"Ok, everybody, to the house for refreshments!" Sybil said, opening the door and helping her brothers and sisters take out the food that had been cooking for days. They had set them al up on the table outside and it was laid on the best tablecloth. Soon the people were all gathered around, taking some food and getting glasses of wine Mr. Ludington had bought. Henri then stood on a chair and tapped his glass for attention.
"Atention, attention! I would like to make a toast," he said. Everyone got quiet and lifted their glasses. "I would like all to raise their glasses to James and Sarah. I would like to say that I love both of them like a brother and sister. You all might not know of this, but I can fortell the future!" James and Sarah blushed as Henri told the story of how he had to lie to the British soldiers to free James by saying that he and Sarah were to be married. "And now look, they are! So, I was a few years late, nobody's perfect!" Everyone had to laugh at that. "But, seriously, James, Sarah. I do love you both, and I am so appy for you. I know you two will ave a long and appy life together, and I want a copy of that paper every day!" Everyone laughed at thatas well. "Congradulations!"
"Hear, hear!" Came many voices as the many people raised their glasses happily "To James and Sarah Hiller! Hooray!"
"I need to say something as well," came a proper English voice. All heads turned toward the owner as she came forward. A young woman who greatly resembled a blond-haired Sarah.
"Samantha?" Sarah asked breathlessly, staing at her cousin. Elizabeth stepped forward, ready to defend her daughter any way she can. But Samantha held up her hand.
"Wait, before anyone says anything, please hear me out. A great mistake has just been made here tonight...and I'm the one that has made it. I came here with the whole purpose of stopping this ceremony, mostly because I felt the same way Anne did, you were turning aganst your family, and socoety, and especially Tom.I know how stupid and selfish that sounds, but I believed it was true..but now, as I look at both for you..I must confess, I see something now that I didn't think I'd see. I see..a miracle. I see two people who have so much more in common than they do diferent. I see two people who care more about each other than about life itself. I see two people who aren't afraid of adventure and who posess remarkable gifts of writing and communicating. I see two people who make each other happy and who complete each other. I really do se two people in love. And it was so wrong of this whole family to oppose of this love. Cousin Sarah, I now see that you haven't turned your back on your family..you've found your soul-mate. So I want you to know..I want all of you to know that I no longer will oppose this union, I wil celebrate it, I will lift a glass to it, I will ask God to bless it. James, I do hope you can forgive me, and hopefully this entire family for haveing no eyes to see with al these years. Sarah, I love you. James..welcome to our family."
"Hear hear, may you both be happy, God bless you," everyone cheered as Elizabeth hugged Samantha and Sarah embraced her, James shook her hand happily.
"I have a few things I'd like to say as well," John Adams said, rasing his glass.
"I know that it's almost predictable that Abby and I would be giving toasts, after all we have the biggest mouths in all of Boston." Everyone laughed at that Sarah shook her head.
"Oh, no,no," she laughed happily.
"I just want to say that Abby and I love both you and James, almost as of you were our own children. Of course, if you haven't shown up Major and Lady Phillips, I think she might have gone ahead and done it." Everyone laughed again. "I think I speak for Abby and I when I say that you both deserve one another. The love you have can be felt by everyone in this entire room. When we all think of the many things you both went through and still come through to be here, getting married today shows bravery, tenderness, and willingness to follow all your dreams and your heart no matter what life has to offer you. You are both role models for all people here, and your love is like no other, ans we all know this marriage will be like no other. May you both have a long and wonderful life together. Abby and I love both of you."
Washington himself the stepped forward. "If I may speak now," he began, and immidiately all the people got quiet. "I have known both James and Sarah ever since I first took command of the army and Dr. Franklin, may he rest in peace, introduced us three. I know, as does everyone in this place, that the good Dr. is looking down upon all of us from Heaven, and he is glad. His love and fatherly gaze is shining down, and giving his blessing upon both of you, as do I. After all that we have gone through in this war, especially all you both have gone through, you truly deserve this day. May the love that you have grow and florish each day, and may God bless you with many little reporters to tell the future to your readers!" Everyone laughed again. "God bless you, have a wonderful marriage, we all love both of you!"
"To James and Sarah, we love you!" Everyone chorused, drinking the wine.
A while later, after the meal had been eaten and just before the cake had been cut, the many women gathered on the front walk as Sarah stepped through the door, holding her bouquet.The women cheered and Sarah laughed as she waved it in the air. She turned around and threw it. Suddenly all went quiet. Sarah turned around and gasped when she saw who it was that had caught it.
Everyone made room as an incredibly angry Mrs. Radcliffe emerged from the pack, holding the bouquet in her hands. Anne was close behind her, holding a hankerchief to her black eyes and whimpering quietly. Her face was frozen into complete anger, as if she couldn't BELIEVE the scene before her. She threw the bouquet back into the arms of Sarah. "Are you MAD?!" she thundered at the young bride. "What in the name of God IS this?!"
"I think it's pretty obvious what this is," Elizabeth said, coming forward. "The real question is what are YOU TWO doing here?! I do not think we invited you."
"We DIDN'T," James said, coming to stand by Sarah. "And I'll thank you both to leave my WIFE and I alone."
"WIFE?! This is NOT possible, there can BE no wedding, society will never recognize this.."
"Which society, England's?" Came Washington's voice as he came out the door."Then I suggest you both go back there immidiately, but leave us alone in our new society to celebrate this marriage in peace..a marriage I, as the President, wholeheartedly support and recognize," he turned to Sarah and James, "Mr. and Mrs. Hiller, shall we go inside and celebrate this day in peace?"
"Mrs..Mrs.." Anne whispered before passing out into Mrs. Radcilffe's arms. She sighed to herself and glared at Sarah.
"Do you see what you have done?" she cried. "You have turned your own cousin into an invaid! You have made a fool of yourself and disgraced your family..and YOU," she pointed sternly at Elizabeth. "You..I can't BELIEVE you support this! YOU, of a respectable British house, YOU would support this marriage to a commonor.."
"Does not the honorable Emily Radcliffe now work as a FARMER in Canada?" Samuel said, putting his hands on his hips. The entire crowd gasped and turned toward her.
"I am not farming, I am merely the owner of a farm, I have a servent who helps me," Moses gestured for Cato to hide in the house.
"I see no difference," Elizabeth said. "You live in Canada, and I suggest you and Anne both go back there."
"I should have listened to Alec," Anne said, coming to. "He told me, he tried to warn me not to come to the courtship ball, he said you had changed to much, he said you were just a disgrace.but I wouldn't listen, I wouldn';t believe him."
"Maybe you should next time," Sarah said.
"You know you're going to be disgraced, treated like the little pathetic, embarressment you are to this family. You little hot-tempered wretch.." she had to stop when James, in a fot of anger lunged toward her.
"Get out of here," he cried, as Moses pulled him back. "Get out, of here you heartless people, get out NOW, don't you DARE talk to my wife like that!!" Sarah raced to him and held his arm. He gentily pulled her left hand forward to display her wedding ring. "Get it through your heads, we are MARRIED! I love her, she loves me, no one will ever keep us apart!"
"YOU TALLOW FACE!" Anne cried, moving forward to slap Sarah. James stood in front of her, but it was Elizabeth who blocked her hand. "You DARE hit my daughter and I will personnally chop your hand off and feed it to the dogs, so help me, God."
"I cannot BELIEVE this,k Elizabeth," Mrs. Radcliffe said. "Your daughter had just made a HUGE mistake, and you're alright with this?" You realise that you'll never be recognized in this society again?"
"I do not object to this!"
"You're insane! Your daughter is making a MOCKERY of this family name, she is becoming nothing more than dirt beneath our feet, nothing more than a foolish peice of.."
She had to stop he moment Elizabeth gave her a huge shove..which sent her realing into the nearly stream. She screamed as she got up, her dress dripping wet. "I'm RUINED!! That's IT," she cried, pointing at Elizabeth "As far as I'm concerned we are NOT comrades anymore! This brings our friendship to an END!"
"What a big loss," Sybil mumbled.
"Come, Anne, we should not be mingling with the likes of THESE!" They both stormed away. Sarah breathed a sigh of relief and hugged her mother tightly and embraced James as they shared a loving kiss.
"Sarah," Sybil said, "I believe you were going to do something," Sarah laughed as she once again lifted up her bouquet. She tossed it in the air as Deborah caught it and blushed.
"Ok, cake time! Hurry up and cut it!" Henri cried out, gesturing inside.
Just before the party broke up Elizabeth gentily took James's hand. "James, will you and Sarah please come out front with us?" They walked outside, toward the carriage. Samuel cleared his throat. "James, Sarah, we have a few things we wish both of you to have." He reached into the back of the carriage. He took out something big. He came over to James and showed it to him. "James, this painting has been in our family for four generations. It was painted by my great-grandfather as a gift to my great-grandmother. Ever since then, it has been passed down to the eldest son. I.." he choked up a bit before he continued. "I know I never had a son..but Elizabeth and I would be honored to pass it on to you."
"We would like very much for you to have it,because you are a part of this family now." James's eyes filled with tears as he carefully took it. Elizabeth took Sarah aside as she reached into her pocket. "I have something special for you too, Dear." She took out a small black, retangular box. "I..I wanted you to have your grandmother's necklace. I know she wished to be here on this wonderful day.I know she couldn't be, so she made me promise that when your wedding came, you were to have it. It's yours, Dear." Sarah took it and hugged her mother tightly. "I love you so much!"
"I love you, too, Mother."
A few days later, two young people stood at the foot of a simple block of cement upon the ground. For quite a while they stood there, almost in a state of meditation. Finally one of them, the young woman, knelt down and placed a few flowers she had not thrown from her wedding bouquet upon the stone. The young man bent low. "We shall never forget you," he said. "We know you were there with us. Thank you for everything, especially leading us to each other."
"We love you," the woman said before standing up and embracing her husband of a few days. The sun shone down upon the block letters carved in stone.
BENJAMIN AND DEBORAH FRANKLIN 1790