Finally
Finally, there was a veil over her eyes and a white dress wrapped around her rail thin body. All the ladies were back there with her, she wanted a lot of bridesmaids and she had so many ladies willing to help. Maud and Marian stuck around in their pink dresses, but Mrs. Squires and Mrs. Locke and Eulalie went to go sit with their families. They were helpful in getting her ready for the big day—everyone was—because it wasn't every day that she would get married.
She had been dreaming about this day most of her life.
Ethel stood in the back of the church, Marian and Maud to either side of her. Compliments surrounded the bride, and the day was perfect. "You ready, Ethel?" Maud urged, taking the girl's arm. Amaryllis stood behind the women in her pink dress, a basket of rose petals in her hand.
"Go on, dear." Marian led Amaryllis forward and out through the church's door. Once the girl was out, Marian and Maud picked up the veil and the dress' eternal train. This was it.
Marcellus waited at the front of the church with his best man at his side. He never would've guessed Gregory—his best friend as a kid!—would have been at his wedding, much less be actually trying to settle down with one of the bridesmaids. The barbershop quartet started to sing as she came in, singing the same sweet song he had heard the summer before.
It's your sweet hello dear
that gets me up
and it's your "got to go dear"
that gets me down
The song continued as Ethel went down the aisle. Everyone stood from their seats, turning to see the waif-like bride coming towards them. Her long brown hair was well coiffed and curled, her makeup done and very simple. The two ladies behind her smiled, happy that they could help with such an important part of Ethel's life. Maud and Marian had been close to Ethel since they were all young. Maud and Ethel treated Marian like their little sister, and Marian looked up to them. Now they were all older, and even though they had hated Marian for her "reputation" for a while, everything had been better. Ethel treated Marian like the sister she never had, and Marian and Maud truly became Ethel's family.
The brunette bride made it to the altar, the blonde and the redhead behind her. Marian and Harold exchanged glances from behind the happy couple, smiling as they saw the gleeful look on their faces.
The ceremony was short and sweet, much like the couple. They had been waiting for their wedding day God knows how long, and it was finally there. Marcellus kissed Ethel just when he was told to, pressing his hands to her face and she ran her fingers through his sandy blonde hair. Ethel's uncle nearly left his spot in the church to pry them apart, but it was no use. The two exited the church with his arms around her waist, hurrying her out of the church to the picnic in the park.
Everyone met in the park for a picnic-style reception. It was April, and the weather was very nice. Ethel was still in her wedding dress at the front of the park, straightening out Marcellus' black bowtie. She was so happy with how the day had gone, glancing down every now and then at the diamond on her finger and the gold band on his hand. There was music in the park, the barbershop quartet's vocal arrangements of beautiful love songs, and Marcellus had asked Harold Hill's boys' band to play (it was a little off, but the two songs they played were nice, simple, and pretty tunes). Everywhere people were eating and dancing and chatting amongst themselves. Marcellus, seeing that everyone invited was already in the park, pulled his new wife aside. "How about a dance?" He offered as the boys' band removed themselves from the stage and the barbershop quartet went back up. She nodded gleefully and he swept her away.
They danced, her heels sliding in the muddy grass. People all around were following their lead, taking the arm of their sweetheart and dancing to the music. But the music eventually stopped, and the dance concluded, and the happy couple was brought out of their euphoria. People were leaving as the sun was going down and the quartet left the stage.
Just as they were getting ready to leave, the married couple was greeted by two well-wishers. Harold and Marian came up to them, her arm in his, smiling from ear to ear. "Congrats, Marce." Harold said, grinning as his lady released his arm. He went over to Marcellus. "Now you make sure that your boys are in the band."
"My boys…" Marcellus hadn't thought about that. He could now start a family with Ethel, and Ethel just looked puzzled but happy with the music professor's request. "Greg, I don't have any boys."
"I mean when you two do." Ethel and Marcellus exchanged glances then looked back at the professor. "I mean…"
Marian interrupted Harold, scolding him. "Harold, don't try to force anything on them." Her words turned kind as she smiled at the couple. "I think he means once you two start a family, he would enjoy having your children in the band. I don't think he realizes how forward he's being." Harold pretended to be offended, but he just let her finish speaking. "Well, you enjoy your honeymoon. I'll see you when you get back." With a few hugs first, the two couples left in opposite directions.
Marcellus led Ethel to the rig and they drove off into the sunset. After waiting so long for the wedding, he was determined for the two of them to have a marvelous honeymoon.
Author's Note: "Finally" was a recommendation from our Marcellus and our Ethel, who have been dating in real life for one year. Sorry it's so short, but please review! I should have the next installment up soon!
