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Authors: Harmony Stalter

The Stable Boy (31 page)

BOOK: The Stable Boy
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“It is okay, Josh. I can see by the look on my sister’s face and the reaction of her friends that you really do love her and make her happy. We can talk another day. Claire?”

“Yes, Janie.


I am happy for you.”

“Thank you.”

“You three were in on it with him weren’t you?”

“Yes, Josh called me and told me he wanted to ask you, but wanted all of us there when he did. I told him I would set this dinner up,” said Mike.

“Vanessa and I helped him pick out the ring.”

“That is why you were all weird today.”

“Yes, we wanted to tell you, but did not want to ruin his moment.”

“Thank you for not ruining it.”

“You’re welcome and congratulations. Alison we have get on the planning circuit as soon as we get back.”

“Yes, we do, Vanessa.”

“I think we are in trouble,” I said to Josh.

“Me too. Maybe we should just elope.”

“Hell no,” said Mike. “If I have to have a wedding so do you two. Welcome to the family, Josh.”

“Thanks, Mike. I look forward to getting to know you, all of you.”

“Can I call you Uncle Josh, now?” asked Madison.

“You may.”

We finished eating dinner with many laughs and went back to our hotel. When we got back in our room, I sat on the bed looking at the ring. I played with it.

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I am. I never thought I would get here, again, but I did. I have you to thank for that. I love you, Joshua Jones.”

“I love you, Claire, more than I can ever express to you.”

Mike’s wedding was the next day. Josh wore his charcoal gray suit. I was in a red dress that stopped above the knees. Josh wore a red tie to match my dress. When we all arrived at the church, we were ushered up to the front. We waited while the bridesmaids were all ushered in. They all had on a royal blue dress. My sister was included in the mix. The gowns were gorgeous. Even my sister could not be mad at the way she looked in it, despite being almost ready to give birth. She looked gorgeous. She looked at Josh and I and smiled. She seemed happy. Little Madison and Nathan came down the isle as flower girl and ring bearer. As soon as she saw Josh she dumped all the flowers and came running. She was just as smitten as I was.

When we returned home, we told Rich and Angelica. Rich already
knew he was going to ask, but was not sure if I would say yes. Angelica knew I would. We set a date for the wedding. The planning began immediately.

EPILOGUE

One year later

 

              The past year has been a whirl wind. The farm is thriving and we have hired on a couple of new farmhands. My sister’s little boy was born on February 5
th
, John’s birthday. She named him John Phillip. Sending me a picture with his name on it. I cried and showed it to Josh. He held me close and wiped his own tears. Josh and Janie never did sit down and have their talk before we left, but she had plenty of time to get to know him over the past year. They visited during the summer. Madison would go out to feed the animals with Josh every morning and even rode on the tractor with him. A couple of times, in the middle of the night, I heard laughter coming from downstairs. Janie would be feeding John and Josh would be sitting there talking to her. He had obviously won her over. Janie knocked on my door, breaking me out of my reflection.

“Hey, you. Someone wants his auntie,” she said, putting John on the bed. He crawled up to the pillows, putting his head down next to mine with his butt in the air.

“Good morning.”

“Are you ready for today?”

“Yes, I am. I have no idea what is planned as Vanessa and Alison planned the entire thing. The only thing I had any say in was my dress.”

“I am sure whatever it is it will be great.”

“I am sure it will be. Are you ready to be my bridesmaid?”

“I am. I cannot believe I am going to say this, but I am excited for you to start this part of your life. I never thought you would be able to find someone as great as John was, but you have and I could not be happier for you.”

“Thank you, Janie.”

“You’re welcome. Now, get your butt out of bed. We have to start getting ready.”

“But I want to snuggle with my little man first.”

“Okay, but you only get five minutes.”

“Five minutes? How about ten?”

“Okay ten, but no more. I will be back.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

With that she left the room. I put my arm around little John. He looked up at me with his hazel eyes and smiled a toothless grin. I smiled back at him. Whenever I visited or they visited here, he followed me everywhere. It was like he was mine and not Janie’s baby.  He put his head under my chin and began sucking his thumb. I held him there, tears streaming down my face. Kissing the top of his head, I wiped the tears away. Closing my eyes, I rocked him. He giggled. He loved when I did that.

“Little man, do you want to meet the man you were named after?” I asked. Getting up on his knees he shook his head yes. I reached into the nightstand drawer, pulling out the photo album that Alison made. He saw the picture of John and I’s wedding day on the cover. He clapped his little hands as he bounced up and down on the bed. “That is your uncle John. It is a shame you will never get to meet him in person, but I know that he would have loved you to pieces.” I turned the page to show him the next photo. He cooed. “This is us when we were very young. We used to have a lot of fun together. Alison and Bob used to get in on it. He was a great man, who’s life ended too early. One day when you are older, I will tell you more about him. Would you like that?” He shook his head yes and bounced up and down. He was so excitable. I heard the step creak. I knew my time was up and it was time to get ready. The bedroom door opened up.

“Let’s go, young lady. It is time for you to get dressed.”

“Okay, let’s do this,” I said, putting the album back into the drawer.

“Are you okay?”

“Yes, Janie. I am. I was just introducing John to his namesake. He would have loved him to pieces.”

“Yes, he would have. Are you sure you are okay?”

“Yes, I know that John would have wanted this for me. He never wanted us to be apart, but he always said that if something happened to one of us we should find someone to fill the void. The fact that Josh walked into my life was a sign from him telling me it was time to move on. As much as I resisted and fought it, I knew. I could not have asked for two better men in my life. I am perfectly okay. Now, we have a wedding to get ready for. Let’s do this.”

“Okay. The girls are down stairs waiting for you with your dress.”

“Well then, what are we waiting for?”

“Okay. C’mon, little man. Let’s get you in your suit,” she said, holding out her arms to John Phillip. He leapt into them.

“He is going too be to heavy for that one day soon. You better be careful, sis.”

“I know. He just enjoys it. It is quite funny. Nathan was the same way. Maddie, no so much. She was too dainty. She keeps asking where her uncle Josh is. I told her she will not get to see him again until the ceremony.”

“Is she okay with that? I can have one of the girls take her over to Alison’s house now.”

“She can go over with the rest of us. She does love him.”

“Do you blame her?”

“Not in the least,” she laughed. I joined her as we headed down the stairs.

“It is about time,” said Alison.

“I was coming, but I needed a little time with my little man.”

“Okay, I will allow it, because he is too cute.”

“Yes, he is. I was introducing him to his namesake.”

“Are you okay?” asked Vanessa.

“I am wonderful. I am excited for the day, yet, a bit scared because I had nothing to do with the planning.”

“It will all be fine. We did not want you to have to worry about it. It will be beautiful.”

“Okay. Let’s get ready.”

“I am so happy this day is finally here,” said Vanessa with tears in her eyes.

“Aww, Vanessa don’t cry. You are going to get the rest of us going.”

“I can’t help it. I never thought Josh would find the perfect person for him, let alone one of my best friends.”

We all put our arms around her. She was more emotional than I was. I knew the minute I walked down that make shift aisle I would be a mess. I stepped into my dress. It was a blush colored fit and flair with a cream colored lace overlay. It had a sweetheart neck line and a blush colored belt. The built in corset laced up in the back. Poor Alison was doing the honors. I had my makeup already on. Angelica wanted to do my hair. She was waiting for Alison to finish.

Once Alison finished lacing me up, I sat in the chair and let Angelica do her thing while the rest of the girls got ready. Angelica swept my hair up in an elaborate up do. Placing pins with pearl ends throughout the style to give it that little something extra. The girls were all wearing a crimson red satin dress with spaghetti straps. Their bouquets were made of yellow daisies and pink tulips. My bouquet was made of white winter lilies that cascaded down. We all looked at each other and giggled. Angelica went to get ready. She finished just as the car pulled into the driveway. The driver got out, opened the door, and came to the porch door leading each of us girls down to the car one by one.

“Congratulations,” he said to me.

“Thank you.”

“All of you ladies look very beautiful.”

“Thank you,” we all said. We drove over to Alison’s house where they had set up the wedding. I could see Josh’s silhouette  in his tuxedo waiting at end of the barn. It was a moment I wish I had my camera. The girls climbed out of the car one by one. Each one met with their usher and walked down the aisle. It is a moment I wished my dad was here to walk me down the aisle again. Madison climbed out of the car with her basket of flowers and headed toward Josh. This time she calmly threw the flower petals on the ground. Being a year older she understood what she was supposed to do. I expected to walk down the aisle alone, but when I climbed out of the car I was met with my brother.

“Are you ready?”

“Yes,” I said with tears in my eyes.

“Let’s get you down to your future husband,” he said with a wink.

“I thought I was going to walk alone.”

“I could not allow that to happen. You are my sister and giving you away to Josh will be my pleasure. I could not in good conscience allow you to walk the aisle by yourself.”

“Thank you, Mike.”

“You are so very welcome. You look absolutely beautiful,” he said as we inched closer to the end.

“Thank you.”

“I believe Josh thinks the same. He is already wiping tears away.”

“Yes, he is,” I said smiling at Josh. He returned my smile.

“This is it, Claire,” Mike said as he kissed me on the cheek. “I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

“Now I can officially welcome you to the family,” Mike said as Josh, put out his hand.

“Thanks, Mike,” Josh said, shaking Mike’s hand.

“You’re welcome, brother.”

Mike took my hand and placed into Josh’s hand. We stood in front of the justice of peace. The ceremony began.

“Dearly beloved we are gathered here today to join these two people in holy matrimony. If there is anyone here who objects, please speak now or forever hold your peace.”

Josh spoke up.

“I have something I want to say to all of you, but especially you, Claire.”

There were whispers amongst our friends. No one knew what to expect.

“I know we did not say that we would write our own vows, but I took the time to do it. I wanted to express to you exactly how I feel about you, about everything.”

“Okay,” I said with a shaky voice. He handed my flowers to Alison and grabbed both of my hands. His hands were nice and warm.

“Claire, I have loved you from the moment I saw you. That first moment I came walking up to your house, you took my breath away. It took everything I had to form a sentence. I knew right then and there that you were the one. I had never had those feelings toward another person before. You were the most beautiful woman I had ever seen in my life. As I gotten to know you over the past year and a half, I have fallen deeper in love with you. I don’t think that I can survive on this planet without you. I was lost before I met you, just wandering around. Today, I feel like I am a whole person. You are definitely the part of me that was missing all these years. I believe that we crossed paths for a reason. My family and your loving husband knew that we needed each other. I believe they are the reason we are standing here today. You are the light at the end of the dark tunnel I lived in for so many years. Every day with you is a blessing. I cannot wait to start our lives together as husband and wife. You are my beautiful bride. My Claire, for now and always.”

There was not a dry eye in the house. All the girls were wiping away tears and even some of the guys.

“Thank you, Josh,” I said. “But now I have something to say to you. I also took the time to write my own vows. Josh, the moment you stepped foot in front of my door you gave me butterflies. I had not felt that since John’s passing. There was something about you that seemed so familiar. Your confidence, the way you walked and your mannerisms reminded me of John. At first, it hurt to have you around, but once I began to get to know you I fell for you. It was not what you did like John that drew me to you, it was more of what you did differently. They way we could talk to each other about everything. You took the time to get to know me. You understood my pain. You held me on those nights I did nothing but cry over my loss. You took me to places your grandfather took you to clear your head. You helped me move on. You helped me come to the realization that I was not meant to be alone the rest of my life. I would not want to spend the rest of my life with anyone else, but you Joshua Jones. I will love you forever and always no matter where life may bring us.”

“I love you so much, Claire,” Josh said, bring my hands to his lips and kissing my fingers.

“I love you, too.”

“May we continue?” asked the justice of the peace. We both nodded our heads. “Do you have the rings?”

“We do,” Josh said. We both got the rings from our best man and maid of honor.

“Josh place your ring on Claire’s finger. Do you, Joshua Jones, promise to love, honor, and cherish, Claire for the rest of your lives?”

“With everything I have.”

“Claire place your ring on Josh’s hand. Do you, Claire Phillips, promise to love honor, and cherish Josh for the rest of your lives?”

“Yes, I will.”

“Then I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride.”

Josh put his arms around me and smiled. I smiled up at him. He slowly brought his lips to mine. Our friends cheered as we pulled a part and began walking back down the aisle to the waiting make shift reception area. Tents were set up near the house. The wedding party and us had to take photos while everyone else enjoyed the cocktail hour. We made the most of it with doing silly things and making each other laugh through the entire thing.

The reception was great. We had all of our favorite foods. There was dancing, drinking, and some even did a little karaoke, which caused a few laughs. The cake the girls picked out for us was stunning. They had a three tier royal blue cake with pink and white cascading flowers down the side. The cake was a white cake with fruit filling. It was almost too pretty to cut into. These ladies did a fantastic job with planning the wedding. They should really start their own business. Every detail was perfect. Rich stood up in the middle of the ceremony.

BOOK: The Stable Boy
13.2Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

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