MASON AND MARIE'S WEDDING DAY
There were a few more surprises in store for the young bride. A few hours before the ceremony, Amy, Charlotte, Elizabeth, and Mrs. Cramer knocked on Marie's apartment door.
Marie tightened her robe around her small waist and opened the door, hoping it was Mason. "Good morning, ladies. Please come in."
"Happy wedding day, dear," Charlotte told her, with a kiss to her cheek.
"Thank you. What do you have in the bag, Amy?"
"Something for you. Open please."
Marie took the bag and unzipped it, gasping. "Is this..?"
"Your wedding gown, sweetie. Now let's try it on."
"I have a dress. It would be fine. Mason said whatever I wear…"
"That's very sweet of him to say, dear, but you should feel special and beautiful on your big day," Charlotte told her.
"I've never felt that way, so…"
"Mason tells you you're beautiful. I've heard him."
"That doesn't mean I agree." Her cheeks turned red and she walked away.
Elizabeth knew that feeling. "Well, sweetie, we are going to try our best to make you feel that way."
Marie looked at the women in the room, all of whom she respected and loved. "Good luck," she teased. Might as well let them try.
She had made her own nightgown and robe for that night. It was lavender and she felt comfortable in it. In addition she had purchased new underclothes so that when she removed the robe she was wearing she wouldn't be entirely embarrassed.
After a bath, they curled the bottom half of her hair, tying the top half back, and placing baby's breath among the curls. Then they did her makeup and Elizabeth tied a necklace around her neck. It was silver with a single pearl. "Its lovely, Grandma. Thank you."
"You're welcome, sweetie. You look so beautiful."
Awhile later, they helped her slip into her dress that Amy had made. When they buttoned the back and then primped a little more, she turned to look at herself in the mirror. "Oh," she whispered. "I look…" She had never seen herself look the way she did. She smiled, lighting up her face.
"You look?" Amy prompted.
"I feel…beautiful. How did you do that?"
"Honey, you are beautiful. This is what happiness and love can be like."
"I am happy," she said quietly. For the first time in forever, she had a smile on her face that wouldn't go away. This was a new start and the Thorntons made it all possible.
….
Mason stroked her hand with his thumb, staring into her eyes as they listened to the pastor. Mason wasn't really listening. He was too mesmerized by how happy and stunning his bride looked. It was as if someone had flipped a light on.
"Do you, Mason William Thornton, take Marie Teresa Patrick, to be your wife? To have and to hold from this day forward, for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and health, to love and to cherish until death parts you?"
"I do," Mason said, looking deeper into her eyes, drinking in her love. She blushed under his gaze.
As Marie listened to the pastor, the couples in attendance were all transported back to their own weddings. Jack and Elizabeth, to their beloved church in Hope Valley. Caleb and Amy to the meadow in Hope Valley by the pond. Charlotte thought about eloping with Tom Thornton, the wedding in the church with Bill, and the small ceremony in Harris Town with Jake.
"You may kiss your bride," the pastor told Mason.
Mason smiled and took a step closer to her. "I love you," he whispered before touching his lips to hers briefly. He would kiss her properly when there won't so many people around.
A few moments later, he took her by the hand and walked to the lake. The day was warm but not hot and the breezes blew pleasantly through the trees, teasing her hair and skirt.
"It's a lovely day," she commented.
"It is." He looked down at his hand, smiling at the gold ring on his finger. "You're my wife, babe."
"I am." He stopped walking and turned.
"You look amazing. So beautiful."
"Thank you, Mase." She looked at him, gazing at his mouth. "You gonna give me a real kiss, Mr. Thornton?"
"I was planning on it, I was just waiting until we had privacy."
She looked around and stepped closer, her hands resting on his arms. "I don't see anyone else." She was feeling a lot of something she couldn't identify. The need to be in his arms was overwhelming her.
He slipped his arms around her waist and kissed her slowly, taking his time.
"Lets go home," he told her before kissing her deeply, losing a tiny bit of control.
"Ok." They weren't having a party that they knew of but when they reached Mason's parents house, Joey yelled.
"There they are, Mama!" Mason stopped, regretting not taking the long way around to the apartment.
"Why are you yelling, Joe?"
"They told me to watch for you. There's cake!"
Marie smiled and buried her face in his arm. Amy walked out and saw the couple. "Good, come inside for some cake."
"Actually, we were just headed home."
Amy remembered what it was like the day of her wedding. She knew very well the emotions and hormones that were just beneath the surface. "Well, scoot then. Hurry before anyone else comes outside." She waved them on, moving Joey in the house.
….
MASON AND MARIE'S APARTMENT
"I can't believe she let us go," Marie told him as they hurried up the stairs and into the apartment.
"Me either." Mason shut the door, locking it, and then backed her up against it. His lips found hers again, grateful for locked doors and weddings and understanding mothers.
"Can we….slow down?" Marie asked, even though she was thoroughly enjoying his lips which were now on her neck.
He backed up and sighed. "Sorry, of course. We have all night."
"I just…I wanted to put something else on and maybe have some tea?"
He nodded. "I'll make the tea."
She raised her mouth to his, kissing him. "Thank you."
He watched her walk away and took a few deep breaths. He set the pot on to boil water and then untied his tie, loosening the top buttons on his shirt.
"Mase?"
"Yeah?"
"Can you help me?" He walked into the bedroom. "I can't get these buttons." He walked forward and concentrated on the ten or so buttons that ran down the back of her dress. She felt the dress loosen so she turned. "Thank you." She looked at him. He had an intense look on his face. "Are you mad?"
"What? No, of course not."
"You're looking at me differently."
"Honestly, yes, I'm looking at my stunning wife standing in front of me and it's taking all the strength I have not to kiss her senseless right now."
She smiled and blushed. "Soon, babe. Just give me a few moments, ok?"
He nodded and left the room, hearing the water boiling.
Marie slipped into her new nightgown. It was short, being summer, and light weight. The wide, lace covered straps graced her shoulders and it had a modest neckline.
She then removed the baby's breath from her hair, letting her hair down, and the pearl necklace from around her neck.
"You love him," she told herself, "You are his wife." After another moment alone, she walked out into the kitchen, butterflies flapping wildly in her stomach.
He wasn't in the kitchen though. He had taken their tea to the living room. "Hey," he greeted, handing her a cup as she joined him on the couch. "You look beautiful." He held his hand out for her to take, smiling as she slipped her hand into his. "I love you, Marie Thornton." He lifted her hand to his lips, softly kissing it.
"I love you," she told him, moving a bit closer.
….
LATER THAT NIGHT
Mason didn't sleep right away. He just watched his Marie. He had never slept next to anyone, other than his brother, or his twin sister when they were babies. He had never held someone that smelled so good or felt so perfect in his arms as she did right then. He resisted the urge to kiss her full, soft lips as she slept. Instead, he just looked at the perfection that was his wife until he couldn't hold his eyes open any longer.
A few hours later, he awoke to the smell of bacon frying. He smiled, pulled on his pants, and went to find who was responsible for such a delicious concept at midnight. "Oh, good! I woke up and you weren't there. I was afraid I dreamt the whole thing." He walked up behind her and wrapped her up in his arms, kissing her neck. "You're definitely real," he mumbled, causing her to giggle as his lips tickled her neck. "Right?"
"Yes, babe. You are making this very hard, though."
She was trying to flip the pieces of bacon and not burn the eggs and cheese, but his lips were a huge distraction. The best kind.
She moved the skillet away from the heat and turned in his arms, surrendering. "Mmm, um…Mase? I'm starving. Let's eat first, ok?"
His stomach growled loudly. "I guess we never ate dinner, did we?"
"Uh, no. We were busy with other things," she said, a blush on her cheeks. She put equal servings of the food on two plates and poured two glasses of milk. Then she set them on the table and sat down.
He grabbed her hand and prayed, "Dear, Lord. Thank you for the food we are about to enjoy and for such a perfect day…"
….
Their train was scheduled to leave at ten in the morning, so the young couple dragged themselves out of bed at eight to pack for the week long trip.
"Mase? You think this dress will work for your Uncle's wedding?"
"Of course. You look great in that."
"But it's old and...I just want to make a good impression."
"Babe, my family loves you and it's not because of the clothes you wear. Personally, I think you look beautiful in everything you wear or nothing at all."
"Mason!" she blushed deeply. "That's certainly not an option."
He wrapped his arms around her tightly and sighed. "Don't worry. If you get there and you aren't comfortable, you can buy a dress at the store."
"That is so expensive! I wish I had time to make a dress myself."
"We're related to the storekeeper. I'm sure we could get a discount."
"Of course we are. Who aren't we related to?"
Mason laughed at that. With as many children and grandchildren in the family as they had, they certainly were related to a lot of people.
A bit later when they climbed the steps into their compartment, they were ready for a nap.
Instead, Marie pulled out a book she was reading and sat on the small couch. Mason put their trunk down and sat next to her. "I'm going to take a nap, I think," he told her, hinting.
"Ok. Sleep well," she told him, not looking up from her book.
He got up and went into the separated area where the bed was. "Goodnight then," he said loudly.
"Night."
He undressed and slipped under the covers. "Boy, this is a big bed! Wish I had someone to share it with."
Marie looked up and laughed, setting her book down. She walked to the doorway and looked at him. "Sorry. Did you want company?"
"Yes, please." She giggled at his grin and unbuttoned her blouse and skirt, placing them on the end of the bed, and then slipped into bed too. "That's better," he whispered, kissing her softly. "Love you, wife."
She smiled and kissed his chest, laying her head over his heart. "Love you too, husband."
….
When they arrived in Harris Town that evening, they met Ben at the train station. "Hey, Ben!"
"Mason, how are you? I hear congratulations are in order."
"I'm great. This is my beautiful wife, Marie. Marie, this is Ben Harris. Technically my uncle. He's married to Aunt Carlie."
"Nice to meet you. Forgive me if I don't remember everyone's names."
"Don't worry about it. Let me help with your trunk. Are you staying at the boarding house?"
"Yes. Thank you."
Any hopes Mason or Marie had of a quiet evening alone was dashed when they arrived at the boarding house. It seemed everyone was there to congratulate them. The rest of the relatives that had been in Buxton for the wedding had come back too so they were there along with Jay and Sara.
Abbie walked up and hugged Mason. "Congratulations, Mase!"
"Thanks. Abbie, this is my wife, Marie. Marie, this is one of my aunts, Abbie."
And so it went, the rest of the evening, introducing Marie to many more aunts and uncles, along with cousins.
She felt overwhelmed but in a good way. They were all loving people that now belonged to her too.
Later that evening, she walked over to him and squeezed his hand. "Hey."
"Hey, I'm pretty tired. I'm going to head up to bed."
"Ok." He kissed her and then watched her walk off.
"She ok?" Charlotte asked him.
"Yeah, she's just tired. I think I'll join her pretty quick."
"Yes, go on. That's why I put you on the third floor. More privacy that way."
He smiled and said goodnight to everyone and then headed upstairs.
