Plain City Bridesmaids

by Dianne Christner

  Katy tilted her head. “It sounds like you’re up to something. Let me guess. A computer cam so that we can talk to you in Bangladesh?”

  Megan scowled, looking beautiful as ever. “How did you know about those?”

  “Jessie explained them to me.”

  “Oh. I knew you wouldn’t agree to that. Anyway, you’ll be on your honeymoon. But one of my friends at school is great at photography. He does his photos on the computer. I’d like to arrange for him to shoot your wedding.”

  Katy smiled with pleasure. “I’d love it. As long as we keep it simple.”

  “Great. You won’t even know what he’s up to, I promise. I think my parents will chip in. We’ll definitely keep it simple.”

  “I’m so blessed,” Katy whispered. “I wish your photographer was here today. This is a day I always want to remember … with the three of us together.”

  “Don’t worry,” Lil said. “We won’t let you forget anything.” She reached out to give Katy a hug and knocked her covering askew.

  With her heart swelling with fondness for her friends, Katy reached up to straighten it, suddenly realizing that neither of her friends wore theirs, and it didn’t hurt her any longer. She said with choking emotion, “Once Jake and I find another place and you guys live here, if Jake ever has to take an out-of-town job, I’m joining you for a sleepover.”

  Lil scowled. “Duh? That’s just a given.”

  EPILOGUE

  Katy and Jake faced each other for the first time as husband and wife. She drank in the masculine planes of his clean-shaven face, his fresh haircut, the softening of his dark eyes, and three things struck her at once: the intensity of his love for her, its sincerity, and that it was hers for the taking. She stood on tiptoe. His head lowered to give her the traditional wedding kiss. When she heard clapping, she drew away blushing.

  “I love you,” he whispered.

  “Love you, too,” she replied.

  A white rose petal drifted down and landed on the grass at their feet.

  Their kissing tree had become their wedding tree. Katy’s idea of placing satin bows of purest white and sprinkling white primroses throughout the weeping willow branches made it a lovely altar for their vows. Since they’d had their first kiss beneath it, and since Jake had proposed there, the Byler farm had been deemed the perfect place for their June wedding.

  They turned and looked out over their guests. Jake had made benches for the ceremony, and together they had painted them white. The picturesque white sparkled clean against the lush summer lawn and the more distant green cornfields. Their friends and family brightened the benches with color and laughter.

  Holding hands, they moved down the center aisle, greeting guests as they moved along. Her gown swished over the freshly mowed grass, but for once, Katy wasn’t worried about stains.

  Her gown was everything she’d ever dreamed it could be. Her mother had sewn the satin dress in a simple, yet elegant style with a high neck and quarter-length sleeves. She had embroidered the neck and the hem. Now it glistened in the late afternoon sunlight.

  The mothers of the bride and groom had conspired to find a stringed head covering that Minnie had once made—when she designed and sewed bonnets for extra income. Mrs. Yoder had removed the strings and added longer, wider satin ribbons that now streamed down Katy’s back, serving as her wedding veil.

  Katy’s hair was twisted and pinned up beneath the covering. Before the wedding, when she’d fixed her hair, she daydreamed of her new groom removing the pins. For once, she wouldn’t slap his hands away, like she had so many times before when he was just a mischievous little boy who took pleasure in yanking her ponytail.

  Now as they edged forward, Katy’s left arm held her bouquet so that the white roses nestled in the hollow of her skirt, adding the perfect adornment to her plain gown. From her tiny cinched waist, the fabric draped elegantly over the slim curve of her hips to the ground. Having taken a good look at herself in the full-length mirror Lil had purchased for the doddy house closet, she’d felt more of a Cinderella than she had the night of the ballet.

  She blushed now to remember the silk white negligee that was packed in her suitcase. It had not been cut with such modesty. Thankfully, it was not being captured on film. It had been a gift from Lil. And Katy had wondered if Jake had put his cousin up to it.

  Beside her, Jake looked handsome in his new black suit. He wore a white shirt and a vest made from the same material as Katy’s wedding dress. But it was the possessive look in his eyes that made Katy’s heart turn somersaults. She hoped the photographer would catch that look as well as the lopsided grin sometime before the day was over.

  Their attendants trailed behind them. Lil was paired with Cal, and Megan with Chad Penner. Karen walked with their oldest brother, and Erin with David. The bridesmaids wore simple lavender dresses, hand-sewn from a Butterick pattern Katy had found at the discount fabric store.

  When they reached the last row, Jessie stood beside the Brooks, holding Addison’s hand. When Jessie gave Jake a hug. Katy didn’t resent it one bit. In fact she took pleasure in seeing the rare occasion of Jake’s blush.

  “I didn’t initiate that,” he whispered, his voice thick with his Dutch accent, as they moved toward the table that had been set up for the wedding party.

  “We’ll discuss it later,” Katy replied, feigning displeasure.

  He glanced at her to see how much trouble he was in, and she affectionately squeezed his hand.

  When it came time to cut the wedding cake, Katy and Jake took their places to do the traditional first bites. Their arms interlocked, Katy stared at the piece of cake that hovered in front of her face. He pushed it closer, and she closed her lips, teasing him. He had already licked his bite greedily clean. His mouth quirked in a grin, then his lips grew serious, and he gave her a most sincere gaze, one she’d come to love of late.

  “I’ll never force you to do anything, Katy. I’m not that kind of guy.” Forgetting about their enraptured audience for a few seconds, she touched his cheek, inadvertently getting frosting in his black hair. She opened her mouth and accepted the creamy confection. Maybe the S word woouldn’t be so bad after all. “You’re getting more tolerable all the time.”

  “And you haven’t seen anything yet.”

  When they stepped away from the table, Katy pointed toward his sparkling truck. “Did you see what David did?” When she had enlisted David to wash it, she forgot how easy that would make it for him to tie a string of cans from its hitch.

  Jake gave her a sideways frown. “I saw. He’s after Erin, you know. I mean to have a frank talk with him when we get back from our honeymoon.”

  “But he’s such a nice guy,” Katy couldn’t resist saying, thinking of her mother. Just before the wedding, her mom had predicted again, I know marriage will make you happy. And although she hadn’t added that Jake was such a nice boy, Katy knew that Jake had won her mother over the day he took her little brothers fishing so that Mrs. Yoder could run some wedding errands.

  With fondness, she also remembered how her dad had called her dumpling when he walked her down the aisle. Although he’d given his blessing on the marriage weeks earlier, he’d also given Jake a private talk, a rather stern one if evidenced by the pale expression Jake had worn afterward.

  She blinked out of her reverie. “I need to talk to Mrs. Landis before the cake table is inaccessible.”

  “All right. I’m going to go see what damage David did to my truck.”

  Katy praised Mrs. Landis for her work on the triple-layer cake. “I’m so glad you took care of finding servers for me.”

  “Oh, it’s nothing. I enjoy doing this,” Mrs. Landis replied. The woman seemed happier than Katy had seen her in months.

  A few minutes later, Jake returned and drew her off to the side.

  “Everything all right?” she asked.

  “Elizabeth went into labor. David went with their family to the hospital.”

  “How exciting!�
��

  Jake glanced around the milling crowd. “How much longer do we need to stay here?”

  Everyone was having fun, but now that the cake had been served, the party would soon wind down, and they wished to make their exit before that happened. “Why—” She cut her comment short when Minnie marched up to them.

  The older woman stopped, toe to toe with Katy, her eyes squinting at Katy’s covering, staring far longer than normal or polite. Katy began to feel uneasy. She’d seen that look in Minnie’s eyes before. And when Minnie stretched forth her arm, Katy squeezed Jake’s hand, hoping he saw what was happening, too. Minnie was going to make a move for her covering again!

  But the old woman was too quick for Katy or Jake, and her hand flashed out and up, nabbing one of the satin ribbons. She wound it around her age-worn fingers, cracked from hours of quilting. Katy froze, waiting for her to yank it off her head. This time, she determined, she wasn’t going to make a fuss. Yet she had envisioned allowing Jake to remove it. It was her wedding veil, and it symbolized so much for her. She sucked in her breath, afraid to move.

  “Now Gram,” Jake began, “that’s Katy’s wedding veil.”

  “I made this, didn’t I?” Minnie asked, ignoring her grandson and narrowing her eyes with unmistakable mischief.

  “Yes, Minnie,” Katy softly gasped. “And I’ll always cherish it.”

  Emotion flashed in Minnie’s eyes, and she dropped the ribbon. Her mouth moved almost fishlike. Then she suddenly shook her head in protest, emphatically thrusting her finger against Jake’s suit jacket. “This! This!” she insisted loudly.

  Aghast, Katy looked at her groom. Then slowly, understanding dawned. “You want me to cherish your grandson instead? Oh Minnie, I do cherish him.”

  Minnie didn’t reply, but she dropped her hand and got a big grin on her face as she dismissed them by marching off toward the cake table.

  Katy let out a sigh of relief then grinned up at Jake. “That was a close one. She’s right, you know.”

  Jake demonstrated his agreement by sweeping Katy into his arms right next to the willow tree, for all the world to see. He kissed her until there was no doubt left in her mind that he cherished her, too, and that it was time to make a dash for that shiny, black pickup truck.

  KATY’S JOURNAL

  Cleaning Tips

  Cold or hot coffee cleans drainpipes.

  Vinegar in front-loader washers kills mildew on seals.

  Keep home cleaner by sweeping driveways and entryways.

  Use paintbrushes to dust cracks and hard-to-reach places in telephones, stereos, etc.

  Shine a stainless steel sink with vinegar or a touch of oil on a cloth to make the sink sparkle

  Cleaning my feather duster: Keep dipping and swirling in soapy water and rinsing in clear water until the water stays clear.

  Then dry with feathers up.

  Miscellaneous Tips

  Ice cubes sharpen garbage disposal blades.

  Chopping onions takes rust off knives.

  Outsiders: peel like an onion to see what’s really inside before discarding. Stop judging their actions without understanding their motives. “Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts” (Proverbs 21:2).

  Do not underestimate the elderly. Though their feet move slower, their hands remain lightning fast and their thoughts are as mysterious as the universe.

  Kissing trees make wonderful wedding altars.

  Stains

  Burned food in dishes: fill with water and 2 tablespoons baking soda. Soak. Scrub.

  Ring around the collar: shampoo cleans the body oils away.

  Gum: first cool and harden, then scrape most off with hard edge, then rub remainder with egg whites.

  Tomato stains: run cool water until clear, then blot with white vinegar. Note: Removes the stain but does not remove memory of the incident. I remain in search of that particular cleansing agent, that can renew my mind.

  Later entry: It is forgiveness.

  Removing Jake’s scent: sprinkled a pinch of baking soda on my white blouse where our shoulders touched. Do not give in to temptation to sleep with untreated blouse under my pillow.

  Hand Cream Home Remedies

  Recipe One

  2 ounces beeswax

  1 cup sweet almond oil

  1 cup water

  Heat, heating water separately, then blend. Cool and store in jar or tin.

  Use as hand lotion.

  Recipe Two

  ½ cup olive oil

  A few drops of scented lavender drops from dollar store

  Wear gloves until it soaks into skin

  Recipe Three

  1 banana

  1 teaspoon honey

  Juice of one lime

  1 tablespoon butter

  Mash banana and add to honey, lime juice, and butter. Blend and put in container. Leave on at least two hours with gloves.

  Spring-Cleaning Tips

  Use a natural sponge. Wash down kitchen backsplashes with vinegar water.

  Use dishwasher to clean odds and ends.

  Check expiration dates of medicine-cabinet and refrigerator items and make a shopping list for employer.

  Check smoke alarms before they go off in the middle of the night and frighten little Addison.

  Window blinds: use a white glove and dip in vinegar water (equal parts vinegar and water).

  Toss shower curtains in washer.

  Personal note 1: to survive winter until spring arrives, stir up my faith, wrap myself in God’s hope, and watch for Dutchman’s breeches. God is able.

  Personal note 2: new beginnings are not only possible but wonderful!

  Cleaning Recipes

  Wood-Paneling Recipe:

  1 pint warm water

  4 tablespoons white or apple vinegar

  2 tablespoons olive oil

  Apply with a clean cloth. Let soak a few minutes, and wipe off with a dry cloth.

  Windows Recipe:

  2 cups water

  3 tablespoons vinegar

  ½ teaspoon liquid dishwashing detergent

  Squeegee

  Tip: Clean one side horizontally and the other vertically so you can determine which side has streaks

  Cleaning the Microwave:

  1 cup coffee

  1 slice lemon

  Microwave a few minutes, let it set, and it softens the spills. Wipe down with warm, soapy water.

  The Head Covering

  “But I would have you know that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God. Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head. But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven. For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered. For a man indeed ought not to cover his head forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man. For the man is not of the woman: but the woman of the man. Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man. For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels. Nevertheless, neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord. For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things of God.

  “Judge in yourselves, is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered? Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him? But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering. But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God.”

  1 CORINTHIANS 11:3–16

  Journal disclaimer: Cleaning tips and recipes try at your own risk. Same with applying Katy’s personal tips.

  SOMETHING

  NEW

  DEDICATION

  To Jim, my own Plain City swee
theart.

  I hope this story honors your fond memories of growing up on a farm.

  PROLOGUE

  Ten-year-old Lillian Mae Landis inched her toes to the edge of the tiny square platform fifty feet above the ground. She ran clammy hands down her glittery red costume and poised them. Her heart rose to her throat as she watched the trapeze swing through the air toward her. She counted one, two, three and then leaped forward.

  Lil’s stomach somersaulted, and she exulted when her hands clasped the swinging bar with perfect timing. The crowd gasped. Her body jerked, but she held fast and tightened her tummy and leg muscles as she brought her body into perfect form. The air rushed across her face. The music came to a crescendo. Every eye was riveted on her performance.

  A second trapeze carrying the teenager Rollo—a handsome boy with flowing blond hair—made its descent. Rollo’s knees gripped his trapeze bar. Keeping silent count, Lil let loose of her bar at just the correct moment, and Rollo’s sure, strong hands caught her arms. The crowd roared in delight. She basked in their admiration.

  “Ouch! Stop it!”

  Lil blinked, torn from her fantasy. She pulled her face from the open van’s window and looked sideways to where her cousin Jake Byler was pulling Katy Yoder’s black ponytail. Lil tucked one foot under her homemade culottes and twisted so she could look him square in the eyes.

  “What was your favorite part of the circus?” she asked. Their families had attended the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus together when it had come to Columbus, Ohio, earlier that month.

  “The tigers.” Jake growled in her friend Katy’s ear then sank back in his seat and started tussling with his buddy Chad Penner.

  Lil rolled her gaze heavenward. Forgetting about Jake, she told Katy, “I liked the trapeze artists.” She had already described the circus to her two best friends—Katy Yoder and Megan Weaver—repeatedly, but she didn’t think they really understood how magical that experience had been for a girl whose normal day consisted of gathering brown eggs and snapping green beans. Lil lived on a farm.