Grace looked at her reflection in her bedroom mirror. She touched her white kapp, her fingers trembling. “Do I look all right?”
“You look beautiful.” Faith handed her the black bonnet that was hanging on its hook on the back of her closet door. “Joel won’t be able to take his eyes off you.”
She knew it was vain to think that way, but she smiled. It was her wedding day, and she wanted everything to be perfect. The road to get here had been a little bumpy, but also worth it. Since her father had agreed to her and Joel getting married, Vernon had been spending more time with her fiancé, even after Joel finished his two-week stint with the roofing company.
Daed and Mamm had also taken a well-deserved vacation, something her father never did in the past. They’d gone to visit family in Kentucky, and when they returned they both looked happy and refreshed. Her father had regained his health and gone back to work, while Joel resumed his job with his uncle, who generously donated the wood to build their new house. Her father and Joel had put on the roof together.
“Ready?” Faith asked, smiling. “You don’t want to keep him waiting.”
Grace nodded, and they went downstairs. They were marrying in May, which was prime planting season, but they hadn’t wanted to wait until November. She walked outside to where the wedding would take place. Every chair they set up in the yard the night before was filled, and Grace felt tears swell in her eyes. As she walked toward Joel and the bishop, she saw Charity and Patience, then Joel’s uncle and his wife, who was dabbing at the corner of her eyes. Joel’s parents and brother had also come for the wedding, which had made Joel happy. Then she saw her mother, who gave her a trembling smile.
Her gaze landed on her father. His eyes were misty, and while she knew that was the most emotion he was going to show, it was enough for the tears to spill down her cheeks. He smiled, and she wiped them away.
The rest of the ceremony went by in a blur, and before she knew it she was Mrs. Joel King. The wedding meal was delicious, and there was more food than they could eat, so plenty of the guests were able to take some home. By the end of the day, Grace was exhausted. She and Joel would be leaving in the morning to visit the rest of his family in Holmes County, but tonight they would be alone.
They approached the door to their new home. She hadn’t been there in more than a week, at Joel’s insistence. At the time the walls still needed to be painted and the furniture moved in.
“Close yer eyes,” he said before opening the front door. When she did, he came up behind her after shutting the door and placed his hands over her eyes.
“You don’t trust me?”
“I do,” he whispered in her ear. “But this is a chance to get closer to you.”
She giggled and tried to push his hand away. He ignored her and together they walked several steps forward, him leading.
“Surprise.” He moved his hands away and she opened her eyes. They widened when she saw the beautiful hickory rocker and footstool in their new living room. She also saw an oak coffee table, matching end tables, and a magazine rack.
She whirled around and looked at him. “Where did all this come from?”
“Wedding presents.” He grinned. “The rocker is from Silas’s parents. The coffee table and end tables are from Faith and Silas.”
“They made these?” She sat down on the couch, which was the one piece of furniture she and Joel had picked out together. She thought they would have to wait for more furniture, but her family had come through.
“Ya.” He sat down next to her. “Silas’s vatter made the rocker and stool. Faith and Silas made everything else. The magazine rack is from Patience and Charity. I picked out the wood and the stain.”
“They did all this in six weeks?” She ran her hand across the smooth top of the coffee table.
“They were highly motivated.” He gathered her in his arms and she leaned her head against his shoulder.
They sat there in silence for a few moments. “I wasn’t sure this would ever happen,” Joel said, his quiet voice breaking the silence.
She nodded. By God’s grace, it had. Joel told her about the discussion with her father that night he had given his blessing. She knew only God could have turned her father’s heart. Whether it was Joel himself or the lightning strike, Grace didn’t know. It didn’t matter.
She lifted her head and kissed her husband. She could hardly wait for the future they would build together.