By the week's end Alastor had completely recovered and the very minute he announced his engagement to Charlotte the entire house hold made preparations for the wedding. Niffty cleaned and decorated the entire house from top to bottom, Husk saw to it that a proper minister was reserved and that all invitations were sent out to the right people. Now normally when a land owner or anyone else high in rank was to wed, he would invite as many people as possible to give himself a better reputation and to show off his vast wealth. But Alastor was not a pretentious man and he cared more for sincerity than favor so he only invited his trusted friends, neighbors, and servants to the occasion.

Finding another cook to make the wedding feast was no trouble and per request of the bride and groom, venison jambalaya was to be among the delicacies and the wedding cake was to be apple flavored. The best aged wine and whisky would be served, the halls would be cleared for music and dancing, and as for Charlotte's wedding gown the couple had a special seamstress chosen to make it.

Rosie, Alastor's aunt had often told him how she always dreamed of making a wedding gown for his mother when she got married but sadly that never came to pass. So Alastor promised her that if he ever got married he would try to convince his future wife to let Rosie sew the dress. When he first mentioned the idea to Charlotte he was worried that she would much prefer an expensive dress from one of those stores that women of the rich and elite would shop at but to his surprise she loved the idea.

So Rosie was invited to come a week early and when Husk saw her at the door he was startled by her homely clothes and rough appearance. He assumed that she was a homeless wanderer or beggar.

"May I help you?" He asked her.

"Is this the Devalcourt estate?" She asked.

"It is."

"I am here to see my nephew Alastor."

"You're Alastor's aunt?" He said looking at her skeptically.

"I am. I have my invitation to his wedding in here somewhere."

Rosie began to check herself for the slip of paper she had received, asking for her presence at the occasion but she could find no trace of it.

"Oh dear. It would seem that I left it home by mistake."

"In that case I can't let you in." Husk said.

"But I'm his aunt. His only living family member. He's expecting me and he'll be so dreadfully disappointed if I'm not at the wedding."

"Uh-huh. Sure." Husk said not believing her. "I'm sorry but no invitation, no entry."

"Excuse me but I would reconsider turning me away if I were you. My nephew is quite fond of me and if he discovers I couldn't witness his marriage because of you he will be very cross."

"Lady I think you might be a little confused because you see my master has never mentioned having an aunt."

"Are you saying I'm lying?"

"Either that or you've been drinking bayou water. Now look I can't have homeless people causing trouble here. Especially so close to my master's big day so I'm going to have to ask you to leave."

"But I was invited."

"You're really testing my patience here ma'am. Now go on before I-"

"Auntie Rosie!" Cried the cheerful voice of Alastor has he went to greet the woman at the door with a hug. "So happy that you could make it."

"Oh Alastor, you didn't think I would actually miss your wedding? It's the first wedding I've ever been invited to." She teased before returning a hug.

"Husker my good man, could you have Niffty make up a guest room for my dear sweet aunt?"

Rosie smirked at Husk who nodded and quickly went to find Niffty while hoping that his master's aunt wouldn't tell him about how he almost sent her away.

"You didn't walk here all by yourself did you Auntie?" Alastor asked her.

"Yes I did but I'm a strong woman. I can handle anything believe me. Now where is that future niece in-law of mine? If I'm going to make her dress I need to get started right away."

"She's in her room and she and I have a little surprise for you Auntie. I know you said that you didn't want to me to buy you a new dress to wear to the wedding and that you'd rather make one so instead I bought you the finest red silk I could find to use as the fabric."

"Oh you're such a sweet boy and you remembered that red was my favorite color." She kissed his cheek. "Thank you honey. Well I better get started, I only have seven days to get two dresses ready."

"Do you need me up there to help you?"

"Oh heaven's no! Boy didn't your mother and I raise you with any common sense? The groom never sees the bride in her dress before the wedding. That's bad luck. Now run along and don't you dare come into that room until I say so, unless of course you want me to take a switch to your behind."

"Auntie I'm not a little boy anymore."

"I know which will make it all the more embarrassing for you now that you're a grown man. So you better listen to me."

"Yes Auntie." He chuckled.

That entire week it was nonstop planning and making sure that everything was perfect. When the big day finally arrived the house was full of good friends and neighbors. Rosie wore a silk red dress with a petticoat embroidered with roses, many of the guests were amazed to see a dark skinned woman wearing such a elegant and magnificent garment. However what really astonished them all was Charlotte's wedding gown.

It was an ivory lace gown that was long sleeved but went below the shoulder. The skirt had a few ruffles but not too much to make the gown puff out and the middle of it was a white silken sash. Her veil was also lace and her golden hair was pinned with pearls and magnolias. She was breath taking to her groom and he swore with his whole heart and soul that there never would be anything in his life more beautiful than her.

She took her place by his side and in front of the minister. The couple exchanged both their vows and rings, and as soon as the minister declared them husband and wife they kissed which caused all their guests to applaud. Then the newly weds moved to the dinning hall for the feast and after dinner they danced until dusk.

The servants quickly accepted Charlotte as mistress of the house and those who were not courteous to her when she was a lowly kitchen scrub woman apologized to her countless times. Alastor wanted to dismiss them but his wife insisted that they be forgiven. Rosie loved Charlotte as a daughter just as she had loved Alastor as a son and all the neighbors adored her, finding her to be very charming and lovely. In almost no time at all she became beloved by everyone but no one more so than her husband.

Alastor and Charlotte loved each other above all things in the world. They spent nearly every hour of everyday together if it was allowed and if they ever had an argument like most married couples do they would sort it out in the end. The couple spent many days taking walks outside, dancing, playing music, singing, reading books, or helping each other out with work. They made love every night they weren't too exhausted from the day's events, falling asleep afterward with smiles on their faces and waking up the next morning in each other's arms. The two were very content and serene, believing that nothing in this world could have made them happier.

But within a year they were proven wrong because their deep love led Charlotte to become pregnant and the news of that made Alastor shout and laugh so hard with joy that even heaven could hear him. On the first day of Spring Charlotte gave birth to a healthy baby girl and she was christened Caroline. People came from all around to see the child and they brought many gifts while remarking that Caroline was by far the most beautiful baby that they had ever seen. A darling child with blonde silk curls and rosy cheeks like her mother, and dark eyes and an everlasting smile like her father.

Charlotte would sing to her and cradle her before putting her to sleep in her crib. Alastor would sit her on top of his knee whenever he took a moment to read or just sit outside on the porch of the house. Rosie showered her in kisses every chance she got. Niffty would give her little bubble baths and even the sourpuss Husk could not resist trying to make her laugh with a funny face or two. Yes, there was no child in the entire south that was as loved as little Caroline Devalcourt and there was no mother in the entire south as devoted or caring to her child as Charlotte was to hers.

One night as she was laying in bed with her husband sleeping on one side and her baby sleeping between the two of them, she could not help but take a moment to just stare at the both of them. Her mother was right when she had told her that God would reward her for all she had suffered if she was kind and patient, and God had given her the greatest reward she could ask for. There was nothing in this world for her to want for now that she had Alastor and Caroline.

Well almost nothing...

Now Charlotte was by no means unhappy with her life, in fact she was happier than she had ever been and she thanked God for that everyday. But sometimes she would become very sad because she still missed her father and desperately longed to reconcile with him. But it looked like she would never see her father again.

She looked at Caroline and thought to herself that there was nothing in the world that could ever make her disown that child. She couldn't imagine life without her and the thought of doing to Caroline what Charlotte's own father had done to herself horrified her.

She sat up in bed and took the sleeping Caroline into her arms, rocking back and forth as gently as possible and she whispered to her baby.

"I love you more than all the apples that grew in your grandfather's orchard."

The lack of body heat woke Alastor and he moved to his wife's side of the bed.

"Is something wrong my dear?" He asked before lightly kissing her cheek.

"No." She answered. "I'm just taking a moment to appreciate what God has given me."

"Hmm...I think I shall do the same." His arms went around her waist and back, holding her as they both admired the precious little girl they had created together.