At last, it was Sylvia’s turn. She had brought out the leafy headpiece that Marian had given her. Zoe designed her hair with elaborate braids and twists. She left a curl or two draping down, romantically. As a gift to Sylvia, she pinned up part of her hair with tiny, rhinestone leaf bobby pins. They sparkled in Sylvia’s hair like diamonds.
“You look beautiful,” Zoe assured her when she had completed her handiwork and looked at it critically.
She gave Sylvia a mirror to look in. Sylvia was stunned to see her reflection.
“I feel like a princess,” she told Zoe.
“You are!” Zoe insisted. “Especially today.”
The next stop was Maureen and Skip’s house where they had their dresses. Maureen had been busy supervising the florist and setting things up. The photographer was going to meet them there to begin taking before wedding photos. The men were dressing at the bed and breakfast down the street where Scotty was staying. Mr. Carter, Joe, and Jon were meeting them there for photos as well.
Sylvia gave Gwen and Carol beautiful necklaces by Michael Michaud of Silver Seasons. Sylvia had fallen in love with his jewelry at Longwood. She treasured the holly necklace and earrings she had received from Owen and Marian. She gave the girls a beautiful, contoured necklace and earrings of basil leaves in bronze and green that picked up the color of their dresses.
Maureen brought the photographer in. He had just come from the bed and breakfast and having just finished taking pictures of Owen and the groomsmen. The photographer set up several photographs, some serious, and many fun with Sylvia, her mom, Gwen, and Carol. Mary had called Anne and insisted she join them as well as Marian. The photographer had them laughing at silly things while he snapped away with many candid photographs.
Finally, it was time. Maureen excused herself to check on things and get the music started. Marian, Mary, and Anne left to get seated. Sylvia’s stomach fluttered terribly. Maureen returned. She nodded. She was followed by Mr. Carter and Jon, who both teared up when they saw Sylvia in her wedding gown.
“Don’t start,” she warned them, tearing up herself.
The processional began. Carol strolled out Maureen and Skip’s back door, through the yard and down the aisle Maureen had created with the chairs and runner. Gwen followed. Sylvia, flanked by Mr. Carter and Jon, stopped at the end of the aisle and waited for the “Ode to Joy” to begin. It was one of her favorite pieces of music. Sylvia had requested that one of her favorite music artist’s – David Garrett’s version, be the music accompanying her as she walked down the aisle. Walking down the aisle, Sylvia looked up and saw the Green Man, standing and smiling at her. She looked at Owen and was lost immediately in his eyes, which held so much love for her. His eyes drew her towards him. She smiled tremulously at him when she reached him and she took his hand.
The wedding ceremony was a blur. In her mind, Sylvia remembered the vibrational quality of the Green Man’s voice, his touch as he held Owen and her hands together. She remembered his blessing her, and feeling that all was right with the world as he sealed their love for one another. She remembered when the Green Man said, “You may kiss the bride,” to Owen. Owen’s kiss swept her away. Everyone cheered. And they went down the aisle, hand in hand. Not being in a church, the wedding party lined up along the bay front to greet the guests. With the small gathering of family and friends, it did not take long.
It was time to go to the reception and Owen led Sylvia amid a shower of birdseed, to a hunter green, Mazda Miata that Scotty had rented for his trip. Scotty, Joe, and Frank had outfitted it with crepe paper, signs and a streamer with old shoes and tin cans. Owen and Sylvia waved to everyone and they drove through the neighborhood, honking the horn. Owen had been given orders to drive through town and give people at least fifteen minutes to make the five minute trip to the yacht club. He obliged and pulled the car over to give Sylvia another kiss.
“Hello, Mrs. Anderson,” he said.
“Hello, Mr. Anderson,” she said.
He kissed her again. He sighed and turned to pull out into traffic. When they reached the Yacht Club, almost everyone had arrived. Scotty gave him the thumbs up when they pulled in. The guests sampled hors d'oeuvres and drinks while the wedding party had more pictures taken at the yacht club with the vista of the Chesapeake Bay behind them.
The evening was magical. Joe’s group entertained them well and when it was time to dance, he played and sang Sylvia’s favorite Elvis song, “Can’t help falling in love with you.” As he sang, he never took his eyes off Carol.
They broke into lighter bluegrass music after that. Sylvia was spun around the floor by Owen, Jon, Mr. Carter, Frank and finally, the Green Man.
“So, Dr. Luis,” she asked. “How did that name come about? Should I call you that from now on?”
The Green Man threw back his head and laughed and dipping her low. When he pulled her back to continue dancing, he told her, that Luis is the Ogham word for Rowan tree. The Rowan, she knew, had been classed as a magical tree for millennia. At the end of the dance, Sylvia threw her arms around his neck and gave him a kiss on the cheek. Having him there, to officiate her wedding with Owen was more than a dream come true. He always brought her peace and joy.
Sylvia made sure Carol caught the bouquet and Owen made sure Joe caught the garter. They both were surprised and pleased. Carol had a hard time looking at Joe after that, but she wore a grin for the rest of the evening.
Finally, it was time for the night to end. Maureen orchestrated the lighting of the wish lanterns that Sylvia had requested. Like magical stars, the wish lanterns filled the night sky as they floated up and out across the Chesapeake Bay. Among the lights and the well-wishers that lined the sidewalk to the pier, Owen and Sylvia walked to the True Love.
The boat had been decorated with lights and a Japanese lantern hung mid-mast. Everyone cheered as they got on board. Owen and Sylvia waved as they motored away from the yacht club, the wish lanterns floating in the air above them.
They motored away from the yacht club and down into the bay. Sylvia stood beside Owen at the helm.
“We’re not going to motor too far tonight,” he told her. “I thought we could anchor off Bayside, and have some champagne and spend the night?”
“That’s perfect,” she told him. “Let me go below and release myself from this dress, while you guide us to our port.”
Sylvia went below. It took her several minutes to free herself from the dress. She left on her wedding lingerie, garter belt, and stockings. Sylvia took some champagne from the cooler and two glasses and went up on deck, much to Owen’s surprise. He was very pleased to see her outfit. He hastily secured their mooring and told Sylvia huskily it was time to go below. There, he conveniently helped her from her remaining clothing, slowly, sensuously, one piece at a time and they began a long and languorous wedding night.
They sailed from port to port this trip, instead of finding hidden coves as they had dreamed of earlier. The Flakka dealers had seen to that. They kept in contact, via text, with Joe to let them know where they were and where they were headed. It was on the third day of their honeymoon that Joe texted them to say the Flakka dealer and her henchmen had been caught. The danger was over. They would be safe. An enormous weight was lifted from their shoulders. They both felt they could relax and really enjoy themselves, instead of looking over their shoulders for someone to harm them.
They meandered to St. Michaels, where they used Anne and Phil’s gift certificate to celebrate their honeymoon in a ‘real’ bed, as Anne had suggested. What was considered the honeymoon suite was, fortunately, open mid-week, and Owen and Sylvia took advantage of it. They sailed to Oxford, Maryland and to Solomons Island, Maryland before sailing home again. The Indian summer weather held true. The days were warm and the nights were cool. It was a magical time for Sylvia. She thought Owen felt it too. A large part of her didn’t want this honeymoon to end. It was one of the few times in their relationship, over the past year, that strife had not insinuate
d itself into their lives. They returned home happy and relaxed, planning their next trip down the bay.
Epilogue
Sylvia sat in an Adirondack chair on the deck and watched Owen on the bridge of the boat. In her heart, she knew she had new life inside of her, even though they had taken precautions on their honeymoon. Sylvia could just feel it. She could see the small, extra layer added to her aura. It pulsed with life. She would need to find a way to break the news to Owen.
There was a rustle of leaves. The Green Man was beside her. They stood side by side, not speaking, just watching the water and the sky in companionable quiet. She could feel his positive energy pulsing into her body and she inadvertently leaned in closer to him.
His deep tenor voice interrupted her thoughts, “You asked once, ‘why me?’” he stated to Sylvia.
She turned to look into his eyes and nodded.
“There are many names for those who are like you,” he told her. “You will find them and they will find you. As long as there is one or more who believe,” the Green Man told Sylvia, “then there is hope for the human race. All will be well.”
With a rustle of leaves, he was gone again. A twinge of sadness filled her as the air next to her was suddenly empty. But, she knew he would return sometime soon. There was a comfort in that knowledge.
Sylvia suddenly thought of the quote she had read on a Green Man site on Facebook, “Our ancestors said to their mother Earth: ‘We are yours.’ Modern humanity has said to Nature, ‘You are mine.’ The Green Man has returned as the living face of the whole earth so that through his mouth we may say to the universe: ‘We are one.”
Sylvia looked out at the trees, the sky and the water. She put her hand on her abdomen, protectively. All at once, Sylvia knew, without a shred of doubt, of the interconnectedness of everything. From the small life the size of an apple seed pulsing within her to all of humanity that crowded this living, breathing being of a planet and all other realms as well. All was well and life was good.
The End.
The Blossoming: The Third book in The Green Man Series Page 23
