“I hope you didn’t do anything really bad.” Doreen frowned at them. “Like put a raw fish on the engine.”
“No, no, never. Not ‘that’ bad.” Cindy assured them. “I heard about how the male attendants at Noelle’s Uncle Mart’s wedding did that. Awful! By the time he and her Aunt Susan got to the airport, in of all cars her dad’s Caddy, the engine was almost ruined.” She screwed up her face. “And it stunk!” All the girls whooped with laughter.
Melanie felt so blessed to be included in this special group of friends, and especially in the wedding. It had taken a bit of research on Noelle’s part to find an exact replication of the dresses that were purchased over a year ago for the ‘first’ wedding. If anyone chose to measure, her white sash was almost an inch narrower than the others. She didn’t care. These women were amazing how they had taken her under their collective wings, and especially how Doreen had forgiven her. Doreen with the now shorter leg.
She was so glad she had moved away from her mother and Bruce. Thankful, too, that he was in therapy for his overly fondness for young women. Her mother who believed in her vows, even after her widowhood from Melanie’s father, was hanging in there with him. She was grateful he had taken an administrative job, leaving his principal position at VDM. The new female principal was kind and nurturing and right up front.
“Say …” She shook herself out of her reverie and looked around at the radiant faces. “Anyone know where the bride is?”
Just then the door opened and Kerstin and Darrell walked in with the groom’s parents. She had never met them before, but some of the Candy Canes had. A tall man with silver gray hair escorted a naturally blond woman, petite and delicate looking. “Hi, girls. My, you are all so beautiful,” he said with a warm smile.
“I do love the red,” Mrs. Lovejoy smiled, too. “It reminds me of the special Splash of Red rose at The Garden.”
“Do you think, Mrs. Lovejoy, that we look like candy canes?” Natalie couldn’t resist asking.
“Yes. Actually, you look like Candy Cane roses.” She tipped her head. “Do you like your bouquets?”
A collective sigh. Echoes of “Beautiful!” and “Gorgeous!” and “Heavenly!” ricocheted around the room. Mrs. Lovejoy looked very pleased. “I designed them,” she offered. “I wanted them to be exceptional for this wedding, the wedding I’ve been praying for,” she squeeze a tissue in her hand, “for almost thirty years.”
She scanned the group of girls, and her gaze rested on Doreen. “You,” she pointed a delicate finger, “must be the Maid of Honor.” She tilted her head again. “So tall and elegant.” She focused on Doreen again. “I figured it out because your gown is slightly different. Longer.” Mrs. Lovejoy seemed pleased with herself to have made that distinction.
Melanie grabbed Doreen’s hand and squeezed. Doreen shook her head, and the chignon clasped on its crown wiggled a little. “It’s okay, Mel,” she whispered. She stepped forward to touch the other woman’s hands. “I am different, but only by about an inch and a half,” she chuckled.
Melanie noticed the confused expression on Mrs. Lovejoy’s face. She prayed she would take Doreen’s explanation graciously and not be embarrassed. She had forgotten how tactful Doreen was, how humble. It would be all right.
There was so much silence in the room. Every girls’ eyes were focused on Doreen and Mrs. Lovejoy. Doreen explained to Braydon’s mother in a stage whisper; then, they hugged. Everyone clapped. It was going to be okay.
Kerstin stepped forward dabbing at her own eyes. “It’s almost time, girls.”
“But,” several said in unison, “where is the bride?”
“I am here!” Noelle swished into the room in possibly the most elegant gown any of them had ever seen, even in magazines. She, too, twirled with hands above her head and holding a huge trailing bouquet of striped roses with silver glitter on the pedals. Gorgeous! And, the gown was strapless! No bruises, no yellow marks. Cindy and Melanie clasped their hands and bowed their heads. God is so good, they both whispered.
All the girls fussed over her, careful not to touch her gorgeous gown. But, finally, Natalie asked where she found it.
“Super simple. Connie designed it. Isn’t it beautiful?”
Noelle
I am overwhelmed. I can’t even fathom this day, Lord. I know, I am using advanced English teacher lingo. Should have used the word ‘understand.’ Still, one of my future duties is to decipher letters to Santa, no matter how the words are used or spelled or misspelled. I know that is just a fantasy, but a fun one.
I hear the music drifting in, the harp playing, and my precious friend Sandy is singing in Braydon’s and my honor. I asked her to sing Joy to the World, to remind everyone about the joy of the Savior, and the joy of my marriage. She is singing it perfectly, with joy.
Braydon and I chose a long walk for me to reach him, past the central garden where most of the guests are seated, and it will end at the small rose portion of the garden. We will say our vows privately there, then he will take my hand and escort me back past our guests to the Central Patio Room. There we will celebrate. Yippee!
I clasp my gorgeous and enormous trailing bouquet to my face. Its scent overwhelms me. The roses are striped, like candy canes. Each petal is tipped in silver glitter. I know Braydon designed this just for me. How will I ever make it up to him?
Oh, I know. Being Mrs. Santa. I can do that!
Actually, I found out from pressing him that Love In Bloom has a Santa Letter division it promotes at Christmas time. Local kids, any kids anywhere, can write a letter to Santa, and we will answer it. That is one of my new jobs! Such fun.
Dad takes my hand. I take his arm. The Lohengrin wedding march begins. Suddenly, I tremble. I look into Dad’s eyes. He nods. “This is right, Noelle. So right,” he says, a smile embracing his face, mistiness clouding his eyes. Together we step forward.
~
Braydon shifted on his feet, the ones in rented wedding shoes. It wasn’t that he wasn’t sure, but, was she? She had finally confessed to him about Clay’s, her former fiancé’s, abuse. It was still confusing to him why she would even allow that. But, after talking with her mother Kerstin, he had a better understanding. Now, he trusted. Her, and the Lord.
Jill, the former, now current wedding coordinator again, touched his arm and nodded. It was time. He moved from the little room reserved for the male attendants and walked to the small rose garden area. He would wait there for his bride.
The End
May your life be filled with candy cane moments.
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Dear Reader ~
I pray you received some wisdom from Noelle’s and Braydon’s story, especially about abuse and intimidation. I know that is a hard subject, but It is an important one.
I also hope you had fun with Noelle, Kerstin and Braydon bantering with Gladys. That woman didn’t know how to stop her mouth.
Someday, when you are in Southern California, please visit the Sherman Foundation Gardens. It will be a special treat of senses.
I also pray you gained wisdom for forgiveness from Melanie and Doreen. My son had a similar accident many years ago and forgave. So, I understand this situation.
Please read and please review all my other novels and novellas. I hope you will enjoy them and pass them on. Honest reviews are very important to authors, and reviews on Amazon help the authors’ Amazon standings.
Thank you for being one of my readers.
Sincerely with love,
Bonnie
PS ~ For my Newport Beach and Southern California readers … If there are any location inaccuracies, please remember this is a work of fiction, and I may have taken some allowances with venues and times.
I can be reached at my email [email protected] (be sure to put the word book in the subject line); via my web
site www.bonnieengstrom.com and my author page on Face Book. I love to hear from my readers, so please contact me.
Other Books by Bonnie:
Butterfly Dreams
Recipes for Romance
Her Culinary Catch
A Winning Recipe
A Cup of Love
The Candy Cane Girls series
Her Candy Cane Christmas
Her Valentine Promise
Her Wild Ride
Noelle's Christmas Wedding: Christian Contemporary Christmas Romance (The Candy Cane Girls Book 1) Page 9
