Deadman's Blood (47 page)

Darby turned and smiled as she put the final pin into her floor length veil. A few ringlets from her updo fell forward onto her shoulder as she did so.

“Thank you, sweetie,” Darby said.

“Here is your bouquet. The coach just pulled up. Are you ready?” Rowan asked.

“I am,” Darby said excitedly.

Rowan stepped around Darby to grab her train and she followed Darby down the stairs, picking up her own bouquet on the way out of the house. There in the tear-drop-shaped gravel driveway was a white coach. The finely dressed coachman helped the two beauties into the coach and shut the door. There was no rain just yet, but it had been threatening all day.

The coachman climbed to his perch and made a clicking sound with his tongue as the two black and white gypsy vanner draft horses moved forward. Long fur flowed down their legs and past their hooves, and their long manes had flowers braided into their hair which reached past their knees. Like the clickity-clack of a train, the horse clopping was somehow calming as they made their way down the dirt road to the lovely chapel made of stone just down the road. Darby admired her bouquet of white and palest pink peonies and the delicious smell of gardenia that filled the coach. She knew she would remember every detail of the gorgeous specimen.

Rowan adjusted her royal blue gown that accentuated and complimented her figure. The girls were giddy as they took in the beautiful scenery.

Once at the chapel, the coachman deposited them at the door. A string quartet could be heard over the low murmur of people chatting and getting seated in the chapel. Rowan and Darby made their way to the Bride Room for some final adjustments and preening. There was a knock at the door and a dashing Dominic stood there, boutonniere in place, saying, “It’s time.” When Darby stepped into view, tears welled up in his eyes.

“You are absolutely a vision, Darby,” Dominic complimented.

“You look pretty darn handsome yourself,” Darby said.

“Well, thanks. Are you ready to be given away?” Dominic asked.

“I am. Lead the way,” Darby said as Rowan adjusted Darby’s veil and grabbed the bouquets.

The door opened at the back of the chapel and the string quartet began to play Pachelbel’s Canon in D. After Rowan adjusted Darby’s train and handed her the bouquet she, herself, stood at the door and began to move slowly down the aisle. Thick garlands of hydrangeas, ivy, and roses were draped over the ends of the pews, and large candelabras with hundreds of candles lit the path to the altar where two incredibly handsome men stood waiting for her and her sister to join them. The smell of the candles and the flowers was intoxicating. Her new diamond ring flashed prisms on the floor from a passing candle and she smiled as she felt it on her finger, knowing that soon she would be meeting Blake at an altar and they would be declaring their vows to one another. She smiled from ear to ear as the thought overwhelmed her with joy. She made her way to her place on the altar and turned to find Darby and Dominic starting their descent down the aisle. Everyone stood at the sight of the bride. Rowan watched her beautiful sister glide down the aisle, full of confidence and a smile that seemed to make her glow from the inside. When they arrived at the bottom of the altar, the music stopped and the minister said.

“Dearly beloved, we are gathered here in the sight of God, and in the face of this company, to join together this man and this woman in holy matrimony, which is an honorable estate, instituted by God and therefore is not to be entered into unadvisedly or lightly, but reverently, discreetly, advisedly, and in the love of God. Into this holy estate these two persons present come now to be joined.

“Doubly blessed is the couple which comes to the marriage altar with the approval and blessings of their families and friends. Who has the honor of presenting this woman to be married to this man?”

“I do,” Dominic said, then kissed Darby and placed her hand in Devon’s.

Then Devon and Darby stepped up to the altar, joining the minister.

“Devon and Darby, in the days ahead of you, there will be stormy times and good times, times of conflict and times of joy. I ask you to remember this advice:

“Never go to bed angry. Let your love be stronger than your anger. Learn the wisdom of compromise, for it is better to bend than to break. Believe the best of your beloved rather than the worst. Confide in your partner and ask for help when you need it. Remember that true friendship is the basis for any lasting relationship. Give your spouse the same courtesies and kindnesses you bestow on your friends. Say "I love you" every day.


“
Devon Nathaniel Bloomington and Darby Bree O’Reilly, I remind you that marriage is a precious gift, a lifelong commitment, and a challenge to love one another more completely each and every day.

“Please join hands and look into each other's eyes.

“Devon, with this understanding, do you take Darby to be your wedded wife to live together in marriage? Do you promise to love her, comfort her, honor and keep her for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, forsaking all others and to be faithful only to her, so long as you both shall live?” the minister asked.

“
I do,” Devon said.

Darby, with this understanding, do you take Devon to be your wedded husband, to live together in marriage?  Do you promise to love him, comfort him, honor and keep him, for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, forsaking all others and to be faithful only to him, so long as you both shall live?” the minister asked.

“I do,” Darby said.

“May I have the rings please?” Blake pulled out both rings from his pocket and gave them to the minister.

He held up one of the rings and said, “The ring, an unbroken, never-ending circle, is a symbol of committed, unending love. Devon, as you place this ring on Darby’s finger, repeat these words after me: This ring, I give to you,” the minister said.

“This ring, I give to you,” Devon repeated.

“Symbolizes my desire that you be my wife from this day forward,” the minister said.

“Symbolizes my desire that you be my wife from this day forward,” Devon repeated.

“As this ring has no end, neither shall my love for you,” the minister said.

“As this ring has no end, neither shall my love for you,” Devon repeated then placed the ring on her finger.

“Darby, as you place this ring on Devon’s finger, repeat these words after me:
This ring, I give to you,” the minister said.

“
This ring, I give to you,” Darby repeated.

“Symbolizes my desire that you be my husband from this day forward,” the minister said.

“Symbolizes my desire that you be my husband from this day forward,” Darby repeated.

“
As this ring has no end, neither shall my love for you,” the minister said.

“As this ring has no end, neither shall my love for you,” Darby repeated.

“The couple has chosen to add handfasting to their ceremony. In Europe, until the mid 1700’s, few unions were sanctified in a church or synagogue. Rather, they were celebrated by a simple handfasting ceremony in which the two partners joined hands over the village anvil, in the fields or in the groves of trees. Today, we build upon this tradition.

“Devon and Darby, please join hands,” he said and the couple did so.

“These are the hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years, for a lifetime of happiness.

These are the hands that will countless times wipe the tears from your eyes: tears of sorrow and tears of joy.

These are the hands that will comfort you in illness, and hold you when fear or grief racks your mind.

These are the hands that will hold you tight as you struggle through difficult times.

These are the hands that will give you support and encourage you to chase your dreams. Together, everything you wish for can be realized.”

The minister took out a long, wide, red satin ribbon and continued, “Back in earlier years, the hands would be bound with whatever was available - vines, colorful cords, or scarf. Today we will use these cords to symbolize the binding, or promises.”

The minister began to wrap the ribbon round and round Darby’s and Devon’s hands. 

“The knots of this binding are not formed by these chords but instead by your vows. Either of you may drop the chords, for as always, you hold in your own hands the making or breaking of this union,” the minister said. Rowan and Blake stepped forward and unwound the ribbon, placing it on the altar.

The minister said, “Devon and Darby, you have committed yourselves to each other in marriage by the exchanging of vows, and by the giving of rings.  With the authority vested in me, and with great joy, I now pronounce you husband and wife. May you live together in blissful happiness from this day forward.

“YOU MAY KISS YOUR BRIDE!” Devon eagerly kissed his beautiful bride as the music began.

“Congratulations! May I introduce to you for the first time, Mr. and Mrs. Bloomington,” the minister announced. The happy couple turned and made their way down the aisle along with Blake and Rowan, and got into the waiting coach to take them to the reception and their guests.

*****

Everybody had a fabulous time at the wedding and even the rain held out until the festivities were over. Bernard made a new friend in Nuala and they were seen burning up the dance floor. Who knew Bernard had rubber legs? Katarina heard great stories about Dominic from Abby, some that Dominic was quite embarrassed about, but it only made Katarina love him that much more. Darby and Rowan spent a lot of time with Abby, and Devon and Blake thoroughly enjoyed the special time they got to spend with their mother. Dominic took over for the father in the father-daughter dance, and especially enjoyed dancing with his sister afterwards.

Aside from the cake leaning a bit after a run in with crazed caterer, all went as planned - the day was about as perfect as one day could be, but too fast did it come to be time to say their goodbyes to Abby. However, the tears that were spilled were of the happy kind.

“Dominic, my dear brother, I’m so glad I was able to meet your bride to be. She’s lovely. Be good to her and yourself,” Abby said, hugging him tightly, kissing his cheek, and giving a hug to Katarina.

“Rowan, I’m so glad you found my baby. He’s a handful, but worth every effort. I wish you both all the happiness in the world.” She hugged Rowan.

“Thank you, Abby. I’ll keep him out of trouble,” Rowan said.

Abby reached up to Blake and hugged him tightly, “I love you so much, Blake. Your father and I are so proud of you and the man you’ve become. Be good to Rowan and be happy.”

“I will, Mom. I love you too,” Blake said.

“Devon.” Abby hugged him. “I’m so happy for you. You’ve really found some amazing friends and such a wonderful family to marry into. I love you so much. Take care of your brother and your new wife. Thank you so much for using your wish to let me share this wondrous day,” Abby said.

“I love you too, Mom. It’s been such an amazing gift having you here. Send my love to Dad, will you?”

“Of course,” Abby answered. “And Darby, my beautiful new daughter. Take care of my Devon. If anyone can, I know you can and I’m so very grateful you two found each other,” Abby said.

“Me too. Thank you for sharing this day with us. I’m so grateful to have gotten to know you. I’ll cherish this meeting all of my life,” Darby said as she hugged Abby.

“Thank you, sweetheart,” Abby said as she started to fade. Then she flickered in and out of sight as she reached for Darby’s abdomen, and just before she flickered out of sight for good she said, “And tell my granddaughter in there how much her grandparents love her.” Her voice faded as did her body until she was no more.

Devon looked like a mac truck had hit him as he reached out to touch Darby’s tummy. “Oh my God, you’re pregnant?”

Darby looked just as shocked as Devon did when from the crowd Nuala said, “I thought you knew! After all, she talks to you all the time. Several months now, I’m guessing April or May. Could be a long haul though with a vampire.”

Darby whispered more to herself than anyone else but Devon heard, “So I wasn’t going crazy after all. It wasn’t Devon talking to me, it was the baby… and Martha’s vineyard, that’s when…”

Devon pulled his bride to him and kissed her so tenderly he got a lot of shouts of encouragement from the crowd. There were congratulations from all around on the news of a baby on the way.
What a truly amazing twenty-four hours it has been
, Darby thought. New beginnings, new lives, new families and new friends - Devon and she had been truly blessed.

The End

###

When things settled down after the wedding and everyone was on the east coast again, a trip to the altar room was made by all to see what was truly behind the other wall. Josh, Devon, Anton, and Blake each held a ring and placed them into the indentations in the wall behind the bookcase that Julianne had found years before. The rings triggered a mechanism inside the wall. Gears ground together, and the wall moaned as it opened itself for the first time in eons. With flashlights in hand, they all trekked down into the bowels of the dark, tomb-like cave and found the treasure of four kingdoms combined. Jewels and gold, silver and copper - more than anyone had ever imagined.