A Present for Christmas
Page 9
Chapter 16
Diane fidgeted as Mary Louise put on her veil. “Stand still.”
Claire handed her the gloves. “You are a beautiful bride.”
Kate pulled at her skirt to adjust it properly. “Very beautiful. Jeff is getting the woman of his dreams.”
Mary Louise darted around the room like a bird looking for a way out.
Adelaide caught her on one of her pacing paths through the room and stopped her. “Mary Louise, relax. Goodness, what kind of mess are you going to be at your own wedding.”
Mary Louise just stared at her, looked at Diane, and broke free to pace some more. “Just excited is all.”
Adelaide went and stood by the door. “I’m so happy for you, Diane. Shall we go toward the church? We don’t want to be late.”
Diane nodded. Her throat had a huge lump in it that just wouldn’t go down. She honestly wondered how she was even going to say, I do. Her stomach lurched. What was she doing? Was she crazy?
Like a small army, the Thursday Night Ladies Club walked from Claire’s boarding house toward the church. Jeff would be there waiting for her. After all these years, they were finally going to be married.
Like they should have before her father denied them their happiness. Diane tried to blot out her father’s words. “They’re no good. Jeff doesn’t love you. He just wants a free ride.”
Then Jeff was gone. Paid off by only a couple of hundred dollars, her father had said. Well, that was then. This is now, and they did love one another.
Still, Diane stumbled at the word love. Although she tried to convince herself that she was feeling love, her heart felt cold and dead. That shouldn’t be the way a bride feels. At least she didn’t think it should be.
As they neared the church, the other women were ahead, and it was just she and Kate walking together. “Kate, what did your heart feel like on the way to the church?”
Kate looked at her. “Light and full of life. It was as if I was going to the other half of me.” She smiled at the memory. “I love Peter even more now. You’ll see.”
They were almost there when she saw Adrian walk into the church. Surprisingly, she felt her heart brighten at his presence. She wanted to be with him. Talk to him as they had while she watched over Jeff in the clinic.
Diane understood the light and full of life, but it was when thinking of Adrian. Yet, the man never made any indication he was interested in her.
They entered the church. Jeff was in the front, standing by the preacher. He looked so handsome. And yes, he was smiling.
All her friends were seated and watching her. She didn’t see Jennifer and felt relief that finally, the woman wouldn’t interfere in her life with Jeff.
Kate left her and took her seat by Peter.
The music played. Doc was at her side, ready to walk her down the aisle. He patted her hand. “Ready?”
Diane nodded, and they walked slowly down the aisle. Her heart raced. She wanted to run but not toward Jeff. Each step was taking her closer and closer to the man of her dreams. But was he?
Why did she feel as if she were going off the side of a cliff than to wed the man she loved? Diane glanced over and caught Adrian’s gaze upon her. He looked at her with such tenderness that for a moment, her heart melted its icy coldness.
She forced her gaze on Jeff, and her heart grew hard and cold with duty and responsibility. There was no way out. She had to go through with it. She had to. Finally, she was standing beside Jeff.
He took her hand in his. Cold. Like hers.
The preacher started, but Diane couldn’t hear his words. All she heard in her head was stop!
The door to the church opened with a bang. Everyone turned to see who it could be. Diane didn’t.
She looked at Jeff and, in hurried words, blurted out her heart’s thoughts. “I can’t marry you. I don’t love you, and I can’t stand here and lie to God or you or our friends. I’m sorry.”
Diane turned to see Jennifer in the back.
“Stop the wedding. I love you, Jeff.” Jennifer started to walk up the aisle. “I tried not to. I didn’t want to hurt you, Diane. At first, I didn’t care, but I love him. And I think he loves me.”
Jeff let go of Diane’s hand, and she saw relief in his eyes. “You’re sure.”
Diane nodded. “Go to her. You two belong together.”
Jeff ran down the aisle to Jennifer. “I love you.”
Pastor Cannon quieted the crowd. “I think we’ve seen true love and sacrifice. Marriage is not to be gone into lightly. What Diane did, took great courage.”
Kate started to run to Diane when Adrian stopped her. He went to Diane and took her hand. “I’d like to court you. I don’t know how, but you’ve stolen my heart. And I am so very thankful that you didn’t marry Jeff today.”
Diane looked up at him. “Yes, I’d like that.”
Jeff walked Jennifer up the aisle. “Pastor Cannon, people of Lone Oak, I’d like to invite you to stay. Jennifer and I are getting married. That is if you’ll marry us, Pastor Cannon.”
“You are both sure? As I said, marriage is for life and not to be taken lightly.”
Jeff hugged her to him. “I tried not to love her, but I surrender to her. I would have been a good husband to Diane, but I didn’t love her. Not like the feelings I have for Jennifer.”
Jennifer bowed her head. “I know I have misbehaved, but I do love Jeff. I will make him a good wife. I’ll honor and love him all the days of my life.”
“Attention everyone, please take your seats.” Pastor Cannon looked at the two before him. “This has to be the most unusual wedding I’ve ever performed, but I believe in my heart that this is the way it should be. Jeff, do you take this woman to be your wife. To love her and cherish her all the days of your life?”
“I do.”
“Jennifer, do you take this man to be your husband. To love him and respect him and forsaking all others?”
“Yes, I do. He is the only one for me.”
“I pronounce you husband and wife. Congregation, I charge you with the duty to honor this marriage and help them when you can. You may now kiss your bride.”
Jeff kissed her. Long and tenderly as if they had been long-awaited lovers.
Diane watched, smiled as her heart became light and full of joy. She’d done the right thing. Finally, she’d risen above the mousey tendency she always struggled with and had stood before all. Now, she was happy for Jennifer and Jeff.
Diane wasn’t the right woman for him. She knew that.
Adrian’s fingers wrapped around her hand. “I meant it, Diane. I want to court you and marry you whenever you feel the proper time. I’ve watched you and longed for your company. You are so brave and courageous.”
“Oh, really. I should have never made it this far that I had to stop the wedding. But I’m glad I did. I look at you, and my heart dances.”
“As does mine.”
Diane leaned against him. His warmth. And knew she’d done the right thing.
Epilogue
Mary Louise waited impatiently at the back of the church. If she had her way, she’d run down that aisle and marry Kirk with or without a preacher. Finally, the music started.
Her father held her firmly in check as if he was reading her mind.
“You have always been wild. I hope this sheriff knows what he is getting.” Father looked at her, but it was sweet love that she saw in his eyes.
“He knows.”
“Let’s go.”
Mary Louise walked proudly down the aisle. Here she was the last of the Thursday Night Ladies to get married. Adrian and Diane had married at Thanksgiving and were away on their honeymoon and to meet his family.
Kirk was so handsome. She loved the boyish grin he gave her. And the way his eyes followed her every move with adoration and love, she felt like the luckiest woman alive.
Finally, they stood before the preacher, and her father put her hand in Kirk’s. “Take care of her son. I’ll be prayi
ng for you.”
Kirk nodded. “I’ll love her more than life. She’s my Christmas present.”
Mary Louise felt as if she couldn’t be more alive.
Pastor Cannon cleared his throat. “Again, we’re here to witness the love and marriage of these two in holy matrimony. Kirk, do you take this woman to be your wife and to love and honor her all the days of your life?”
“Yes, sir, I do.”
Mary Louise, do you take Kirk to be your husband and to love and honor, respect and obey him all the days of your life?”
She tried to think about the obey part. She didn’t recall the preacher asking the other women that, but she looked at Kirk and smiled. “Yes, I do.”
Then I pronounce you as husband and wife. You may kiss your bride.”
Kirk kissed her long and passionately. Mary Louise answered his love, and in her heart, she knew they’d have one wild ride of a marriage. That obey part might be tricky, but they’d have fun working things out.
Three years later:
The ladies got together for their Thursday Night Ladies Club meeting. Kate brought little Maggie with her. Addy had little Bruce in her arms. Mary Louise was busy with her twins, Carson and Wylie. Jennifer came with Lucy, and Diane waddled in carrying her soon to be firstborn.
Somehow between all the cries and talk, the women enjoyed the pot pie, coffee, and each other.
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Author’s note – I hope you have enjoyed this book. I had such fun writing all the love stories for the Thursday Night Ladies Club.
Enjoy all my books in the Lone Oak series of Spinster Brides for Christmas
A Miracle for Christmas
A Mystery Groom for Christmas
A Contest for Christmas
A Present for Christmas
Be sure to read all the books in the series Spinster Mail Order Brides
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