Part 22 (1/2)
Inside the silk-lined jewelry case lay an elegant pearl choker. ”It's beautiful!” Annie breathed.
”It was my mother's.” Her father placed it around her neck, fastening the clasp, and stepping back to admire the pearls.
”Thank you.”
Her mother said nothing, merely picked up her hem and started forward.
Once she was out of hearing, Eldon asked, ”Does the chair go at all?”
Annie shook her head. ”No. I don't want that chair spoiling anything about this day.”
”Very well.”
Charmaine was waiting on the porch, and in no time they were in the buggy and on their way in the warm fall suns.h.i.+ne.
Leaves crunched beneath the wheels as Eldon drove the buggy to the steps of the church and got out to a.s.sist the women.
Burdell and Diana had been waiting, and Burdy stepped forward. ”Oh, Annie, you look beautiful!” Diana said from beside him. ”Doesn't she?”
Burdell nodded. ”Are you sure, Annie? It's not too late to call this off. I can go send everyone away if you say the word.”
”This is what I want, Burdy,” she replied. ”Thank you for being here. It means more than you know.”
He offered his arm until she neared the church building, then left to move the buggy for his father. Diana and Charmaine ushered Annie into the tiny cloakroom where they stood amongst the scents of leather and wool until Burdell returned and the organist began the first notes of the wedding march.
Charmaine nodded to the two young ushers and they opened the polished doors. Annie's father secured her hand in the crook of his arm and gave her a rea.s.suring smile.
He proceeded slowly and Annie raised her chin and took step after step, feeling every critical eye on her awkward advance. Step-limp. Step-limp.
Luke came into sharp focus, a half-smile slas.h.i.+ng his handsome cheek, his blue eyes intent on her approach. From that moment on, no one else mattered, nothing mattered, not even the fact that she would never be graceful, nothing except that from this day forward she would be Luke Carpenter's wife.
He wore the same proud expression he'd worn the night she'd crossed the dance floor and asked him to teach her to dance. Her heart fluttered crazily at the devotion in his eyes.
Eldon took her gloved hand, kissed the back, and placed it in Luke's waiting palm, gave the younger man a cautioning glance, then took his place in the first pew beside his wife. Annie's gaze moved from her parents to her almost-husband.
The rest of the ceremony progressed in a blur of prayers and vows and tears and kisses. Taking Luke's hand, she walked beside him up the aisle to the door and, once outdoors, good-naturedly ducked a shower of rice.
Bending his knees, he swept her into his arms and carried her toward the social hall. Grateful for the rest, she wrapped her arm around his neck and smiled into his face.
”We did it, Annie,” he said. ”We really did it.”
With tears blurring her vision, she nodded, and they shared a moment of silent pleasure. Annie laid her head against his shoulder and sighed.
He carried her into the building and found her a chair.
”The musicians are already setting up,” she observed.
He crouched before her and took her hand. ”You are so beautiful.”
She gazed into his earnest blue eyes. ”And your eyes are so blue.”
He grinned. ”I reckon we'll have beautiful blue-eyed children, won't we?”
Her heart missed a beat. She glanced around at the women busily uncovering food and arranging cups and silverware, at the pile of gifts on a lace-draped table. ”All this is really happening to me-lame Annie Sweet.w.a.ter. I had a wedding and a cake and I have a husband just like any normal girl.”
Luke raised her hand and his thumb touched the gold ring he'd placed on her finger.
Casting her attention back to the man before her, she corrected her words: ”Better than any normal girl-because I've married the handsomest, kindest, bluest-eyed man in all of Copper Creek.”
He grinned and she touched his cheek.
”Come on, you have lots of time for that,” Charmaine called. ”You two have to fill your plates first.”
”I'll get yours,” Luke said, releasing her hand and standing.
While Luke was gone Burdell approached. He took a seat beside her and watched Luke at the food table. After a minute he said, ”If he ever hurts you-”
”He would never hurt me, Burdy.”
”I'm just telling you. If he ever does, you come to me. I'll kill him.”
Remembering who had pounded who during their last scuffle, Annie held back a smile. ”I would come to you,” she said somberly.
”Okay.” He placed his hands on his knees.
”Okay,” Annie agreed.
Burdell sat a moment longer, then got up and strode away.
Later, when the newlyweds opened gifts, Annie exclaimed over the generosity of her neighbors. Of course her father was the local banker and she had to wonder how much effect that had on people's pocketbooks.
Glenda and her girls had sewn ap.r.o.ns and dishtowels. The Renlows gave them a mantel clock, and Burdell and Diana bestowed a set of silverware that Annie knew had been of Diana's choosing. Among the other gifts were blankets and barrels, skillets and dishes, fabric and a rocking chair. Mrs. Krenshaw gave them books, and Lizzy and Guy had purchased them a painted gla.s.s lamp.
Annie was overwhelmed at the amount of household items they now had to take to their little house. From time to time she thought about leaving the party tonight and going to that new house with her new husband, and a wave of nerves would make her hands cold.
A tall, handsome man with black hair graying at the temples shook Luke's hand and then gave him a hug, clapping him on the back.
”Annie, this is my Uncle Gil,” Luke told her, stepping back.
”Gilbert Chapman,” his uncle said with a friendly nod.
Annie extended her hand. ”I'm pleased to officially meet you. I do remember seeing you the day you came to my birthday party.”
”None of us will ever forget that day, will we?” he said with a wry grin that reminded Annie of Luke's devastating smile.
”I certainly never forgot,” Annie said. ”Luke takes after you. Were you his father's brother?”
Gil nodded. ”He was a few years older. We were close as young'uns, but didn't keep in touch much after we had our own lives. I was sorry about that after he died. But I was glad to have Luke here come to live with me. He was good company for a lot o' years. I guess you're going to find that out.”
What a likable man. No wonder Luke thought so highly of him. ”I guess I am.”