She hadn’t known what she would wear, but Lizzy surprised her, having located her mother’s wedding dress in the attic. It needed cleaning but little alteration. It was comforting to know she could wear it. A part of her parents would be shared with her own wedding.
The dress was beautiful. It was candlelight satin with a sheer overlay of the most delicate cotton muslin she had ever seen. A darker ecru satin accented the edges and formed a V at both the bodice and the back in an accordion fashion. The sleeves were fitted satin on the top of her arms, blossoming out in a sheer puff of the cotton muslin that covered the elbow and flared just above the wrist. Seed pearls were placed sparingly within the muslin overlay to form an almost ethereal creation. Some of the fabric for the hoop skirt of her mother’s time was removed so that the skirt had more of the flounce look that had become popular before the war. The extra materials went into her trousseau.
She looked over at the delicate wreath of orange blossoms and satin she planned to wear. Sara’s dress of white muslin hung next to her own. Its bodice was styled to mimic her own.
Two hours to go. Aiden had popped in no fewer than four times already. His pants and jacket were pulled together from some of Nolan’s old clothes. He looked very handsome. He was proud of his new clothes. Even Bo had a necktie.
Jackson had insisted that when the war ended, and Nolan came home, they would have a reception to celebrate his homecoming and their marriage. He was a thoughtful man, even if he was bossy and a Yankee.
She had only good feelings about marrying him. It was like he expected any qualm she could have and addressed it before she could. He told her he wanted her the way she was and wouldn’t change so much as a hair on her head.
She wouldn’t change him, either. Aiden loved him to death. The two of them and Bo had gone fishing by the creek three times this week. Aiden showed him what Nolan had taught him and called him his other ‘brudder.’
The door opened, and Bo burst in followed by Ol’ Indie and another dog she didn’t recognize at first. “Rinny! Oh Rinny, you have a necktie, too!”
“Yes, chile. Your Ol’ Indie isn’t gonna allow her best baby girl get married without a proper dressed wedding party and send-off, now is she?”
Smiling, Ella jumped up to hug the old woman’s neck. “You did it! Rinny is okay. Jackson told me about how he and Nolan saved him and...” Tears flowed from both women.
“I fixed him the best I know how. He seems good, but he was missing his people a powerful lot.”
“That is so sad for him, but we will shower him with love. Sara plans to keep him with her some until Nolan gets back.”
“He will like Miss Sara.” The old woman declared, smiling, and scratched the dog behind his ear. “Now step back and let me check you out.” She nodded in appreciation and smiled broadly.
“Lizzy, you missed dis little piece.” She pulled on Ella’s hand, opening it and placed a small cameo in her palm. “Besides dis dress being old and new, I thought a little more ‘sump’um old’ might be helpful. It's important to know where you been. Dis pin was your mamma’s. Before she left us, she gave me this and asked me to make sure you wore it on your wedding day. I promised her, and Ol’ Indie keeps her promises.” She dabbed the corner of her eye with a lace handkerchief.
“I remember that pin. I thought we had lost it when Mamma died. Papa had looked for it. Momma wore it all the time. She told me it had been her mamma’s.” She squeezed her hand around the cameo and then pinned it on her dress.
Ol’ Indie’s gift turned on the tears.
“Lord, chile, this a happy day." She took her handkerchief and dabbed Ella’s tears away. "Your mamma is smiling today. She knows dis be de right man for you.”
"Thank you Ol' Indie.” She squeezed the old woman and kissed her cheek. “You have given me the most perfect gift.”
Jackson waited downstairs in the parlor. It was his wedding day. He didn’t think he would ever marry, and then he met Ella. The woman had turned his life upside down. Her smile ignited warmth and joy and radiated a peacefulness he had never known. She owned his heart.
Lizzy sat down by the pianoforte and began.
It was time.
He looked towards the door and knew without a doubt he was marrying the most beautiful woman in the world—the only woman in the world for him.
Ella heard the music starting up. Checking herself in the mirror, she pushed back a stray tear. This was it. She was actually getting married. How would it have been to have her mamma and papa here?
Closing her eyes, she imagined she and Mamma together before Mamma had taken ill. She missed her so much, and never more than at this moment. Mamma would hug her close and tell her how much she loved her. She’d whisper how much she liked Jackson, and then smile at her. Mamma always smiled. Jackson would have loved Mamma, too.
Ella checked her reflection in the mirror once more and pinched her cheeks for color. She felt beautiful. The dress was once her mamma’s. It felt soft and lovely on her skin. She is here.
Clutching a spray of orange-blossoms and rosebuds close to her heart, she stood in the doorway. Ella was anxious to start. Pastor Larson, Sara’s father, traveled two days to get here. It wouldn’t have been the same without him. He liked Jackson, according to Sara, and minced no words in telling him so, as well as what he would do if he ever hurt her. She smiled at that thought. Jackson would never hurt her, but Pastor Larson’s concern touched her.
Jackson and Marshall stood ready at the front of the church. She took a deep, slow breath to ready herself, and caught Jackson’s smiling face. He was so handsome in his uniform, even if it was the wrong color.
Aiden insisted on giving her away once he understood he wasn’t really giving her away. Sara came behind her, and Bo and Rinny followed in tow.
Ella put her hand in Jackson’s and the only sound she could hear in the room was the beating of her heart until Pastor Larson nudged her for her pledge. “I do.” She smiled.
“I now pronounce you husband and wife.” The rest of his words faded to background. She was married. She was Jackson’s wife.
The reception passed too slowly. Jackson was anxious to hold his wife in a way a man could only do in the privacy of his bedroom. He had had all the small talk he could handle. He looked at Ella. “Wife, are we ready to wave goodbye to our guests?” He leaned down and nuzzled her neck, and whispered, “So that we can discover other pleasures?”
Yes, husband, I am ready.” His breath tickled her neck, setting off the familiar warmth spreading throughout her lower limbs. “Let me say something to Aiden just so he won’t worry about me.”
She reached Aiden and leaned down, telling him it was time for her and Jackson to leave the party. She would join them tomorrow. To her surprise, Aiden grinned.
“Jackson told me about this. He said you have wedding games you have to play. And he wants to win,” he whispered.
Shocked, Ella looked around and caught the smile on Jackson and Marshall’s faces. Determined not to let him have the upper hand, she leaned down and kissed Aiden. “I plan to win at least once, Aiden.” They both grinned.
“Come, wife. Let’s bid these guests merry and leave.”
Jackson reached down and picked her up. He carried her upstairs while she buried her head in his shoulder. The guests waved and then returned to celebrating the nuptials.
She was now Mrs. Jackson Ross. Conflict was all around her, but on this day, the only thing she surrounded herself with was love and Jackson. As they entered her room, she kicked the door closed behind them. Theirs would be a private celebration, one she had anticipated all week.
Epilogue
New Bern, North Carolina
December 12, 1862
Jackson and Aiden pulled the twelve-foot Loblolly pine through the front door, a cold breeze rushing in behind them. “Aiden, guide the rear towards the middle, son, so it won’t hit the walls and get damaged coming through the doorway.
“Yes, suh!” The l
ittle boy clapped his hands, wearing his biggest smile. “This is so exciting. It’s almost Christmas! We’ve never stuck a tree in the house before! I bet Ella will be surprised when she sees this beaut-i-ful tree. She always wanted a tree.
Bo followed behind them, alternating between tugging and barking at the rope tied to a secured bundle of pine boughs that Jackson and Aiden left on the porch. The pup had dragged them in until they became stuck in the doorway, lodged awkwardly. Bo gave a final tug and the boughs catapulted through the door, causing him to fall backward, sprawling into a landing on his bottom.
Aiden erupted into peals of laughter. “Bo! You are a funny dog. We were gonna get those!
Jackson bent down and loosened the package of boughs. “I’m amazed he got these into the house still in a bundle. I thought we would have to toss the ruined ones and cut more.” He laughed. “Your sister will be surprised—that is, if she didn’t hear us coming with all of our commotions.” He smiled at his little helpers and gently chucked Aiden under the chin, gaining another big smile from the little boy and a bark from Bo.
“Let’s see if Carter can help us get this into the parlor and stand it up. I think a third hand could help us keep it from dragging so we can keep some of those beautiful pine needles on the tree.” He pointed behind him at the trail of pine. “What do you think, little buddy?”
“What’s all the barking about?” A smiling Carter entered the hallway from the back of the house, carrying the newly built tree stand. “Suh, I think dis will work. Here is the twine you asked ’bout to tie it up into place.”
Carter set the tree stand in front of the parlor windows. “Miss Ella always talked ’bout her wanting a Christmas tree right here.” He gazed up and down the tree. “Oh boy! She gonna love des big tree.”
Jackson and Carter finished arranging the tree in the stand with Aiden supervising. Stepping back, they admired their handiwork. “You recommended a fine Christmas tree, Carter. And you did a great job with that tree stand. It should hold it straight.” He pulled the loose twine from his pants pocket. “Can you help me secure it to the window? Let’s try to tie it from the top.” He reached up towards one of the top limbs. “It won’t show if we anchor it from behind. I want to trust it won’t fall.
As they finished their handiwork, Ella walked into the room. “Oh! Don’t want to think of that gorgeous tree falling!” She went to sit down on the couch but was almost mowed over by her young brother and his faithful companion. “There you are. I was worried about my little man. It’s cold out there.” She hugged him and kissed Bo on the nose.
“Looky, sista! Jackson and me, we found our tree for Santa Claus! Don’t you think it’s beaut-i-ful?” Aiden jumped up and down.
“Oh, it is, Aiden. Truly.”
“Hurry! Let’s decorate it!”
“Yes, let’s start with this.” She handed Jackson and Aiden some strings. “I’ll keep stringing.”
She took her seat on the couch and grabbed up a bowl of popped corn and her needle and thread, continuing to string popped corn. “I read about this in Godey’s.” Ella picked up a pile of strung popped corn and showed where she was still working on it. “I can tie this off and start a new string. That might be better. The drawing they had made the tree look pretty. I thought it’d look nice on our tree.
“It will be fine looking,” Jackson agreed. He moved over to the fireplace mantle and withdrew a book-sized box. “It’s a star. I carved it.” He handed it to Ella. “Aiden, do you think you would do the honors and place this on top of the tree when we get all of the decorating done?”
“A new tradition. I love that. The star is perfect!” Ella got up, holding yards of popcorn on the string. We will need something to stand on to hang this.” She pointed to a small ladder in the corner of the room, behind the door.
She stepped back, satisfied with her work. “Now this is done, we just have to finish the cotton angels. Aiden, you can help with these, if you’d like. I’m using this flour paste to glue these little cotton balls into small angel forms. Then I thread a string through the top and tie them off and we hang them.
The three of them worked together putting the strings of popcorn around it, watching a very festive tree take shape.
“Gee! This tree looks better than any Christmas tree I’ve ever had!” Aiden beamed.
Jackson chortled as he watched Ella and Aiden place the finished angels amid the strings of popcorn.
Ella tied off the last the few angels and handed them to Aiden to hang.
“Can we put it up there, suh?” Aiden held the angel up, pointing to the top part of the tree.
“Sure, I will be your ladder.” He jovially lifted the little boy on his shoulders and walked around the tree, standing as Aiden hung the remaining angel.
It’s beautiful. I don’t think I will ever forget this day.” Ella loved watching her little brother’s enthusiasm as he hung the ornaments.
She reminisced as she watched them work, thinking back to the last Christmas her family was together.
Nolan had been home from school. Aiden had been only two. They hadn’t had a tree that year. Instead, she had made stockings. She wondered where the stockings had been stored. Her thoughts turned to Nolan and she pondered what he might be doing and if he was okay.
A couple of hours later, the decorating had been finished except for the lights. Lizzy brought small candles in little wooden holders fastened to clothespins to secure on the limbs.
The help had thinned out. Aiden and Bo had both fallen to sleep in front of the fire. Jackson and Ella admired the tree from their place on the couch, warmed by a crackling fire in the fireplace. The star lay on top of the pianoforte in the far corner of the room, opposite the window.
“We’ll wait to hang the star when they wake up.” Ella laughed. She stared into the fire, mesmerized.
“A penny for the thoughts that have taken you away from this warm fire, darling?” Jackson stood and circled around the tree to her side. “You know, if someone had told me I would find happiness while fighting this war, I’d have never believed it.” He rubbed her shoulders affectionately. “Yet, so much has happened in such a short time. I don’t think I’ll take even a minute of life for granted again.”
“I never expected all of this. It seems like it was meant to be. But I don’t know if it’s fair that so much of our world is embroiled with grief, yet my life—our lives—have gotten better.” She shuddered as she recalled thoughts of her brother and father. The silence was deafening. “I hope they are okay.”
“Who?”
“Nolan and Pa. I wonder if…I think about whether they are safe if they are okay, and...” She couldn’t finish her thought.
“I have heard nothing about Nolan, love, so my thinking is no news is good news. As for your father, I think Nolan mentioned he planned to ask and start searching.”
“I hope he will find him, and that he is all right.” She missed Nolan and her father, but today, her heart was full. She still had her family—Jackson, Aiden, and Bo. Her hand touched her stomach and rubbed it gently. In that moment, she decided.
“Jackson, I think I have the perfect Christmas present for you, but I don’t want to wait.”
“Then don’t!” He laughed. “Surprise is overrated.”
She leaned into him and ran her hand along the underside of his chin. Her hands moved up and curled in his hair. “Well…first, I should mention we will need to renovate the room next to Aiden.” She bit her lip and waited.
“Why would that be?”
“Well,” she started slowly, “That would be where our son or daughter will sleep.” Ella slowly took Jackson’s right hand and placed it on her stomach, holding her hand over it. She watched his expression change from pensiveness to confusion to wonderment. Waiting, she sucked in her breath, hoping.
A broad smile lit up his face.
“A baby?” He encircled her waist, pulled her closer.
She nodded, smiling.
“W
hen?” He nuzzled her ear, kissing it and moved down her neck.
“Perhaps July, if I have my calculations right.”
A small whimper of contentment escaped him, and he moved to her chest, covering the exposed skin with soft kisses.
Tingling, she felt a familiar heat ignite her middle. “I missed my monthly and didn’t think about it until a couple of weeks later. I’m two months along, I think. I wanted to keep it until Christmas, but I couldn’t wait another three weeks to tell you.” She rested her head against his chest, breathing in the sandalwood essence of him.
“We will have another addition to our family.” Jackson jumped up and slapped his knee. With giddy excitement, he picked her up, spinning her around. “I hope she looks just like you. Your eyes mesmerized me from the first day I met you. And your spicy, uncompromising spirit is perfectly matched by your beautiful red hair.”
She smiled. “So, you won’t be disappointed if this is a little girl? I was so worried you might be.” A boy or girl would be fine, but she had only had boys in the house. She wanted this child to be a little girl.
“Absolutely not!”
Ella reached up and slanted her lips over his. Her tongue met his in a slow, familiar dance. Jackson moved his arms behind her, pulling up her dress inches at a time and moving her down on the couch. In minutes, low pants were coming from both.
Bo barked, and their kiss met an untimely end.
Ella and Jackson sat up, wordlessly adjusting themselves on the couch.
A muffled grunt sounded from under Bo, who was lying over his young master’s face as if to cover his eyes. Aiden heaved his puppy aside and sat up, wiping the sleep away.
“Bo, you were smuddering my nose!”
Laughing, Jackson reached down and picked up his little buddy. “Aiden, what would you think if we told you we will have a baby?”
Embers of Anger (Embattled Hearts Book 1) Page 28