The morning of Second Christmas, December 26, dawned clear and bright in New Covenant, Maine. Bethany and Michael stood in the entryway of her house and greeted their wedding guests. Bethany’s aunt and uncle had arrived on Christmas Eve and had helped take over the preparations for the wedding. Ivan and Jesse showed the guests to their seats.
Bethany glanced at her soon-to-be husband. He looked very handsome in his black suit and black string tie. He smiled back at her. “It’s not too late to call it off.”
She shook her head. “I think it was too late the day I met you.”
He snapped his fingers. “That’s who we forgot to invite.”
“Who?”
“Clarabelle.”
Gemma entered with her parents. “A blessed Christmas to you and may you have a blessed life together.”
“Thank you for agreeing to be my sidesitter,” Bethany said.
“I am honored to be your attendant at your wedding. Michael, who is going to stand up with you?”
“Jesse has agreed to do me the favor.”
Gemma made a sour face. “That man is as dense as a post.” She went in to take her place on the front bench where Bethany would sit during the ceremony.
“What does she have against Jesse?” Michael asked.
“Nothing, except he hasn’t noticed her in all the time she has been trying to catch his attention.”
“She likes Jesse? Are you sure?”
“Very sure. Do you think this is everyone?” She glanced into the full living room, where the church benches had been set out in two rows for the men and the women.
“I think so.”
“Where are the children?” Bethany looked around. “I hope Jenny is not getting her new dress dirty.”
“I think she’s trying to figure out some way to smuggle Sadie Sue in.”
“As much as I like your dog, I’m not going to have her at my wedding.”
He laughed and pointed up the stairwell. “I wouldn’t be too sure about that.”
Jenny was kneeling at the top of the steps with Sadie Sue lying beside her. The two of them scurried back down the hall when they realized they had been spotted.
“Do you want me to speak to her?” he asked.
“Nee, she knows better. She will behave. I hope.”
The bishop came up to them. “Are you ready?”
They smiled at each other and nodded. “We’re ready,” they said in unison.
While the preparations had been rushed, the ceremony itself went off without a hitch. The bishop was short-winded for a change and the preaching lasted only three hours. As Bethany stood beside Michael in front of the bishop, she couldn’t help but realize how very blessed she was to have found the perfect man. She couldn’t stop smiling.
Afterward, Bethany went upstairs to change her black kapp for a white one. In the corner of the room facing the front door, the Eck, or the “corner table,” was quickly set up for the wedding party.
When it was ready, Michael took his place with Jesse and Ivan seated to his right. Bethany was ushered back in and took her seat at his left-hand side. It symbolized the place she would occupy in his buggy and in his life. Her cheeks were rosy red and her eyes sparkled with happiness. They clasped hands underneath the table. Michael squeezed her fingers. “You are everything I could have asked for and so much more.”
“I promise to try and be a goot wife to you,” she said with a meekness he distrusted.
“Just be yourself. That will be good enough.”
“You realize you get to choose the seating arrangements for the single people this evening, don’t you?” Gemma asked.
Michael shrugged. “I haven’t given it much thought.”
“This might be the first wedding in New Covenant but I’m going to make sure it isn’t the last,” Bethany said with a wink at her friend.
Jenny sat on the other side of Gemma. “Are you going to pick a husband for me?”
“I may just do that.” She smiled at her sister.
Michael leaned back in his seat. “Are you taking up matchmaking now?”
She chuckled. “Clarabelle is my only local competition. I think I can do better than her.”
He leaned close to her. “The old cow did right by me.”
“I beg to differ. She never once mentioned your name.”
“Do you know what?”
“What?” she asked, intrigued by the light in his eyes.
“I can’t wait to kiss you again.”
Bethany felt the heat rush to her face. “I can’t wait for that myself, my husband.”