A memory stirred, Bobbi Lee’s catching her in the hallway between classes, telling her not to accept Gary’s invitation to the senior banquet. “Gary, you took Bobbi Lee to the senior banquet, didn’t you?”
“Yes, I did.” For the first time, Meredith heard the pain in his voice that she had felt in her heart.
“Was it her idea or yours?”
“She suggested it after she heard that you had turned me down.”
“How did she know that? Did you tell her?” Clarity dawned for Meredith.
“No. Didn’t you?” Gary’s look said he didn’t understand.
“I never told anyone. After Bobbi Lee told me about the dare, I hurt too much.”
“What dare?”
Meredith took a deep breath. “She told me that your friends had dared you to ask the nerdiest girl in school to the banquet.”
“What? Never. I asked you to the banquet because I wanted to take you.” He took her trembling hands in his. “Couldn’t you tell that I liked you?”
“I wouldn’t let myself believe that someone like you, a part of Natchez royalty, could ever care for me.”
“So you believed someone like Bobbi Lee, who, it appears, is a habitual liar when it suits her purposes. Who used to call you names? Wasn’t that Bobbi Lee, too?”
“I have some more items to forgive, it seems.” Meredith sighed. “I need to ask you to forgive me for believing her instead of trusting you. I never thought I could hurt you.”
“Consider yourself forgiven. Why didn’t you think you could hurt me?”
“I wasn’t much to give up, when you could take Bobbi Lee or any other girl in town.”
“I didn’t want any other girl. I wanted you.” His gaze became more intense. “I still do.”
“Why, Gary? I don’t understand.” Meredith looked at his face and read there the truth. Her heart beat faster and her mouth felt dry. Could she really believe that Gary cared for her?
“You’re intelligent, a good conversationalist, a woman of deep faith, talented, passionate about your work, beautiful… I could go on.”
“I don’t know what to say. I’m overwhelmed.”
“Just say that you like me a little.”
“You’ve always been my ideal man.” She smiled into his eyes. “Every hero in every book I’ve written is you.”
“And your editors didn’t object to that?” His voice held such irony and repressed joy that she laughed aloud. “Let’s get out of here.” He reached for her hand and squeezed it as he led her out the door. Back at her car, he stood by her door. She looked up at him. Then her eyes closed and the lips of the man she loved were on hers.
“I love you, Meredith.”
“Oh, Gary.” Her arms went around him in a tight hug.
Chapter 9
The next day, Gary stopped by his parents’ house on the way to the wedding rehearsal. “Mom?” he called as he came in the door.
“I’m here, Gary. What’s up?” She came into the hallway from the kitchen.
“Do you remember your grandmother’s rings? You promised I could have them when the right time came.”
His mother hugged him. “I’m so happy for you. Are you absolutely sure?”
“I’m absolutely sure I’m going to ask her. I pray she’ll accept.”
“Do you doubt it?”
“You remember when I asked her to the senior banquet in high school, don’t you?
“Yes.”
“I was sure then that she would accept.”
“I would hate to see you hurt.”
“I understand now why she turned me down. We’ve talked about it, but…”
“You’re still nervous.”
“Yes.”
“I’ll get the rings.”
She left, and Gary paced. Meredith had achieved something he didn’t aspire to—celebrity status. Would she be willing to marry a schoolteacher, a poorly paid one at that?”
His mother returned carrying the round leather jewelry box. “I had them cleaned last week. Things seemed headed in this direction.”
“Mother, you’re a wonder.” Gary opened the box and examined the gold Victorian rings. One held a pearl surrounded by diamonds. Next to that, the plain gold band, inscribed inside with S.M. to M.G. “Do you think it will fit?”
“Ask her first. You can have it sized afterward, but I think the sizes are probably close. Your great-grandmother would love to see this.”
Gary closed the box and pocketed it. “Well, here goes.”
“Would you like to pray before you go?”
“Please.”
“Dear Lord, Gary is going to ask a most important question. Thy will be done, Lord. Protect his heart from hurt, and give him the right words to say.”
Gary’s voice felt husky. “Thanks, Mother. I’ll let you know how it turns out.”
He drove out to Longwood, arriving before the five o’clock rehearsal. Meredith’s SUV sat next to the wedding planner’s. She must be around somewhere. He walked around the mansion and found Meredith looking at a copse of live oak trees with Spanish moss hanging down in the winter dusk. “You know about the Longwood ghosts, don’t you?”
“Oh, Gary. You startled me.”
Gary walked up and put his arms around her, holding her close. He could feel her heart racing. “Are you all right?”
“Mmm. I am now.”
“Let’s take a walk down by the pond.”
Meredith walked along beside him, looking adorable in her red sweater and Christmassy beret. “Do you think the weather will be good for the wedding?”
Gary forced himself to focus on her words and not her presence. “No rain is predicted, and the temperatures should be in the seventies again.”
“I’m so happy for Francine. She’s been kind of frantic for a few days, but she really recommends this wedding planner, Wreath Anderson. Isn’t that a great name, especially this time of year?”
“Yes, it is.” A silence fell between them as Gary tried to think of a romantic way to approach her.
“Oh, I meant to tell you last night, but I forgot. I’ve gotten a three-book contract on the Natchez series. That’s the fastest I’ve ever heard back from my agent. The advance is great. I’m so excited.”
Gary’s heart sank. She didn’t really need him at all. Who was he to ask such a woman to be his wife? “That’s great. I’m really happy for you.”
Meredith paused in her stride. “Are you all right? You don’t seem as thrilled as I thought you would be.”
Gary looked out at the pond in the growing gloom, aware that the wedding party was assembling above them and his time was short. “I am happy. It’s just that, well, I guess you may be leaving Natchez now and going back to your life in Kansas.”
Meredith stood right in front of him. “Gary, I can live anywhere I want to. I can write anywhere. What are you trying to say?”
Gary felt the box in this pocket. Did he dare? “What I’m trying to say is I want you to spend the rest of your life writing in Natchez, with me. Will you become my wife?” He held the jewelry box out to her.
He heard her gasp, and then her arms were around his neck. “Yes, oh yes, Gary.” Then their lips met and lingered. “I love you.”
“And I love you.” He held her close, the leather box still held tight in his fist. In this euphoric state, Gary gradually realized that people were talking and getting closer.
“I know they arrived. I saw both their cars.”
“Where could they have wandered off to?”
“I’ll find them.”
“Do you need help, Wreath?”
“We’re here.” Gary released Meredith with reluctance just as Wreath Anderson came within hailing distance.
“Come on you two. We need to get started while we still have a little light.”
“Wait a minute, Wreath.” Gary reached for Meredith’s hand and squeezed it. She squeezed him back, which he took for assent. “We have a favor to ask.”
�
�What’s that?” Wreath paused.
“We need you to plan another wedding. Ours, actually.” Gary looked at Meredith in the near dark. She smiled at him.
“I’d be happy to. I didn’t know you were engaged.”
“We weren’t until five minutes ago.” Meredith laughed.
“But don’t tell anyone tonight. This is Francine and Bill’s time,” Gary said.
“Come by my office next week, and we’ll begin making plans. Congratulations.”
They headed up the hill together, Meredith’s hand cradled in his. Gary couldn’t remember when he’d been so happy.
The rehearsal went off without a problem under Wreath’s supervision, though Gary caused some hilarity by talking the other groomsmen into carrying the groom in on their shoulders.
Meredith’s dark brown hair and eyes sparkled in the rich glow of Longwood at Christmas—crystal lights twinkling in the galleries and trees, and hurricane lamps bathing the aisle in amber. Wreath’s work impressed Gary. She’d created the perfect atmosphere for a romantic plantation Christmas wedding, and he couldn’t wait to be the groom himself, since he’d found his bride. When they got to the Carriage House restaurant, Gary pulled out the ring box again and offered it to Meredith. “In all the excitement, I didn’t give you this.”
“This is an antique jewelry box, Gary. Where did you get it?”
“I hope you don’t mind. These are family heirlooms. My great-grandfather Martin gave these rings to my great-grandmother over a hundred years ago.” Gary watched with anxiety as Meredith opened the case.
“Oh, Gary, how stunning. And they’re doubly precious to me because they were once worn by Mary Galbraith.” She slipped the pearl and diamond engagement ring over her finger. “It fits perfectly. Thank you.”
Gary leaned forward for a kiss, savoring the sweetness of her lips and the knowledge that she had accepted his proposal.
That whole evening, while others toasted the bride and groom and cracked jokes, Gary felt that he and Meredith were in a bubble of happiness. She would glance at her ring and then at him, her expression so full of delight, his heart felt near to bursting.
As soon as they could leave without being rude, they drove to his parents’ house. Gary could read his mother’s relief and satisfaction when she answered the door in her quilted robe and slippers and glimpsed their faces.
“I’m so, so glad, my dear girl.” She enfolded Meredith in her arms and then embraced Gary. “You look so happy, son.”
“I am, Mother.”
Gary’s dad grabbed them in a big bear hug. “We were expecting you, son. Mother’s already got hot chocolate going in the kitchen. So how did you ask her?”
Gary laughed. “I don’t know if Meredith knew how nervous I felt. When she told me about her new book contract, I almost chickened out.”
“Why?” Meredith’s voice held shock.
“Because I remembered how presumptuous it was for a poor schoolteacher to ask for the hand of a famous author.”
“No more presumptuous than for a poor orphan girl to accept the proposal of a pilgrimage king from a wonderful family.” Meredith took the mug from Gary’s mom. “That’s a wonderful part for me.”
“Marrying a pilgrimage king?” Gary’s dad asked.
“Having family again.”
“You’re one of us now. You’ll come for Christmas, won’t you?” His mom sat down across from them.
“I’ll answer that. Yes. She’ll be here for every holiday from now on.” He put his arm around Meredith and hugged her. How good it felt to know where they stood.
“Where do you want to have the ceremony?” Mother asked.
“Longwood.” They answered in unison. He looked at Meredith in amusement.
“Well, that’s settled, then.” Dad put down his empty mug. “I hate to break up this love fest, but it’s after midnight.”
“And tomorrow will keep us all busy,” said Mother.
Gary stood and pulled Meredith up into his embrace. “I’ll walk you out.”
Chapter 10
Meredith woke the next morning and for a moment couldn’t remember why she felt like singing. Gary loved her. He wanted to marry her. Was it only two days ago that she gave her future over to God? “I praise You, Lord. You are better to me than I deserve.”
She rose and read her Bible. “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.”
In her happiness, Meredith wanted to ignore the message of these verses. Why did she always find them so convicting? She didn’t have to dig long to find someone who had something against her. Gary loved her, so Bobbi Lee would just have deal with it, right? Putting herself in Bobbi Lee’s place, she knew she would feel angry and hurt. How could she go about being reconciled with her? “God, I understand that I need to do this, but I don’t know how. If You’ll set up the circumstances for me, I’ll be obedient. I’m trusting You to give me the right words to say.”
Uneasiness plagued her, as she knew it would until she settled this thing. Pulling on her exercise clothes, she went for a brisk jog in the chilly December morning, praising the Lord for the beautiful day, for His blessings in her life, for the gift of Gary.
When she came down to breakfast later, she caught Ellie as she came in with a platter of bacon, omelets, and muffins. “I have some news, Miss Ellie.” She held out her left hand.
“Oh, my land, girl. Who’s the lucky man? Is he from around here?” Ellie set down the platter to hug her.
“Gary Bishop. We went to high school together.”
“Hap, look at what his girl’s gone and done. She’s engaged herself to John Bishop’s son.”
Hap gave her a hug, too. “Didn’t I tell you? I told her, Ellie. She wouldn’t be single long. And I was right.” He chuckled.
After breakfast, Meredith wrote for a few hours then took out her bridesmaid dress. In flowing red velvet, she should be warm enough, even outside after sunset. She took her time getting ready, fixing her hair in a special french braid her hairdresser taught her. She got her dress and heels and drove to Longwood, arriving well before the time set.
She took her things out and carried them toward the place to dress. Wreath had arranged for the bridesmaids to dress in the redbrick building next to Longwood, which had housed the Nutt family for a time and had later been slave quarters, Meredith was startled but not surprised to see Bobbi Lee standing alone on the long porch looking pensive. Breathing a prayer for guidance, Meredith walked over to her. “Bobbi Lee, I have something important I need to say. Do you have a minute?”
“I suppose so. What is it?” Bobbi Lee’s expression looked guarded.
“I’ve harbored a bad attitude toward you for years and haven’t treated you the way God wants me to. I was wrong. Will you forgive me?”
Uncertainty and disbelief played across Bobbi Lee’s face. She rubbed her hand across the back of the rocking chair in front of her then looked Meredith in the face. “You aren’t the one who’s done wrong. I have. I should be asking you to forgive me.”
“I already have.”
“You would.” Bobbi Lee came around the chair and sat down. “For years I’ve hated you, and I don’t know why. You always knew all the answers in class. Everyone talked about how smart you were.”
“You made good grades in school.” Meredith moved to sit in the chair across from her.
“Not enough to impress anyone. Your parents loved you and loved each other. I used to watch them during school assemblies when you got all the awards. They were so proud of you. My parents gave me everything I wanted except their time. They divorced when I was ten.”
Meredith realized they were both ten when she came to their school. No wonder Bobbi Lee had been so mean. She was hurting. “I wish we had talked before now. I envied your beauty, your big house, and your popularity.�
��
“I had stuff, but not what mattered—real love, real friendship, real accomplishment.”
On impulse, Meredith went over to Bobbi Lee and hugged her. “I’ll be your real friend. It looks like I’m going live in Natchez from now on.”
Bobbi Lee returned the hug, almost fiercely. “Thank you, Meredith. I suppose Gary will marry you. You deserve him, and he never would have cared for me. I always knew that deep inside. I just wanted a fresh start.”
“I know something about fresh starts. They come from a relationship with Jesus Christ. Do you know Him, Bobbi Lee?”
“Not like you or Gary. I want to know what you two have.”
Meredith hugged her again. “I’d love to share.”
Bobbi Lee smiled. “I wasn’t going to tell you this, but I saw one of your books at my grandmother’s house. Once I started it, I couldn’t put it down. I stayed up all night reading it.”
Meredith laughed and gave Bobbi Lee another hug. God provided a way to give her blessing upon blessing.
Wreath Anderson appeared in the doorway. “Bobbi Lee, you’re coordinating the servers for the reception, right? Meredith, it’s time to get dressed.”
Gary followed the other groomsmen across the grass to their place before the steps of Longwood. The congregation sat in rows out on the lawn. One by one, the bridesmaids came up the aisle; a string quartet played “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring.” Then he saw Meredith. He’d thought her beautiful before, but in the red bridesmaid dress, she looked ravishing. Their eyes met, and her loving gaze made his heart pound. In just a few weeks, she would come down the aisle to unite with him. The thought overwhelmed him. How he loved her. He realized then that he had missed the bride’s entrance while looking at Meredith. Perhaps no one noticed.
The lovely service lasted only a few minutes. Gary listened to the vows, honoring them in his heart. Now at last he had a woman he could say those words to without any reservation. “In sickness and in health till death do us part.” Then he held out his arm to her and walked down the aisle with Meredith clinging to him, a sensation he liked very much. “You look stunning.”
“I think the same about you. You make that tuxedo.” Her breath on his ear as she spoke for him alone made his senses tingle.
Plantation Christmas Weddings Page 13
