Two months later
Ruth smoothed the batiste flouncing on the ivory satin gown for the hundredth time. Though she had no doubts about marrying Sam, she couldn’t help but worry about their future. They had yet to receive a definitive answer from Sam’s contacts in clothing manufacture, so they hadn’t been able to lease an apartment of their own. Instead, they would have to impose on her parents. The concern for her father also remained. Though Daddy had not recovered much of his strength, he insisted on walking her down the aisle at her wedding. She worried that he would not be able to manage the fifty feet to the front of the church. Why, this very morning, after Sam had helped him downstairs, he had sunk to the sofa, winded. Would she be able to support him if he faltered walking down the aisle?
“May I come in?” Mother poked her head into the tiny bedroom Ruth used to share with Minnie. After the wedding, Jen would move in here, while Ruth and Sam squeezed into Jen’s room. The house would be full to overflowing.
“Of course.” Ruth managed a tremulous smile. “Is Daddy feeling better?”
Mother shut the door behind her. “Now, don’t you worry about your father. He simply had to rest a spell. He wouldn’t miss this for the world. Blake is driving him to the church right now, and then he’ll come back for you and Beattie.” She frowned. “Where is your sister? Your matron of honor should be here.”
“She forgot the veil. I told her I didn’t need it, but you know Beatrice. She insisted on going home to fetch it. I thought she was going to ask Blake to drive her there, but if you didn’t see her leave with him and Daddy, then where did she go?” Ruth pressed her hands to her cheeks. “Oh, dear, why is everything going wrong?”
Mother hugged her. “Everything is going the way it always does on wedding days. Did you know that your father was late to the church? My mother distracted me by saying the minister wanted to pray with the groom.” She chuckled at the memory. “I actually believed her. Only later did I learn that your father hadn’t secured the buggy properly and his horse took off without him.”
Ruth recalled that her father had grown up on a farm well outside town, but she’d never heard this story before. “How did he get to the church?”
“He walked. What a dusty sight he must have been, but I never noticed. All I saw was the look on his face when he first saw me.” She squeezed Ruth again. “You’ll forget everything else when you see Sam standing at the front of the church.”
“I hope so.”
“You will.” Then Mother looped her strand of pearls around Ruth’s neck. “I want you to wear these today.”
“Grandmother’s pearls.” Ruth touched them with reverence. Mother seldom let any of them see the heirloom necklace, much less wear it. “Are you certain?”
“Yes, dearest.” She dabbed her eyes with a handkerchief. “How beautiful you are.”
Instead of deflecting the compliment like in the past, Ruth accepted it. The pearls, the gown—it all made her feel like a princess. “You did such a wonderful job altering Beatrice’s wedding dress to fit me.”
“And you look just as lovely as she did.” Mother smiled. “I hear the car. It’s time to go.”
Ruth’s nerves multiplied during the short ride from her house to the church. The sun shone brightly, and the maples were turning scarlet and brilliant orange. The colors of this time of year always took her breath away. Today they lined Main Street in glorious celebration. But she couldn’t help fretting. What if Beatrice didn’t return in time? What if Daddy felt ill? Had Sam’s brother arrived? The list went on and on.
When Blake stopped the car in front of the church, Ruth saw to her relief that Beatrice waited outside with the veil and Ruth’s younger sisters. Everyone else had already gone inside. Blake helped Mother and her out of the car before going inside himself.
“You look so pretty,” Minnie gushed.
“Scared?” Jen asked while Beatrice fussed with the veil.
“Not at all.” Ruth looked up the steps leading to Sam and their future together. Now that she was here, she felt confident that all would turn out well.
“My darling Ruth. I need to take my place inside,” Mother said and gave her one last kiss before going into the church.
Then Beatrice began to pin on the veil. It seemed to take forever.
Ruth winced as a pin poked into her scalp. “Aren’t you done yet?”
“It’s not quite straight,” Beattie insisted yet again.
Jen rolled her eyes, looking uncomfortable in the autumn-red cotton voile dress. “How straight does it have to be? Let’s get on with this before we all turn into old maids.”
Ruth stifled a snicker. At least Jen had managed to take her mind off all the details of the wedding for a moment. If not for her sister’s crazy marriage idea, she might not be standing here today.
“Thank you.” She embraced Jen, who, like an abashed child, shrugged off the gesture.
“Let’s get this ceremony under way,” Jen said.
“All right, all right,” Beatrice conceded with a wave of her hands. “I give up.” She gave Ruth a big hug. “I love you, sis.” Like Mother, she dabbed at her eyes with a handkerchief. “You’re so beautiful.”
Her younger sisters also gave Ruth a hug, though neither of them teared up.
Hendrick Simmons poked a head out the door. “Are you gals ready yet?”
Ruth took a deep breath and nodded. In minutes she would become Mrs. Samuel Rothenburg Jr. She had never dreamed such a marriage possible, yet here she was, following her sisters up the steps and into the church.
Inside the vestibule, Daddy sat on a chair, while the groomsmen stood around him laughing at something he’d said. At the women’s entrance, the laughter died, and the couples paired off. Minnie walked up the aisle with Peter Simmons. Jen took Hendrick’s arm, and Beatrice was paired with Sam’s brother, Harry. In the two months since Sam gave up his inheritance to his brother, the two had become close. Harry sought Sam’s opinion on everything. Sam generously helped his brother. Though Ruth’s family held out hope that Sam would regain his inheritance one day, she knew his heart lay elsewhere.
One thing could make this day complete. Ruth looked for Sam’s father at the front of the church. He was not there. Her heart sank. That bridge had yet to be crossed.
The organist began playing the wedding march, drawing Ruth out of her disappointment. Her pulse accelerated as the guests stood. This was truly happening!
“Ready?” Daddy asked.
Ruth held out a hand to help her father stand, but he waved off assistance and used his cane to push to his feet.
“My lovely Ruthie,” he whispered, his eyes soft with tears. “You will always be my precious little girl.”
She felt the tears well, too. “Daddy. You’ll always be the most important man in my life.”
He shook his head. “No, child. From this day forward, Sam must be most important.”
“But you’re my father, and you’ll always be a part of my life.”
“Yes, but Sam must take the lead now. That’s as it should be.” He patted her hand. “Are you ready to become Mrs. Rothenburg?”
How grand that sounded, almost intimidating. She swallowed the nerves that resurfaced and managed a nod. Then she took his arm and slowly they walked down the aisle past all of Pearlman—friends and neighbors, customers and competitors. Today they stood as one, smiling and encouraging her forward.
Then she saw Sam, and every trace of nerves vanished. The look on his face—marvel and wonder and love all mixed together—strengthened her. With him she could face any hardship and conquer any trial. Her feet itched to dance toward him, but she measured each step by her father’s pace. When Daddy released her into Sam’s arms, any sadness for what would be lost was overwhelmed by anticipation for the new life she and Sam would stitch together.
Their future gleamed as brightly as the autumn colors. Their vows came straight from the heart, wrapped in love. When at last Pastor Gabe pronounced them husband and wife, Sam bent to seal their union with a kiss. Ruth’s heart could not possibly hold one more ounce of joy.
Then everyone in the church clapped and cheered, and she knew deep down that no matter where life took them, she and Sam would always be members of the greater family of Pearlman.
* * * * *
Keep reading for an excerpt from SECOND CHANCE CINDERELLA by Carla Capshaw.