“Margaret, get over here and help me get June’s clothes back on her!”
“Yes, Papa.” She finished tying the ribbons Papa had missed and admired how beautiful her little sister looked. Mama had saved back the pale blue dress that had been passed down from one sister to the next. Now it was June’s turn to wear it on this special day. Margaret wanted to cry tears of joy. “Oh, June Marie, you look so pretty.”
June threw her arms around Margaret’s waist and squeezed her tight. “So do you, sissy.” She then gasped and slapped her hands onto her cheeks. “Where’s my flower-girl basket?”
“I got it right here.” Papa handed it to her.
“Whew, that was close.” She took the basket from Papa and headed out from behind the sheet, making her presence known. “Here comes the flower girl.”
Laughter filled the air as June walked down between the two rows of chairs. She threw the flower heads on the ground like a little princess. All was fine and good until she came to the reverend’s family and took a whole handful of the dried flowers and, for some unknown reason, flung them at Reverend Everly’s middle boy.
Margaret looked heavenward and shook her head.
Mama jumped from her chair and snatched June from the aisle.
Margaret turned back to Papa and tears welled up in her eyes. He hugged Elizabeth and pressed her head against his shoulder. Even though the doctors weren’t in favor of her coming home, the final decision was Papa’s to make and he had allowed it.
Margaret couldn’t believe how far Papa was willing to go to make her wedding perfect. And he had succeeded.
Elizabeth wore one of Margaret’s prettier hand-me-down dresses. Mama had to take in the seams to fit her now-tiny frame.
Papa released Elizabeth and gestured toward Margaret, who was holding her hands out to her. Even though Elizabeth had gained back some of her lost weight, Margaret felt her rib bones as they embraced. It was hard for Margaret not to cry, especially seeing Papa with tears in his eyes.
“I’m so happy you could be here for the wedding.”
Elizabeth held her at arm’s length and smiled. She lifted her hand to Margaret’s face and wiped away a tear. “I’m happy to be here too.” She hugged her sister again. “And I’m happy that you are marrying Thomas. I…I almost ruined everything.”
Margaret patted her back. “Oh, hush up. You didn’t ruin a thing. Everything turned out perfect. Now get out there before Mr. Langley’s arm falls off from playing that violin for too long.”
Elizabeth smiled as Papa pulled the sheet back for her. He kissed her on the cheek and handed her a small bouquet of wildflowers tied together with a satin ribbon. She turned and winked at Margaret before heading toward Thomas and the minister.
Margaret picked up the last accessory left on the porch swing, her own bouquet of wildflowers. She ran her fingers down the length of the blue satin ribbon before looking into Papa’s eyes.
He cupped his palms around her face. “You know how proud I am of you?”
“What do you mean, Papa?”
“Honey, I don’t know of any young woman who could have made it through all you have and still have so much love in your heart and a beautiful smile on your face.”
She hugged him tight. “Oh, Papa, it’s not me at all. I give God all the credit…and you and Mama, of course.” She didn’t want to cry on her wedding day, but it was too late. She wiped her eyes and tried to put a big smile on her face. “All right now, there are people waiting for us.”
Papa lowered the veil over her face and offered his arm to her as they hooked elbows.
The sheet was pulled back a final time, allowing everyone in attendance to see the bride.
She didn’t see anyone but the love of her life, Thomas Murphy.
~*~
The makeshift curtain had opened and closed so many times Thomas wasn’t sure if Margaret was ever coming out, but this time, he saw her. Mr. Langley must have stopped playing his violin because he no longer heard the music.
Everyone in attendance turned toward the curtain and stood as she and her papa appeared.
Thomas had never seen her look so majestically beautiful as when she walked down the aisle. The nervousness he’d felt earlier seemed to have melted out through his legs, leaving them mushy as fresh butter in August.
Even though the gown had belonged to Mrs. Logan, it appeared to have been made especially for his bride-to-be. The soft peach-colored fabric made her skin appear darker than usual.
Thomas peered at her bare shoulders for the first time and it took his breath away. Raven hair peeked out beneath the veil covering her face. He could make out the color of her violet eyes, sparkling behind her veil. Never had he seen a more beautiful woman in his life, and she was about to become his…forever.
Mr. Logan paused before reaching him and pulled the veil back, revealing Margaret’s face.
Thomas sucked in a deep breath and let it out slowly.
Mrs. Logan sniffed and put the hanky up to her nose when Mr. Logan kissed his daughter on the cheek and put her hand in Thomas’s. He then sat down next to his wife and held her hand.
Margaret took her place next to Thomas. She held his hand and looked into his eyes, melting away any fears he held.
Reverend Everly cleared his throat, and they both smiled and turned toward him.
“Thomas and Margaret have asked that I read these passages found in the book of Ruth. The truths held here in these verses will forever be a holy pledge between Thomas Murphy and Margaret Logan.
“And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God. Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the Lord do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.”
The reverend closed his Bible. “Please bow your heads.”
Everyone bowed their heads as Reverend Everly prayed.
Except Thomas and Margaret. While words were being sent to God on their behalf, the young couple gazed into each other’s eyes. No words were spoken, but in those few brief moments an unspeakable amount of love passed between them.
Thomas repeated the vows as instructed by the reverend. “I, Thomas Murphy, take thee, Margaret Logan, to be my wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part.”
It was at that moment when Margaret began to say her vows that Thomas realized the wonderful thing that was about to happen. When Margaret said those two little words…
I do
…their lives would forever be entwined together. He would be her husband, and she would be his wife, and the two would become one flesh.
34
Margaret hadn’t seen so much food since before the war began. The neighbors had been more than generous in sharing what they had to make the wedding feast a success. They hadn’t forgotten Papa and Mama’s generosity with the lighthouse rations.
Flour and sugar were available again, although in short supply, allowing them to have a whole table devoted to sweets. The fruit pies, cookies, and cakes made that particular table the most popular of them all, especially with June, Jeremiah, and the Everly children.
Mama looked happier than ever, sitting at one of the tables, talking with all the neighbor ladies, both new and old. Now that word the war was over spread through the South, it wasn’t unusual for families to come outside and visit with each other. Little by little, people found they didn’t have to look over their shoulders at every noise. Slowly but surely, the fear of being shot, raided, or captured became a distant memory.
Things weren’t as they were before the war…and they never would be again.
Margaret remembered with great pleasure the day Necie came running up to the house, busting to tell her good news. She was leaving Bolivar and going back to Louisiana to find her Moses. Margaret glowed with pride for her friend. Yes, things would never be the same again, and for that, Margaret couldn’t have been more thankful.
There were so many people to meet and greet following the wedding that Margaret was glad to finally sit down at the table next to Mama. It delighted her to see Mama talking and laughing with the new friends she had made. Mama would need their friendship and support once she and Thomas left for Massachusetts.
Margaret took a deep breath and touched the collar of her dress. She felt red blotches rising on her neck at the very thought of their honeymoon.
Oh, Father, tonight is the night. I’m so scared and excited at the same time. What did Mama mean when she said all my fears would be gone with the morning?
Margaret smiled at an embarrassing thought and forced her mind in a different direction.
She would soon meet Thomas’s father and brother. It just occurred to her that she now had a father-in-law and a brother-in-law. Just thinking about traveling across the country made her giddy with excitement. Margaret snuggled against Mama’s arm. She didn’t feel like a married woman. She still felt like the oldest daughter of Jebediah and Caroline Logan; big sister to Elizabeth, June, and Jeremiah. One glance down at her ring finger told her otherwise. She was now Mrs. Margaret Frances Murphy, wife of Thomas Murphy. She liked how it sounded even if the idea of being a wife scared her a bit.
It thrilled Margaret’s soul to see Elizabeth talking and laughing with Mr. Langley. He truly seemed to love her as one of his own. She’d been a great help to him with his son Tommy. Her heart was in the right place even if her mind had betrayed her. But Elizabeth had come a long way in her treatment, and hopefully, she would be cured soon. Anything was better than the miserable state she had been in before they took her to the hospital. That was a comfort to Margaret, indeed, to their whole family.
Her papa, Ensign Miller, and some of the other neighbor men were talking away. The locals had accepted Thomas into the fold. Only months before, these same neighbors would have been willing to string her husband up, but now he fit right in as though he was one of them.
Mr. Langley put his violin in position and played a toe-tapping jig.
Four little icing-faced children were coaxed out from under the dessert table by the upbeat rhythm—of course, June and Jeremiah were two of the four.
Elizabeth clapped her hands in time to the music as she walked toward the table where Margaret, Mama, and the other ladies sat.
Margaret nudged Mama. “Would you just look at your children? They’ve eaten almost all the sweets and now they’re covered with icing and dirt. They’re leading Reverend Everly’s children down the wayward path, Mama.”
One of the elderly ladies waved her hand at Margaret. “Oh, just let them have their fun, honey. It’s not every day we have a wedding here on the peninsula.”
The ladies all laughed and carried on with their chatter.
Elizabeth sat down next to Margaret and hugged her arm. “They are having fun,” Elizabeth said. “Look at them dancing and spinning around as if they don’t have a care in the world.”
Margaret pointed at Jeremiah. “Yes, indeed, look at our baby brother. I believe he’s eaten too many sweets.” They laughed aloud when he spun himself to dizziness and fell on his bottom. “Mama, you might as well start drawing up some bath water now. Jeremiah will need a soak in the washtub tonight.”
Elizabeth held tight to Margaret’s arm. “I’m so glad you wanted me to be here for your wedding. I wouldn’t have wanted to miss all this.”
Margaret pressed Elizabeth’s head against her shoulder. It felt wonderful having her sister back. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.” A thought crossed Margaret’s mind. “You know, sister…you don’t have to go back to the hospital when Thomas and I leave for Massachusetts. You can tell Mama and Papa you want to stay here.”
Elizabeth released a long sigh. “I know.” She patted Margaret’s arm. “But I really want to go back.”
“Why? Wouldn’t you rather stay here with family? You’re so much better now.”
“I know it’s hard for you to understand, but it’s better for me there. Most everyone there is like…me.” Elizabeth’s eyes brightened at whatever she was thinking about. “Margaret, it’s such a beautiful place. There’s a huge garden and the most magnificent trees you’ve ever seen. Oh, and I have my duties to attend to. Did Mama tell you I’m teaching Bible lessons to the young women who want to learn?”
Margaret was dumbfounded. “No, I had no idea. I thought you would want to stay here. I never thought about you wanting to go back there.”
Elizabeth smiled. “And there’s something else too.”
“Oh…what is it?”
Elizabeth blushed. “There’s a boy there that I like.”
Margaret’s eyes grew wide. “Elizabeth Fay…you have a boyfriend.”
The sisters giggled like they were little girls again and fell into each other’s arms. The laughter was healing and apparently contagious, as the others ladies gathered at the table began chuckling too.
Thomas made his way toward the gaggle of giggling women. He acknowledged Elizabeth with a tip of his hat. “Ma’am.” He offered his hand to Margaret. “May I have this dance, Mrs. Murphy?”
“Why, of course, Mr. Murphy.” She accepted his outstretched hand and rose to her feet. “Would you please excuse me, Elizabeth?”
“Yes, of course.”
Margaret allowed her husband to pull her out amongst the band of dancing, twirling children. Thomas bowed to her and she returned with a curtsy. He held his hand out to her. “May I?”
She paused as an impish grin crept across her face. “I don’t know, sir…does this mean you will love me forever?”
Thomas smiled back at her. “M’lady, I shall love you forever and a day.”
“All right then, yes, you may.”
She took his hand and they joined together in dancing a reel. As Thomas spun her around, she couldn’t help but think how much the dance reminded her of their whirlwind romance. And even though things got off to a rough start, she knew in her heart that God had orchestrated every movement of the dance. He had set the wheels in motion to make her the happiest woman on earth.
As the music played faster and faster, Margaret held on tight to the arms of the dance partner she would cherish for the rest of her life.