Rebecca's Choice (38 page)

They made plans to paint the rental home, after Rebecca picked the colors. Miriam and Esther offered to help, and Mattie said she could come for a day. John planned to clean the house on his own, now that the occupants were gone, but the task quickly became more than he bargained for. He
man cleaned
he said. Rebecca told him it was good enough until she could get to it, which would be before the women began the paint job.

She then spent a whole day cleaning the walls and ceilings, before she asked for help from her mother. Mattie and Rebecca spent a better part of another day before they were satisfied. The next time John saw Rebecca, he protested the extra work this caused, but Rebecca told him that what needed to be done needed to be done. John smiled and said he figured he might as well get used to her ways. She assured him he was a wise man.

The paint work began in earnest the next week. This time it was the women who needed help. John convinced Aden the need was serious and came down for the rest of the week. With drop cloths spread thoughout the house, the hardwood floors well protected, paint rollers and brushes moved all day long. Rebecca was thrilled when they completed the work by Friday after lunch.

She had painted most of the home a gentle gray. The bedroom, though, was painted a light blue, as close as she could get to her wedding dress, but John didn’t know that yet. He had asked twice already, and she had told him he would have to wait. The morning before the big day would be soon enough.

John turned off the electric power. He said he didn’t even want them to get used to such conveniences. Rebecca had no objections, even when John had to pull the water pump and change over to an air pump. She figured it needed to be done sometime anyway. Early was fine with her. In the back of her mind, she also hoped to make the best impression on Bishop that was possible. Only a small way to repay him perhaps, but this was something that would mean a lot to him.

Time seemed to slow down the closer the date came. There were invitations to prepare and mail. Rebecca drove into West Union to have them printed. She spent another Sunday afternoon with John to prepare the out-of-town wedding guest list. Rebecca made sure Rachel got one, not just because Luke had agreed to be a witness but because she hoped Rachel would come. Perhaps on the day of the wedding, she could assure her that the money would be returned.

Then the baking began—a mighty rush the week before. Cherry, apple, and pecan pies and date pudding would have to be prepared right at the end. The chickens were thawed, and the potatoes peeled and mashed. Vegetables were obtained, most of them fresh because the local markets still carried them. The official cooks arrived the day before, a duty considered a privilege even with the heavy workload.

Rebecca went to John’s house to drop off food items and make final preparations to move in. She arrived and left during the middle of the day to avoid John. It seemed more fitting, now that the time was so close. They would stay the night of the wedding at their own house instead of staying at the bride’s home, as was the custom. Mattie had suggested this, and Rebecca quickly accepted.

Leona and Stephen arrived in the afternoon, and Lester gathered the whole family around the kitchen table that evening, his face joyful.

“It’s our last night here with Rebecca,” he told them all. “She’ll be married tomorrow. She has been a good daughter. We wish John and her the rich blessing of the Lord.”

Rebecca had expected something of the sort but still choked up. “You don’t have to, Dad,” she told him.

“She’ll be back soon,” Mattie said with a smile.

“Girl stuff,” Matthew muttered under his breath, but Rebecca was certain he would miss her too.

Lester led in a prayer of thanks for the food and for a blessing on the new home about to be established. After supper and dishes, they gathered in the living room and sang songs for thirty minutes. Rebecca hadn’t planned to cry but couldn’t keep back the tears when she saw the shine of wetness on her mother’s cheek.

They had prayer again, then settled into silence. The girls headed to bed twenty minutes later with their cousins. Rebecca left too, as she wasn’t needed downstairs. The kitchen work had been done quickly with all the ready hands.

With the kerosene lamp lit, she stood by the window. Just over the horizon, the new moon seemed ready to slip down for the night.

“To us,” she said. The words hung softly on the night air. “To our life together. May it be more than even I can imagine.”

C
HAPTER
F
ORTY

R
ebecca awoke before the alarm and went out to chore one last time. Matthew knew she didn’t have to. He was certainly able to handle things by himself but grinned when she walked in. She handled the milkers for one round of cows and knew she would miss even this when she was gone.

Leona was up when she returned to the house. She and Mattie were deep in conversation in the kitchen.

“Don’t even think about helping with breakfast,” Leona informed Rebecca. “Sit right down here. This is your day.”

“I still want to help,” Rebecca said.

“There’s plenty of time for that later. Some other day.” Leona was firm.

“I would say so,” Mattie joined in. “Breakfast will be ready soon. You can eat early. It’s going to be a little scattered anyway.”

“Who’s driving you?” Leona asked.

“Matthew. He insisted,” Rebecca said grinning. “And I want to get there before too long.”

“Eat. Then you can go change,” Mattie told her. “I have enough eggs done so you can start. The oatmeal is almost cooked.”

“I’ll toast the bread.” Leona got up and expertly ran two pieces of bread over the open flame of the gas stove.

Rebecca ate, took deep breaths, and smiled, as the butterflies began to turn in her stomach. Leona saw her face and insisted she finish what she had taken. That done, they shooed Rebecca upstairs. She took the dress out of the closet and put it on. Freshly ironed, it fit even better than she remembered.

By seven thirty, Matthew had eaten and hitched the horse to the buggy. Leona and Mattie came out to watch her walk through the living room, big smiles on their faces. Stephen and Lester were still in the kitchen, finishing their breakfasts, and could wait to see her until church time. Matthew let out a low whistle when she stepped outside.

Matthew dropped her off at the front sidewalk. He handled his horse as if he were already with the young folks and knew his way around girls. The wedding was to be held at Aden’s house, with the meal served in his large pole barn out back. Already buggies were parked in a long line out by the barn. Cooks were hard at work preparing the noon meal.

With a glance around to see if anyone would come out of the house, she waited until Matthew drove forward, then walked to where the cooks worked. A few of the table waiters, paired or dating couples, were around too. They seemed surprised to see her but had little time to pause in their work other than to say “Hi” as she passed.

Rebecca knew it was time to go upstairs before too many people saw her. John would join her there, along with the two witness couples, until it was time to walk downstairs to their assigned seats in the front row.

Aden met her with a smile at the front door and motioned for her to come inside. Esther came from the kitchen and told Rebecca, “Second bedroom on the right.” Around them the living room was filled with church benches—the overflow went well into the kitchen and main bedroom. “I’ll send the others up when they arrive,” Esther added.

Rebecca nodded and climbed the stairs. The bedroom Esther directed her to was furnished with six chairs for the three couples to use until they were to go downstairs. John arrived ten minutes later. From the look on his face, she was glad he came before anyone else was there.

“You’re beautiful,” he said and took her face in his hands and kissed her.

Rebecca knew she blushed bright red and that more people could arrive any minute. “Quit it,” she told him and pushed him away.

He grinned and took a chair. She sat down beside him, her knees weak.

Luke and Susie came up next. Rebecca knew Susie from her time in Milroy and greeted her warmly. She found Luke grave, though—troubled almost. At first she thought it was the money but decided against that conclusion. It was unlike the Luke she knew.

“I’m so sorry about your father,” she said and knew from his reaction this was the cause of his sorrow.

“It was hard,” he said. “Dad’s in a better place now.”

“It must be rough,” John told him. “My dad just went through a rough spot.”

“That’s what I heard. Is he okay now?” Luke asked.

“Almost normal,” John told him. “We are blessed.”

“I wouldn’t have missed this,” Luke said, with his first smile. He sat down beside Susie, and Rebecca could see how comfortable he was with her.

Wilma arrived with a blast of good cheer and changed the whole atmosphere of the room. Her boyfriend in tow, a stranger to the community, Wilma introduced him all around. It looked as if Wilma had everything under control.

At five till nine, it was time to go downstairs. Silently Luke and Susie led the way because the bridegroom’s party was to go first. John and Rebecca followed. Wilma and James came at the end. Rebecca’s heart pounded as they walked in front of the packed house and took their seats in front of the ministers’ bench. Six chairs had been set out, three lined up facing the other three, boys on one side, and girls on the other.

The song leader announced the song, and the service began. As they all sang the second verse, Bishop Martin got up and, followed by his fellow ministers, walked up the stairs. Rebecca watched John’s feet, and when they moved, she slowly stood too. They followed the ministers up the steps.

Bishop Martin cleared his throat when they all had settled down in the bedroom. Isaac was seated beside the bishop. Two visiting ministers and their home minister sat to Isaac’s left, the deacon to the right of the bishop. John and Rebecca sat directly across from Isaac and Bishop Martin.

“It’s good this day has come. I’m glad for it,” Bishop said smiling. “I will let the others express themselves first.”

Isaac glanced at Bishop Martin and received a nod, which meant he was to go first.

“I am glad to be here, in more ways than one,” Isaac said. “The Lord has spared my health, for which I am thankful. John has been a good son, faithful to God and to the church. I wish him and Rebecca nothing but the best—grace for their trials, joy in the good times, and above all a gracious and full end to their married lives, which they are to begin today.”

The home minister said much the same, and the two visiting ministers said that, while they didn’t know the couple well, they trusted God’s blessing would rest on their union.

When Bishop glanced at the deacon, Rebecca thought he looked uncomfortable, but he bravely said what he had to say. “There have been storm clouds—many of them—gathered around Rebecca and John. This was not their fault entirely. Others were also to blame. I also wish God’s blessing on this union. John has never made trouble for us. Nor has Rebecca. They have been up-building church members. We trust this will continue. May God grant us all grace, as He extends that same grace to them.”