A Time to Bloom (Leah's Garden #2)(103)
She knew this new path with RJ was what the Lord had for her, no doubt of that. But, oh, if only she could do both.
RJ drove her home that evening, though she knew he couldn’t spare the time from finishing the cabin. His quiet presence and conversation comforted her heart, and when they pulled up at the Nielsen homestead, joyful voices and open arms spilled from the door of the soddy. Anders had arrived, as she knew he would to give her away, but not just Anders—Jonah peered from behind his shoulder, shy-grinned and impossibly tall. Wrapping her arms around her brothers proved the best balm for a tender teacher’s heart.
Then it was Friday, the last flurry of preparations, and then—not soon enough, and yet before she was ready—their wedding day dawned.
A pink pearly dawn promised a clear day but hopefully not too hot, though the weather had settled in since the snowstorm the week before. Del helped with chores, glad that she and RJ would still be close by even after today. Lark and Lilac could never manage the entire farm alone. After chores, the sisters finished fixing the sandwiches for the wedding luncheon to be held at the Brownsvilles’ home after the late morning ceremony at church.
And then it was time for the dress—a cream-colored lawn with stripes of lavender flowers. The four of them had all worked on it these past weeks—the graceful bodice and full skirt, with lace edging the collar and sleeves, the tiny pearl buttons ordered from Jorgensens’ mercantile. Del held up her arms, and her sisters dropped the dress in place. She felt like a princess, especially once Lilac handed her a bouquet of her namesake blossoms and pinned a delicate wreath of wildflowers on her braided-up hair.
It was a simple wedding in the clapboard church, but a sweet one. Surrounded by their friends and family—for RJ’s sister and her family made the trip out by train also—they pledged themselves to each other before God and man. And if RJ’s voice hoarsened at times when he spoke his vows, the grip of his hands on hers never wavered. Whatever she might leave behind in stepping into this new season, this, her hands joined with this man, was where she belonged.
Hours later, leaving the festivities and feasting behind for their families to complete, Del and RJ drove away in the light gig that was a wedding present from Esmay and George, pulled by Captain. Past the Leah’s Garden sign and up the homestead lane in the falling springtime dusk, they veered off before the soddy toward their own section.
Del squeezed her husband’s arm, anticipation swirling. She hadn’t seen the cabin since RJ finished it.
They drove past the orchard and gardens, and there it was. One and a half stories, its freshly sided walls gleaming against the prairie, windows blinking on either side of the stout wooden door.
“RJ.” Del stared. “You even got glass windows.”
He shrugged and set the brake, then jumped down, a shy grin creasing his face. “It was the least I could do. You deserve lots more.” He motioned to the building. “I figured we could turn this into the kitchen when we build our real house.”
“What a grand idea. Still, it’ll be like a palace after the soddy.” She let him lift her to the ground, his hands lingering on her waist as he looked down into her eyes. Her husband—her mind still whirled at the thought.
He tucked her arm through his, and they walked up to their new home. There were even curtains at the windows. Her sisters must have had a hand in that.
And sweetest of all, a clump of lilacs, just beginning to show purple, by the cabin corner.
Del slanted a glance at RJ. “My sisters let you dig up their biggest lilac?”
“They must like you or something.” RJ grinned and pressed the freshly dug dirt around the bush with the toe of his boot.
She brushed the delicate blossoms with her fingertips, their scent waving over them through the dusk like a benediction. “I love it. We’ll always know our anniversary is coming by the bursting purple buds.”
“As if we’ll need to be reminded.”
Blooming time, in so many ways. Del drew RJ’s face down for another kiss, and then the two of them, arm in arm, stepped into their new home.