George was getting ready to take Elisabeth out to dinner when the telephone rang and he got the shock of his life.
"Hi, darling! How have you been?" Jane Parker's voice sounded just as perky as ever.
"Jane? Listen, I'm, um, in kind of a hurry. Could we talk some other time?"
"But what I've got to say is important." He heard the familiar petulance in her voice. "I just realized what a huge mistake I made in letting you go. You and I were meant to be together."
"Listen, Jane," said George. "I'm sorry, but I'm dating someone else now. What happened with Tom Culpepper?"
"That's over. We were all wrong for each other. Maybe it took that to make me realize how right you are for me."
"But I'm with someone else now. I'm picking her up for dinner in a few minutes, so if you'll excuse me, I have to go now."
"Don't hang up on me, George! Please!" Jane begged.
George sighed. "I really need to go - "
"Please George, don't turn me away! I love you!"
"I'm sorry." George hung the telephone up, then finished getting ready and left. He drove to Elisabeth's house and rang her doorbell.
"Sorry I'm a little late," he said when she opened the door.
"Oh, that's all right!" Elisabeth replied. "I was afraid something had happened to you."
George chuckled. "Oh, no, I'm fine. Are you ready to go?"
"You bet!"
He laced his arm through hers and led her to the car. On the ride to the restaurant, he said very little.
"Is everything all right?" Elisabeth asked him as he was parking.
He smiled at her.
"Everything's fine."
"You seem quieter than usual," she said as they entered the restaurant and were seated.
George sighed.
"The girl I used to date, Jane, called me."
"Oh." Elisabeth stared at the table top.
"I told her it was all over between her and me," George assured her. "I'm with you now, and I wouldn't trade that for anything in the world."
Elisabeth smiled and blushed a deep red. George's fingers lightly caressed her cheek as he thought to himself how much like her older brother she was.
He heard soft violin music playing in the background and turned his head to see where it was coming from. He gasped in surprise as he realized he recognized the violinist.
"I know him," he told Elisabeth, nodding toward the young man.
"Who is he?" she asked.
"Mark Smeaton. We used to live in the same neighborhood and he was in some of my college classes, and then he moved away and we lost touch. I didn't know he'd moved back."
The waiter brought their food, and they began to eat. While they were eating, Mark finished his piece and then walked over to them.
"George! Long time, no see."
"Hi, Mark. This is my girlfriend, Elisabeth Bourbon. We've been dating for several months now."
"How's Anne?" asked Mark.
"She's doing fine. She's dating Elisabeth's older brother, Louis, now."
"I'm so glad she's found someone new. I need to get back to the music now. Please tell her I said hello."
"Will do."
George and Elisabeth finished their meal and left the restaurant.
"He seems like a nice man," Elisabeth remarked.
"He's a very nice man," George told her.
Tears rolled down Maria's cheeks as she watched her father place the ring on Kitty Howard's finger, barely two years after he'd placed a similar ring on the finger of Jane Seymour. This is so wrong, she kept saying to herself, over and over.
The warmth of Philip's hand in her own was like a warm blanket of comfort.
She dreaded the reception but knew she was expected to attend. As she entered the hall, she saw the usual family members, drinking punch and eating cake as they chatted. She nodded hello to her Aunts Margaret and Mary Rose, to Charles and Anna. Henry, standing with his bride, paid no attention to her at all.
Philip and Anna were chatting together in German when Maria saw her cousin Jamie Stuart standing with his wife, Mary Ann, who held their newborn daughter, Marisa.
"Hi!" she said as she walked up to them.
"Oh, hi, Maria," Mary Ann said with a smile. "How are you?"
"I'm fine," Maria replied, watching baby Marisa sleep and marveling at the perfection of her features. "Can I hold her?"
"Of course you can!" Mary Ann handed the infant to her. Marisa opened her eyes briefly, then went back to sleep. Maria held her close, relishing her fresh, powdery scent.
"You're adorable!" she whispered as she kissed the tiny forehead. She felt a light touch on her arm and turned to see Philip standing behind her. She quickly gave Marisa back to her mother and turned to follow him out into the sunshine. They walked together until they were standing underneath a large shade tree.
"I know today wasn't the easiest of days for you," said Philip.
"You can sure say that again," Maria agreed.
"I want you to know I'm here for you," whenever you need me," Philip told her.
"Thanks." Maria blushed.
"Did you tell your mother I'm Lutheran yet?" he asked.
She nodded.
"And what did she say?"
Maria grimaced. "Oh, we had a huge quarrel. She cried and said she'd rather die than see me marry outside the faith. I told her nothing's been said about marriage, that at least for now, we're just good friends. She said she's afraid you'll lead me astray. I told her I'm strong enough in the faith to resist any temptation."
Philip smiled. "And what did she say to that?"
"She said as long as I stand strong in the faith, I can do whatever makes me happy."
"I'm so glad." He pulled her close and swept the hair back from her face. "Have I ever told you how beautiful you are?"
As his lips met hers, all melancholy left her heart, to be replaced with bliss.