by Laura Locke
Sylvia wanted to refuse, but she agreed with the wisdom of his words. She knew, in time, her health would begin to fail and she would need to lean upon her children. It would be easier on them if she was close by; they would not need to interrupt their lives and families in order to care for her. “I accept, with gratitude, Conner. You mother did at least one thing well in her life,” she complimented him.
Chapter 22
Melody and Conner were married in the small village church where the Wellchesters had attended services throughout their lives. An artfully-draped Johanna served her sister as matron of honor and William served as Conner’s best man. The pews were filled with villagers—and Mrs. Abigail Rutherford was no where to be seen.
Conner and Melody exchanged vows between huge baskets of flowers draped with silk in copper colors. Afterwards, a full course dinner was served on long, linen-covered tables in the churchyard, catered by the women of the church with much enthusiasm
Conner had purchased Mrs. Pinkerton’s large home at the other end of town. She had gone to live with Sylvia, to care for one another and have company in their later years. In the interim year before their marriage, Conner had hired workmen from the village to completely remodel the Pinkerton house and now it reflected the good taste and comfort he and Melody enjoyed.
On their wedding night, Conner drew his young wife into the bedroom and slowly undressed her. She trusted him implicitly and when, at last, he parted her to make them one, she endured the brief pain knowing it was as it should be. Conner was a tender, but passionate lover and taught her many ways of pleasure. Melody’s creative spirit kept things lively and loving between them and within two months, Melody announced to the Wellchester family that she was expecting.
Nine months later, Melody gave birth to copper-haired twins. They were named Irene, for her father, and Thomas, for Conner’s father. Melody had not known Conner’s father’s name until that moment when he brought it up. His father was no longer in the shadow of Abigail Rutherford.
Johanna had given birth to another daughter and she and William decided to remain in Tymington permanently. William tended to the farm and Johanna opened a nursery for the villager’s children. It was a happy farm where children played in the grasses of summer and ate watermelon they tended in the garden. Richard and his wife visited from time to time, especially on holidays when they all met in the Rutherford’s old house and together cooked wonderful dinners, enjoyed with love and warm conversation.
Melody may have been the last of the triplets to find her path in life, but she realized that in her opinion, she had been the luckiest. She had shared time with her father until the very end, had the opportunity to prove her worth as a businesswoman and now had a wonderful husband and the beginning of their family.
She was, indeed, blessed, as were all the Wellchesters.
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