It didn’t take long for their friends to see the ring on Siobhan’s finger.
Everyone was happy for them. Gary, Nigel and Steve teased Jason unmercifully. “You’re the man who wasn’t interested in a permanent relationship. Jason just grinned and took it all good naturedly.
Siobhan wanted to get married before school started so they could have a honeymoon trip and get back in time for work. Jason surprised himself when he could understand her reasoning and wanted to comply, although, he timidly suggested they might wait until the next summer. Siobhan looked at him in such a horrified way that he backed down quickly.
The ladies in her Sunday Bible study gave a shower for Siobhan at the church. They had bridal showers in Ireland but nothing like this. She was fascinated and thrilled. She was so pleased that she had been accepted, but she knew everyone was also being nice because they knew and admired Jason.
They played a musical game at the shower. Mrs. Kerr would play the first three or four notes of a song and everyone would write what they thought it was. When she finished with the twenty songs, the person with the most correct answers received a special prize.
Siobhan played a game with them telling something about a famous, or well - known person in the Bible. Everyone would write the name. The person with the most correct names would win a prize.
There were so many women Siobhan knew she would never remember all of the names. She was grateful for Rebecca keeping a book with names and shower gifts. It would make it easier to write thank-you notes.
Rose, Annalea and Lisa organized a shower for her at the agency. It was unusual to have a shower for a member, but this was a special occasion.
Siobhan was determined and Jason went along with her feeling as if he’d been swept up in a fast carnival ride. She had told some of the young women that in Ireland bells are rung at a wedding because they are considered good luck and prosperity for the couple.
Jason had to go to his office and help his staff. He couldn’t just disappear and leave everything up to them. Grace, being motherly toward him, checked on him daily as to whether he was eating properly and if he felt he was being ignored by all the flurry in wedding preparations.
Nigel and Steve came to drag him to an agency party one night. Jason was literally in a fog when he tried to remember or plan. He did overhear some of the women talking.
Zohra, Tiffany and Alicia were getting refreshments and talking. Tiffany looked at Zohra and asked, “Have you found a job yet? I know you must be getting anxious.”
“No, I haven’t found employment yet. It’s getting scary. What’s the use of having a college degree if you can’t put it to work?”
Jason walked over to them. “Forgive me. I’m not trying to eavesdrop, but I couldn’t help but overhear your conversation. Zohra, what kind of a degree do you have?”
“I have a BA in Business Administration and a minor in Accounting.”
“Marvelous! Would you consider working for me?”
“Jason, I think I’d love it.”
“Come in Monday and meet everyone. If you like, you could work, with pay, for a month and then decide if you’d like to remain with us. May I count on you?”
“You sure may. Jason, I would kiss you, but I know Siobhan would have my head,” she answered among the laughter of all of those around.
* * * * *
Jason felt as if he’d been picked up in a whirlwind. His friends gave him a bachelor party which he felt he didn’t deserve. They gave him several gag gifts, but did give him great gifts for his house. There was a lot of good food and wonderful fellowship.
Dr. Charles Black was delighted to officiate and Mrs. Kerr wiped tears of joy from her eye when she was asked to play the organ. Steve volunteered to play a flute that he had made. It was a Native American flute made of aromatic cedar wood. Jason had heard Steve play and was mesmerized with the beauty of the music.
“My cousin, Benjamin Bear Claw, will be visiting and he plays spiritually on a flute he made of black walnut wood. I’d like to have him play some, also.”
Jason and Siobhan were impressed and pleased looking forward to hearing them play during their ceremony. Siobhan was curious about Steve’s heritage.
“Did I hear correctly that you’re Sioux Indian?”
“That’s what people call us. We’re actually Lakota. The name, Sioux, was given to my ancestors as a derogatory name by the French. It means little snake. They were called that because they were talented in crawling on their stomachs, through the prairie grass, without ruffling the grass. They could sneak up on the enemy easily in this manner.”
Steve delighted Siobhan by softly singing a lullaby for her in the Lakota tongue. She wanted to learn and made him promise to teach her.
* * * * *
Zohra arrived early Monday morning and was welcomed by the staff.
Jason had a desk delivered for her and it was placed facing Beth’s desk. She did not drink coffee, so brought her Diet Coke in and left it in the refrigerator. She confided to Beth and Grace that her savings was being eaten up quicker than she had planned and she was beginning to panic.
“Jason saved me. I’m so grateful to him and promise to work diligently with all of you. Feel free to correct me at any time. I want to do a good job and help Jason’s business any way that I can.”
They were impressed with her and immediately accepted her as a staff member. Zohra was only twenty-three, but was mature for her age.
* * * * *
The people, who had volunteered to make Jason and Siobhan’s wedding memorable, found that their church would not hold everyone who wanted to attend. Gifts were being shipped in from overseas as well as most of the U.S. and Canada.
Mayor Albert Watkins suggested that a reception be held in the park. “Several long tables can be set up and decorated. There are some large pieces of plywood in our storage room that can be laid for a dance floor. Food can be catered or invite people to bring a covered dish, or both. We’ll be holding the fall festival in the park next month, so all the equipment will need to be taken out of storage anyway.”
There was such a little time that dozens of people helped, running errands, supplying needed items, calling, doing whatever was necessary. Jason was astonished at the people helping plan and do. He had never been someone who would seek the limelight. He was very humble, and this left him with a boggled mind.
Siobhan had her mother send the mother’s wedding dress to her. It was fine white silk and lace made Victorian style. It was a tiny bit loose at the top for Siobhan but Marcie Gordon was an excellent seamstress and she volunteered to sew it for Siobhan.
Jason tried to be patient with all the hoop-de-la. He had been married before in a beautiful, formal wedding with a woman he adored, but he knew this was Siobhan’s first wedding and he hoped it would be for a lifetime. He just smiled at everyone and continued working with a distracted smile, hoping everything would be pleasing to Siobhan.
Finally the day dawned. It had been impossible for Jason to select one of his friends, at the agency, over the other for a best man, so he asked Greg to fill that spot. He wore the traditional black tux with white pleated shirt and black cummerbund. When he stepped through the side door into the church, he was pleasantly surprised to see the sanctuary so crowded that people were standing up around the side and men were rushing in with folding chairs for them. He felt moist eyes when Steve and Benjamin played some hymns on their flutes and then a Native American song asking the Great Spirit for love and protection on the couple.
He could hardly believe how beautiful the matron of honor was in her cream-colored gown carrying a bouquet of peach roses. The bridesmaids followed in pastel colors carrying baby’s breath and day lilies. Finally the organ sounded the notes to welcome the bride. Jason did get tears in his eyes when he saw Siobhan looking like a beautiful Victorian lady. He knew how sad she was that none of her immediate family could attend and he made up his mind to be extra kind and thoughtful to her.
Siobhan had no escort. She came down the aisle proudly and stately. She was beaming with love for him and joy for the occasion. The ceremony was one that would be talked about for years because of the part that both the bride and groom had written their vows. There was hardly a dry eye in the house.
Just before they were to light the trinity candles, Jason wondered why Greg slipped over to the second pew and got in a line with friends. Gary and Angelica, Nigel and Alicia, William and Dottie, David and Rebecca, Cole and Linda and Mark and Kristi. They all stood and with big smiles ringing a tiny golden bell for about ten seconds. Siobhan was touched that they remembered her statement about the ringing of bells during the wedding ceremony. Jason reached over and, with his thumb, wiped a few tears from her porcelain cheeks.
When Dr. Black introduced the newly weds, everyone stood and cheered. Jason and Siobhan walked back up the aisle with loving wishes being called out to them. Gary took wedding photos while the crowd went to the park.
Jason could hardly believe the crowd. “Half the people in the whole county must be here,” he said in wonderment. I can’t believe this crowd.”
The women had accomplished an amazing day with so little time. A group of men and women had been practicing with their instruments and furnished the music. White satin ribbons with big bows had been strung overhead over the ‘dance floor’ in an X between trees. Flowering, potted plants had been loaned from a local florist and were placed around the ‘dance floor’.
Jason was humbly thankful that they had all made it a special day for Siobhan. But I haven’t lived here that long. While is everyone being so nice? Thank you, Lord, for giving me another chance to have a happy marriage and raise a family.
The delirious couple toured western states for a trip and stopped in Texas to meet Steve’s family.
Siobhan confessed to some of the young women that, when she had helped Jason finish decorating his house, she had hoped to be the one living in it. She was a popular teacher and was too happy to describe her feelings. Jason still felt a little numb because everything had happened so fast.
Jason had only been back at work for a week when he decided he absolutely must look for a larger building. He planned to take Franklin with him unless he and Grace wanted to retire. He would make sure Grace had a good retirement package.