A/N: I am so sorry that it has taken 90 days to post this chapter. We live in a house that was built in 1930. The old girl is beautiful but finally sent us subtle messages that she needed some work! Some work included new windows, new wiring, new plumbing; one thing after another. The doctor and I learned a huge lesson. . . . .never live in a house while it is being renovated; the stress of it is off the charts. That being said, the old girl looks the same on the outside, but is new and up to date inside. Small rooms have been combined to make more of an open floor plan, and I have my own little alcove off the kitchen where I can write. Thank you for the many PM's that I have received. It is so wonderful to know that people still want to read this story.
About this chapter. I wanted to write a wedding ceremony for them. I watched the video from my wedding 35 years ago and that of our son 3 years ago. They always make me cry. Hope you don't mind. Thanks again!
Standing between Anna, and Trixie her hairdresser, Edith looked at her reflection in her full length mirror and smiled as she realized that the woman looking back at her was so different from the one who had looked back at her so many times in the last ten years. Gone was the university girl with wild red hair and sloppy clothes. Gone was the young woman who had been devastated when her fiancé died, but had used the money he had left her to do good in his name. Gone was the woman, who for lack of a better word, was dumped by a man she thought she loved, and she had allowed that one act to make her indifferent to love. She had put a protective shield around her heart and had closed it to the thought of loving again. But now standing there looking at her reflection Edith realized just how far she had come. In less than an hour she would be marrying a man she had known only two months, but that man had mended her heart and put her back together again without even knowing it. That tall, quiet, unassuming Englishman with a quirky smile had won her heart and mended her soul, and she knew that she would love him until the moment she died.
"I was at the church an hour ago and the flowers and decorations are beautiful," her mother said as she walked into the room and reached out and squeezed Edith's hand. "I think you will be pleased. Monsignor Ryan and Father Alcott were in awe when they came in to check everything out. They said that they had never seen the chapel look so lovely. Your idea to mix gardenias with the poinsettias and holly was brilliant. The chapel smells divine. But we better get a move on, your father is out in the hall pacing back and forth. It is a big day for him, you know, giving away his daughter in marriage," Cora said as she hugged Edith and fluffed out her dress.
Edith thought that for the rest of her life she would always remember how her father gasped when she walked out into the hall and he looked at her, "Oh, my darling girl, you are beautiful. You take my breath away, and that hasn't happened since the day I married your mother."
"Thank you dad," was all Edith could say as she reached up and kissed him on his cheek leaving a faint mark from her lipstick. Cora took a tissue out of her purse to wipe it off but Robert waved her off saying, "No, leave it. It's the mark of love," as he smiled at Edith and offered her his arm.
Two limousines were waiting outside Broderick, one for the wedding party and one for the Carsons, Anna and Trixie. Neighbors had come out when they saw the cars arrive and started to clap as Edith walked out and a biker gave her the thumbs up as he rode by.
Twilight was settling over the city as the wedding party arrived at the church. Edith could hear the pre-wedding music performed by the Four Strings Quartet. This group of musicians were highly sought after, and Edith was thankful that they were able to play for her wedding. Exiting the limo, and walking toward the entrance she stopped long enough for Anna to fix her dress and veil. True to his promise to stand up with her and be her witness and only attendant, Thomas was waiting for her in the vestibule. She had seen him in tuxedo many times before, but she thought that tonight she had never seen him look so handsome. "Do you have Anthony's ring?" she asked anxiously. He was going to make some light comment but looking at Edith he saw how nervous she was so squeezing her hand he said," It's right here" and he reached into his coat pocket and pulled out the shiny platinum band. She had debated whether to give Anthony a gold band or a silver one, but in the end, what with his coloring and all, she chose the silver.
Anna, Trixie and the Carsons squeezed Edith's hand and then made their way down the aisle to take their seats. Thomas put his arm out to lead Cora down to where the family was waiting, Mary, Sybil, her two grandmothers and of course Matthew and Tom. But before they entered the church, Cora stopped and turned to look one more time at her beautiful daughter. She already had tears in her eyes. Edith looked down the aisle towards the altar. Each pew had a bouquet of gardenias, poinsettias and holly tied to it with a tall lit pillar candle. They were casting such a beautiful glow along the aisle. The same arrangements were at the altar and the candles bathed the church in what Edith thought was a radiant light.
She looked off to her right and saw the cameraman her mother had hired to video tape this event. At first she had balked at the idea but in the end gave in convincing herself that it would be nice in later years to look back at this wonderful moment.
The musicians had finished their pre-wedding music and now started the Ava Maria. Ten years earlier Edith had been to a wedding where the bride had entered to that music and she had decided that when it was her turn to marry, if she ever did, she would use the same music. Standing next to her father, with Thomas in front of her, she looked around and saw Monsignor Ryan and Father Alcott enter the chapel with Anthony and his father, who was standing up with him. As soon as they were in place, Thomas turned and took Edith's hand. "I love you punk, I can honestly say that this is one of the happiest days of my life. I will see you down front." Then he slowly started down the aisle. There were no gasps or murmurs as he walked past. The people there knew the bond that existed between Edith and Thomas. As he reached the altar he gave Anthony a huge smile and then turning to the congregation gave the signal with his arms for them to rise.
Now it was her turn. Her hand was shaking so bad and the stomach jitters had started again, but her nerves subsided as her father put his hand over hers to steady her and then placed her arm through his.
"Whenever you are ready. You have a wonderful man waiting for you down there," he whispered as he nodded towards the altar. Standing tall and straight like a general surveying his troops she waited. Having listened to the music many times before this day, Edith knew exactly when she and her father would start down the aisle so that they would arrive at the altar exactly as the music finished. Now was the moment. "I'm ready, and dad I love you very much."
As Edith and Robert started down the aisle, Edith felt as if she was walking on air. She was gripping her father's arm so tightly, afraid that if she let go she would float away. She felt tears welling up in her eyes as she saw Anthony standing tall and straight waiting for her, but blinked them back because she wanted to see him clearly. He and his father looked magnificent. Both tall, with fair coloring, deep blue "Paul Newman" eyes, and in Anthony's case that crooked smile she adored. She was almost there, and suddenly before she knew it her father disengaged her arm from his and handed her hand to Anthony. It was then that a single tear spilled over her eye and made its way down her cheek. Anthony squeezed her hand and whispered, "Don't worry darling, I have you."
Looking up at him, she realized he did have her completely. Unknown to her, he had wanted her since her father's cocktail party, and had overcome his shyness and insecurities to pursue her. And now here they were, standing in front of a beautiful altar during the Christmas season waiting to say the vows and make the promises, each to the other that would bind them together for the rest of their lives.
Edith was trying to remember every little thing about the ceremony. She had planned for weeks exactly what would be said, each word, each phrase. She and Father Alcott had taken vows from both the Catholic and The Church of England services, in deference to Anthony and his family. She wanted the ceremony to be one that they would remember, but now she was having trouble concentrating. She knew Monsignor Ryan was giving the opening Invocation, Prayer and Preface to the ceremony. Finally she squeezed Anthony's arm as she heard him say, "Anthony and Edith are now to enter this way of life. They will each give their consent to the other and make solemn vows, and in token of this they will each give and receive a ring. We pray with them that the Holy Spirit will guide and strengthen them , that they may fulfill God's purposes for the whole of their earthly life together."
Now it was Father Alcott's turn to present The Declarations. Looking at Anthony he said, " Anthony Phillip Strallan , will you take this woman, Edith Josephine Crawley for your wedded wife.? Will you love her, comfort her, honor and keep her, and forsaking all others keep yourself only onto her for as long as you both shall live?" And looking into his eyes, she heard him answer in a strong firm voice,"I Will!"
The same question was asked of her and now she was clearly focused on what she was doing and holding Anthony's hand she squeezed it as she answered in an equally firm voice, "I Will!" There was a hymn sung by the congregation and a prayer and then it was time for The Vows.
Monsignor Ryan stepped forward and Anthony took Edith's right hand in his and repeated,
"I, Anthony, take you, Edith to be my lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward; for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part; according to God's holy law, I solemnly make this vow."
Still holding hands, Edith repeated the same vow. She felt the tears stating to well up but managed to finish in a clear firm voice before she felt them fall down her face.
And now it was time for The Giving of Rings. Anthony's father and Thomas placed the rings on the bible and Father Alcott said the traditional prayer over them.
Anthony placing the ring on Edith's fourth finger of her left hand said, "Edith, I give you this ring as a sign of our marriage. With my body I honor you, all that I am I give to you, and all that I have I share with you, within the love of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
At that moment she heard a huge sniffle/snort from behind her. She knew it was her father. That brought her to attention and taking Anthony's left hand she placed his wedding ring on his fourth finger and repeated the same vow. And when she had finished she smiled at him, the first one she had given him since entering the church.
Then she heard Monsignor Ryan say, "In the presence of God, and before this congregation, Anthony and Edith have given their consent and made their marriage vows to each other. They have declared their marriage by the joining of hands and by the giving and receiving of rings. I therefore proclaim that they are husband and wife. Those whom God had joined together ,let no one put asunder."
The words hit her full force. She was really married. She was a wife. Her husband was standing next to her, and she was wearing his beautiful wedding ring on her finger. Looking at each other the tears finally fell, from both blue ones and brown alike.
Holding tightly to Anthony's hand they knelt for The Proclamation and the Blessing of their Marriage and finally the Dismissal.
Now was the moment she had waited for. Rising together Monsignor Ryan leaned down and whispered to Anthony, "You may kiss your wife." And did he ever. Grabbing her he wrapped his long arms around her and kissed her most reverently, and with their cheeks together he said, "I love you more than you will ever know." When she and Father Alcott had talked about the service, she had told him that she didn't want the phrase your bride used. She felt in some ways she was too old to be a bride, and brides were supposed to be virgins, were they not. No, she wanted to be referred to as your wife.
It was then that they heard the clapping and whistling. Turning and looking at the congregation they saw everyone on their feet. The happiness in the chapel was overwhelming. Walking back down the aisle on Anthony's arm she could hardly wait to get to the vestibule. There she turned and kissed him again and again. They didn't have to say a word. With arms around each other they walked out into the crisp December air, got in the limousine and headed to their reception.
The reception was exactly what Edith had expected. There were far more than the 100 people that her mother had promised, but somehow it didn't seem to matter. They never let go of each other's hand, except to shake the hand of a well-wisher. They mingled, ate from the sumptuous buffet, received the toasts that were offered, and finally cut their wedding cake. She danced the first dance with her father, who much to Edith's surprise was absolutely beaming. He was having a wonderful time. She danced with her new father-in-law, then Thomas, and finally her husband. It was a wonderful evening.
It had been decided weeks ago that they would spend the next day at the Crawley house eating and opening presents. Anthony's parents, sister and brother-in-law would be leaving the next evening. His parents were going to extend their trip and spend some time with Margaret and James in Victoria.
Even though it was after 1:00 am when Anthony and Edith said their good-byes, neither one was tired. They had been up this late before and they didn't have to be at the Crawley's until 11:00 that morning. Sitting in the car, holding Anthony's hand Edith leaned her head against the headrest and closed her eyes. It was wonderful how well he knew her and knew exactly where she wanted to go for their wedding night.
Stopping the car he got out and walked around to her side. Opening the door he helped her out and suddenly swept her into his arms and walked up the stairs to the door. This was where they belonged. This was where they first came together, where he proposed three weeks earlier, and where he knew she wanted to be. Entering the hall, he put her down, closed the door and followed her into the bedroom like he had done that first time. And when she turned and put her arms around his neck and kissed him long and hard he smiled his full smile at her and whispered against her ear, "Welcome home Mrs. Strallan."