Mayfield June
1946
SOUTHERNERS ARE PARTICULARLY AWARE of the significance of heritage. So people in Mayfield buzzed with excitement at the announcement of Niki’s engagement to Fraser Montrose. That the young couple would make their home at Montclair seemed singularly appropriate.
After all, the house had been built for Claire Fraser, the bride who had come to Virginia from Scotland to be its first mistress. Everything now seemed to fall perfectly in place with Niki and Fraser’s marriage.
It was a storybook wedding. The Mayfield church was decorated with flowers from the gardens of many of the family’s friends. Because there were still wartime shortages to be dealt with, the bride’s dress was one borrowed from her Aunt Evalee. However, it was rumored to be a Chanel creation worn by Evalee at her wedding to a Russian prince. Niki’s veil was an heirloom lace that had been worn by other Montrose brides. Her three cousins—Nora “Scotty” Cameron, Natasha Oblenskova, and Cara-Lyn Maynard, the senator’s daughter—and the bridegroom’s sister, Fiona Montrose, were her bridesmaids, gowned in pastel shades of organza.
In place of her late father, Captain Kip Montrose, the bride’s uncle, Scott Cameron, would give the bride away.
In the vestibule Niki fidgeted while Aunt Jill adjusted her headdress of orange blossoms. “Hold still,” Jill whispered.
“Sorry, I can’t. I’m too excited,” Niki apologized. Jill smiled. She had never seen a happier bride. How wonderful that everything had worked out so well.
Who would be the next bride? Jill wondered, casting a speculative glance at her own daughter. Scotty had had several wartime romances but nothing serious. Last night at the rehearsal dinner when they had cut the “prophecy cake,” in which were baked tiny silver charms, Scotty had drawn the ring denoting the next engagement. Well, we’ll have to wait and see, Jill thought. Scotty didn’t give any inclination of settling down. Natasha had drawn the clover promising fortune. Maybe she would become a famous model, as her cousins were urging her to do, and make lots of money. Cara-Lyn had drawn the tiny wishing well, meaning she would get her secret wish, whatever that was. She was the serious, career-minded cousin, so who knew? The beautiful Scottish girl, Fiona, had drawn a star, and no one knew exactly what that predicted. It was lovely that she and Phoebe could come for the wedding.
Niki couldn’t resist peeking through the doors into the sanctuary. She saw Fraser taking his place at the side of the altar. At her request he had worn his Highland regimental uniform, the kilt with the Graham tartan and all. The sun slanting in from the high arched windows burnished his reddish blond hair. Oh, he’s gorgeous, Niki thought, and she sighed. And he’s mine! Almost, anyway.
Just then someone thrust the bouquet of flowers into her hands. Their heavy fragrance rose and she took a deep breath. The first chords of Lohengrin’s wedding march sounded. “Time to go,” Uncle Scott said, and Niki put her arm through his as someone pushed open the doors into the church.
Niki’s heart fluttered. It was real. At last it was really happening. Oh, I’m so glad we waited for this, she thought. As they moved down the aisle, she felt the waves of love reaching out to her from people on either side. She felt the love surrounding her, wrapping her in its warmth and caring.
A heartfelt prayer rose up joyously in Niki. Oh, thank you, God, for bringing me to this moment, to this country, to this family, to this man. In your love and wisdom, you brought me to this place so that I would be protected and cared for all the days of my life.
With measured pace they reached the altar, and Uncle Scott placed Niki’s hand in Fraser’s extended one. Fraser’s expression was serious until he looked down into Niki’s radiant, upturned face, and then he broke into a wide smile.
The beautiful words that she’d listened to during the rehearsal she now spoke solemnly. She pledged her faithfulness, her devotion, her enduring love, to Fraser, whatever the future held. This time it was the real thing. The vows were forever. She thrilled at the sound of his soft burred voice as he made the same promises to her.
“You are now man and wife.” This closed the formal ceremony. However, Niki and Fraser had decided to add something else. They moved up the altar steps together. Each took a taper and lit it from the two outside white candles in the branched silver candelabra.
The night before, Reverend Morrison had explained the significance of this part of the ceremony. The two end candles represented their separate lives up to this moment. Two distinct lights, capable of going separate ways. To bring happiness to their future home, these two lights must be merged into one light, as in the Lord’s words: “A man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they will become one.”
They had memorized what to say to each other.
“From this day forward, our thoughts shall be for each other rather than for our individual selves. Our plans shall be mutual. Our joys and our sorrows shall be shared alike.”
Then together they used the flames of their individual candles to light the center one, saying in unison, “As we extinguish our separate candles thus, the center candle represents the sacred union of our lives. May this one light be a radiant testimony to our covenant to each other and our commitment to a Christian life together.”
Niki could not remember ever being so filled with emotion, both happiness and a certain sadness. The leaving behind of the life she had known, especially in the past five years—her life of independence, adventure, self-reliance. From this day forward she would be living with entirely different purposes and goals. She was no longer hopelessly searching to belong somewhere, to someone. She had finally found a heart home.
Together they went back down the altar steps, stopping first at the Montrose pew to embrace Cara and Phoebe, then starting back down the aisle of the church. They halted here and there to shake hands, receive hugs and congratulations.
A photographer waited just outside in the vestibule, and flashbulbs popped, temporarily dazzling them as pictures were taken. Holding hands, they ran down the church steps. At the bottom Fraser swung Niki around into his arms and they kissed. A real kiss, not the brief, light one they had given each other at the close of the ceremony. When it ended they broke apart, laughing. Behind them they heard the footsteps and voices of the wedding guests following them out of the church and into the churchyard.
The Camerons had provided an old-fashioned horse-drawn carriage to take the newlywed couple to the reception. Those who understood the significance exchanged smiles and glances as the buggy disappeared down the country road. Again, as had happened in the many years past, a Montrose man was bringing home his bride to Montclair.
*Author John Gillespie Magee. Reproduced by permission from This England magazine.