CHAPTER 8

The big day has arrived and everything is ready for Jeremy and Candy's wedding. Just yesterday, the brides got busy to make this a day that the bridal couple would never forget. Some decorated the church in blue and white, some did the cooking for the reception, some baked the most delicious looking wedding cake that Seattle has ever seen, and some worked around the clock getting Candy's wedding gown made. While all this was going on, Jeremy and Candy went to pick out a plot of land to build their new house on. Then they sat and drew up house plans. Jeremy wants Candy to be able to visualize the layout of their home to make it easier for her to carefully maneuver from room to room. He is determined that Candy will get the house of her dreams. Finally with everything accomplished, the long day ended around midnight, only to have everyone rise again at the break of dawn.

Only a couple hours before the wedding is to take place, Jeremy has already taken his bath, brushed his teeth, and combed his hair. He shaves carefully as he doesn't want to have any nicks on his face, then he splashes his after shave on. He proceeds to dress in his gray suit pants and white shirt all the while whistling a gay tune. He sits down to put his black dress shoes on and ties them. Next he takes his belt and threads it through the belt loops. Picking up his black string tie, he heads to the front room to have one of his brothers help him with tying it just perfectly.

"Well someone sure is happy today," Josh laughs.

Jeremy replies with a big smile, "If you were marrying the girl of your dreams, wouldn't you be happy?"

"I guess so. I do wish you and Candy all the happiness in the world. Here let me help you with that," Josh says as he takes the tie from Jeremy's hand.

"Where's Jason?" Jeremy asks.

"He went up to the camp to check on things." Josh sees the worried look on Jeremy's face and adds, "Don't worry. He'll be back in plenty of time. You don't think he would miss walking Candy down the aisle, do you?"

"No, but I just want everything to be perfect. Candy deserves to. . ." he stops as he hears someone shouting and running up on the porch.

"Jeremy! Jeremy!" Biddie shouts as loud as she can while banging on the door.

Being that Josh is closest to the door, he opens it letting Biddie run into the cabin.

"Biddie, what's wrong?" Jeremy asks concerned.

"Oh Jeremy! It's Candy! She can't see a thing. She's blind!" Biddie informs him almost hysterically.

"Blind? Where is she?" Jeremy asks worriedly already heading for the door.

"She's upstairs on her bed crying her eyes out," Biddie tells him.

Jeremy runs to the dormitory and enters without knocking, taking the stairs two steps at a time.

"Candy!" Jeremy calls out to her as he fights his way through the many girls standing around helplessly. He kneels down beside her bed and places his hand on her cheek. "Candy, what happened? Biddie said. . ."

"Oh Jeremy, I'm. . .I'm blind. I can't s-see you," she sobs as she fumbles for his hand, taking it in hers and squeezes it tightly. "I-I'm not ready for this."

"I know," he says. As he kisses her hand, Candy feels his tears on her fingers.

"I-I'm so sorry, Jeremy."

"Don't be. It's not your fault," he says trying to comfort her.

"We. . .we almost made it, didn't we? I almost got to see our w-wedding," she continues to sob.

"We're still getting married. I'll describe everything that is happening."

"Excuse me," Allyn tells the girls as she makes her way to the bed. "Jeremy, why didn't you send for me sooner?"

"I just found out myself. Is there anything you can do, Allyn? We're suppose to get married in an hour or so."

"Jeremy, we need to talk," Candy cries.

"We will, but right now you need to let Allyn tend to you."

Allyn looks at the girls in the room. "I know you're all concerned about Candy, but right now I need for all of you to go downstairs. We'll let you know what's going on." She waits until they all leave and then says, "Let me look into your eyes." She holds a lit candle in front of Candy. Finally she asks, "Do you see anything?"

"No, nothing," Candy replies.

Giving a loud sigh Allyn states, "I heard from one of the doctors in San Francisco. He wants to examine you as soon as possible and since Captain Clancey is leaving tomorrow morning, well do you think you can be ready to go by then?"

"Wait!" Jeremy answers. "We're getting married, you can't just. . ."

Candy clumsily places her hand over Jeremy's lips. "I have to go, Jeremy. If there is even the slightest chance that I can get my sight back, then I have to take it. You understand, don't you?"

"But what about us?" Jeremy inquires.

"Allyn, can I talk to Jeremy alone?"

"All right. I'll go down and talk to Jason and Joshua. Tell them, what do I tell them?" Allyn asks.

"Tell them and everyone else that the wedding will be pushed back a couple of hours," Jeremy says.

Allyn purses her lips together and nods her head as she turns and goes downstairs.

"Jeremy, please hear me out."

"All right," Jeremy says.

"Okay," Candy sighs. "Let me start with I love you. I love you beyond words. Ever since we met, all I have ever dreamed about is becoming your wife and spending the rest of my life with you. I honestly thought that we'd marry today and I'd actually get to see, if only for a few days, what our life together could be. But Jeremy, it didn't happen and it won't happen. I can't marry you, at least not today. I want to look into your beautiful blue eyes when we marry. I want to see your handsome face. I have to go to San Francisco to find out if there is a possibility that it will happen."

"I get that Candy, but what if they tell you there is no chance of seeing again? What then? Will you still want to marry me?"

"Jeremy, I will always want to marry you. That will never change."

Jeremy rests his forehead on hers. "I'm so afraid of losing you. I'm afraid if they can't help you, that you will not want me anymore."

"I will always want you," she says as she bites on her lip. "Jeremy, you could come with me," Candy says hopefully.

"I'd like that, but are you sure?"

"Yes, I am. I need you, Jeremy. I need you to help me through this, no matter what the doctors say."

"All right, I'll go. There's no way I'm letting you go without me. I guess I better go down and let everyone know the wedding is postponed to a later date."

She hears a quiver in his voice. "Are you all right?" she asks.

"To say I'm disappointed is an understatement. I wanted to hold you in my arms and go to sleep with you tonight, then wake up with you in the morning. But yeah, I'm all right."

"We will do that someday, I promise. I love you."

"I love you, too." They wrap their arms around each other and hold each other tightly before having to face what comes next for them.