"One last kiss, before we have to part," Erich Schiller said to his girlfriend, Carrie Ingalls, as they stood together on her front porch.

Carrie giggled. "But we'll see each other tomorrow!"

"Not until we meet at the altar," Erich pointed out.

"That's less than twenty-four hours away!"

Erich's eyes were warm with longing. "How I wish I didn't have to say goodnight tonight!"

"Me too, Erich." She clung to him, feeling her heart race with anticipation. Tomorrow, they would become husband and wife.

Erich's lips touched hers, soft with promises of their future together. He held her face as they gazed into each other's eyes, then gave her cheek one last soft caress before turning to leave.

As Carrie drifted off to sleep that night, there was a song in her heart. Everything seemed to be working out just as it should. Her father's career was going well, and her mother's various projects were as well. Adam and Mary had both regained their sight and now lived in New York City with their children, Charlie and Lynn. Percival and Nelly and their twins lived near them. Almanzo and Laura were happy together with their daughter Rose, who would soon start first grade. James and Cassandra were both now in senior high, and Grace was in junior high.

Albert was a doctor, and he was in practice with another doctor, Lane Boone. Sylvia was his wife and nurse, and she was eight months pregnant.

The next morning, Carrie ate breakfast with her family and then went to her room to get ready. She put on her slip and pantyhose, and then her wedding gown. Then she put on her hat with her veil attached, and then her white heels. When she was finished, she walked into the living room, where the others were waiting.

Cassandra's eyes grew round. "Wow!"

"You look really pretty!" added Grace.

Caroline went to her daughter and made some adjustments to her veil.

"You look beautiful, dear," she said with a little tear in her eye. "It seems just yesterday you were a baby!"

"Everyone ready to go?" asked Charles.

"We're all ready, Charles," Caroline replied.

They all went out to the family station wagon. Caroline sat up front with Charles, Carrie and Grace sat behind her, and James and Cassandra sat behind them.

At the church, Carrie met up with her matron of honor, who was her older sister Laura, and her third bridesmaid, who was her best friend, Patty Bergen. Her other two bridesmaids were Cassandra and Grace. They all wore white dresses with low scoop necklines and crinoline skirts. They each wore a lacy headband with an artificial daisy in front.

Erich stood at the front of the church, smiling and handsome in his black tuxedo. His best man was Albert, and his groom's men were Andy Garvey, James, and Erich's cousin Anton Reiker from Gottingen. Erich's mother and Anton's father were brother and sister.

The wedding march began to play as Charles walked Carrie down the aisle to stand beside her beloved, and then the ceremony began.

Patty couldn't stop staring at him. He looked so much like the young man she'd sheltered and hidden that summer, all those years ago. And yet, she knew it couldn't be him. He'd been shot and killed - or so those FBI agents had told her.

For all those slow, torturous months she'd spent in reform school, she'd mourned him, remembering the time they'd spent together, the things he'd told her.

For the first time in her life, she'd felt like a person of value.

"You may kiss the bride," said Reverend Alden, and Erich lifted Carrie's veil and kissed her lips. A thrill went through her as she thought of the pleasures to come, but at the same time, she felt a little knot of anxiety deep down inside.

She tossed her bouquet, then grabbed Erich's hand and dashed to his car with him. She got into the passenger's side, and he got in the driver's seat and pulled onto the road.

Carrie watched the passing scenery with interest as it flew past. She read the Burma-Shave signs out loud. "No lady likes...to snuggle or dine...accompanied by...a porcupine."

Erich grinned and rubbed his clean-shaven chin. "That's one thing you definitely don't have to worry about."

Carrie brushed her hand against his cheek.

"Smooth as silk," she murmured.

After awhile, they were both hungry, so Erich stopped at a diner for lunch.

"You must be newlyweds," the waitress said when she saw how they were dressed. "Congratulations!"

"Thanks," said Erich and Carrie.

They ordered hamburgers and fries with cherry Cokes. Erich put a coin in the jukebox and selected the song 'Kiss of Fire' by Georgia Gibbs. As Carrie listened to the song, she thought of Erich's lips on her own after he'd lifted her veil, and tried to imagine what it would be like to feel his hands roaming all over her body.

After their meal, Erich returned to the road. Carrie lightly dozed as Erich drove. They reached the motel near sunset. After checking into their room, they changed into more comfortable clothes and then went to dinner in the restaurant beside the motel.

Much later, they went for a moonlight stroll before returning to their motel room. Both of them were excited and nervous at the same time, and were relishing in the sweet longing which came before the culmination of their relationship.

At last they wanted each other so badly they could put it off no longer, so they returned to the motel room. Erich locked the door and switched on the lamp beside the bed. In its soft glow, he wrapped his arms around his bride and pulled her close.

"At last you're mine," he whispered into her hair.