Olivia Applegate, matriarch of the Applegate family, walked up the aisle of the Echo Falls First United Methodist Church, absorbing the silence.  Pulling her coat closer, she noted the chill in the air, the furnace obviously not adjusted yet for the ceremony.  Today her grandson, Chad Applegate would marry Robin Harmon, a sweet girl with two adorable daughters.  The December morning had dawned beautiful but cold, promoting the adage that the sun shines on happy brides.

The wedding flowers had been blended with the church Christmas decorations, and Olivia spent a few moments checking each arrangement.  It had been a battle for Chad to win Robin’s heart.  Olivia wanted everything to be perfect for them.  She glanced around the small sanctuary, lost in memories.  Her family had attended this church for over eighty years.  Her son, grandchildren and great-grandchildren had been baptized here and her husband’s funeral had been held in this holy place.  She had married her beloved Thomas at this alter.  Bill had married Helen, Rick had married Tara and now Chad would marry Robin.

Olivia breathed in the sweet smell of roses from the arrangements and lemon oil from the polished oak pews, then stepped back to study the front of the church.  Two large baskets stood the left and right side of the alter.  Red roses with two white lilies in the middle and assorted greenery filled the baskets.  On the alter, another basket contained matching flowers that spilled across the surface.  White candles graced either end in silver candlestick holders.  To the left of the alter was a large Christmas tree, its white lights blinking.  Silver snowflakes blended with gold glitter balls and the fifty white, crocheted cross ornaments.  One of the parishioners had made them specifically for the church tree several years ago.

On each side of the church, three stained glass windows suffused the sanctuary with muted light.   In the windowsills were nosegays of roses.  Wandering back down the aisle, Olivia fingered the red and white roses with matching ribbons attached to each pew.  Everything was as it should be.  Perfect.

“Hello, Olivia.” 

Recognizing the voice, Olivia turned to the tall, slender man.  “Hello, Pastor Cale.”  Cale Baxter had been the church’s minister for the past four years.

“Are we ready for the big event?”   He unbuttoned his coat and rubbed his hands together, then walked to the thermostat and turned up the heat.

Olivia smiled.  “Oh, yes.  And I know two little girls who are more impatient than ever.”

He laughed.  “Boo and Lindy and I have a pact.  They quit hounding their mother and I promise to make it official.” 

“Oh, we have a little surprise for both of them that will make it completely official.” 

Pastor Cale eyes twinkling, his silence questioning.  She shook her head.  “Nope.  Not revealing until the reception.”

“You think I’d tell?”

“Yes.  You aren’t anymore immune to those two than the rest of us.”

             Walking back to the foyer they chatted about church

activities.  Just as they reached the back, the doors opened.  Meg

rushed through, arms full of Robin’s wedding gown.  Boo and

Lindy trailed behind, scowls on their faces. 

Pastor Cale stooped to their level.  “What’s wrong?”

“Mom didn’t come with us,” Boo wailed.  Lindy took a loud suck of her thumb.

Olivia turned to Meg, waiting for an explanation.

“I know we were supposed to come together, but she wanted a little bit of time to herself.”  She shrugged.  Olivia received the unspoken message in the widening of Meg’s eyes.  Jitters.

“It’s falling apart.  Daddy Chad isn’t going to be ours.”  Tears threatened to slide down Boo’s face.

Pastor Cale looked at Olivia, seemingly unsure what to do with the tears.  He was saved by the ringing of the phone in the church office and trotted down the hall.  

Olivia took the box Boo was carrying with her red shoes, ones that matched the rosebuds on her white organza dress, then took her hand, pulling her to the bride’s room.  “Don’t be ridiculous.  You’re mom just needed a few minutes of peace and quiet.  She wants to be calm and beautiful for your Daddy Chad.”

Meg and Lindy trailed behind.  “I tried to tell her that,” Lindy said, talking around her thumb.

“So did I.”  Meg hung up Robin’s dress.  “Let’s go get the rest of the stuff from my car.  She’ll be here soon.” 

Meg let the girls go ahead of her.  Olivia leaned in so her granddaughter could whisper. 

“She has Chad’s truck, so she can get here.  But she seemed really nervous and distracted this morning, stressed – and not in a happy way.”

Olivia sighed.  “It’s just jitters.  I’ll call Tom.  He can go to the farm and check on her.  Let’s keep those two occupied, shall we?”

Meg nodded and caught up with the girls.  Olivia detoured to the church office to use the phone.  Everything was ready and perfect – Robin couldn’t back out now. 

Scene II

          Chad checked his shirt in the mirror and straightened his bowtie one more time.  His grandmother had lent the men her house for getting dressed because the church was too small.  In a few minutes, the four of them would go to the church, three blocks over from her house. 

He brushed off his pants and fussed with the fasteners at the waist again.  Normally, he threw on a pair of jeans and a T-shirt; that was how he was the most comfortable.  Today was his wedding day, though, and he was determined to look sharp for Robin and his girls, and for friends and family who were joining him to celebrate his marriage.

            Chad frowned, adjusting his tie again and then checking his shave to see if he’d missed any spots.  Robin had been very quiet for the last few days.  She kept insisting all was fine, but something was up that she wouldn’t explain.  Boo and Lindy, on the other hand, were bouncing off the walls, fueled by an excitement that wasn’t entirely caused by the gifts under the Christmas tree.  Maybe Robin was just smarting from the fact that her girls wanted him to do everything for them.  And they followed him around like he was the Pied Piper.  Robin and the girls were suffering from fear that he was just going to disappear on them.  That wasn’t going to happen.  All would be better after the ceremony, after they were officially a family. 

            A knock on the door put aside his musings.  The door opened and his father stuck his head in the room.  He was dressed exactly as Chad was in a black tuxedo, silver vest, white shirt and black bowtie.  The only difference was his Dad had a red rose boutonniere pinned to his lapel. 

            “Are you almost ready?”  Bill Applegate looked him over from head to toe, nodding in approval.

“Why?  Are we behind Meg’s timetable?” 

“Don’t mess with your sister’s schedule.  She’ll kill us.  It’s not worth it.  Besides Robin and the girls will be at the church by now.  We should get there too.” 

“I agree.”  Chad took his boutonniere from his father and eyed his lapel, then looked at his father. 

He shook his head.  “Don’t look at me.  Your mother is down in the kitchen.  She’ll take care of pinning the damn thing on.  I’ll just poke myself and you.”

Chad reached for his jacket.  “Let’s go then.”  Following his father, he descended the staircase and turned to the kitchen.  His brother, Rick was sitting at the table, his dress a perfect replica of everyone else.  His mother stood at the sink, her floor-length gray dress shimmering in the light.  Through the window, Chad could see his other brother, Tom, on the porch talking on the phone. 

Chad walked to his mother with his rose and the pin. “Who is he talking to?” 

“Meg.”  Rick stood, straightening his trouser legs.  His mother pinned on Chad’s flower with quick efficiency while Chad watched Tom pace the porch.

Tom flipped shut his cell phone and came back in the house looking ill at ease.  “You all go on to the church.  I have an errand to run.”

Chad studied his expression.  “For what?  What’s going on?”

Tom looked at him, his jaw shifting as if internally debating. 

Chad’s heart sank.  “You might as well tell me.”

“Meg and the girls are at the church, but Robin is still at the farm.  She wanted to come alone.  Meg’s worried.  She wants me to go check on her.”  Tom reached for his keys.

Chad stared at him for a minute, then reached for the keys to the new car he’d bought Robin.  “No, I’ll go.”

His mother protested, putting her hand on his arm. “You aren’t supposed to see the bride on the day of the wedding.”

“I’m sorry, Mother.  She and I need to talk.  It’s important.” Chad walked to the door.

The three of them looked at him, puzzlement and worry in their expressions. 

“Go to the church.  We will be there.”  Chad walked out the door and to his car.  On the road, he swore he’d find out what was bothering her and this would be the last time there would be any doubt.

Scene III

          Chad parked the car on the driveway.  Getting out, he took a deep breath and entered the house.  A makeup case sat on the kitchen table along with an open can of soda.  No Robin.  He heard a noise and let the sound lead him down the hall to their bedroom. 

Robin stood at the closet door studying the contents of the closet.  A suitcase lay open on the bed, the top littered with clothing.  Chad watched her for a minute.  For their wedding, he’d given her diamond drop earrings along with the diamond heart pendant.  She wore both.  Her hair was up, held into place by a matching diamond clasp, flowers laced through her hair.  She wore her jeans and a red cardigan sweater.  She didn’t look like she was bolting.  She looked like she was packing for their honeymoon, but the pensive expression on her face stalled him.

            Finally, he cleared his throat.  She turned and saw him there, stared for a moment, and then collapsed on the end of the bed.  “I should have known.”

            He walked into the room and sat next to her. “Known what?”

            “That Meg would have tattled on me.  Not following her timetable, you know.”  Robin smiled.

            Chad took her hand.  “You’ve been awfully quiet the last few days.”

            “You noticed.”  She squeezed his hand.  That action comforted him.

            “Now might be a good time to tell me.”  He let the warmth of her hand sooth his nerves, uncertain what she would say.

            “I was going to wait until after the wedding, on our honeymoon.”  Robin bit her lip.  “I’m such a chicken.  But then it occurred to me that it might be better if you knew before, in case. . . you know.  I just wasn’t sure when to tell you.”

            “Is this subject supposed to change my mind about us, about getting married, what?”

            Robin swallowed once and her mouth quivered, then she cleared her throat.  She looked at him then and the uncertainty there tore at him.  “I don’t know.”

            Chad rose and paced the room, then bent on one knee at her feet.  “Just spit it out.  Whatever it is, we can —”

            “I’m pregnant.”

            He lost his breath and reached for the bed to steady himself, his vision blurring. “Pregnant?” 

            Robin chewed on the inside of her lip, her eyes filling with tears.  “We weren’t as careful as we should have been and I know it.”  She paused for a long moment, sniffing.  “The last time I told someone that, he bailed on me.”  The tears fell then.

            Chad stumbled to his feet, euphoria rising inside him like bubbles from an excellent vintage of champagne.  Pulling Robin off the bed, he let out a war whoop and wrapped her in his arms, swinging her around the room. 

            “Chad?”  Robin’s voice wobbled.

            He shut her up, silencing all her doubts in one action:  he kissed her.  Again.  Then again.  Then again.  Cupping her face between his hands, he let her see the tears in his eyes, the smile on his face, the emotion in his heart.

            Robin tilted her head, watching his face.  “You’re happy?”

            “Silly girl.  Of course, I’m happy.  I love you.”

            “You sure?”

            He set her on her feet, then kissed her again.  “You are mine.  Never doubt that.”

She smiled, wiping away her tears.  “I promise, I’ll remember from now on.”

Chad held her against him.  “I thought the best gift was going to be you as my wife and your approval in adopting your daughters.  This is…”  he paused for a moment, overwhelmed. “This is the best.”

Robin collapsed against him, as if her worry about his response had been the only thing holding her upright. 

He ran his fingers over her shoulders, massaging.  “You silly goose.  Did you really think I’d walk away?”

She lifted her head, relief in her eyes.  “I didn’t think so, but I wanted to be honest.  I’ve been trying to tell you for days.”

“Ah, that’s why you’ve been so quiet.”

“Yes.” 

Chad’s cell phone vibrated in his pocket.  Pulling it out, he glanced at the number.  “Meg.”

“We’ve messed up her timetable.”

“It was worth it.”  He grinned, cancelling the call from his phone then eyeing the bed.  “You want to go for broke?” 

Robin reluctantly shook her head.  “You’ll mess up my hair.  Then Meg really will kill me.”

Chad sighed.  “All right.  To the church it is.”  He released her and walked to the closet.  “I have one more thing, though.  I was going to give you this for Christmas.  But I want you to have it now.”

Chad handed her a gift.  Delicate white paper etched with silver bells covered the medium sized box.  It was bound with a silver ribbon.  Robin’s brows wrinkled in curiosity and she sat again on the edge of the bed.

She looked over the package, then looked at him.  He grinned, rubbed his hands together, and sat beside her.  “Open it.”

She carefully removed the ribbon and loosened the paper.  Removing the lid from the white box, she peeked through the packing to see her surprise.  “Chad!  Oh my God!”

He laughed, pulling aside the packing so she could get a better look.  Inside the box was nestled two dozen collector thimbles, the same ones Robin had grown so attached to while cleaning out the antiques in his house.  It had been a major achievement to retrieve them from the church rummage sale and the antique store.

“Mrs. Bradley’s thimbles.”  Tears slipped down her cheeks.  “How did you know?”

Chad reached over and wiped her face with his thumbs.  “The girls.  Who else?”

“I gave these away.”

“I know.”

“Did you have to buy them back?”  She lifted a few of the delicate pieces.

“Not all of them.  Mr. Slade is something of a romantic.”  Chad’s phone rang again.  Then quit.

Robin held the thimbles for a moment in her hand, then started putting them away. “We really should go get married.  Before I cry so much my makeup is ruined and my eyes so red, this town will think you’re marrying an old crone.” 

“They are never going to think that.  You look beautiful.”  He kissed her lips.  “Happy wedding day.”

Robin leaned into the kiss, then Chad’s phone rang again.  She reached for it and flipped it open to answer.

“Yes, Meg, we’re coming.”  She sat for a minute listening.  Then she smiled.  “We’re leaving right now.”  She hung up.

He laughed.  “Liar.”

She leaned against him.  “Well, I had to tell her something.”

After a few quiet moments together, they rose and put the box with her thimbles back in the closet.  He watched while she folded her clothes and finished packing her suitcase.  Before they left the house, he stopped her. 

“I thrilled about the baby.  Don’t ever think otherwise.”

Robin smiled.  “Just don’t tell the girls.  Yet.”

He groaned.  “Yeah, I’m not up to listening to their questions.  Is the baby coming today?  Tomorrow?  The other tomorrow?”  He imitated the girls, hoping for a smile.  He got it. 

She giggled.  “You’ve got them figured out.  You’re going to make a great dad.”

He sobered.  “Thank you.  I’m trying.”

“Let’s get their surprise taken care of first, then we’ll talk about the baby with them.  Much later.”  She kissed him. 

When she broke away, he whispered.  “Let’s get married.”

“I want to.  I will.  I do.”

Chad grinned.  “Save it for the ceremony.”