by Donna Ball
Kevin, eyes twinkling when he saw her, said critically, “Is that what you’re wearing?” And then he lifted her off her feet in a hard embrace and twirled her around while she laughed and pretended to protest. “I’ve never seen anything so beautiful,” he whispered in her ear, and kissed her.
That’s when Bridget bit down on her lip. “He’s not supposed to see the bride before the wedding,” she whispered.
All of this took place on the front porch of the house as visitors were pulling into the parking lot that surrounded The Tasting Table and following the signs that led to the buffet. Lori gave Kevin a playful push as he set her on her feet again, and looked around, assessing. “Okay, okay. If everyone is standing around here, who’s taking the money? Who’s pouring the wine? Is the lady from the paper here yet? Come on, guys, we’ve got work to do!”
And so for the next hour they worked the crowd, they poured the wine, they handed out brochures. The sound of bluegrass music mixed with laughter and conversation and the food kept coming. At five o’clock the band leader said into the microphone, “Ladies and gentlemen, you’re invited to gather around the fire pit in front of the winery for a brief ceremony before we light the fire. And bring your glasses for a toast!”
For the first time, Lori looked a little anxious. She removed the apron her mother had insisted she wear while pouring the wine and stepped out from behind the bar. “Okay,” she said, smoothing down her skirt, “I guess this is it. Do you think Kevin knows it’s time?”
Lindsay smiled. “I think he heard the announcement.”
Lori glanced around at those still lingering around the buffet table. “We shouldn’t leave until everyone is out. And make sure the glasses are filled.”
“Derrick and Cassie are pouring,” Lindsay assured her. “Come here.”
She broke off several small, colorful chrysanthemum flowers from the display by the bar and tucked them into Lori’s hair. “There,” she declared, stepping back to observe the effect. “You look like a fairy princess.”
“And you can’t get married without a bouquet,” Bridget said. She came through the door with a bouquet of yellow daisies in her hand tied with colorful ribbon streamers. “These were the prettiest I could find. Of course,” she added, looking worried, “they’re not exactly in the color scheme.”
Lori took the bouquet, delighted. “It’s perfect! I love daisies!”
Cici stood at the door for a moment, smiling at her daughter, and then hurried forward. “It took me a while to find this,” she said. She fastened a gold chain with a single teardrop pearl around Lori’s neck. “Your dad gave me this when you were born. I always wanted you to wear it at your wedding. And …” She stepped back and smiled, tears glittering on her lashes. “It goes perfectly with your outfit.”
Lori surged forward and hugged her mother hard, careless of their dresses. “I love you, Mom!”
She turned to hug Bridget, and then Lindsay, and when she stepped back everyone was a little teary. “Don’t ruin your makeup,” Lindsay cautioned, blotting her own eyes.
Lori sniffed a little and smiled. “Okay, let’s find Reverend Holland and get this show on the road before Kevin thinks I stood him up.” She lifted her voice to those still milling about inside. “Come on, everyone! The ceremony is about to start!”
Bridget looked both puzzled and pleased. “Is Reverend Holland here? How sweet of him.”
“I haven’t seen him,” Lindsay said.
Lori said, “Of course he’s here. He comes to everything at Ladybug Farm.”
A slow shadow of dread touched Cici’s eyes. “Not winery events, Lori. He’s Baptist!”
Lori stared at her mother. “Do you mean the preacher isn’t here?”
“Well honey, if you’d only told me …”
“I just assumed …”
“Oh, Lori, you took care of everything else, we all just assumed …”
“How can I get married without a preacher?” Lori cried.
“I could run up to the house and try to call him,” Bridget volunteered quickly. “I’m sure he’d come out.”
“Y’all looking to get married?”
They all turned to see Farley, a plate piled high with finger sandwiches and crab puffs, standing behind them. “Cost you ten dollar.”
Lori burst into delighted laughter. “Perfect!” she exclaimed.
~*~
There never had been a more perfect sunset. A brilliant cerulean sky was streaked with gold-etched clouds in shades of garnet and rose, lighting the mountains on fire in the background. A gentle autumn breeze loosened a few bright yellow grape leaves and sent them scattering over the ground. Lindsay snapped picture after picture. A delighted crowd gathered before the winery while “The Wedding March” was plucked out on banjo and guitar, and the bride, in denim and designer peau de soie, faced the groom. Their mothers, escorted by a nattily attired Derrick and Paul, stood just behind them. Paul dabbed at his eyes throughout the ceremony, and although he insisted later they were tears of joy, it was generally agreed he was weeping over the dress.
Dominic slipped his arm around Lindsay’s waist and whispered, “Are you sorry it’s not us?”
Lindsay looked up at him with eyes that were filled with absolute contentment and replied, “But it is us.”
There was only one near-miss in the ceremony, and that was when Farley, in a voice that could command considerable authority when he chose, called for the ring. A flash of panic in Kevin’s eyes revealed that the detail had escaped him. Bridget began to tug at her own wedding band, but Dominic stepped forward and placed a small circlet woven of grapevine twigs in Kevin’s hand. “Thought it might have slipped your mind,” he said.
Lori’s eyes lit up with delight when Kevin slipped the twig ring on her finger. “Perfect!” she whispered.
Kevin and Lori were pronounced husband and wife as the sun slipped behind the mountains, leaving a halo of radiance in the sky. Kevin kissed his bride, and when they moved apart, waving and smiling to the cheering crowd, Noah stepped forward and lit the vines in the fire pit.
Dominic, leaning slightly on a cane to ease the weight on his injured knee, turned and raised his glass. “Friends and neighbors,” he called, and the laughter and chatter quieted down. “Friends and neighbors,” he repeated, “since ancient times, the burning of the vines has celebrated the end of the season. It reminds us that the past is behind us, and that we are born again with each new year. This …” he smiled at Lindsay, “has been a good season.” He turned to the bride and groom. “Let’s all raise our glasses to an even better one.”
There were cheers and applause and the clinking of glasses. The bride’s eyes sparkled in the light of the fire and the groom’s eyes glowed with pride as they filled their own glasses and drank to each other, to their family, and to their future. Ladybug Farm’s first vintage, it was generally agreed, was a resounding success.
~*~
The lights came on as darkness fell, twinkling in the gazebo, glowing in yellow pools across the lawn, illuminating the paths. The bonfire shot gentle sparks into the air and scented the night with the smoky taste of autumn. A small black and white kitten could occasionally be seen streaking from shadow to shadow, chasing the glitter of candlelight. Rebel stationed himself in the pasture with the sheep, keeping a wary eye on both his flock and the invaders, while a contented golden retriever snoozed in the office, awaiting his master’s return. Lori and Kevin cut Bridget’s newly reassembled wedding cake, which was decorated with raspberry roses and fondant grapes, and danced under the lights of the gazebo. The wine kept flowing, the band kept playing. No one wanted to leave.
Cici climbed the steps to the porch and sank down into her rocking chair, kicking off her shoes with a small moan. “That’s the last time I’m ordering shoes from the Internet,” she said.
Bridget sat down beside her, prying one shoe off with the toe of the other, and repeating the process on the other foot. “I don’t even have that excuse,�
�� she said. “I tried mine on before I bought them.”
Cici smiled wryly, massaging her toes. “But we looked good, didn’t we?”
Bridget grinned. “You’d better believe it.”
Cici sat back, stretching out her feet to the cool night air, and reached for her wine glass. She glanced at Bridget with a mixture of curiosity and amusement in her eyes. “So are we related now?”
Bridget thought about that. “I don’t know. I’ll have to look it up.” She lifted her glass to Cici. “What I do know is that we are going to make great mothers-in-law.”
Cici saluted her. “I’ll drink to that.”
They were quiet for a time, listening to the music, smiling at the activity on the lawn before them. “Did you ever think …” they said at once, and then laughed.
“Never,” said Cici, shaking her head, “in a million years.”
“When we started out on this adventure,” Bridget said, “I thought we were leaving so much behind. But now … look how much we’ve gained.”
“Everything I ever wanted ,” Cici said, and when she released a breath it was of pure contentment. “And even more.”
Bridget agreed, smiling. “Me, too. Even more.”
Lindsay and Dominic came across the lawn, Dominic pretending not to rely on the cane that steadied his gait while Lindsay pretended not to watch him too anxiously. “Another week,” he said, passing the cane to Lindsay and using the handrail to steady his progress up the steps. “Another week with this cane and that’s it. Although I will admit, my ladies, that chair does look good.” He lowered himself into it and added, “I thought the wedding was beautiful.”
“I got some incredible pictures,” Lindsay said, propping the cane against the wall and setting her camera on the table. “Lori will have a gorgeous album.”
Bridget chuckled. “I have a feeling Lori is not a wedding album kind of girl.”
“But her mother is,” Cici spoke up quickly. “Thank you, Lindsay.”
Lindsay sat down next to Dominic and reached for his hand. “What a day, huh?”
“In all the history of Ladybug Farm,” Cici began with an incredulous shake of her head.
“This one was just about par for the course,” finished Bridget complacently, and they all laughed.
Lori came up the steps, her curls bouncing, her face flushed with dancing and glowing with joy. Kevin was close behind her. Without a word, she bent to kiss her mother, then Bridget, then Lindsay. Kevin did the same. “Thank you,” Lori said, clutching Kevin’s hand, “for the perfect wedding.”
Kevin extended his hand to Dominic. “Thank you for the job offer,” he said. “I accept.”
Dominic shook Kevin’s hand, his eyes twinkling. “I’m glad to hear it.”
Lori hoisted herself to the rail. “By the way,” she said, “we’re moving in. On what you all are paying us, we can’t afford our own place.”
“It’s just for a little while,” Kevin put in quickly. He sat on the rail beside her.
The women laughed softly. “No problem,” Cici said.
Bridget added, “It’s a big house.”
Ida Mae came out of the front door with a big trash bag in her hand and made a show of scooping up empty glasses and plates. “Gettin’ late,” she said. “You need to shoo these folks on outta here.”
“It’s only eight o’clock,” Lori objected, springing down from the rail to take the trash bag from her. “Here, I’ll do that.”
Bridget said at the same moment, “Ida Mae, leave that. We’ll get it in the morning.”
Ida Mae glared at her. “You think I want ’coons all over my porch?” And she turned a studious glare on Lori, refusing to relinquish the bag. “And you in your weddin’ dress. If you can call that getup a weddin’ dress. You need to go fold that dress up in blue tissue before your ruin it.”
Lindsay, Cici, and Bridget had to smother quick grins. And Lori confessed, “It’s probably already ruined. I sweated all over it, dancing.”
Ida Mae gave her a disgusted look and dropped a plastic plate into the bag. “And another thing,” she grumbled, “whoever heard of gettin’ married on ten minutes’ notice without even a preacher or a judge? It probably ain’t even legal.”
“Don’t you worry about that, Miss Ida Mae,” Kevin said. “I made sure I checked out the ordination certificate. It’s perfectly legal.” He winked at Lori. “This marriage has to last the rest of our lives, and I’m not taking any chances.”
“Besides, I adore Farley,” Lori said. “And I thought he did a great job.”
Cici chuckled. “Actually, he did. It was very … dramatic.”
Lori spread out her hand to admire her twig ring. “And I love my ring. I’m going to keep it forever.”
Ida Mae gave a disapproving, “Hmmph!” and added, “I’d like to see you wash dishes or change a baby’s diaper in that thing, young missy.”
Lori just grinned and went to rejoin Kevin on the rail.
Dominic started to push up from his chair. “Please, Miss Ida Mae, come sit down. There’s plenty of time to do that once the party is over.”
She glared at him with such intensity that he immediately sank back down again. “And you! Gallavantin’ around when you ought to be in your sick bed. You’ll have us all waitin’ on you hand and foot tomorrow, you mark my words.”
Dominic murmured, “Yes, ma’am.” And there was a twinkle in his eyes as he glanced at his wife.
“So, Lori,” inquired Lindsay innocently, “what did you decide to do about your name?”
Ida Mae listened with interest, but Lori just looked confused. “What about it?”
Cici clarified, “Are you going to change it?”
Lori glanced at Kevin, puzzled, and then back to her mother. “To what?”
“How did you sign the marriage certificate?” Bridget explained. “Gregory or Tyndale?”
“Oh.” She smiled. “Both, naturally. Lori Gregory-Tyndale. Our children will be Gregory-Tyndales.”
“Has a nice ring to it,” Kevin agreed. “Stately.”
Cici and Bridget sipped their wine and, wisely, said nothing. Ida Mae grumbled, “Craziest thing I ever did hear.” But then she turned the force of her stare on Lindsay and added, “Better than not changin’ it a’tall, I reckon.” She snatched a plastic cup off the table at Lindsay’s elbow and dropped it into the bag.
Noah came up the steps with a plate of cake and a fork in his hand. “Great cake,” he said. “I sure have missed your cooking.” He glanced at Kevin. “Hey, man, are you gonna get your stuff out of my room?”
Kevin cupped Lori’s waist with his hand, drawing her close. “I already did.”
Lindsay said suddenly, “Dominic, we should get your children up here and have someone take a big family portrait. Who knows when we’ll all be together again?”
“Well, I certainly hope it will be soon,” Dominic said. He took Lindsay’s hand again and added, “Isn’t it odd, ladies, how you never know where a dream might take you?”
“We were just saying that,” Bridget said.
“When we decided to buy this house four years ago, we thought it was going to be our last big adventure,” Lindsay said. “Now it looks as though that was just the first step in a whole new life of adventures.”
“Who knew?” said Cici. “Three months ago this house felt so empty. And now …” She smiled at Lori and Kevin, who had eyes for no one but each other. “Now, doesn’t it seem nice and full?”
Noah glanced around for somewhere to sit and, finding none, sat on the step to finish his cake.
“Noah,” Lindsay protested, “your uniform!”
Ida Mae gave another grunt as she returned to the door with the trash bag. “Y’all are gonna to have to get y’selves more chairs,” she said.
Cici looked at Bridget. Bridget looked at Lindsay. They smiled.
“Yes,” said Bridget happily, “I suppose we will.”
And that’s exactly what they did.
Epilogue
In due time the breath of winter crept across the valley, and the vines slept beneath a blanket of snow while the big house sheltered the dreams of those who slept inside. The windows danced with holiday lights and the halls were filled with laughter and music, with noisy mealtimes and busy days.
Spring brought pale green buds and clusters of tiny grapes that would plump, with time and sun, into a rich ripe harvest. Tractors chugged and hammers swung, and voices called from house to yard and back again. A small house in the glen got a new garden, and a new couple to tend it. Vines were pruned and tied, fruit trees sprayed, tomato cuttings were set out. Baskets of strawberries filled the kitchen with their sweet intoxicating scent, and jars of bright ruby jams and sauces began to line the cupboard shelves once more. When the evening sky pinkened and the shadows lengthened across the lawn, birds fluttered to the feeders that hung from the eaves of the porch. And, like the birds, the family members began to gather, sharing a glass of wine and the best moments of their day, settling in to the comforts of home.
Three days a week Kevin left Ladybug Farm to teach in Staunton, and every time he made the turn into the drive that led home, he smiled. Lori read about a celebrity chef who was opening a new restaurant in Washington, and she camped out on his doorstep until he agreed to meet with her. She left with a contract in hand, and the Ladybug Farm Red was featured on the grand opening menu.
Dogs barked and raced across the hillside. Roosters crowed. The nanny goat bleated. Cats sunned themselves on the porch. Birds trilled and danced in the trees and returned, every evening at sunset, to the feeders.
Kevin found a herding whistle at the feed store in town and surprised everyone by actually teaching the border collie to respond to it. For the first time since the ladies moved in, they could not only control the sheep, but the sheep dog as well. Noah was promoted twice, completed his training, and was assigned to an aircraft carrier bound for Spain. They kept his room ready for him.
The Ladybug Farm ice wine took a silver medal at the East Coast Wine Maker’s Association annual competition. Lori accepted the award on behalf of the winery, but unfortunately could not join in the toast that was drunk in its honor. She and Kevin were celebrating a secret of their own, and the face of Ladybug Farm was about to change again.
