Chapter 17: INSIDE MY FAMILY WELCOME


Georgetown Community Church

Sunday, 1 May

10:30 am

"Okay, Liz, whatever was in that package last night, can I get a dose of it?" Tara pushed another couple of hairpins into the elegant twist atop Elizabeth's head. "You're the calmest bride I've ever seen."

The psychologist laughed shakily. "Calm? Look at my hands." She held up beautifully manicured, visibly trembling fingers. "The letter I read last night is the only thing keeping me conscious right now."

"Do tell." Lucy was putting her earrings in. "I gotta tell you, Liz, I think you've completely bewitched him. He's been an absolute prince ever since you accepted that ring. Well, for Myles."

"Whoa, buddy." Connie grabbed Levi as he jumped toward Sue. "Not on the dress, if you please."

Tara handed Elizabeth a robe to pull over her slip as Anne Leland answered the knock at the door. "Jack. What's up?"

"D sent me down here to see if the boutonnieres were—" The words died in his throat as he got a look at them all. "Wow."

The bridesmaid dresses were simply done, with long, slim sleeves and Queen Anne necklines that framed the ladies' faces beautifully. Natural waistlines were softened by a layer of chiffon that floated over the full, tea-length skirts. Lucy's and Connie's dresses were a delicate pale yellow; Tara and Sue…

Jack's breath caught as Sue walked over to him, a delighted smile on her face. "If the boutonnieres were what, Jack?"

He stared at her silently for a long moment. Then he shook himself out of it. "Uh, if they were ready." Then he couldn't resist, and he gently took her hand and raised it to his lips. "You look like a sunrise," he whispered.

She smiled down at the pale pink of her dress, and glanced shyly back up at him, oblivious to the several smiles around them. THANK YOU, she signed. They stared at each other for another minute; then Tara cleared her throat.

"You came here after something, Agent Hudson?" she grinned.

"Huh?" He looked around and realized where he was. "Oh, yes." He took a step back from Sue and shook his head to clear it. "The boutonnieres."

Connie Dillingham was trying not to laugh. ME BRING MINUTES FEW, she signed. ME THINK YOU TAKE YOU DROP.

He wrinkled his nose at her as soft laughter started around the room. Elizabeth stood and walked over to give him a quick hug. "I'm glad you like the dresses, Jack," she smiled. "How are the guys doing?"

He chuckled. "If by 'guys' you mean Myles, he was less edgy after the time he got shot. But we'll make sure he doesn't decide to abort at the last minute."

A glint of mischief graced her green eyes. "I don't think you can be trusted to guarantee anything today, Jack. You seem to be remarkably distracted about now." She signed it as well.

Sue's face was two shades darker than her dress, and a flush crept into Jack's face as well. "Yes, well, I'll go let them know Connie will bring the flowers down in a few minutes. Ladies." He was gone before anyone could tease him further.

Elizabeth laughed and turned to face Sue. Grinning broadly, she signed it slowly enough for everyone to pick up. ONE DAY YOU MAKE HIM VERY HAPPY.

Sue flushed further. "Oh!" she said, obviously changing the subject, "Levi, I think maybe you'd better not be in here while we help Liz with her dress. Go with Jack."

Lucy couldn't resist. "You know, it's amazing that he'll go to Jack faster than any of the other guys on the team. I wonder why that is."

Sue opened the door for the big dog, pointedly ignoring the smiles of the others. Anne Leland leaned over to Tara and whispered, "Is there another wedding in the future we don't know about?"

Tara grinned wickedly. "Oh, I'm pretty sure they don't have it figured out yet, but the rest of us most definitely do."


&
"Oh, Elizabeth." Anne's face was glowing as she looked at her future daughter-in-law. "My son is going to be speechless. He'll be fortunate to get 'I do' across his lips."

The psychologist was standing in front of the full-length mirror they'd brought over from the house; her own breath seemed to be having trouble finding its way as she stared at her reflection. Even though she'd had the dress on once for a fitting, she almost didn't recognize the veritable princess looking back at her.

The dress was a classic ballgown style, with a Queen Anne neckline that framed her face and the upsweep of her hair. Long, slim lace sleeves puffed slightly at the shoulders and then hugged her arms. The sleek bodice, accented with pearls, skimmed to her waist and then flowed outward into the full skirt with its semi-cathedral train. Delicate cutwork turned the expanse of satin into a work of art.

The top layer of her hair was spun into a wide bun at the crown of her head, and a small filigree headpiece made her hair sparkle and held the veil that cascaded down her back over the rest of her hair.

"This can't be me," she whispered. "This is a dream."

Anne smiled. "Yes, and it's a dream you'll have for the rest of your life. You get a good look in the mirror, Elizabeth. My grandmother once told me that the best way for a woman to know how the man who loves her sees her is to take a look at her reflection on her wedding day. Because that is his vision of you every time he looks at you."

The other ladies were gone now; Connie to deliver the boutonnieres, and the others to make sure Molly was ready as well. Elizabeth's mother had declined to help her daughter get ready; they both knew it would only cause further tension. She was waiting outside.

"Now, let's make sure you have everything." Anne ticked off an imaginary list on her fingers. "Something old?"

Elizabeth smiled. "My grandmother's diamond necklace."

"Something new?"

"The earrings I bought to go with it. And my dress, of course."

"Something borrowed?"

Green eyes twinkled as the psychologist tilted her head toward Anne. "Your son's heart from you?"

Myles' mother smiled and laid a hand on Elizabeth's shoulder. "Not borrowed. Given freely to be shared."

"Oh." She laughed softly. "Then I suppose it would have to be the shoes I borrowed from Connie."

"And something blue?"

Elizabeth lifted her skirt to indicate the delicate blue garter sitting just above her knee. "I think we have everything." She turned to the woman who would shortly become her mother-in-law and took her hands. "Anne, thank you. You and Robert, your whole family, have become something so dear that I never truly had growing up. We were cordial and all, but not like the warmth you all share so generously. Even Myles; I know he has this 'image' to uphold at the Bureau, but it peeks through more often than he realizes. Thank you for inviting me into that."

The older woman touched Elizabeth's cheek. "You're more than welcome. And you've easily given as much to our family as you've received. I look forward to getting to know Connie, as well. She seems like a wonderful girl. Now, why don't you sit down and relax. We're just waiting for the men to finish primping now, and then we'll get you married."


&
Connie Dillingham poked her head through the open door of the room next to the pastor's office and smiled. She had the tray of boutonnieres for the group of tuxedoed individuals inside.

WOW, she signed and spoke, looking at the group. "So many handsome men all dressed up. Must be a wedding or a waiter's convention."

Myles turned from where he'd been talking to Jack, his father and David Dillingham. Sam was over with Brad and James, and Dimitrius was trying to help Bobby finish his tie.

FUNNY HA HA, he signed in return. "Very funny." Then he got a look at her. CONNIE... YOU BEAUTIFUL.

Her cheeks colored, heightening the glow in her face against the pale yellow dress. Her dark auburn hair was piled atop her head, woven with baby's breath and miniature peace roses. THANK YOU. She then placed an "m" hand sideways against her right shoulder and arched it outward slightly.

Her grandfather looked puzzled. "I got 'thank you,' but what did she say after that?"

"I don't know," Myles replied. "A sign I haven't learned yet?" He glanced over at Jack, who shook his head as well.

Connie was grinning, and Myles couldn't stand it anymore. O-K, he signed and spoke. SIGN MEAN WHAT?

She repeated the sign slowly, watching him copy it. She then placed the fingertips of her right "v" hand against her left palm, flipping the fingertips' position once. SIGN MEAN... She then fingerspelled the rest. M-Y-L-E-S

His eyed widened. "You mean...?"

She nodded. MY FAMILY YOU JOIN, ME NAMESIGN GIVE.

Brad Leland voiced it for several of them. "Ok, I'm completely lost."

Only Jack was smiling along with Myles, though it was obvious that David Dillingham had caught pieces of it. Myles explained.

"She said that since I'm joining her family now, she's giving me my own namesign. It's a little like shorthand, so you don't have to fingerspell the name each time." He looked at her and signed THANK YOU. WONDERFUL GIFT.

"But what's it mean?" Her grandfather asked. "If I recall, namesigns include the initial and something particular to the individual. What was the movement at your shoulder, Connie?"

Jack Hudson was chuckling. "I know what it is."

Myles turned toward him. "What?"

His attention distracted, he didn't see Connie take a step toward him and pull aside one side of his jacket lapels. She pulled on the strap of the ever-present suspenders and let it snap back against his chest. "Ow! What the—?" Then it hit him as she smiled sweetly up at him. "Ohhh. Oh, very funny, 'Sis.' Remind me to invite you to the next annual Leland snowball war."

Sam was thinking hard, repeating the sign a couple of times. Then he laughed as well. "Ah! Bro's legendary collection of suspenders. Of course."

Dimitrius came over and got the tray of boutonnieres she'd set on the small table by the door. "Well, gents, we'd best finish up here, or Liz will be walking down the aisle to an empty altar."

The others moved to pin the flowers on their jackets, but Myles stayed with Connie for a moment. THANK YOU, he signed again. MY HONOR.

She smiled and gave him a big hug and a kiss on his cheek. INSIDE MY FAMILY WELCOME, she replied silently. INSIDE MY HEART WELCOME.


&
11 am

She took a deep breath, willing herself not to mangle the bouquet of peace roses and baby's breath she was holding. Pachelbel's "Canon in D" was floating from the harp in the chapel, and Molly was halfway down the aisle with her basket of petals.

Her grandfather took her by the shoulders. "You ready?"

Elizabeth sighed, watching Sue step through the chapel doors. Lucy would follow, then Tara. "Does it make sense to say 'yes' and 'no,' and wholeheartedly mean both?"

David Dillingham chuckled. "Perfect sense. He's a good man, sweetheart. I couldn't have chosen finer for you myself."

She couldn't help but grin. "You're just saying that because he saved your life. Oh, and the fact that he graduated from your precious Harvard."

"There is that," he quipped in return. Then he gently kissed her cheek and lowered the single layer of veil over her face as Connie started down the aisle. "We're next."


&
Myles smiled to himself as he heard Jack's breath catch, followed not too distantly by Sam's. Now if we can just convince Darcy to hog-tie Bobby... poor girl.

He was nervous, he was floating, he was happier than he'd ever been in his life, and he was terrified. He was surrounded by those who were closest to his heart, even though many of them had no idea how close. He saw Molly in her dress and realized how brief the time would be before she'd be a young woman in her own right, instead of the adorable imp who made him smile simply by rushing into a room.

Seth Adams leaned over to murmur, "You okay? You're not gonna bolt on me, are you?"

The tall agent chuckled. "I might, if I thought my feet would move. But I think I'll stick it out."

"I think you'll find it's worth it," the pastor smiled. "Take a look."

Myles turned as the audience stood, and he forgot to breathe. She seemed to glide down the aisle on her grandfather's arm, elegant and as stunningly beautiful as he'd seen her that first day in the coffee shop. He knew that this was the vision he had always, would always, have of her.

Their eyes met as she reached the foot of the altar, and her smile dazzled him completely. It's a good thing we opted to just let Reverend Adams do the hard part. I imagine any memorized vows would be gone about now.

He held out his hand, and she placed hers in his warm grip. David Dillingham nodded to his granddaughter, then took his seat as she stepped up onto the dais next to Myles.

"Please, be seated." Reverend Adams paused as people took their seats. "Friends, we gather together today, on the Lord's Sabbath, to witness the joining of two souls in holy matrimony. Myles and Elizabeth are making their promises to each other not only in the sight of God, but before you who will stand as witnesses of their demonstration of love. They have chosen as the scripture that will bind their lives, Ruth chapter one and verse sixteen: 'And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God.' Or, as Elizabeth told me when we spoke about the path these two have already traveled to reach this point, 'Let peace begin with us.'"

Myles squeezed her hand gently, and watched her eyes glow in response.

"Most of you already know the story of their journey here, so I won't bore you with some long-winded sermon. Therefore, if any one can show just cause why these two should not be joined, let them speak now or forever hold their peace."

Silence pervaded the chapel, though Bobby did start to raise his hand until Myles shot him a look. The Aussie grinned and shook his head.

Seth watched the exchange with a smile. "Then if we have no further wise guys in attendance…" His quip sent a rustle of amusement through the chapel. "Myles, Elizabeth, please face each other and join your right hands."

She turned and handed her bouquet to Connie, then met the love in his eyes with her own.

"Elizabeth Catherine Anne Dillingham, do you take Myles Robert Leland the Third to be your wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, and, forsaking all others, vow to love and to cherish him, till death do you part, according to God's holy ordinance?"

Her heart sang even as her voice shook. "I do."

"And do you, Myles Robert Leland the Third, take Elizabeth Catherine Anne Dillingham to be your wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, and, forsaking all others, vow to love and to cherish him, till death do you part, according to God's holy ordinance?"

That velvet baritone made her melt. "I do."

"The ring symbolizes the infinite love of God for His children, and is exchanged as a visible reminder of the all-encompassing vow made here today. Let its unending circle be a reminder of your undying devotion to each other."

Sam held out the rings to them. Myles removed the engagement solitaire from her left hand and slipped it into the bridal set. He then took her left hand and slipped the ring back on.

"With this ring," he said, "as a symbol of my unending devotion, I thee wed, and pledge to you my troth for all our days."

Elizabeth took the brushed gold band from Sam's palm and slipped it onto Myles' finger. "With this ring, as a symbol of my unending devotion, I thee wed, and pledge to you my troth for all our days."

Seth smiled. "Inasmuch as Myles and Elizabeth have pledged their love to each other with sacred vows and the exchange of rings, I now pronounce them husband and wife, by the power vested in me by the District of Columbia. You may kiss your bride."

Her breath caught at the infinite tenderness mixed with pure joy that shone from his blue-grey eyes as he gently lifted her veil and let it settle down her back. He stroked her cheek, as he'd done so very many times, then tilted her chin up and lowered his mouth to hers. His kiss spoke of so much to come, joys and sorrow, tears and mirth, and through it all the assurance that they would face it as one. She wrapped her arms around him and matched his pledge with her own.

"What God hath joined together, let not man put asunder." Seth's voice barely registered in her mind. "Ladies and gentlemen, may I present to you Mr. and Mrs. Myles Leland the Third."

They were swept up in a sea of hugs and good wishes.