Northern Light
Page 19
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.
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