The quiet organ music floated under the door of the pastor’s church study and helped steady Miriam. Florence laced flowers into her hair. Or attempted to. “Hold still so I can do this.”
“I can’t wait. I get to marry Paul today.”
“You’ve waited this long. Surely you can hold on another few minutes.”
“Three years since he proposed. Nine years since we first met. Who would have believed it would take so long?”
“You had a war to contend with first.”
“And governments that move far too slowly.” Paul didn’t return to Germany for seven months after the surrender, and it took forever to get the paperwork and clearances he needed to return to the States. But here he was. She turned to her best friend. “I’m going to be his wife.”
“Not until you quit moving so I can get this veil on right.” Florence fussed for a while more before she stepped back. “There. Perfect.”
“Thank you for everything. For being there and supporting us when no one else did.”
“That’s because I love you.”
Daddy knocked on the door and entered. “Are you ready to go?”
They nodded. Florence grabbed her flowers and stepped out to march down the aisle.
With a swipe of his handkerchief across his eyes, Daddy offered Miriam his elbow. “You are the most beautiful bride ever.”
“Mama would have objected to that.”
“No, she wouldn’t have, because you are. Now, let’s finally get you married.”
Daddy had to restrain her from running down the aisle to her most handsome groom. Paul wore a dark suit that complemented his fair complexion, his hair slicked back, a wide grin across his face. When she reached him, he grasped her by the hand, his fingers warm.
The day passed in a blur. The pastor pronounced them husband and wife, she ate cake and drank punch, and their guests showered them with rice. They ran outside the church hand in hand. Paul helped her into the car, stuffing the train of her white gown into the black Ford coupe. “I have a surprise for you, Mrs. Albrecht.”
“That sounds wonderful. Both the name and the surprise.”
He slid into the driver’s seat, and they roared away. He grasped her hand and kissed it. “This has been the best day of my life.”
“And of mine. To think that the Lord gave us such a second chance. All of the waiting was worth it.”
“Worth every moment.”
A little while later, they pulled up to a hangar at a small airfield. “Why are we here?”
“You’ll see.” He helped her from the car and led her across the tarmac to a private plane.
She bounced along beside him. “Is it what I think it is?”
“We are not driving to California. We are flying there. Just the two of us.”
She squealed. “I love it. A lifetime of adventure with you.” And right there, in the middle of the airfield, she kissed her new husband.