My sister Kathy had been engaged for over a year, and now that her husband-to-be, Frank Thompson, had finally found work, they didn't want to wait any longer for their wedding. When Mom and Dad offered to have a family wedding and a party right here at the farm, they both agreed that it was the best and most sensible thing to do.
As soon as Mom got word of their decision, she went up to the attic and took down the old trunk that had been her mother's and contained her grandmother's wedding dress. As she lovingly touched the folds of the beautiful old gown, Mom remembered the day that she had worn it at her own wedding so many years ago.
She laid the dress carefully on the bed and looked it over for any tears it might have or minor repairs that might be needed. It was still breathtaking after all this time.
When Kathy came in the room and saw the dress laid out there for her, she was overcome with love for this woman that she had called mother for so long and now wished to share her family treasure with her. "May I?" Kathy shyly asked." I think it's just about your size, " replied Mom. "go ahead and try it on. We can adjust it a little if it needs it.
But when she put the dress on, it fit her like it was made for her. The only thing Mom would have to do would be to hem the skirt amd sleeves a bit, for it to be perfect. There was a long, flowing, antique lace veil that matched the lace on the dress and a long, lustrous string of pearls also in the box with the dress. Unfortuneately, the clasp on the pearls was broken, but the dress and veil were perfect.
Meanwhile, Dad had us all occupied for the next few days, getting the yards spiffed up and ready for the party. We mowed every inch of the place and weeded and trimmed all the bushes and flowers around the porches. Since Mom's peonies were in full bloom, Dad thought that the side yard would be the place to hold the ceremony. They would always remind her of how special her wedding had been.
Kathy, of course, was the most excited of any of us, and determined to make sure that everything went perfectly. She wanted everything just so, and to be just right. She plum wore me out with all the errands into town she could think up! I think a lot of it was just being her usual bossy self, but hey, she was getting married. I guess a gal get's that way when she's getting married.
Roscoe was a smart cat alright, smart enough that he and Sissy both knew there was something special going on here. He would just sit contentedly, and watch our progress. It wasn't hard for him to figure out that at the center of all this activity, was Mother and Kathy. He must have known instinctively, how important all these preparations were to Mom, for he kept his distance and let her get on with it all without hinderance or mayhem.
Mom, on the other hand, hadn't completely ignored him, but a smile, a nod, or an occasional scratch behind his ears was all she had time for at the moment. Sissy didn't want to be involved in all this foolishness, so she just stayed away and spent her time down at the barn instead.
Finally, the big day was almost here. It was the night before, and most of the food that could be made ahead, was. The rest would be done early the next morning. Grandmother's wedding dress was hanging safely upstairs in Kathy's bedroom, a gift of love now spanning four generations.
Dad's preparations were mostly done as well. He had taken one of the young pigs to have it butchered whole, to be roasted slowly over a wood fire in the new firepit he built. He had also borrowed folding chairs from the church, and had them all set up in the side yard. Tables were quickly put together using sawhorses and planks. We boys had worked real hard at making the yards look their best, but Dad was right. Mom's peonies were the most beautiful spot in them.
The thing that Mom had worked the hardest on over the last couple of days, was a spectacular wedding cake. She had baked several layers of different sizes, and then arranged them in tiers, covering them finally, with her wonderful buttercream frosting. She had then decorated it with simple piping and icing roses. On top she had made a beautiful spray of roses and then after cleaning them, she draped her grandmothers pearls down the front. It was nothing short of being a work of art.
There remained only a few last minute things to do in the morning, so now she could relax. She went outside and saw the sun was just setting so she lingered on the porch for a while, enjoying the evening btreeze. As she sat there, her old friend sensed that it would be alright now, so he hopped up in the swing and settled down right beside her. Roscoe had missed spending time with her just as much as she had missed being with him.
The next morning, everything was going according to schedual. All the last minute chores were done, the kids were dressed, and Mom was helping Kathy get ready in the front room, when she heard a knock at the door, and voices calling to her. The Walters' had come over a little early to see if there was anything that she needed help with.
When Mom and Kathy came out to greet them, Celia Walters just stood there, awed by the sight of Kathy in her wedding attire. But as she stood there, she had inadvertantly held the door open just a little too long, for in flew a little wren that Sissy had been after. The wren had foolishly built her nest in one of Mom's hanging plants and the cat had spotted it.
Mrs. Walters quickly closed the door, but now we had a very frightened little bird darting around the kitchen, one determined cat trying to get in after it, and one old reprobate who had been sleeping in the kitchen, but who was now wide awake and eyeing that poor bird.
Fearing something would happen to ruin her dress, Kathy ran from the room and stayed out of reach. Mother had been shouting, but now she shreiked when she saw Roscoe go after the wren. She was loud enough that Dad heard her and came running back to the house to see what was the matter.
Disaster struck a few seconds later when someone opened the door again, and Sissy bounded into the room. The wren had found a perch on top of the hutch where Mother kept her good china. Sissy easily made the short leap from the floor to a chair, and then to the sideboard. But when she went to make the jump to where the bird was, Roscoe was already trying for it too, and they both landed with a thud, right into the wedding cake! It had been put over on the sideboard so that it wouldn't be in danger of being accidentally bumped or damaged in any way.
We all just stood there, stunned and horrified beyond words when Dad came rushing in and took in the scene of distruction. While he was standing there with the door open, the wren made good her escape, but our destructive duo weren't so lucky. Ethan and I quickly each caught hold of one of the miscreants and hurried them out back to get them cleaned up.
The first to recover was Celia Walters, who then talked Mom into going back to Kathy and help her with her hair and any thing else that was needed. Then, she sent her husband back home and told him to bring the dozen pound cakes that she had baked and stored in the ice box for the big church supper on Wednesday. Dad got everything else done outside and the boys seated guests as they arrived.
Kathy had been in tears when she saw what had happened to her wonderful wedding cake, but had calmed down when she realized that what really mattered was still waiting for her. She fixed her hair, adjusted her veil, and put on a brave smile, knowing that everything was going to be alright.
Meanwhile, in the kitchen, Rose and Lily were helping Celia clean up the mess made by the cat's run amok a little while earlier. They had it mostly done by the time Mr Walters got back with the pound cakes. Celia took over the kitchen and shooed us all out saying, "Don't you folks have a wedding to go to?" We all left her to her self-appointed task and got ready to be part of our sister's wedding.
She then got to work on putting together a new cake using the pound cakes. She sliced them in layers and filled them with Mom's wonderful fruit preserves. Celia then built the layers into tiers and whipped up enough buttercream frosting to cover the whole thing. Not having much time left to decorate, she piped a simple edge around it and let grandmother's pearls be the only other decoration. "Not bad if I say so myself" she said aloud as she finished placing the pearls on the cake. The ceremony was just ending as she washed up and fixed her hair, putting Mother's apron back where she had found it.
As she had waited for Dad to walk her down the aisle, Kathy checked once more to make sure everything was just right. By now she had gathered her composure and was able to genuinly smile as Dad led her slowly to meet Frank, who at the first sight of her in her great- grandmother's dress, was on the verge of tears. I must admit, at that moment in time, she really was beautiful. As they looked into each other's eyes and promised to love and honor each the other for the rest of their lives, there wasn't a dry eye in the crowd.
Later of course, as everyone was enjoying the party, the story of what had happened to the first cake brought a few laughs as well as heartfelt thanks to Celia who had saved the day. Roscoe and Sissy didn't attend the party. They were content to watch all the doings from a distance, for which we were also grateful, especially Mother!