The Soul Believes It

by Julie Allan

  “It is. I love everything about it, especially the fireworks.”

  Hudson went to pick up his end of the cooler. “I hear the skies tonight will be clear, perfect for the show.”

  The four made their way down to the dock and onto the boat. Hudson and Dot took over rope duty, and Lizzie made sure all the bags were stowed appropriately. The hot sun beat down, and the thick humid air hung around them, but the breeze off the water made it bearable. Bennett expertly maneuvered them through an active harbor. People were already positioning themselves for the fireworks show about four hours away. They pulled up alongside a group of boats already anchored off Shute’s Folly. Waves and shouts greeted them as they dropped anchor and tied on to the floating family reunion.

  Scott and Amy, along with their son Ben and his family, were on one boat. Jeremy with his wife and kids along with Charlie and his wife were on the third vessel. Faith and her husband were tied up as well. Children and adults climbed from boat to boat visiting and eating from the spreads each boat offered.

  After a while, Sawyer and his Citadel buddies tied on for a brief visit and a sampling of Lizzie’s pickled shrimp. Their tanned, chiseled abs and windswept salty hair were quite the distraction for a boatload of bikini-wearing girls that motored by at a slow speed. Lizzie heard one of them call out that they were headed to tie up closer to the beach. Sawyer quickly said his goodbyes, and he and his buddies took off in pursuit.

  Lizzie stood watching them go and sighed. She felt Bennett’s arms come around from behind her. He rested his chin on the top of her head. “It seems like yesterday that was us, with M.A. and Jim.”

  Lizzie leaned back into him. “Sometimes I miss those days, but mostly I realize I would not trade what we have now to go back.”

  Bennett kissed the top of her head. “I agree. I just wish I still had those killer abs.”

  Lizzie laughed and turned to face him. She lay her hand on his stomach. “You’re still in mighty fine shape, Mr. Wilson.”

  While it seemed that decades of their life together had passed in a blink of an eye, the wait for the fireworks to begin seemed to take decades. The sun slowly sunk below the skyline of the city, putting on its own spectacular light show before it went. The iconic steeples that punctuated the view only marred slightly by the increase of taller buildings allowed in the uptown part of the city.

  Darkness settled over the water, and as the coast guard brought water traffic to a halt, the rocking of the boat on the gentle waves soothed even the children into relative quiet. The air lay over them like a salt blanket. Just as patience began to wane, the first explosion of color hit the sky, followed in succession by the next and the next. Each boat had cued up a local radio station that had coordinated patriotic music to accompany the show. The pounding of the pyrotechnics echoed in Lizzie’s heart, and the music stirred her soul. She stood wrapped in Bennett’s arms giving Dot and Hudson some room in the bow. As the show intensified, she watched as Hudson dropped to one knee and held up a small box towards Dot. In the flash of falling stars, Lizzie could see the sparkle of a diamond ring. She gripped Bennett’s arms, and he squeezed her back. They could see Dot nod, and in the crescendo to the finale, they watched as the two embraced. Just like that her baby, her first-born, was engaged.

  Lizzie sat at the table while Bennett, Dot, and Hudson bustled around her clearing up the Sunday supper dishes. It had been too hot to eat on the porch, so they settled for the air-conditioned kitchen. Dot and Hudson had been engaged for three weeks, and Lizzie had finally pressed them into setting a date. They had settled on the beginning to mid-April, and Lizzie knew it was going to be hard to book a venue. Charleston had become such a popular destination wedding location that some places had a two-year in advance booking.

  Lizzie retrieved a notepad and pen from her desk and returned to the table. “So, if you could tell me your top three choices, I can get on the phone in the morning and see what our chances are.”

  Dot dried her hands off on the dish towel and joined her at the table.

  “Come on Hudson, let’s go down to the dock and let these ladies do their thing.”

  Hudson looked at Dot to make sure he was free not to be part of this stage of planning, and Dot nodded. He followed Bennett out the back door.

  “I see you have him pretty well trained.”

  Dot laughed, “Not really, it’s just that I told him on the way here, I wanted him to be involved in the wedding planning.”

  “So why did you let him go off with your father?”

  “He told me he would be glad to, but he really was fine with anything short of one of those crazy theme weddings.”

  Lizzie laughed. “So where do you have in mind?”

  “I would say the Cotton Dock at Boone Hall, Alhambra Hall or maybe Dune’s West Country Club, Jeremy and Clancy’s wedding there was nice.” Dot wrinkled her nose as she tried to think of alternatives.

  Lizzie wrote the three top choices down. “I take it you want to keep it East of the Cooper?”

  “Definitely, I think I want to do an early afternoon ceremony and have loads of flowers.”

  Lizzie smiled and continued to formulate a list. “I will call both the church and the reception venues tomorrow. Can you call me on your lunch break to check in?”

  “Thanks, Mama. Yes, you can call me anytime tomorrow, I’ll be working in my office and I have no meetings scheduled.”

  Lizzie packed Hudson and Dot off to start their week with a generous supply of leftovers and settled in with Bennett to watch a little television.

  “It’s hard to believe our little girl is getting married. Did you and Dot get your planning off the ground?”

  “Yes, we have a start. I’m really looking forward to planning something so joyful. Plus, it will give my mind a break from my mother, her family, and my lost sister.”

  “Ben’s office hasn’t been able to find anything else out?”

  “Not that I know of. I think I’m at peace with the idea I may never meet her.”

  Bennett pulled Lizzie close. “I’m glad to hear that. It would be nice to have the closure, but I don’t want you obsessed with it either. You are like a dog with a bone about some things.”

  “Speaking of dogs . . .”

  “I know, I know, I promised puppies after the fishing trip. I will get on that this week.”

  Lizzie sat up and kissed Bennett on the cheek. “Between a wedding and puppies, I’ll be too busy to be obsessed.”

  Lizzie had struck out with two of Dot’s choices and was faced with a maybe from Alhambra Hall. Saturday, April twelfth was reserved by a couple from Ohio, pending a deposit that was due by Wednesday at five. Roughly forty-eight hours to wait until they could find out if they could have it. The church was available for that date, so Lizzie booked it and figured if they had to have the reception in the backyard they could.

  She stood out there now trying to visualize what would be blooming in mid-April and how they could set things up. What will we do if it rains? If Alhambra Hall came through, she could always host the bridesmaid luncheon here. Distracted by a few weeds, she fetched her basket of garden tools and pulled on her gloves. Aunt Dorothy had taught her always to wear gloves, not only to protect her hands from the dirt but sometimes weeds had tiny thorns or released sap that could be very irritating.

  She remembered planning her own wedding with Aunt Dorothy. It had been so much fun to pick out the flowers and create the menu. Caroline didn’t get to do that with Annabeth and who knows if my sister had someone. The thoughts of her mother and her sister still crept in despite her efforts to put them aside. She had liked to think her mother had been there with her when she married Bennett, in the jewelry she wore and the candle she and Bennett had lit in her parent’s memory.

  The phone rang breaking her thoughts, and she pulled off her gloves to answer it.

  “Sorry, Mama, I was in an impromptu planning session with my boss when you called. What did you find out?”

&nb
sp; “Well Dot, you need to say your prayers, that is if you want Alhambra Hall.”

  Lizzie sat in the grass under the shade of a live oak branch that reached across the yard towards the house. She explained to Dot what she had found out and that the church was a go. She wasn’t ready to mention the backyard as a possible venue until they ruled out Alhambra.

  Once they hung up, Lizzie finished her task of weeding and put the tools away. Sweat was not glistening in a ladylike fashion, rather it dripped off the end of her nose and ran in rivulets down her back and chest. Even on the water, there was no escaping the relentless summer heat. In the distance, she could see a shelf cloud forming and hoped an afternoon storm would bring some relief. Experience told her this time of year a storm might lower the temperature, but it would raise the humidity to stratospheric levels. She turned to head into the house for something cool to drink and came face to face with Bennett and two wriggly bundles of love in his arms.

  “Meet . . . Well, I’m not sure who, we have to name them. We have a boy and a girl as is our family tradition.”

  Lizzie dropped to her knees, and Bennett set the puppies on the grass next to her. They sniffed and climbed and licked. The heat might have melted her outside, but pure love that can only come from a dog melted her on the inside.

  Bennett sat down with her in the grass, and they played with the puppies while Lizzie updated him on wedding plans.

  Bennett held up the boy so that Lizzie could admire his Buddha belly. “So, what do think about names for these two?”

  I need to think about it for a little bit. I need to get cleaned up so I can get bowls and food. Can you dig out the old crate?”

  “One step ahead of you. I picked up food and bowls as well as collars and leashes before I picked these two up.”

  “How did you get them so fast, I thought you had to wait a day or two with the SPCA?”

  Bennett winked, “I told you a little fib last night when you brought puppies up. I had this in the works since Friday, and I had arranged to pick them up after they were spayed and neutered. I wanted to surprise you.”

  Lizzie holding the girl puppy in her arms leaned over and kissed him. “The best surprise I’ve had in a long time.”

  [GLYPH]

  Two days later, Alhambra Hall was secure. Lizzie had gone on-line and paid the deposit immediately. Now she was at the vet’s office with the newly named Tucker and Sadie.

  “Glad to see you and Bennett have finally added some four-legged children back to the family.” Dr. Brown was snuggling Sadie in his arms.

  Lizzie and Bennett had known Michael Brown since they were school children. Now his daughter was a vet in his practice, and Michael was cutting back on his hours.

  “Yes, I have been ready for a while. It just took some time to get Bennett to act.”

  Dr. Brown handed Sadie back to Lizzie and began his examination of Tucker. “Well, these are two fine and healthy specimens. The SPCA gave them their last set of shots; I’ll need to give them one more round in a few weeks. Reception will set up the appointment for you. Tell Bennett I said hello.”

  “I will and thank you.” Lizzie secured the pups into the carrying crate they would quickly outgrow, but hopefully, she would have them leash trained by then.

  Lizzie, Tucker, and Sadie headed home. Bennett was going out for some evening fishing with Scott, so she had arranged for Dot to come over for supper and more wedding prep.

  Dot arrive just as Lizzie finished tossing the salad. Dot had gone into self-conscious bride mode as she faced finding her dress so, Lizzie had fixed a healthy spinach salad to serve as a bed for seared scallops.

  Dot dropped to the floor and greeted Tucker and Sadie. Their bodies wiggled in delight. Reluctantly tearing herself away, she stood back up. “Do you need any help?”

  Lizzie turned the scallops over in the grill pan. “Why don’t you fix the ice water and finish setting the table.”

  Dot did as she was told and Lizzie prepared the plates. One nice side effect of wedding planning was extra mother-daughter time.

  “Have you thought about what style of dress you want?”

  “I looked through a bride’s magazine, but most of the dresses were more elaborate than what I think I want. Do you still have your dress, or Aunt Dorothy’s?”

  I know mine is up in the attic somewhere, not sure about Aunt Dorothy’s but I can’t imagine it would be in great shape. After supper, why don’t we go up there and see what we can find.”

  Once the dishes were washed, Lizzie and Dot took Tucker and Sadie on a quick walk. Puppy bladders were small, and Lizzie was determined to get the potty training done as quick as possible. She was sure old Mrs. Garvey on the corner thought she had lost her mind when she praised the puppies every time the squatted or lifted a leg.

  Once Sadie and Tucker were safely in the kitchen blocked by baby gates, Lizzie and Dot climbed the stairs and opened the door to the attic stairs. The attic had its own HVAC and Lizzie lowered the temperature to make it more comfortable then switched on the light above the stairwell. The stairs to the attic were much steeper than the flight between the first and second floors.

  “I could be wedding dress ready if I just climb these a couple times a day. No wonder we hardly ever come up here.”

  Lizzie flipped the second light switch, and the rest of the attic was illuminated. They looked around at the array of boxes, trunks and odd pieces of furniture. I really need to get this organized. “I’ll start on this side, you start on the other, and we can meet in the middle.”

  Lizzie bypassed the group of boxes labeled Christmas; she knew exactly what was in those. She opened an unlabeled box and found some memorabilia of Uncle George; it was hard not to get drawn into it. She heard Dot react to something. “Did you find something?”

  “Something alright. I found my old Barbie dolls!”

  “Dot, focus! We will be up here for weeks if we get sidetracked.”

  Lizzie opened a trunk full of old linen. She rummaged through it quickly and shut the lid.

  “Mama, I think I found your dress.”

  Lizzie turned to see Dot holding a large white preservation box. “Yes, that’s it. Put by the stairs and we’ll see if we can find Aunt Dorothy’s.”

  Lizzie moved on to another trunk. It was full of a variety of items. Lizzie’s breath caught as she lifted out a diary and realized it was a trunk of Caroline’s things. She lifted out the tray and underneath wrapped in layers of tissue paper was a wedding gown that Lizzie recognized from photographs. The lace was in excellent condition, and she carefully pulled it out. The body of the dress was smooth satin with a heart shaped neckline. The dress nipped in at the waist. A lace yoke with long sleeves stopped at the waistline with a wide lace applique band. Down the back was a long row of tiny satin buttons that Lizzie could only imagine took a long time to do up.

  “Dot, come look at this, I think I found your grandmother Caroline’s dress.”

  Dot came across and ran her hand over the sleeve Lizzie was holding out. “Wow, that is stunning!”

  “We’ll bring this one down too. Let’s see if we can find Aunt Dorothy’s.”

  A half hour later, mission accomplished. Aunt Dorothy’s dress was also in a preservation box. They carried all three dresses down to the living room and opened the boxes draping them over the sofa side by side so Dot could get a close look at each.

  Lizzie was swept back to the day she found her dress in a small boutique on Coleman Boulevard. She had chosen a dress that could have easily been found on a bride in the 1920’s or 30’s. The perfectly uneven rise and fall of the lace hemline was feminine and intricate. The skirt was loosely draped but not full, while the simple satin ribbon at the waist was simple. The bodice had the same lace as the skirt over the top of a satin underlayer. The satin bodice was sleeveless, but the lace covered her shoulders and met at the waist in a V-neck that gently bloused.

  Dot held it up against herself. “This is such a beautiful dress, but
it is more you than me.”

  Lizzie pushed a loose strand of hair back from Dot’s face. “It will not hurt my feelings if you don’t care to wear my dress. A bride should have the dress that speaks to her and makes her feel as if she is the most beautiful woman in the world.”

  “I can tell you felt that way about this dress.” Dot laid it carefully back down and picked up Caroline’s dress. “I just love the silhouette of this dress, it’s princess-like.”

  Lizzie smiled. “I think the brides back in my mother’s time were enamored by Princess Grace of Monaco, this dress is a simpler version of her iconic dress.”

  Dot laid it down and picked up Aunt Dorothy’s dress. It was a heavy satin trimmed with an equally heavy lace applique at the waist and scattered around the skirt. The neckline was straight like a boater’s top, and the sleeves stopped at the elbow.

  Lizzie went over to the bookcase and selected a photo album. “Here Dot, this is what Aunt Dorothy looked like on her wedding day.”

  Lizzie held the album open revealing a young Aunt Dorothy in the gown with a pillbox hat and veil perched on her head.

  “I like the dress, but it’s not me, and I definitely wouldn’t like a veil like that.”

  “You know you can get any veil you like or, none at all. You could also have any of these dresses re-worked to make them more your style.”

  Dot stood staring at the line-up.

  Lizzie sensed her hesitation, “Or . . . We can always hit the bridal boutiques.”

  “I think I want to sleep on it.” Dot moved to stand closer to Lizzie.

  Lizzie put her arm around Dot, and Dot laid her head on her mother’s shoulder.

  Bennett walked into the room, took one look at mother and daughter and dresses draped all over the sofa. “On second thought ice cream on the back porch might be my next move.”

  Lizzie and Dot laughed. Dot ran across the room to hug her daddy. “Get two more bowls, and we’ll join you.’

  Chapter Thirteen

  The trunk in the attic was a siren call. Lizzie resisted it, not out of a fear of what she would find, but the frantic pace the next few days found her in. Amy and Scott had gone out of town, so Lizzie was on duty for Pat, Bennett and Amy’s mother. Pat had a string of appointments, and while the retirement home she lived in provided transportation, Lizzie and Amy had agreed a family member would always take Pat or when Bennett’s father was alive, him to any appointment.