Just Between Friends (35 page)

     The sound of someone lightly tapping at his door jolted him from his thoughts.  Opening it just slightly, his mother asked, “Steven dear, may I come in?”

     “Sure, Ma, I was just thinking about today, and wondering how well it will go.  I so want everything to be perfect for Miranda on her wedding day.”

     Entering the room, he met her, and together they went to the window and sat on the two chairs that sat before it.  Sitting a moment before speaking, Amelia then began, “Steven, I want you to know I couldn’t be happier for you.  I know how long you’ve waited for this day.  You and Miranda will have a wonderful life together.  But I’ll be honest.  Now that we have you back, I wish we could have had you home for at least a little while longer.”

     He saw the tears welling in her eyes.  Steven reflected on what a wonderful mother she was.  It hurt him terribly realizing what she must have endured thinking him dead.  Reaching out, he took her small hand in his and replied, “Ma, I can only imagine how you must feel.  Maybe one day I’ll be a parent and I’ll know all the pain I’ve put you through, but you know I would never intentionally hurt you for anything in the world.  And Ma, If you think about it, you’ll realize I’ll only be living out back, at least for now anyway.  Now I know it may not be the same, but I’m twenty-four years old now, and Miranda will be in May.  We’ve waited so long already we just can’t afford to waste any more time.  You can understand that, can’t you?”

     “Honey, I never meant for you to wait any longer.  I want you to be happy, for whenever you are, then so am I.  I’m just going to miss you.  That’s all.  I know that may not make any sense, since you are going to be living in the old house.”

     She was beginning to feel exasperated.  “Oh, I can’t explain to you what I’m feeling.  It’s something only mothers would understand.  Also, I want you to know that I love you very much.  If there’s anything you or Miranda ever need, don’t hesitate to ask.”

     With that, she stood up and went back downstairs.  But Steven knew why she had made such a quick departure, for tears were trickling down her face.  She had never liked for anyone to see her cry. 
How would she ever handle it when Alec took Samantha and Sarah?  But one thing at a time
, he thought.

                                              ***

     Miranda had been up for hours.  It was now eleven-thirty and she had been working on her hair for over an hour, with Cassie trying her best to help.  Finally after much fuss, her sister stepped back as Miranda looked at herself in the mirror, feeling very pleased with what she saw.  Her hair was dressed in Madonna style, drawn into a chignon at the back of her neck, with long curls hanging down, with a touch of baby’s breath to accentuate it.

     “Miranda,” Cassie remarked, “your hair looks lovely, and once you’ve put on Grandmama Owens wedding dress, Steven will feel so proud.  You’re going to make such a beautiful bride.  I wish our grandparents could have been here for both our weddings.”

     “I know what you mean.” Her face suddenly took on a faraway expression. “I miss them all so much.”

     “So do I,” Cassie returned, “but I know how happy they would be for us.  One day we’ll be with them again.”

  “Yes we will,” Miranda agreed, as she again felt that restlessness.  “Oh Cass, I’m so nervous.  Did you feel like this the day you married Ben?”

     “Come on, Miranda, you know how I was.  Remember at the church how I had felt faint, and you brought me a glass of water from papa’s buggy?  I didn’t think I would ever make it through that day, but I did.  Now …” She seemed to be having a hard time trying to tell Miranda something.

     “What is it, Cassie?”  Miranda asked, with concern in her voice.

     “Miranda, if I tell you something, will you keep it a secret, at least for today?”

     “Of course I will.  When have I ever betrayed you?”

     “Well, maybe I shouldn’t be telling you this on your wedding day, but I’m so excited, I just have to tell someone or explode.  You see, I’m going to have a baby.”

     Miranda squealed then embraced her sister.  “Oh Cassie, I’m so happy for you!  Does Ben know?”

     “Yes, and he’s been floating on air ever since.”

     “How long have you known?”

     “For nearly a week now, I’m now two and a half months along.  We decided not to say anything until after the wedding so as not to put too much on mama.  Oh, I know she’ll be thrilled, but I wanted her total attention to be on your wedding.  It means so much to her to be able to take care of things.  She felt so bad when I got married and you and Aunt Alice had to do it all.”

     “Yes, I know, but I’m glad aunt Alice came back for my wedding and Aunt Rose too.  They’ve been helping mama, but this time, she’s the one doing the bossing.”  They both laughed at that, remembering how controlling aunt Alice was at Cassie’s wedding.

     She became serious then.  “Cass,” Miranda began, “are you as happy now as you was when you first married Ben?  I mean is marriage as wonderful as I picture it to be?”

     “Miranda,” Cassie began her face aglow, “I think if anything, I’m even happier now than I was at first.  When you’re lucky enough to marry the one you’re truly in love with, well, it’s like this bond is formed between you.  It’s hard to explain, but I wouldn’t change anything in my life.  It’s all perfect to me.  I love Ben so much.  Oh, we’ve had our bad times too, but all the good things we’ve shared have far outweighed the bad, except of course, for the miscarriage.  That has to be the worst thing we’ve suffered.  Now we can just hope and pray that this one will be healthy, and that nothing bad will happen to it.”

     Touching her sister’s arm, Miranda encouraged her, “Cassie, I know your child will be fine, and who knows, maybe it’ll have a little cousin to play with.”  Cassandra looked shocked.

     She felt her face flush then. “Well, it could happen you know, after all Steven and I are getting married in only about an hour.”  They both laughed.

     “Well, come on Miranda,” she urged, “times a wasting.  Let’s get you into that dress.  It won’t be long before we have to head for the church.”

     “That’s right we need to go a little early so I can take Nora a dress.”

     Miranda’s whole body was trembling as Cassie helped her into her wedding gown.  As they slid the last hook into place, Miranda glanced once more in the mirror.  “Miranda,” Cassie exclaimed, “You’re so beautiful!  I wish grandmama Owens could have seen you in her dress.  She would have been so pleased.”

     Miranda had to agree.  Although never having been one to think of herself as beautiful, she had to admit she liked what she saw today.  There she stood in her satin wedding gown made with a deep-trimming of white gauze, held in place by bows of gauze bound with white satin.  White satin edged the bottom of the skirt and the low-cut neck of the bodice.  The sleeves were made of a full puff of the gauze, caught down with satin pipings.  Her style of hair, with the long curls cascading down her back, only added to the touch.

     Giving one last sigh, she said, “Come on Cassie let’s go while I still have some form of sanity left.”  After retrieving Nora’s dress, and gathering her bouquet of flowers in her hands, as did Cassie, they moved toward the bedroom door.

     Glancing back one last time before exiting, Miranda felt a touch of sadness, leaving her home of almost twenty-four years.  Having shared many happy moments with her family, she knew she would truly miss it.  Then thinking of Steven, she smiled, knowing she would be happy anywhere as long as she was with him.  Closing the door, she took Cassie by the arm, and went to join the others.

     As they descended the steps, her family was waiting.  Her mother and father were there, along with Ben, Aunt Alice and Aunt Rose.  Reaching the bottom, Frank Porter walked over to his daughter and just stared.  Looking over at her mother, she saw the tears that were welling up in her eyes, but knew they were only tears of joy.  She then glanced at both of her aunts, who were standing side by side and she saw the look of approval on their faces as they smiled at her.

     “Miranda,” her father began, “You’re positively breathtaking.” Taking her hand in his, he helped her down the last step.  Staring down at her, he replied, “It’s hard to believe that after today, both my little girls will be gone.  Well, maybe not gone, but you know what I mean.”

     He gathered her into his arms, and with voice stammering, as his voice began to break, said, “I’m going to miss you, honey.”  Miranda felt her own tears building. 

     As he let go of her, Mary took his place, hugging her daughter.  She was too emotional to speak.  Finally retaining her composure, she proclaimed, “I love you, Miranda.”

     “I love you too, Mama.”

     Ben was touched by the scene, but he had been having a hard time taking his eyes off Cassandra.  Miranda was lovely, there was no denying that, but to him, no-one would ever be more beautiful than his wife.  There she stood in her gown of very rich corded silk with brocaded flowers arranged in stripes, made with a full skirt and plaited bodice, with a broad belt of silk.  She was the picture of loveliness.  Her hair was pulled into a chignon, but the style was somewhat different from Miranda’s, as her hair lay in waves down her back instead of curls.  He then watched as each aunt in turn, hugged Miranda.

     Cassie was now walking toward him.  “Ben,” she spoke, “are you alright?  You’ve been so quiet over here.”

     He nodded.  “Yes, Cass, I’m fine.  I’ve just been standing here admiring how exquisitely beautiful you are.  I must be the luckiest man in the world.”

     “Oh Ben,” she blushed, “you’re not supposed to be noticing me.  This is Miranda’s day.  Isn’t she beautiful?”

     Glancing over at her, he had to agree, “Yes, she most surely is, but not as beautiful as you, Cass, not to me anyway.”  She was flattered, as he took her arm to leave.

     After they had gathered their coats, they made their way to the wagons hitched out front.  The women held their dresses up, so as not to get them ruined by the snow.  Although Frank and Ben had worked hard all morning shoveling the women a path, the wind had blown some of it back in the way.  They had also gone to the church and shoveled a path to both the front and back doors, then gone inside and lit the wood-burning stove.

     Now arriving at the church, they saw only one wagon.  Miranda recognized Isaac and Nora while they were still a fair distance away.  Pulling up beside them, Frank helped Miranda descend, as everyone else helped themselves down.  Ben and Cassandra, who had Tommy on her lap, followed.  The child had been reaching for her, and it had been impossible to resist him.

     “Hello Nora, Isaac,” Miranda greeted. “I’m so glad you came.  I was so afraid you would have a change of mind at the last minute.”  Then after introducing them to everyone, she urged, “Please, come inside. It’s too cold out here for Cathleen.”

     The baby was looking all around her, so unaccustomed to being out like this.  She was wearing a scarlet cloth pelisse and bonnet to match.  The garments appeared to be very old, but still in good condition.  “You haven’t been waiting long, have you?”  Miranda inquired.

     Shaking her head as she dismounted, she replied, “No, we’ve only been here ten minutes or so.”  She then reached up and took her daughter in her arms, as Isaac climbed down.

     Taking the path that led to the back door of the church, Miranda began feeling those butterflies again.  As they stepped through the door, the warmth from the stove felt like such a nice welcome.  Taking off their wraps, they promptly hung them on the hooks on the wall by the door.

     As Miranda worked her arms free of her coat, Nora exclaimed, “Oh, look at you!  I don’t think I’ve ever seen a bride more beautiful.  Your gown is lovely.”

     Touched, Miranda said appreciatively, “Thank you.  I tried to look my best for Steven.”

     “Well, he’ll sure be pleased.  I’m certain of that.”

     “Oh!”  Miranda exclaimed. “I almost forgot. Here’s your dress.  I’m so forgetful today.  I have so much on my mind.”  She handed her dress of white chambery gauze, trimmed with white satin folds and blond lace.  “Now promise me something, alright?”  Miranda demanded.  “Promise me you won’t argue with me in what I’m about to say.”