church at the moment. Lewis might very well have ridden here with Todd Oliver or Earl Watson.

  “Daddy,” Linda said as her father climbed out of the carriage, “would you go inside and see if Lewis is anywhere he might see me? You know the groom isn’t supposed to see his bride on their wedding day until she comes down the aisle on her father’s arm.”

  “Sure, honey. Be right back.”

  As Nolan hastened inside the building, Linda gripped her mothers arm. “I’m nervous, Mom,” she said. “Were you this way when you married Daddy?”

  Adrienne pursed her lips and nodded. “Uh-huh. I sure was. When I started down the aisle on your grandfather’s arm, my knees felt like they had turned to water, and I thought they were going to give way and embarrass me right there on the spot.”

  “Good. Then I don’t feel so bad. I guess this is just normal, right?”

  “Very normal, honey,” said Adrienne, patting her daughter’s hand. “And we females handle this kind of thing better than men do. I imagine right now Lewis’s stomach is churning and the palms of his hands are sweating. When he stands at the altar and sees you start down the aisle with Daddy, he’ll feel like his nerves are going to jump right through his skin. And talk about knees turning watery … his will for sure.”

  Nolan emerged from the church and headed their way. Smiling, he called, “Lewis hasn’t shown up yet. His groomsmen say he’s coming on his own. He should be here any minute. Let’s get you inside quick.”

  Various Sunday school rooms had been set up by Doris Stanford for participants of the wedding party to prepare and wait for their time to put in an appearance. The largest room had been set aside for the bride.

  Aunt Beth was already in the room when Linda and her mother stepped inside. She had brought all the things she might possibly need to fix Linda’s hair and to put the final touches on the dress and train.

  Doris advised Linda and Adrienne that the bridesmaids were preparing themselves with the help of their mothers and sisters in a room down the hall and told them where she had placed the little flower girl and ring bearer, who were in separate rooms being coached by their parents.

  With the help of Aunt Beth, Adrienne, and Doris, Linda slipped out of her day dress and shoes and into her white wedding shoes, then stood ready as her aunt carefully lowered the lovely white organza dress over her neatly coiffed, shining auburn hair.

  The dress glided smoothly over her slender form. Not one curl was disturbed, but Beth had spotted a couple of curls that might need a little attention.

  Linda’s mother moved behind her and began buttoning up the pearl buttons on the back of the dress that ran from the neck to Linda’s tiny waist. Aunt Beth took care of the wayward curls, then fussed with the lace at the neck of the dress and the delicate ruffles that cascaded down the back into a short train.

  When Beth was satisfied that every flounce and fold were proper, she took the filmy veil and placed it among the curls on Linda’s head.

  Adrienne smiled with pride. “You’re the most beautiful bride I’ve ever seen, honey.”

  “You might be just a mite prejudiced, Mom,” Linda said, smiling sweetly.

  Doris Stanford laughed. “Well, if you are a little prejudiced, Adrienne, you have good reason to be. She’s stunning.”

  Adrienne smiled with pride.

  As Aunt Beth fluffed out the veil then pulled a short length of it over Linda’s glowing face, there was a light tap on the door.

  “I’ll get it,” Doris said.

  Organist Letha Myers and soloist Peggy Wilson stood outside. “Could we see Linda for a moment?” Letha asked.

  Sure. Come in.”

  Peggy, who was barely nineteen, said, “Wow, Linda! Lewis is going to drool all over himself when he sees you!”

  The other women laughed, then middle-aged Letha, who was short and rotund, said, “When I get to heaven, I’m going to ask the Lord why He made Linda so slender and gorgeous, and made me stumpy and barely able to trap a husband!”

  “Oh, Letha,” Linda said, “you’re one of the most beautiful people I know!”

  “Thanks, honey,” Letha said with a chuckle. “Well, it’s almost time to start playing the organ. See you out there.”

  “You’re going to stun the whole crowd, Linda,” Peggy said, and followed Letha to the door.

  Linda hugged both women, thanking them for what they were doing to make the wedding so perfect, and Doris shooed them out.

  A long mirror on a stand had been placed in the room so that Linda could see herself front and back. She viewed herself from every angle, then turned and hugged her mother with one arm and her aunt with the other. “Thank you, Mom, for making my hair look so good … and thank you, Aunt Beth, for making this beautiful dress.”

  Tears threatened to spill down Linda’s cheeks, and she quickly steeled herself to keep them back. Then she turned to embrace Doris and said, “Thank you for working so hard to make this wedding all that it should be.”

  “It’s my pleasure and joy, honey,” Doris said, kissing her cheek.

  Linda to
ok a deep breath. “Well, I guess I’m ready.”

  As sounds of the arriving guests came through the door, Linda swallowed hard. “Oh, Mom, I’ve got a million butterflies in my stomach!”

  “I know the feeling, honey.”

  “So do I,” Doris said.

  “Me, too,” spoke up Beth, who had been widowed almost a year previously.

  There was another tap on the door. Doris swung it open to see Joline Jensen with a worried look on her face. She looked past Doris and said, “Oh, my! Linda, you look ravishing!”

  Doris stepped back and allowed Joline entrance into the room, then quickly closed the door.

  “Thank you,” Linda said a bit uncertainly, taking in the worried look on her best friend’s face. “Is something wrong?”

  Joline looked the room over. “Well, maybe. Janet’s not around here, is she?”

  “You mean she’s not getting ready in the bridesmaids’ room?” Doris asked.

  “No. We thought she would be with us, but we got to wondering if maybe she decided to get ready down here with Linda.”

  Linda’s face lost color as she looked at her mom and said, “Where could she be?”

  “Honey, I don’t know, but you know your sister has always been the tardy one. Certainly she’ll be here any minute.”

  Doris lifted the decorative pin watch on her dress and checked the time. “It’s 6:35. If she doesn’t get here pretty soon, she isn’t going to be ready to march down the aisle.”

  At that very moment, they heard Letha Myers start up the pump organ.

  “That’s my cue,” Doris said. “I need to check on the flower girl and ring bearer, then I’ll look in on the other bridesmaids.” To Joline she said, “Everybody else in your room ready?”

  “Yes.”

  “Okay. I’ll be back shortly.”

  Deep lines formed on Linda’s flawless brow. “Oh, Mom, what’ll we do if Janet doesn’t get here in time?”

  “Now, honey, don’t let this upset you. Maybe by now she’s already down in the room with the other girls.”

  “I’ll go see,” Joline said.

  In the pastor’s office—where the groom and his groomsmen were to meet with the pastor before entering the auditorium for the ceremony—best man Frank Simons was pacing nervously. “Where could he be, Pastor?” he asked.