The White Wedding: Christian Western Historical (Window to the Heart Saga Spin-off Book 2) Read online

  Debbey was looking forward to service and was greeted by warm expressions and “good mornings” as she made her way into church with William by her side. As they reached the McCoy family pew at the front, Matthew and Lucy were already sitting there waiting. Lucy looked stunning in her soft pink dress with her blond curls pinned on top of her head. Her brother and his fiancé were not talking with the other church parishioners. A majority of the women had been treating Lucy coldly because she continued to work at the local saloon despite being engaged to be married. Debbey did her best to try to encourage the other women to get to know Lucy, but it was difficult to change their minds regarding their mistaken assumptions about her. Even though she didn’t like it, Debbey understood their behavior. When she first witnessed Lucy paying attention to her brother, she had formed the same negative conclusions about her. She still felt guilty over her unchristian conduct.

  The couple stood to greet them as they approached. A few moments later, Amelie and Pierre made their way over and joined them by sitting in the pew directly behind. As everyone got situated, Pastor McCoy walked over to the pulpit to start the service. The congregation stood and sang several hymns before the sermon was given.

  “It does me good to see all of you this morning. Today I would like to speak about helping the needy. As Christmas approaches, we begin to think about all the joys the season will bring us; however, I want to encourage each of you to think about the less fortunate more than yourself during Christmastime this year. We need to be willing to do the Lord’s bidding on earth, and to sacrifice our own desires to fulfill His will.”

  Debbey thought about her father’s words. She was so focused on her own wedding, she hadn’t been thinking about anyone else, including her groom. Conviction filled her heart as she realized she needed to change that. At the next opportunity, she was going to choose to sacrifice her own desires for someone else.

  The couples sat around the table for their usual luncheon after church concluded. The servers bustled around them, making sure everything was pristine. The staff of the West Linn Inn made it a priority to impress William and his friends as both he and Pierre were their best paying customers.

  “Thank you, Mr. Potter,” Amelie said as the server filled her glass with tea.

  “Certainly, Mrs. Girald,” he said with a courteous smile, then turned his attention to the rest of the table. “If there is anything else you need, please inform me.”

  “The service was wonderful today. Your father’s sermon was excellent,” Pierre declared to Matthew and Debbey.

  Matthew agreed. “He did do an exceptional job today.”

  “Several church members told me it was the best one he has done all year,” Debbey stated with a prideful tone.

  “How is your father feeling about your upcoming wedding, Debbey?” Amelie inquired.

  “I think he has accepted it’s truly happening. We have waited the length of time he requested for his blessing, and William has done a wonderful job of establishing himself in the community as well as a part of our family.”

  “I wish your family could welcome me the way they have William,” Lucy commented.

  William corrected Lucy’s observation. “Don’t mistake the McCoys’ apathy as acceptance. They tolerate me at best.

  Lucy laughed. “We have that in common then.”

  “We should be called the out-laws instead of the in-laws,” William joked.

  From the expressions on their faces, the joke didn’t set well with the McCoy siblings. Unfortunately, everyone at the table knew it was true. Mr. and Mrs. McCoy were not pleased with the choice in spouses their children made.

  Mr. Potter returned with a worried look on his face. “Mr. Almonbury, there is an urgent telegraph for you at the front desk.”

  “If all of you will excuse me.” William stood up and left the dining room. As he approached the front desk, the clerk looked solemn. He handed him the folded piece of paper and said, “When you are ready to respond, just let me know and we will wire the response immediately.”

  “Thank you.” William unfolded the paper and read the contents.

  William—

  Your brother has become gravely ill. We have not mentioned this prior as the doctors hoped they could cure what ailed him. He continues to decline. We will keep you informed. Be prepared to return home posthaste if the worst should occur.

  Lord Gregory Almonbury

  The Viscount of Graybridge

  It was so like his father to send a matter-of-fact telegraph about a family calamity and sign it like it was business correspondence. One of the main reasons William had left home and started traveling abroad was because he didn’t feel loved or needed in England. Being the second son, he was the spare heir. Only now, when he had no other recourse, did his father reach out to him because he might need his spare to come home.

  William felt a hand on his shoulder. “What is going on, William?” Debbey asked.

  With a somber look, he turned to face her. “My father sent a message to inform me my brother is ill.”

  “How bad is it?” she asked with a worried tone.

  “Severe enough. I might have to return home.”

  “When will you be leaving?”

  It was a good question, but William didn’t have an answer. All he knew was that he couldn’t and wouldn’t leave without Debbey. “First, I would only leave if you agree to come with me. Second, I would want to marry you before we left. Would you be opposed to moving up our wedding date so if I must return to England to help my family, we can go together as husband and wife?”

  “I want to marry you, and if we need to change our wedding date to make that happen, of course I will agree.”

  Even though she said the words, the disappointment on her face was evident. He knew she had wanted a white wedding and the chances diminished greatly by moving their wedding date forward to early December.

  “I promise I will make it up to you. Once everything is settled with my family, we can have another ceremony, grand as you like.”

  Debbey nodded and let him take her back into the dining room to join their friends.

  William assembled a crowd at the Leclaire Café to discuss the plan he had come up with to give Debbey her white wedding. Amongst the group were Pierre and Amelie, Lucy and Matthew, and Mr. and Mrs. Moore.

  “Thank you, everyone, for joining me tonight. As most of you have heard, my older brother has become ill back in England. This has forced our wedding date to be moved to three days from now. My fiancée has the majority of the details well in hand, but there is one aspect which has been rendered nearly impossible by the changing of the date. Debbey wanted a white wedding, hoping it would snow on our wedding day.”

  Mr. Moore’s eyebrows furrowed in confusion. “I’m sorry she won’t get her wish, but there’s nothing we can do about it. We aren’t in control of the weather.”

  “I thought the same until I came up with an idea.”

  “Well, give us the particulars,” Matthew insisted.

  William took in a deep breath and exhaled. “I want to make snow for her.”

  “How in the world is that going to happen?” Amelie asked, perplexed.

  “When I was a child, my nursemaid always planned secret adventures for me. One time, she filled a horse trough with fresh water and put me in it, allowing me to pretend to be a pirate. Another time, she picked flowers and sprinkled them around my nursery and said we were transported to a fairy world. But my favorite of all the adventures was when she took paper and cut it into tiny snowflakes and put them into a bag. She climbed on top of a ladder and sprinkled them down on me. I want to replicate the last adventure—but on a much larger scale—for Debbey.”

  “I have to say, William, you should realize how lucky you were to have your thoughtful nursemaid. I have heard many horror stories from Englishmen about their stern nursemaids,” Pierre said as he moved to pat William on the back. “I think Debbey is lucky to have someone care so much about her.
I would be honored to help you.”

  Everyone nodded in unison before the group started making plans for the upcoming surprise.

  Debbey felt giddy as she slipped into her wedding gown. The magnificent dress was made of the purest silk and lace, and had tiny rows of iridescent pearls along the edge of the fitted sleeve and down the back of the gown. The full bottomed skirt was currently bustled, but when it was released, it pillowed out behind her. The front had a round scooped neck which was accented with embroidered net lace. This was mirrored around the bottom edge of the dress.

  Her fiery red hair was artfully arranged with decorative combs holding it in place. She rarely wore rouge, but she had added a dab to her cheeks and lips to make her features stand out.

  Amelie entered the room along with Lucy. Both were smiling ear-to-ear. The women surrounded Debbey and pulled her into a group hug.

  “Oh, Debbey, we’re so excited for you,” Lucy proclaimed.

  “Your dress is breathtaking,” Amelie stated as she walked around her and eyed her dress. “You’re the most beautiful bride.”

  “Thank you. I feel like it in this dress. The Oregon City dressmaker outdid himself.” She reached out and touched the edge of Amelie’s eggshell white dress. “I’m glad you both agreed to wear the dresses I wanted. I love the idea of having everyone in the bridal party wearing shades of white.” Suddenly, sadness filled Debbey’s eyes and her smile vanished. “Everything is almost perfect.”

  Amelie wrapped her arm around her friend’s shoulders. “It still can be perfect. All you have to do is let go and enjoy this day.”

  “I know. I just wanted it to snow so badly. I don’t know why I always felt like in my heart it would happen. So much so, that when I woke up this morning, I looked out the window expecting it to be there. My heart dropped when the sky was blue and the ground was clear.”

  “There is nothing to be done about it, so you need to focus on what you can control,” Lucy tried to convince her. “William is waiting for you at the church, and after you walk down the aisle and say your vows, you will be married to the man you love.”

  Debbey knew they were right. She needed to remember today wasn’t about her plans or expectations, but about becoming William’s wife.

  “You ready to go get married?”

  She straightened her shoulders and raised her head. “I’m ready.” As Debbey made her way down the stairs and out through the front door of her house, she tried to push away the twinge of sadness that still lingered.

  Everyone stood as the sound of the “Wedding March" played by the West Linn orchestra string quartet filled the room. William looked down the aisle of the church and saw the love of his life standing at the other end. She was breathtaking in her white wedding gown. The front, thinner part of her veil covered her face while the multi-layered back section cascaded down and around her body. Her veil swirled around her as she floated down the aisle with her bouquet of white roses in hand.

  As she reached his side, he stretched out his hand to her. “You look exquisite, my love.”

  Even through the veil, he could see a blush cover her body as a smiled curved her lips. She leaned towards him and whispered, “Thank you. You look handsome in your white suit.”

  It had been an unusual request; white suits were not common. William had to have a suit especially designed for the occasion.

  Debbey’s father smiled at both of them as they turned to face him. “It’s an honor to be able to preside over the union of my only daughter to the man she has chosen to marry. I will be honest, when we first met William, we were skeptical of his intentions. Over time, he proved himself to be an honorable man who was completely devoted to our daughter. I never believed any man would ever be good enough for her, but I think William has shown me I was wrong.”

  William’s heart filled with pride as he heard the words spoken by his almost father-in-law. He wanted Mr. McCoy’s approval and was glad he had it before he placed a ring on Debbey’s finger.

  “Do you, my darling daughter, Deborah McCoy, take this man, William Almonbury, to be your husband, forsaking all others and honoring him in all you do?”

  “I do,” Debbey declared.

  “And do you, William Almonbury, take my precious daughter, Deborah McCoy, as your wife, forsaking all others and honoring her in all you do?”

  “I do,” William promised.

  “May I please have the rings,” Pastor McCoy held out his hand to Amelie and Pierre who handed the rings over to him. They were smiling on either side with Lucy and Matthew beside them.

  “Please place the ring on Debbey’s finger and repeat after me.” William followed the instructions. “With this ring, I thee wed.”

  “And now you, Deborah, do the same.” She placed the ring on William’s finger. “With this ring, I thee wed.”

  “By the power vested in me by God, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride.”

  William leaned forward until his lips touched Debbey’s. It was a sincere kiss filled with promise of a future they would spend together.

  Debbey’s heart was beating rapidly as the applause and cheers sounded through the church. The day had finally come and they were married. She felt like the luckiest woman in the world. As they turned to head down the aisle, she saw all the smiling faces of their friends and family. Debbey felt grateful all of them could be there to celebrate their special day.

  The doors opened and it took a moment for her eyes to adjust to the light. Two rows of the town’s children—a half a dozen deep on each side—lined the steps and pathway leading from the church. They were wearing white dresses and suits and held paper bags in their hands. Debbey had no idea what they were doing there. What was going on?

  William tucked her hand firmly in the crook of his arm and guided her down the stairs. She watched as the children put their hands into bags and pulled something from them. Suddenly, puffs of white flew up into the air and fluttered down on them. The children continued to do it, handful after handful. It wasn’t snow but it had the same sensation as flurries. One landed on her nose and she reached up to grab it in between her finger and thumb. She couldn’t believe her eyes; it was petite pieces of paper cut into patterns of snowflakes.

  “Did you do this?” she asked in bewilderment.

  “With some help from our friends and your family. Do you like it?”

  She stopped in the middle of the pathway and turned to face him. She tilted her head up with a look of pure admiration. “Like it? I love it. I can’t believe you went to all this trouble for me.”

  “You said you wanted a white wedding, and I wanted to make sure you had one.”

  “I love you,” she said as she wrapped her arms around him in an embrace.

  A few moments later, they made their way to the inn where the wedding reception was being held. As they walked into the dining room, everyone began to cheer and clap for them. Mr. and Mrs. Moore were the first to greet them.

  “Congratulations to both of you.” Mr. Moore offered his hand to William while Mrs. Moore added, “We’re so happy for you both.”

  Next Pierre and Amelie, along with Lucy and Matthew, surrounded them with grins on their faces. “Welcome to the married club,” Pierre stated.

  “Soon we will be joining that club as well,” Matthew chimed in.

  Amelie hugged her friend. “Can you believe we are both wives now? Best friends married to best friends.”

  “I couldn’t be happier,” Debbey proclaimed.

  “It was a beautiful wedding,” Lucy asserted.

  “Yours is next,” Debbey winked. “I have special plans for it, just you wait and see.”

  They made their way over to the head table, but before they could sit, Mr. and Mrs. McCoy joined them. Debbey could feel her husband stiffen where her hand rested on his arm.

  “We wanted to come and congratulate you on your nuptials,” Mrs. McCoy stated. “What you did for our daughter with the paper snowflakes, giving her the whi
te wedding she always wanted, I realized as I watched the joy spread across her face—the joy you put there—you were going to be a good husband for our daughter.”

  Mr. McCoy nodded. “We are honored to have you join our family.”

  The rest of the reception passed with merriment as guests congratulated the newly wedded couple. Toasts were given to commemorate the occasion, but all Debbey could concentrate on was how much she loved the man sitting next to her.

  As they left the reception and walked over to the new house William had built for them, tiny flurries of snow drifted down from the sky. William lifted his head up and let the flakes land on his face. As they melted against his warm skin, he chuckled. “It seems you got your white wedding after all.”

  Debbey giggled as she spun around in circles with her hands thrown out in both directions. “This is incredible.”

  William reached out and pulled Debbey into his arms. Her laughter stopped as his penetrating gaze sobered her immediately. His hand reached out and touched the side of her face. He let his thumb trace the edge of her cheek and jaw until his hand rested at the bottom of her throat, then wrapped around to the back of her neck. With a fluid movement, he drew her close. His mouth came down letting his lips touch hers as their frames melted against each other.

  A small sigh escaped Debbey as she rested in his embrace. “Having the snow fall right now is like a dream come true, but the snow you made me was beyond anything I could have imagined. No one has ever made me feel so special.”

  “I am glad. You should know, I plan on spending the rest of my life making you feel that way.”

  As he took her hand in his, their feet moved through the snow, creating footprints into their future.

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