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Kathy’s eyes flew open. “What? Why not? Surely you’re not too old. You can’t be much older than me.”
“No, it isn’t that,” Annabel replied. “I just can’t. Max and I—we’ve tried, but it’s no good. We just can’t. I had a little boy about a year after Adelaide was born, but he died within a month of being born.”
Adelaide had been listening to their conversation from behind Kathy. “What?” she cried. “You never told me that.”
“I never told you.” Annabel sniffed. “And you were too young to remember.”
“Why didn’t you tell me I had a brother?” Adelaide asked.
“I guess it was just too painful.” Annabel wiped her cheeks with her fingers, but her tears kept falling. “After he was gone, it was just easier to stop talking about it.” She turned back to Kathy. “We tried for years to have another child, but it never worked.”
“Oh, I’m so sorry!” Kathy wailed. “I am so insensitive. I never should have mentioned it.”
“You couldn’t have known.” Annabel took Kathy’s hand. “Please don’t blame yourself. You had to find out sooner or later, and at least now you won’t stick your foot in your mouth by saying something in front of the boys.”
“But surely Luke knows,” Kathy exclaimed. “He must know about your son dying.”
“He knows about that,” Annabel agreed. “But we’ve never talked to him about not being able to have another child. For all I know, he thinks we didn’t want any more, when we did.”
“But will it be too painful for you when Luke and I start having children?” Kathy asked. “I wouldn’t want to make you uncomfortable.”
“Not at all,” Annabel replied. “That’s one of the reasons Max and I have been so happy about Luke getting married. He’s been like a second father to Adelaide, and Max and I would love to have your children in our lives. We would love them just as if they were our own. It will make up for not having any of our own. And they can be the brothers and sisters Adelaide never had. I know she’d like to have other children around.”
The two women clasped each other by the hand. Kathy smiled through her tears. “That sounds wonderful. I’m so happy to find you here. Let’s agree to always be sisters to each other, no matter what.”
“Absolutely,” Annabel agreed. “Always.”
Kathy threw her arms around Annabel’s neck, and they cried through their embrace. Annabel finally pushed her back. “Now, come on. Everyone’s waiting for us over at the church. Dry your eyes. Do you have a handkerchief? Good. Then I’ll put your veil down.”
Kathy dabbed her eyes and nose with the handkerchief she kept tucked into the sleeve of her dress.
“There, now,” Annabel declared. “Here we go.” She took hold of the corners of the veil and lowered it carefully into place. Then she stood back and surveyed the bride. “Perfect.”
Kathy turned to Adelaide. “Gather up my train, Adelaide. Help me get across the yard to the church.”
Adelaide blinked her big eyes and silently obeyed. She gathered the folds of rustling fabric in her arms.
Annabel started toward the door, but Kathy grasped her by the hand. “Hold my hand.”
Annabel smiled and clasped Kathy’s hand. Then she led her down the stairs with Adelaide on her heels. The kitchen stood empty and silent. All the women were in the church. Annabel guided Kathy across Mary’s yard, up the steps of the church, and through the door.
As soon as the door opened, everyone inside swiveled around to look at Kathy. Her breath caught in her throat, and she crushed Annabel’s hand in her own. She wouldn’t let go of that reassuring hand for all the gold in California.
Up at the front of the church, Luke stood in front of the altar, staring at her. Max stood a few steps behind him with a twinkle in his eyes. They wore identical black suits, which made them look even more alike than ever, except that Luke looked stunned while Max looked amused. The congregation sighed at the sight of her, and women’s voices commented on her dress and on her beauty.
Kathy couldn’t take her eyes off Luke. Was she really going to marry this man? Was she really going to spend the rest of her life with him? And not only him, but with his brother and his brother’s wife and their daughter? She hadn’t realized when she agreed to marry him that she was marrying his whole family, too.
But the idea didn’t disturb her the way she thought it ought to. As she told Annabel, she couldn’t be more relieved that she wasn’t facing her new marriage alone. She would hate to live alone with a new husband she only met for the first time at the altar, hundreds of miles from the nearest road. And to think some mail-order brides did exactly that!
All of a sudden, Kathy realized she was halfway down the aisle. She squeezed Annabel’s hand again. At least Annabel was still there for her to hold onto. Was she really walking down the aisle? Yes, Luke was definitely getting closer.
And here he was. Annabel pried her fingers apart, and Luke’s warm, heavy hand took her place. They turned toward the altar. The minister gave his speeches and his readings from the Bible. Then he started the service.
Kathy felt the tears wetting her cheeks again, and she sought out Luke’s face through her veil. To her surprise, she found him watching her. What was he thinking about? Did he think she was sobbing from sadness to be marrying him? Did he think she would regret her decision?
Kathy fixed her eyes on him. She’d never been more determined to do anything in her life, especially now that she knew his family. She would take her place in this family and make them proud of her. She would give them all children, and they would all enjoy watching her children grow up. She would be the conduit through which the family blossomed and grew into the next generation.
