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Gwen slipped into the white satin dress. The silky material felt cool and soft against her skin. With her mother at her side, she admired her reflection in the full-length mirror. Luckily, she’d been able to get the perfect wedding dress off the rack. The long sleeves, shoulders, and material around her breasts were covered in lace. A shiny band separated the lace area from the long, plain, smooth material that flowed to the floor, leading to the slightest of trains. The only alteration needed was to take it in a bit around the waist to make a precise fit.
Her mom spun around and grabbed the veil from the dresser top, then clipped it onto Gwen’s hair. A simple but fluffy two-layered tulle headpiece to go with the fairly modest dress.
She stepped away from the mirror and turned to face her mother. The teary-eyed woman reached forward, grabbed her hands, and held them up and out at her sides.
“You look beautiful, honey. Absolutely stunning. I always knew you’d make a beautiful bride.”
Bride. Her heart was full. Today she’d be marrying the man she loved and would spend the rest of her life with him. They’d make a home and a family.
Her mom released her hands, but Gwen still held them out as she moved into a childish spin to make the dress flow.
“Doing that is still fun. Even as an adult, right?” Her mom asked with a full knowing smile.
“It is.” She laughed along with her mother.
“Mary Lou, gotta go!” her dad yelled from the foot of the stairs.
Gwen’s heart fluttered with excitement. He was right. Her groom awaited.
Gwen slipped into her long, wool coat to protect her from the blustery cold wind. At least it wasn’t snowing. Though she’d need to be careful walking in spike heels on the thin layer of ice that formed during the night before.
Her dad offered an arm each to her and her mother, then he guided them out to the car. It was only a couple minute drive to the church, but on this particular day, the ride seemed to last an eternity.
The sedan Jack purchased the week prior, was parked at the curb. The ‘just married’ sign fastened to the trunk along with a string of cans made her smile.
Pastor Milbourn greeted her and her parents at the side door, holding it open against the wind for them. His white robe whipped around him.
“Good day,” Pastor said, cheerful as always.
The tall, slim man had been the minister at this church since before Gwen started going to Sunday School. He’d been as much a part of her life as most of her close friends.
She and her parents followed him to the small room tucked off to the side at the back of the church where mothers took their fussing children during the service if need be. From there, they could still hear the sermon and watch through the long, narrow viewing window, which today had the curtain pulled closed, so the groom couldn’t see the bride before the ceremony, she presumed.
Pastor Milbourn reminded them of the procedures they’d gone through the night before at the rehearsal. They certainly weren’t difficult on a normal day, but with wedding jitters, she seemed to be requiring a great deal of concentration to keep them straight.
The pastor reached toward her and gave her arm a reassuring squeeze. “It will be perfect. I’m going to see to your guests.” He winked, adding, “And your groom, then we’ll get started.”
Groom. She quivered.
Her dad paced the room while they waited. He was usually pretty even-keeled, a rock, but his constant marching and rubbing his hands together told a different story today, and it drove her nuts.
“Would you just calm down already, Walter,” her mom chided.
Her father’s blue-eyed gaze landed on his wife. “Sorry, but it’s not every day your only daughter gets married,” he snapped back.
Oh, oh, the man of few words was a bit edgy.
“I know,” Her mom replied as she placed her palm on his shoulder.
He responded with a light pat on her hand.
The door to the small, warm room popped open, and her Matron of Honor, Cindy, peeked in. “We’re ready.”
Gwen nodded as a nervous quiver sifted through her body. This was it. The moment she’d been waiting for. She sucked in a calming breath. Then followed her parents out of the room.
The usher seated her mother as she and her dad stepped into the doorway to the worship hall. Cindy stood in front of them, waiting for her cue.
Gwen fixed her gaze on Jack at the front of the church. The way he looked in his black suit was too sinful for a place of worship. All long and lean. Thick through the shoulders, thin at the waist. Her fingers itched to touch his smooth, clean-shaven face. It amazed her how soft his skin felt against her fingertips early in a day, and then how erotic that sexy stubble felt later in the evening and through the wee morning hours. Her cheeks heated as she recalled the sheer sensualism of the stubble as it scraped against other areas of her body.
Good heavens, these thoughts were not appropriate for church.
She locked her gaze onto those mesmerizing dark eyes of her groom’s. The intensity of his stare sent her heart ablaze, and her feet moving forward in beat with the wedding march.
When she and her dad reached the first step of the altar, he stilled and unhooked her arm from his. Lifting her veil upward and over, he placed the lace behind her head, then he leaned forward and gave her a peck on the cheek.
“I love you, honey.”
The sincerity in his gaze and tone brought tears to her eyes. Her father wasn’t an emotionally expressive man, so this was quite a feat for him.
She’d noticed the change in him when they received word her brother, Marvin, had been killed. Though she liked that he’d become more expressive, her heart ached as to the reason why. She supposed the loss of a son changes a person. Firsthand, she knew the loss of a brother sure did, but today was not the day to think about this. Today was supposed to be a happy one. Still, a bit of darkness shadowed over her. What was supposed to be one of the most celebrated days of her life and shared with family, was a bit empty with one brother in heaven and the other in hell—Vietnam.
Her dad cleared his throat, drawing her attention. “I love you, too, daddy.”
Daddy. Where had that come from? She hadn’t called him daddy in years.
He smiled in response, then he reached down, took her hand, and placed it into Jack’s. Stepping away, he took a seat next to her teary-eyed mother in the first pew.
The next thing she knew, Pastor Milbourn announced them as Mr. and Mrs. Jack Cornelis. How could this be? The ceremony had been a whirlwind. The sermon, vows, exchange of rings. Had she been so lost in Jack’s gaze that she’d glazed over the very moments she’d built up in her mind and looked forward to since she was a girl?
Her husband leaned forward and kissed her. The perfect wedding kiss. Eyes closed. Light and meaningful, all-feeling. His mouth slightly open as he lingered a bit. When she opened her eyes, she met her husband’s mesmerizing gaze. Seemingly, unable to move on her own, she followed his lead down the aisle.
During her life, she’d come to realize there were few perfect moments. Thrill shook her extremities in recognition of being in the midst of one.
The long congratulatory reception line was never-ending, and she loved every moment of it. Each handshake, heartfelt hug, and kiss restated the obvious, she’d just married her true love.
Soon after, she and Jack climbed into their ‘newlywed’ decorated car, did a lap through town with the cans clinking behind them against the frosty pavement drawing attention and waves from people on the sidewalks as they passed by.
Within minutes, they were at the VFW Hall. Her husband hooked a possessive arm around the small of her back as they mingled with their guests. It didn’t take long for them to get pulled into different directions allowing for only the pleasure of stolen glances until it was time to be seated for dinner. Jack reached under the table, wove his large, warm fingers among hers, and then rested their hands on his hard thigh. If she had it her way, she’d never again release her grip on him.
Shock rifled through her when her father stood, and clanked a spoon against his champagne glass. The room silenced.
Sweat beaded on his temples and his knuckles were white. If he gripped that glass any tighter it would probably break.
“I’d like to thank you all for joining us for this wonderful event as it marks the beginning of Gwen and Jack’s life together.”
He glanced toward her and her husband only briefly before his gaze landed on Jack’s parents.
“William and Ruth, I can’t thank you enough for raising a fine young man who makes my daughter happy.”
Jack’s parents smiled and nodded.
Her dad’s gaze landed back on her and her spouse. “Jack, Mary Lou and I are thrilled to welcome you into our family.”
He paused and cleared his throat. His eyes watered. She feared what was coming. With as much as she wanted this to be a happy day a dark, grief-filled shadow hung over her and her family.
“I wish Gary could be here to see how radiant you look today, and I wish...” her father’s voice cracked. Everyone waited in silence during the couple of seconds it took for him to regroup. “And I wish Marvin were here. He’d be so happy to know his little sister and best friend have bound their lives together.”
Gwen’s eyes teared. Her husband squeezed her hand, then stood, and in a couple of long strides was at her dad’s side. He hugged the burly man. There wasn’t a dry eye in the room. This war had brought so much sadness on so many levels to everyone.
Jack pulled away and raised his glass. “To Marvin. The best friend a man could ask for. To Walter and Mary Lou, thank you for accepting me into your family, and to Gwennie, I love you more than I can express in words.”
Dear God, her heart almost exploded. In a simple, loving action, her husband had saved her father and his speech, this happy moment, and re-stole her heart at the same time.
For those in the crowd, sad tears were replaced with happy ones.
Jack sat and dinner was served as Robert and Cindy each offered lighthearted toasts.
With all the glass clanging—calling for kisses, she wasn’t certain she’d ever finish her meal but she managed.
Tables were cleared from the center of the hall as the band set up to play.
She was in a whirlwind. Song after song people danced, drank, and visited with one another. All the while she stole little peeks at her husband. Her heart raced every time as if it were the first time they’d ever shared a loving glance.
She’d been away from Jack so much throughout the evening, she nearly burst with excitement when they were called to the floor for the grand march and wedding dance. Her husband’s arms encircled her in a manner that let her know he’d never let her go. Nor would she. They were in this together, forever. Till death did they part.