33

“Mother, you look beautiful. And that necklace! It must have cost Clarence a fortune.” Natalie took a step back from Muriel and adjusted her mother’s new string of pearls so that the two largest were prominently in the center and the diamond pendant swung freely below.

“Thank you. Oh, I do hope everything goes smoothly today. The last time I got married was fifty years ago. I’m just as nervous now as I was then. I wonder what your father would say if he could see me.” Muriel looked up at the ceiling as if, had Howard been looking down, she could get a nod of approval.

Natalie put one hand on each of Muriel’s arms. “He’d say the same thing I just did. You look beautiful.” Natalie took a step back. “You are sure you want to go through with this, aren’t you? You’re not nervous because you’re having second thoughts?”

“I always have second thoughts. You know that. And third and fourth and fifth. I suspect that on our tenth wedding anniversary I’ll still be wondering if I made the right decision. Sometimes I still wonder if I should have married your father.”

Natalie clucked her tongue. “Honestly, Mother. Where would I be if you hadn’t?”

The organ music began. Muriel took one last look in the full-length mirror. The blue of her suit matched the blue of her hat. The gabardine fell nicely over her hips and the flared bottom of the skirt swayed just a little as she walked. The lace shell under the jacket would be cool enough to dance in at the reception. And probably quite appealing to Clarence. At least she hoped so.

“Why, Mother. You’re blushing.”

“I am making a mistake, aren’t I? That’s why you asked. Oh, my. Has the church begun filling up yet? Maybe there’s still time for me to sneak out. We could just put a sign on the door.”

“Oh, Mother. Don’t be silly. Clarence loves you. I see it in the way he takes your elbow to guide you down the sidewalk. And the way he looks at you when you’re busy doing something else. And I know you love him. Your whole face lights up when you even mention his name. You’ll be so happy together.”

The pre-arranged organ signal was sounding now. In five minutes, the organist would start the processional.

Natalie took Muriel by the arm and led her to the back of the sanctuary.

Muriel peeked in at the crowd. “Just a small wedding,” Clarence had said. Except that with so many of her former students and current tutored students attending, the numbers had swelled enormously.

Pastor Jorgensen stood in front of the altar. But Muriel couldn’t see around the guests in the pews to make sure Clarence was waiting next to him. No matter. He was there. He was that kind of guy. Steady and reliable. She wouldn’t have wanted anybody different.

Kevin stood at the back waiting to walk her down the aisle. He looked so grown up in his rented tux. “All systems go, Mrs. B.”

Last time it was her father walking her down the aisle. Maybe he was looking down, too, nudging Howard as they watched together with her mom.

Chloe would go first, then Natalie, then Muriel.

“I can’t go through with this.” Muriel’s eyes widened.

“Yes, you can, Mother. Didn’t you feel the same way when you married Daddy?”

Muriel nodded. “Yes. But that was different.”

“Of course it was. You were both young. Neither of you had any idea what the future would bring. You just knew you wanted to face it hand in hand. Now you know yourself so much better than you did fifty years ago.”

“But, Natalie…”

“Can you really leave Clarence waiting at the front of the church? I can see the tabloid headlines now. ‘Area’s Most Eligible Bachelor Jilted at the Altar.’ It would be so embarrassing.”

No, she could never do something like that. Not to someone she loved so much.

The processional started.

Chloe stepped onto the red carpet in the center aisle. Right foot first, left foot coming alongside.

Muriel had watched her walk like that when she was six. Little Chloe playing bride with a lace curtain dragged off the clothesline hanging over her face and a bouquet of dandelions in her clenched fists. Now she carried orchids. Though carried wasn’t exactly the right word. They rested on the shelf created by her bulging stomach. “Twins,” the doctor had said. No wonder she was getting so big.

Strange that Muriel was getting married before Chloe was. She and Clarence would have to cut their Hawaiian honeymoon from four weeks to three so she could come back and be Chloe’s matron of honor. Now that Clarence had hired Phillip away from his father’s firm, he had no excuse not to make things right. And probably they’d stay for the birth of the babies.

Her veil! How could she have forgotten? Muriel reached up for the netting on top of her hat and pulled it over her eyes. “Go, Natalie. Go.” She couldn’t believe how eager she sounded.

Kevin held his arm out. “Ready, Mrs. B?”

“Ready.” Her voice was firm now. She was doing the right thing. She knew it.

At the first notes of “Here comes the Bride,” the whole sanctuary rose.

She and Kevin moved out together. Right foot forward, left foot coming alongside, repeat.

Just as they’d rehearsed it.

Tears came to her eyes and she didn’t know if they were for the nostalgia of her wedding fifty years ago or for the joy of her wedding today. Who would have thought? Halfway up the aisle she finally spied Clarence waiting at the altar, his hands clasped in front of him, his eyes glowing with anticipation. And, suddenly, he was all she could see because he was all she would ever want. Thank you, Lord, for not just sending someone to mow my lawn.