David and Anabelle were now man and wife, both civilly and in the Catholic Church. A very hasty wedding had occurred at midnight on December 23rd. Midnight, because Anabelle wanted to be married like Louis and Zelie Martin, and December 23rd, because Father could not do it on any other day.
Carole had been the maid of honor and Father Andrew's political brother, home for Christmas from Washington D.C. and happy to oblige, as it were, was the best man. David did not mind. He was an only child. His parents dead and no other Catholics in the family...besides, he had met James Longley before and liked him a lot. And, his uncle had been married secretly on a Saturday morning long ago at Notre Dame, with the cleaning lady and the maintenance man as the witnesses, as the uncle and new wife were converts, outcasts from very atheistic, intellectual families. At least there was sort of a precedent....
James was one of these men who one could not help but like. He had been the youngest Senator from the State of Washington ever and the first conservative for over sixty years. He represented the new right, a group swelling up into a political storm in Washington, Idaho, and other western states.
James was only 35, but people were talking about him as a potential presidential candidate for the new party of social conservatives, the Amendment Party, which had started in 2015, after the impeachment of the president who had refused to leave office. But, that was history.
Fr. Andrew was slightly younger than James. No one really knew how old he was because he was one of these young men who look middle-aged at twenty-two and would look middle-aged until seventy-two. Carole knew, however, that he was her age, 32. She never told Anabelle, but she had dated him, three times, in high school. Basically, Carole had spent the three dates convincing Andrew to follow his heart and go into the seminary. The whole thing had been just plain weird, but Carole had genuinely liked Andrew and felt sisterly about him. That was all.
Well, it was about one o'clock am and the flat looked like Narnia Always Winter, Never Christmas-all white ribbons and generic Christmas decorations Carole had managed to get quickly in order to make the rooms look festive and wedding-like. The only incongruous thing was Carole's huge pink retro tree with gold ornaments, all made by her, in the far corner of the huge living room.
No one would notice the pink tree, as the bride, who just came in the door, stole the show. Carole had never seen Anabelle so happy, so beautiful. Carole had made her dress in three days and embroidered it with silk thread which was over 100 years old. It had been Carole and Anabelle's great-grandmother's thread.
David had worn a suit he had already. He looked great. It was grey and not quite as formal as perhaps Carole would have liked, but Anabelle did not care. She was now Mrs. David Collins.
The small party would only include the happy couple, Fr. Andrew, James, and Carole. A small dinner had been ordered, which was hard this time of year with all the Christmas parties, but Carole had picked it up earlier.
She also purchased six or seven pale purple orchids for the tables and white roses as well.
But, Anabelle's bouquet, amazingly ordered and received hours before the wedding, was made up of the Japanese blue rose, Applause. This was Anabelle's favourite flower. And the ring. oh my goodness. David had phoned Anabelle, after he talked with Fr. Andrew ten days ago, and said he would pick her up immediately-David had taken the day off and the two were going to Bellevue to David's choice of jeweller. Anabelle, shocked but delighted, let David practically push her into the Toyota and then practically carry her into the shop. There, waiting for her, was his choice of engagement and wedding rings. Both were perfect. The Cartier wedding rings, graceful and simple, simply jumped out of the boxes into their hearts. Then, Anabelle had to try on the green garnet, the tsavorite, Anabelle's favorite jewel. "How did you know, you, I mean... ?" She was speechless.
"Well, all those hints last year did not go unheeded, Anabelle. I remember everything." It was a simple bezel solitaire, totally natural, set in platinum-very modern.
"Can you afford this?" Anabelle was a bit embarrassed. David smiled his big Western smile. "Yes, but it is your Christmas, birthday and Easter present, OK?" They laughed and sped back to their home town in time to find Carole and go out for coffee.
Carole hid in her room with her sewing machine for two days, and another day slouched over the green chair with her embroidering things for hours and hours. Simple, but elegant...and that was all Carole had time to do. She also made Anabelle an extraordinary mantilla and one for herself.
Even James noticed the mantillas, as he was a TLM guy.
Now, the five people bowed their heads for a little prayer and settled down for dinner and drinks.
It was already Christmas Eve morning, but James had phoned Carole two days before with the menu he wanted. No meat, all fish, simple. He paid for it, so Carole gave in to all his requests. She liked him, but...she was not the marrying type, nor was he, she suspected. Celibacy runs in families, she mused. Just as she sat down, Carole noticed that Tomas had emerged from her closet. Good sign. The weather would be warming up. The cat jumped up on the brown sofa and curled up in a ball and promptly fell asleep. All was well with the world of Tomas.
Done....but the black church destroying cloud had to be discussed, even on this white occasion. Father Andrew began the hard conversation.....
To be continued...
