“You know, Gabriel would enjoy some of the toys we have seen in the toy store. We should pick up some things for him too, it is his first Christmas with us, and we will be a family.”
“Then let’s do that!” Eugene said, and they went into the toy store arm in arm, looking very much like a couple in love.
The happy couple enjoyed checking out the toys for Gabriel, which were in a special section of the general store.
“My, there are so many things for him! I wish we could buy them all!” said Ruth.
“Honey, if we buy them all now what will we do for his birthday?” asked Eugene.
She laughed and gave him a hug and said, “I don’t know how I could possibly love you any more than I do right now!”
Then they continued their walk to the chocolate shop for the meeting about the wedding feast.
Finally all the plans were in place, the church was decorated, and the basement hall all decorated.
It reminded everyone of Christmas and the wedding party that would soon be held there—truly a Christmas in fairyland with the trees, stars and streamers as well as the delicious chocolates made to look like snowballs that the guests could take home with them.
The wedding cake had not been seen by the bride and groom, and they’d been kept from the basement of the church until they were married.
The church was full—nearly to capacity—of all their friends and family! Eugene was respected and well liked by everyone in the town, and they all turned out for him on this important day.
Ruth remained in the rectory getting ready for her walk down the aisle and Doris stood guard, keeping everyone out. Eugene tried to get a peek at his bride in her dress before the ceremony but he was rebuffed by Doris.
“Sir! It is bad luck to see your bride in her wedding dress before she walks down the aisle!”
Eugene chuckled and said “Ok, you win. I will await my bride at the altar!”
Eugene stepped out for some air, and to gather his thoughts before standing with the preacher in the church. The aisle was trimmed in silver, red, and green ribbon with tiny silver bells on each pew. With the white runner on the floor it truly looked like a fairy tale come true.
It was for Ruth, and Eugene couldn’t believe his luck in finding her. Marrying her was the next best thing to heaven. He had waited so long for the right girl, and he had his friends to thank for getting them together, but this would remain a secret, at least for the time being.
Gabriel and his guardian Smokey were there as well, and Gabe was enjoying the pretty scenery and all the people. He clapped with glee every time someone new joined them. Ellen and Noreen had Ruth ready for her walk down the aisle, and Doris told the preacher she was ready.
The music started, and she nervously waited for her bouquet. Ellen put her veil down for her and Luigi walked her down the aisle, and many of the guests gasped when they saw the beauty of the dress she was wearing.
Eugene couldn’t believe his eyes when he saw her in her gown; she seemed to float down the aisle to him. It looked like a scene in a fairy tale when the princess walks to her prince.
Luigi presented her hand to Eugene and then he took his place by the altar to listen to their vows. There wasn’t a dry eye in the church when they were done and the preacher pronounced them man and wife.
“Ladies and gentlemen, said the preacher, “it is my great honor to present to you Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Amundson!”
A loud cheer and applause filled the room as they walked to the reception in the basement. Both Eugene and Ruth stared in awe at the amazing job of decorating, not to mention all the tables of food there to feed everyone who came to celebrate the most important day in the couple’s lives.
Ruth let out a surprised shriek when she saw the wedding cake in the center of the room. It was nearly as tall as she was, covered in a snow white frosting with real flowers decorating the base, and a line that went around the cake all the way to the top and ending with a cake topper that was handmade and dressed a lot like the bride and groom.
“It is just perfect!” Ruth exclaimed.
“Yes, it certainly is!” added Eugene.
Everyone enjoyed the meal and music before the bride and groom stood to thank everyone for coming.
“We would like to thank everyone here for coming to celebrate our wedding day, and witness the best thing that has happened to either of us in a long time.
“We have waited a long time to find the right person to love for the rest of our lives, and it would not have been possible if not for our amazing friends, and Ruth’s close friends Doris, Noreen and Ellen. Without them, this day would not have been possible!”
The couple moved to the wedding cake, and they made the first cut while everyone clapped. Gabriel was clapping and yelling “Cake, cake!” which made everyone there laugh at the little boy’s enthusiasm.
The first piece they gave to each other as a token symbol of their togetherness before the rest was cut for the many guests to enjoy.
The newlyweds went back to their home with Gabriel so he could enjoy opening his presents and enjoy playing with them before he had to go to bed for the night in his new home with his new parents!
It was a magical day for everyone and it will be remembered fondly by all who watched this wonderful Christmas day!
Book 5 - The Mail Order Bride and the Chocolatier (Book 5)*
* This book is a continuation of a previous 3-book series called “The Mail Order Bride and the Chocolatier.” This book is new, and is a stand-alone story.
Lucille Chisum
Part 2 - The Mail Order Bride and the Chocolatier
Life had finally settled down from the Christmas wedding. The chocolate “sno-balls” that Doris and Noreen had made as table toppers had created quite a stir and were popular for the parties and weddings that were happening now.
The bakery that Ellen and Isidore ran had expanded to another store right next to the chocolate shop, which made it possible to invent their new treats more easily.
Ellen and Isidore kept busy going from shop to shop, but it was worth it for the extra-business they were able to generate.
Eugene and Ruth had their ready made family and Gabe and Smokey were flourishing. Life was good for everyone.
But Luigi had one small problem. His sister Gina had just arrived from Italy, and now that she was settled in, he realized she was quite lonely.
“I wish we could find someone for her,” he said one morning at a group breakfast at the general store. “I think she is jealous about everyone’s success with love and marriage since all of these mail order brides started arriving.”
Eugene smiled as he sipped his coffee. “I think I might be able to help with that,” he said. “We have many new recruits on the fire department that are looking for wives, most are upstanding young men that want to make a life here.”
Luigi considered the possibility for a moment. “You know, that is a great idea, and we won’t have to do anything more than introduce her to them!”
That night they held a family dinner to discuss Gina’s situation.
“Is she working yet?” Doris asked.
Luigi shook his head in sadness. “No,” he replied. “And she is a very talented seamstress"
"I have more than enough work for several good seamstresses!” Ruth exclaimed.
Coincidentally, Ruth was opening her first real dress shop, and she was eager to hire Gina.
The opening day was a hit, and they were had a steady stream of ladies who enjoyed the beautiful dresses and gowns. They ordered plenty of them and Ruth had much more than she could ever do alone!
Eugene played an important role as well. It was his job to check out the new shop to make sure that it was safe from fire and that they had enough safety precautions in place, especially since it was turning out to be a very busy shop!
“Wow!” Eugene exclaimed to his wife, “I never believed that one little shop could create such a stir!”
Ruth was beami
ng ear to ear over the amazing success on the first day, and she was thinking what the future would be once Gina arrived to add her talents to the shop.
The construction on the factory addition and the new rooms for the shop were finally finished. Isidore and Luigi built the ovens in such a way that they could combine their talented baking and chocolate making in one place.
The new shop opened, and the place was crowded with new patrons who were checking out the newest arrangements for treat-making, which combined baking with chocolate treats for a whole new taste sensation.
Ruth was talking to Doris and Noreen during a brief break in the activity and she told them how much she was looking forward to adding Gina to help handle the massive number of orders she had received on the very first day.
And there was another conversation in the works as well. Ruth, Doris, Noreen and Ellen had been talking amongst themselves while thinking of who would be a good suitor for Gina once she arrived.
“I think any of the new volunteers on the fire department will be wonderful for her,” said Doris.
“I agree,” Ruth said. “I have met many in the past few months that are hard working and honest men, she is going to have plenty of choices once she is ready!”
Meanwhile, Luigi had built an addition onto his home so she could stay with him, and not in a rooming house.
Ruth and Ellen began planning a small party to introduce her to the eligible bachelors in the community, but they wanted to make it look like it was just a welcome party for the dress shop’s newest talent.
“We can certainly be sneaky!” said Ruth.
Ellen agreed. “We are matchmakers for sure, and no one will be the wiser!”
Ruth laughed, and then she changed the subject; “Hey, the magic show is due to be coming through town pretty soon, and with it the fair. Is there anything being planned for the food tables so we can show off our latest edible delights?”
Ellen gasped. “Oh! I had completely forgotten about it!”
“We have another two weeks so I am sure we can put something together to show how much we have grown in the past year!”
That night they had a meeting to plan for the fair and the magic show. There were many new recipes and safety precautions to discuss, and there was much to be done.
Finally, the week-long celebration began. The festivities closed off the major route through the city, and the only transportation was walking because there were so many different stalls and tables set up by the shop keepers.
They were all showcasing their talents and wares while the magic show was in town, adding even more to the excitement of the festival.
There was a lot of activity, and strange people in town to check out the Main Street Fair, which was wonderful for the entire town since all of the shops would be there to be checked out by newcomers and travelers alike.
The chocolate stand always did a brisk business, and Doris and Noreen were quite busy running to and from the shop itself for more of their treats.
Finally, though, there was a small lull in the action, and Doris decided to ask Noreen about Gina.
“Has Ruth met her?”
“I don’t know,” Noreen replied. “I think that maybe Luigi has been too busy with all the preparations to make that happen.”
Doris wanted to find out more, but suddenly they were interrupted by a rush of customers. The crowd in the shop would thin out, and replenish quickly without much chance to talk to each other.
During the next lull, though, they received quite a surprise. They were scanning the crowd to see when things might pick up again, and Noreen quickly noticed a familiar face.
It was Luigi—and with an attractive young lady in tow to boot.
And they both had to admit, Gina was very attractive. She had long, dark hair that was curled and pinned up, and the classic olive skin of a Mediterranean beauty.
“I brought someone to meet you,” he said, grinning from ear to ear as he approached the stand. “This is my sister, Gina.”
“It is nice to be here,” Gina said after being introduced, and Doris and Noreen were both surprised at how good her English was.
“I have been getting settled in and getting used to things, but Luigi said it was finally time for me to get out and about a bit.”
They smiled and began showing her the treats. Luigi was obviously bursting with pride, and he watched as Gina’s face lit up with pleasure as she tasted each treat.
“My sister has a talent of her own,” he added, wanting to give her sister an opportunity to talk about her talents as a seamstress. “She makes clothes and gowns that are fit for royalty!”
“So we’ve heard,” Doris said, giving her a friendly smile. “And I believe Ruth will be here in just a little while if you’d like to meet her.”
“I would, very much!” Gina said. “Luigi has told me about her dress shop and that she is looking for a seamstress.”
They continued to show Gina around the shop until Ruth arrived, and the moment she did she knew their guest had to be Gina.
“I’ve heard so much about you!” Ruth exclaimed, gushing with enthusiasm. “And I could so use another seamstress to help out.”
“I would love to,” Gina said modestly. “I just hope my work is good enough.”
Ruth nodded. “I’m sure it will be,” she said. “I trust Luigi implicitly, and if he says you’re that talented, his word is more than good enough for me!”
Gina spent the remainder of the day helping out at the shop, and Ruth insisted she enjoy the fair for a bit longer before joining her at the dress shop. The fair was a festive time indeed, and Ruth wanted to use it to help her get acclimated.
As expected, Ruth was very impressed by Gina’s talent as a seamstress, and she had many excellent ideas for designing wedding dresses as well. She was quickly able to catch up on all her back orders, and before long the dress shop business had doubled due to her formidable talent.
Once Gina was settled in, they began to try and find her a husband.
Luigi was shocked to learn that she was open to meeting suitable gentleman at the party they wished to hold for her, but evidently his sister had grown less shy after he’d left Italy for America.
She also smiled when she was told that some of the firemen and volunteers had posted advertisements for mail order brides.
“This does not surprise me,” she said. “I know of several women who left Italy after receiving similar letters, and everyone I know has been quite successful with this.”
During the fair they learned that there would be a barn raising near the fairgrounds at the edge of the city, with all the merchants participating.
Doris and Noreen thought this would be a good time to introduce Gina as a new member of the community, not to mention having her meet all the eligible young firefighters.
“We can make some of the new sourdough bread treats to go with the meats that the latest hunt has brought in, goose, pheasant, bear, and deer. It is going to be quite a feast during this barn raising party!” Doris said.
The ladies started cooking and preparing for the feast mid week so everything would be ready to feed the hungry crew getting ready to build the new barn.
Eugene had plans to buy some land out there so he could build the ranch that would become his dream house, and the barn was the first step in that process.
“Gina is going to enjoy our kind of welcome party!” mused Doris while they were readying the supplies to go out to the ranch for final preparation.
“This is the biggest welcome this town has ever seen! Combining it with the chief’s barn raising was a wonderful idea Noreen!”
Ellen and Gabriel came out to assist, with the ever-present Smokey in tow. Ellen sent Gabe to play with the other kids who were there, and then she went straight in to go to work on preparing the breads and setting everything up on the long table especially built for these types of gatherings.
The ladies used this chance to catch up on some of the local gossip th
at they hadn’t been able to share since the fair, it had been too busy for them to just simply chat like they used to.
Ellen and Ruth had to be filled in when it came to what was going on because of the surge in business in their shops that had been going on.
Doris and Noreen caught them up in their plans, and Ellen was interested in getting to know Gina as well since she heard of her talents with a needle and thread, as well as cooking.
“Her brother, Luigi is set on finding her a husband amongst the new volunteer fire fighters,” Noreen explained, “and she is hoping that this party may open up some matches for her as well. She doesn’t know anyone here but us and her brother, so she needs some friends to enjoy as well.”
Doris nodded. “She is still new here, and should be introduced to people of her own age and talents.”
Noreen and Ellen started talking among themselves, and they decided to come up with a back up plan in case the barn raising wasn’t all they expected.
The barn raising started on a Friday night with a small ceremony and plenty of food for everyone there, the women were all busily creating great things to keep the men full and ready for the task at hand which would start at daybreak.
Doris got Gina involved right away so she had something to do while meeting all the eligible young men who were there to help the chief get his bard up and ready for his livestock.
Gina threw herself into the party with an amazing energy that made them all smile.
“What did you do in Italy?” Doris asked. “I helped in the kitchens and when it was needed, took care of our parents as they aged and needed constant care.
“It was busy, but I am glad I could be there with my parents while they were alive and help to grow the winery and other specialties so my older brother could take over when it was time for me to leave.”
With that, she stopped and looked around. “It is much different here in San Francisco than Italy,” she said. “I don’t mean to offend, but the people are not as friendly, some have been rude when I asked where to find places that I needed to go, but thankfully I got here to my brother and his huge ‘family!’ ” Gina said.
Christmas Miracles: Mega Mail Order Bride 20-Book Box Set: Multi-Author Box Set Page 83
