“Good morning, Father Engelmann,” Henry said.
Mr. Engelmann pulled his hands from inside his loose sleeves and held out his arms toward Henry. Henry leaned into him and gave him a quick hug.
“Good morning, Eddy. Good morning, Travis.”
“ ’Morning, Father,” replied both Eddy and Travis in unison.
“Well, Henry, this is the start of a new life for you, a very important day for you and Julean.”
Henry nodded. As usual, Mr. Engelmann knew precisely what he’d been thinking.
“Come. Let us go and see Father Connelly. He has some instructions for you and the boys. Do you have the ring?”
“Right here.” Travis raised his pinky.
Noise of the people entering the church and shuffling into the pews reached the sacristy and Henry’s blood ran cold.
Mr. Engelmann patted his shoulder. “You are a very fortunate man to have the hand of such a beautiful young lady.”
“Yeah, I know.”
Father Connelly changed his black robe to a white vestment exactly like Mr. Engelmann’s, and added a red stole around his collar that draped in front of him to almost his knees.
Fifteen minutes later, Father Connelly peered into the church.
“It’s packed,” he said. “I think everyone is seated now. Perhaps we should go out there and get ready to greet the bride!”
Henry’s heart galloped in response to Father Connelly’s words. Travis came up to Henry and took his arm.
“Come on, Hank. It’s too late to run now.”
Eddy grabbed Henry’s other arm. “Yeah, let’s get the show on the road, Hank.”
Father Connelly led the procession, followed by Mr. Engelmann, then Eddy and Henry, and finally Travis. The boys were quite a trio. Henry’s 5΄11΄΄ frame smoothed out the huge difference in height between Eddy and 6΄1΄΄ Travis. Henry smiled as he visualized them walking to the altar. He was surprised to see Mr. Engelmann stand at the centre and Father Connelly somewhat off to the side. Perhaps Mr. Engelmann was going to perform the wedding ceremony after all?
Margaret Tearhorst, accompanied by her friend Pat Kenton on the piano, began to sing “Love Me Tender.” Pat played softly so that Margaret’s beautiful voice would dominate and be fully appreciated.
After Margaret finished singing, many white hankies were visible. Even Henry had a hard time holding back tears. Margaret and Pat returned to their seats and Father Connelly nodded towards the organ in the choir loft.
As the unmistakable first notes of the “Bridal Chorus” rang out, Henry turned and looked down the long aisle towards the back of the church. Following her two bridesmaids were Julean and her father, Jack. Henry couldn’t make Julean out yet from his vantage point, but as they proceeded, Julean’s veil became visible from behind the bridesmaid in front of her.
The bridesmaid’s blond hair seemed enclosed by Julean’s veil, and reminded Henry of Jenny. There she was, walking down the aisle towards him. Henry blinked twice and shuffled from one foot to the other, trying to clear the image and repress the thought. Travis was looking at him and Henry knew his buddy was thinking he’d suddenly got cold feet and wanted to run out of there. Travis moved closer, but Henry turned away, trying to let him know all was okay. Rather than chastising himself for having entertained such a thought, he abruptly focused on the congregation and his mom and dad. They had their heads turned to the aisle, anticipating the procession and, of course, waiting to see their future daughter-in-law.
Henry turned to Vera, Julean’s mom. She was staring at him rather than the procession coming down the aisle. Their gazes met and locked briefly. She feigned a smile then turned away. Henry wondered what was really behind her eyes. Wondered how Jack and she really felt about the marriage. Henry became increasingly uncomfortable as he thought about it. He knew in his heart they’d hoped their daughter would marry a doctor or pharmacist and definitely someone of their own faith. The feeling that they still hadn’t accepted him strengthened as he stood at the altar.
Then Julean was suddenly beside him. God, she looked beautiful. The veil flowed loosely from the crown of her head and stopped short of her shapely hips. She wore a white satin knee-length dress and white satin high heels. Her dark hair and brown eyes sparkled as she stood there. Her smile radiated such a tender, warm love. Henry couldn’t wait to hold her. He felt like the luckiest guy alive as she let go of her father then kissed his cheek. Jack turned to Henry, shook his hand and motioned Julean towards him. Henry would now watch over and care for his precious daughter.
Julean came over to Henry, kissed him on the cheek as well and took her place at his side. Mr. Engelmann beamed, his hazel eyes so wise and kind. Henry fully expected Mr. Engelmann to move aside for Father Connelly, but Father Connelly remained on the sidelines.
And then it happened. The surprise Mr. Engelmann had spoken of. Simultaneously Father Connelly and Mr. Engelmann made the sign of the cross and, speaking in perfect unison they started the wedding mass.
“In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. My dear Henry and Julean, you have come together in this church so that the Lord may seal and strengthen your love in the presence of the church’s minister and this community. Christ abundantly blesses this love. He has already consecrated you in baptism. And now he enriches and strengthens you by a special sacrament, so that you may assume the duties of marriage in mutual and lasting fidelity. And so, in the presence of the church, I ask you to state your intentions.”
Father Connelly’s Irish accent had gone high against Mr. Engelmann’s lower Austrian one. The combination was melodic and spellbinding.
“Henry and Julean, have you come here freely and without reservation to give yourselves to each other in marriage?”
“We have.”
“Will you love and honour each other as husband and wife for the rest of your lives?”
Julean and Henry looked into each other’s eyes and said in unison, “We will.”
“Will you accept children lovingly from God, and bring them up according to the law of Christ and His church?”
Again Julean and Henry said most sincerely, “We will.”
“Since it is your intention to enter into marriage, join your right hands, and declare your consent before God and His church.”
Julean and Henry turned towards each other, gazed into each other’s eyes and joined their right hands.
Then Henry began.
“I, Henry, take you, Julean, to be my wife. I promise to be true to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. I will love you and honour you all the days of my life.”
Tears came to Julean’s eyes and Henry brushed a tear from her cheek.
“I, Julean, take you, Henry, to be my husband.” She paused, her voice cracking. “I…I…promise to be true to you in good times and in bad. I will love you—”
Another tear rolled down her cheek, taking along with it a streak of black mascara. Once again, Henry gently wiped the tear away and, with the same motion, brushed away tears welling in his eyes as well.
“I will love you,” she repeated, “and honour you all the days of my life.” She then did something which had not been part of the rehearsal. She leaned into Henry and tenderly kissed him, and as she did, ahhs and oohs softly swept across the church like a warm summer breeze.
Julean stepped back slightly as Mr. Engelmann moved closer and looked into Henry’s eyes, then Julean’s. He took a deep breath and then once again in perfect unison with Father Connelly, said, “You have declared your consent before the church. May the Lord in his goodness strengthen your consent and fill you both with his blessings. What God has joined together let no one separate.”
“Amen,” replied Julean and Henry along with many in the congregation.
Mr. Engelmann then asked for the rings to be brought forward. Travis gav
e Henry Julean’s ring, and Julean’s sister gave Julean Henry’s. Father Connelly stepped closer to Mr. Engelmann and they blessed the rings together, their hands moving over the rings in perfect harmony.
As they made the sign of the cross over the rings, they said, “Lord, bless and consecrate Julean and Henry in their love for each other. May these rings be a symbol of true faith in each other and always remind them of their love. We ask this through Christ our Lord…”
“Amen,” Julean and Henry replied.
Slipping the wedding ring onto her finger, Henry said, “Julean, take this ring as a sign of my love and fidelity. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost.”
Julean placed the gold band onto Henry’s finger and said, “Henry, take this ring as a sign of my love and fidelity. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost.”
Mr. Engelmann beamed like Henry had never seen before. In his excitement he raised his arms and for the first time without Father Connelly’s assistance blurted out, “You are now man and wife!” And then waving his hands, he added, “Go on. Kiss each other.”
Jenny sat on the swinging bench in the gazebo, surrounded by green shrubs and beautiful flowers. She had been tending to her mother off and on since her mother had woken from that awful nightmare. She had never seen her mother so distressed. She didn’t seem to be getting over the nightmare the way people usually did.
Jenny had two books with her; one was a copy of Gone With the Wind and the other was her diary. She started to read another chapter in the novel but had difficulty concentrating on it. Besides her worry over her mother, she had something else on her mind.
She decided to write down her thoughts, hoping it would help dispel the uncomfortable feeling.
She opened her diary. It was a special one, with two parts to it. The first part did not require a key, it was held closed with a button tab, and Jenny wrote very general things and happenings in that part. However, there was a second section to the diary which required a key. There she wrote her secret, most personal thoughts. And it was that section she opened now.
September 9, 1962
While I love James, I still have so many recurring thoughts of Henry. Ever since I woke up this morning, Henry has been on my mind. I feel guilty thinking about him when in another year James and I will be married. I thought reading a favourite novel of mine would help me push thoughts of Henry from my mind, but they keep coming back. It’s almost an eerie feeling I have, like something has come between us. I hope he is all right and happy.
A teardrop fell onto the diary page. Jenny made no effort to wipe it away. Rather, she gazed at the tear as it was slowly absorbed by the soft paper and disappeared, just like her first love.
Immediately following the wedding ceremony, the ritual of the mass took place. Mr. Engelmann and Father Connelly approached the altar, now with Father Connelly in the centre.
After the mass was over, Julean and Henry signed the register then walked down the long aisle and out into a beautiful, warm prairie day. A blizzard of confetti swirled around them as they mingled with relatives and guests.
Once Henry and Julean had talked to most of the people there, the newlyweds, best men and bridesmaids escaped into the waiting cars and sped off towards the photography studio, tin cans merrily bouncing and clanging against each other as they drove up and down 11th Avenue, honking horns and letting everyone know Julean and Henry were married.
The dinner meal at the reception was fantastic, the speeches both humorous and touching, and the dance that followed an exuberant expression of the joy they all felt. But perhaps the thing that stuck out most of all in that entire evening, besides being close to his new bride, was the single dance Henry shared with his mother.
When the music began with a very romantic waltz, Julean and Henry were the first on the floor. For the next song, they decided to dance with their parents.
As Henry approached his mom, she looked as if she would cry. He knew she was taking it hard and had been trying to put up a brave front for the past several weeks.
As they danced, they didn’t say much, but somehow their hearts relayed the bond they shared. They knew that it would no longer be the same. Their bond would gradually, naturally fade a bit as Henry’s new bride shared his inner world, but all the memories, the joys and sorrows, would never be forgotten.
For Henry, Mary would always be the woman who loved him first.
Everyone wanted to dance with Henry. And it soon became apparent that the guests felt it was their obligation to dance with the groom, to honour him in that way. However, he so desired Julean that he couldn’t wait for each dance to end and hoped that the next one would be with his new bride.
Every time he got a chance, he held her especially close. Julean snuggled her head into his chest and he, in turn, lowered his head into the crease of her neck. He couldn’t wait for the evening to be over so they could be alone in their bridal suite at the Hotel Saskatchewan.
As Mary watched her son and Julean dance, so much in love, some of the guilt she felt for hiding Jenny’s letter dissipated. All that day, beginning with Henry’s dream and the hat episode that morning, thoughts of Jenny and Henry getting married had plagued her. Even as she visualized Jenny dancing with Henry at that very moment, it was overshadowed by the love Henry and Julean radiated as they looked into each other’s eyes.
It was amazing how everyone lived in their own little world. How the choices people made shaped their reality. Everyone so unique and different. While others would see Henry and Julean dancing on the dance floor so much in love, Mary saw the possibility of Henry dancing with another love of his life; a possibility that she had denied.
Mary shuddered at the omnipotence. She shook her head, trying to shake the thought from her mind. She just knew he and Julean would be very happy together. She smiled at her son dancing by with his new bride.
Yes, I made the right decision.
Mrs. Fix grabbed Henry’s shoulder, almost knocking him over. “You’re not going to get away before you have one dance with me!” she barked, clearly a little tipsy. She was a big strong woman and easily had him under her control. She grabbed his arm, pulled him in and swung him around like a rag doll. Julean and others laughed as they went around and around.
Henry thought for sure he would throw up.
It was the final straw. When Henry next got close to Julean, he whispered to her that he wanted to go. It was only eleven-thirty and the midnight snack would be out soon. People would be more interested in eating than visiting—or dancing—with them. Julean whispered back that she was tired and would like to go, too, but didn’t want to upset anyone.
“Leave it to me,” Henry said. He climbed onto the stage and approached the band leader to tell him he wanted to make an announcement. After Henry tried to quiet everyone several times over the microphone, a hush eventually fell over the reception hall.
“Thank you, everyone, for coming to our wedding. You have made our day a very happy one, which we will always cherish. I have to be honest with you, I can hardly wait to be alone with my new bride, so Julean and I may be sneaking out in a short time.”
Everyone cheered and oohed and there was a wolf whistle Henry suspected had come from Travis.
“Our band leader here says they’ll play until there’s no one left to dance. So, just because Julean and I will be leaving shortly—”
More suggestive cheers went up. Henry blushed furiously.
“…so just because Julean and I may be leaving,” he repeated, “doesn’t mean that you have to. There’s a terrific midnight lunch coming up and I’m sure you’ll all want to stay for that. Please come by Julean’s place tomorrow for a come-and-go lunch from eleven to four. All the gifts we received will be on display in the Carters’ rumpus room, and Julean and I would love to thank you all again and say goodbye before we leave on our honeymoon.
”
Cheers went up again.
“So, thank you all again for coming!”
Henry raised a hand and waved to everyone.
The guests clapped and cheered as Henry walked off the stage and headed straight for his bride. He put his arms around her and kissed her tenderly. The clapping and cheering grew distant and then faded away completely as he lost himself in the bliss of the moment.
And then, just for them the band leader struck up Henry’s request: “Save the Last Dance for Me.”
Chapter Fifty-Nine
Henry and Julean literally ran to their car. It had taken almost another hour for them to say their goodbyes and make it out of the hall. Unbeknownst to Henry, some of the guys had slipped a rope around the back bumper and tied the rope to a tree, so as Henry stepped on the gas to speed away the car jerked to a stop.
“Letting the clutch out too fast, Hank?” Julean asked.
“No, I’m sure it’s not that.” Henry stepped on the gas again, but the tires just spun. Henry smelled rubber as he got out of the car to check. He saw someone dash behind a nearby tree and immediately suspected something was up. He found the heavy rope looped around the end of the chrome bumper and tied to a huge elm tree.
“Those buggers,” Henry muttered. He kicked off the end of the rope and held up his fist and shook it at the tree. He knew they were there. Muffled laughter followed his weak threat.
He started the car again and slowly pressed the gas to silently steal away, but Henry’s stealthiness was shattered by clanking that came from behind them.
Henry and Julean looked at each other.
“Did you hit something?” Julean asked.
“I don’t think so.” But the faster they went the louder the noise became. Henry stopped the car and got out, more than a little perturbed, and there on the other side of the bumper was another rope with dozens of tin cans attached.
Once again, Henry shook his fist into the darkness. “You buggers!”
Another Angel of Love Page 52