The Wedding

Some of you have reminded me that I left out the wedding. I have tried to remedy this on my blog site. Please insert this chapter into your book on page 258.

The Wedding

Fanny stood at the door of the church in her long puffy, lacy white dress, one foot in and one foot out of the entrance, feeling too fancy and foolish. Was she really going to do this?

Polly Hollister on the seriously out of tune piano began earnestly playing “Here Comes the Bride,” accompanied by Georgie on his guitar and friend Sam on the fiddle. All Fanny could think was,

Here comes the bride,

big fat and wide

See how she wobbles,

From side to side.

Here comes the groom,

Skinny as a broom

He’d wobble too,

If he had any room.

She tried not to laugh out loud but then thought it didn’t sound so bad, except for the piano.

Alice Proud started right down the aisle as soon as she heard the music. She stood up very straight and Fanny thought she looked beautiful in her pink organdy dress with the blue crocheted flowers and matching hat and shoes. Behind Alice walked Bea Brown in the pale green silk brocade Lilly had fashioned for her. Fanny thanked Lilly again for doing an extraordinary job on Bea’s dress. Doctor Seymour Johnston served as Matt’s best man and beamed at Bea appreciatively! Next to him stood Matt in his best storebought Chicago suit.

Teetering at the threshold, Fanny didn’t move for a long moment. Henry looked at her questioningly. Then, suddenly, thoughts of flight vanished as she fully accepted her promise. When her father frowned at her severely, she took his arm with shaky hands and began to walk down the aisle.

This time I’m gonna do it! She thought. She heard Matt’s voice. See Fanny. You can do anything!

Once she got to the front of the church she gave her posy of wildflowers to Alice then looked up. Matt winked with a little grin on his face, knowing she didn’t really like all this fuss.

Pastor Stout introduced Fanny Margaret Wheeler and Mathias T. Hollister then said, “If anyone present knows any reason why this couple should not be joined in holy matrimony, speak now or forever hold your peace.”

Fanny held her breath. It would be just like her brothers to decide to cut up about now. Gideon and Jonas began to smile, squirm and shuffle their feet. Uncle Otis and Henry gave them threatening stares, warning them not to protest. The brothers yielded, looked down and remained quiet.

When the minister came to the part where he would ask Fanny to say, love, cherish, and obey, he left off obey. Fanny and Matt knew that including it made no sense since neither ever expected Fanny to obey. She had always had a mind of her own.

After their vows the minister said the magic words, “I now pronounce you man and wife, you may kiss the bride.”

Matt looked down at Fanny and hesitated. Fanny stood up on her tiptoes and when Matt bent down to hold her they had a beautiful kiss. She knew all was well when she heard Matt whisper, “I love you Fanny.”

Once they walked out of the church, Fanny said, “I sure am glad that is over.” Matt just grinned from ear to ear.

After they all had a piece of Ma’s fabulous wedding cake, it was time to throw the posy. Fanny turned her back while Polly, Alice, Elsie, Abigail, and Bea gathered together. Whoever caught it first was supposed to be the next to marry. And guess who won? BEA!

Once they all had tired from dancing, it was time to go home. Matt and Fanny took the buckboard out away from town toward the cemetery for a moments quiet where they would tell Fanny’s sister, Lucy, all about the wedding. They stopped. Matt put his long arms around Fanny and she knew she would be safe forever.

Here is a dress like the one Fanny might have worn but hers may not have been quite so fancy.