*Author's Note*
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Supplies, Dresses, & A Date
Novella POV:
"Ya wanna go tell yer uncle the date while I pick up my order, or ya want me t'be wit'cha?" Tolbert asked me as we saw the town comin' up in the distance between all the bare trees surroundin' it.
"It don't matter." I simply told him. He didn't say anythin' so I decided to tell him, "You can just drop me off at the house and go get the supplies. I can tell him myself."
"Y'sure?" Tolbert asked, lookin' at me real quick, as the wagon rolled over a bunch of twigs and leaves snappin' them and makin' crunchin' sounds go up into the air.
"Yea, I'm sure. Just come by after you're done at Adam's." I told him as I spotted my uncle's house a few feet 'way.
"Well, here ya go then." Tolbert told me, pullin' the wagon to a stop right in front of the white-washed house I only moved out of yesterday. I missed this house, for 'bout 9 years it was my home. Silently I nodded at him before steppin' down from the wagon. "I won't be long." He assured me before takin' off down the road to the store.
I walked up the path and right by the white picket fence. The heels of my boots clanked as I made my way up the porch steps. I swiftly walked over to the door and let myself into the house. Assuming that Uncle Perry would be in his study, where he spent much of his time, I went there. I pushed the heavy wood door open and walked into the study that was full of bookcases and other items such as a world globe.
My uncle, havin' heard the sound of my footsteps, raised his head from the papers he was readin', "Why, dear, what brings you over for a visit so soon?" He asked, sittin' up a bit straighter behind his desk.
I took a seat in the chair adjacent to his desk while tellin' him, "Tolbert needed to come pick up the windows and roofin' for the cabin. We also decided on a weddin' date last night."
"Oh, is that so. Well, when's the big day?" Uncle Perry asked with a genuine smile crossin' his sly foxlike face.
With a small smile on my face I answered with, "December 21st, in a few weeks."
"That soon?" My uncle mused before goin' on to rattle off, "Well then we must get you to Louisville right away to get a dress made. We'll have to get dresses arranged for Roseanna and Nancy too, since I surmise they'll be your bridesmaids." My uncle's face lit up, the tell-tale sign that an idea's just struck him, before announcin', "I don't have much to do today so we could just take the trip now. Your brother would join us, of course."
"Now? But I'm needed at the McCoy farm to do chores." My place was at the farm helpin' out, Uncle Perry and Ole Rand'l made sure of that when they arranged for my stay durin' Thanksgivin'. It's only my second day there, I can't just take off and not go back to finish chores. That wouldn't leave a good impression on my new family.
Uncle Perry shook his head and rolled his eyes 'fore remarkin', "One day of you forgoing chores will be fine."
"Can't I just get the dress made from the seamstress here in town?" I asked, tryin' to get out of takin' a long 3-hour drive to the big city.
"Why?" Uncle Perry asked, his brow raisin' quizzically, before goin' on to say, "You can have the latest fashions designed special in Louisville."
"Uncle Perry, I'm marrying Tolbert and he's a simple man. Our weddin's gonna be quick and modest so my dress should be tailored more to his life style." I explained to him what Aunt Sally had told me while preparin' the Thanksgivin' meal. Tolbert and me were gonna have a simple life, I needed somethin' practical, not just a onetime use only dress.
"I see." Uncle Perry quipped, his tongue clickin'. My uncle went back to lookin' over his papers while advisin', "Well, then if that's how you feel go on to the shop down the road to order the dresses for yourself and bridesmaids. You better do it today while you're in town, don't know when Tolbert'll bring you back again."
I had just walked out of the front door and onto the porch whenever Tolbert pulled the wagon, filled with his large order, up by the white picket fence that surrounded the house. "Somethin' wrong, darlin'?" Tolbert asked, gettin' down from the wagon.
"No, just headed to order a weddin' dress is all." I answered Tolbert as I walked down the porch steps.
"Ah, then I reckon I best go inside an' visit wit' Perry Cline 'til yer done." He remarked, lettin' me know that I was on my own with the dress shoppin'.
"Reckon so." I replied, a tiny smile appearin' on my face.
Tolbert smiled back at me while tellin' me, "Don't take long, we gotta get'cha back to the house so I can get workin' on our cabin."
"I know, I'll be quick." I told him right 'fore walkin' off down the road, 'way from him.
Tolbert POV:
"I know, I'll be quick." Ella assured me 'fore speed walkin' down the road.
A slight smirk pulled on my face as I watched her walkin' away. She sure was beautiful. I shook my head 'fore walkin' to the front porch and into the house. Everytime I set foot inside of Perry Cline's I was always reminded of how rich Ella's uncle was, how she was raised with the finest things. I knew I couldn't offer her the riches she was accustomed too, so the fact Perry approved of me left me baffled sometimes. I knew why Ella picked me, she was 'fraid t'be alone. She felt somethin' for me tho, that I was sure of. She even told me numerous times she cared deeply for me.
"Hello, Perry Cline." I greeted the lawyer as I walked into his study. Man spent most of his time in there with his fancy books.
"Tolbert, good to see you. Please, call me Perry or Uncle Perry considering the wedding is only 4 weeks away." He told me while I sat down in the chair by his desk.
I just nodded 'fore askin', "Yer fine with the date we set?"
"Yes, I think it's good that ya'll are getting married so soon. It'll put to rest any differences between you." Perry told me, his mustache curvin' as the corners of his lip turned up.
"I'll be startin' t'get the int'rior walls up 'morrow with my brothers help." I told him, lettin' him know how the cabin for me and Ella wa comin' 'long.
"Very good." Perry nodded his head in approval. "Then you'll be buying the stove, pump sink, and furniture I presume?"
"Yes. I'll have t'take a day t'go to Louie-Ville for that with one of my brothers."
One of his brows rose as he remarked, "I hate to ask, but do you have enough funds for this?"
"Yep." I popped out 'fore explainin' fully with, "I'll be spendin' most of my year's profit t'do so, but I can afford it."
"Despite your uncontrollable temper you're a hard worker, Tolbert. I know that you'll take good care of my niece, if I didn't feel that way this wedding wouldn't be happening." Hearin' that Perry Cline approved made me feel good. Knowin' he felt that I was a hard worker and could provide for Ella put me at ease. "But, hear my words, Tolbert, I will not and I mean I will not tolerate you laying hands on my niece ever again. The first time I let it go simply because you were drunk, but the next time I'll have your ass locked up in jail and a divorce degree written up so fast it'll make your head spin." Perry told me, his eyes dark and danger'us lookin'. I knew he meant it. "Understand me, boy?" He asked, a slick grin on his face.
Noddin' my head I stuttered, "Yes, Perry, I understand."
"Good, very good." Perry nodded, his face returnin' back t'normal like he didn't just threaten me a minute 'go. "Now that we've gotten that out of the way you may make yourself comfortable by reading a book or visiting with Moses in the parlor where he's catching up on his literature. I'm afraid I must get back to my work and can't visit anymore."
I just nodded my head and got up, goin' over to one of the bookshelves t'find somethin' to read. I wasn't much of a reader, but I reckon it was better than visitin' with a 9-year-old boy that was nose deep in a book.
Novella POV:
The doorbell dinged as I walked to the small dress shop. My eyes flittered over the ready-made dresses that hung on racks. Many of them were plain, made from tartan or darker hued fabrics. I noticed that a few of the dresses had bustles on them, one of the fancier fashion trends. I never liked it.
"May I help you today, Miss Landon?" The shop owner, a middle-aged woman with a wrinkle-worn face named Mrs. Mann, asked me from her spot behind the counter on the far wall.
"Yes. I need to order my weddin' dress and some bridesmaid dresses for my cousins." I informed the seamstress, who I've gotten a few dresses from over the years.
"Oh, why isn't that wonderful." Mrs. Mann chirped, the wrinkles by her eyes deepening with her smile. "Do you have anythin' in mind for your dress? Color and fabric type?" She asked me, since it was her job to do so.
"Um, cream and simple. Somethin' I can use 'gain formally." I relayed to her what Aunt Sally had told me I should do for my dress.
"Ah, yes, I have just design in mind. Now, what color are you thinkin' for the bridesmaid dresses?"
"I guess a dark blue or green. The weddin's right 'fore Christmas."
"Well, let's take a look at some fabrics for them dresses." The seamstress suggested, a polite smile etched on her face, as she walked away from the counter and towards a wall that held bolts of fabrics.
I followed her over to the fabric bolt wall, feelin' anxious as I did so. I couldn't utter a word as I took in all the different shades before my eyes lined up on the shelves. My eyes instantly caught the row of light white and neutral tone cottons. One fabric in particular caught my eye, actually. It was creamy ivory shade, not too light, but also not too dark.
I pointed to the fabric I liked while nicely saying, "I want that one for my dress, please."
"Oh, yes, Miss Landon this will be perfect." The middle-aged seamstress smiled before goin' on to ask, "Perhaps you'd like some matchin' lace for borderin the dress?"
"Yes, that's be nice."
"Well, once you've picked out the fabric for the bridesmaids I'll show ya some laces and tulles too."
"Tulles?" I asked, wonderin' why I'd need that.
"For the veil." Oh, okay, now that makes sense. I just nodded my head, showin' her that I understood. "Well, look over the fabrics. I'll just be takin' this one to the back to reserve it for the weddin' dress." The seamstress told me while climbing up a ladder, that was attached to the shelvin' wall, and grabbin' the bolt.
While Mrs. Mann placed the creamy ivory fabric bolt into the backroom of her shop I looked over the rest of the fabrics stacked into the wall shelves. There was quite a lot of shades to pick from in each color group. I ended up being drawn to a midnight blue fabric, feeling that it would complement the winter weddin' and both of my cousins' complexions.
"Have you decided on the bridesmaids' fabric?" The shop owner asked, comin' up right next to me.
"Yes, that midnight blue one over there." I replied, pointin' out the fabric to her.
"That's perfect for a December weddin'." She smiled before goin' on to ask, "Now, I could make a sash to go 'round the waist of your weddin' dress out of it to match the bridesmaids a bit. Is that somethin' you'd like?"
"Um, yea, that sounds nice." I never heard of a weddin' dress havin' a sash, but if the seamstress deemed it fit then I'd get it. I mean this dress was goin' to be used 'gain, that's what Aunt Sally told me, so it better be made multi-functional from the start I reckon.
"Well, go on to the front counter. I've laid out some laces and tulles out for the weddin' dress. After I put this bolt in the back I'll fetch some blue laces and return to you at the counter."
I just nodded and walked off to the front, leavin' her to do her tasks. I looked over all of the ivory tinted tulle and lace, deciding on a pair that seemed to be both simple and beautiful.
"These are the only dark blue laces I have for borderin' the bridesmaids dresses." Mrs. Mann told me, holdin' up two things off lace, as she walked over to me.
"That one'll do just fine." I told her, pointing to the lace she was holding in her left hand.
"Okay. So did you pick out yours?" She asked, standin' right next to me.
"Oh, yes, these will work just fine." I smiled, pointing to the items I had closest to me on the counter.
"Good. Well, before you go I'll have to measure you in the back. Now, how similar are your bridesmaids to you in height and build?"
"We're practically triplets in that. All thin and share clothes when spendin' the night at each other's places."
"Good." She simply said before winkin' and tellin' me, "Oh, and when we're in the back I'll have to show you some silks for your weddin' night shift."
"Oh, um, okay." I nodded, feelin' my throat go dry. The weddin' night, oh shit that fact had slipped my mind completely.
I wasn't all the way in love with Tolbert, but I was expected to make love to him on the wedding night. Dear lord, this seamstress would want to make me a new shift for that.
Whenever I walked into my uncle's study I was met by the site of Uncle Perry sittin' at his desk doin' paperwork while Tolbert was in a nearby chair readin' a book. The site of Tolbert readin' made me blink. He wasn't one for books, even tho he was literate. He just didn't see the need for them since he was a shiner and farmer, spendin' his time workin' himself tired.
"I'm done at the dress shop." I announced, causin' both of the men in my life to lift their heads and look at me.
"Very good." Uncle Perry slickly said. He put aside his work while askin', "You made sure to tell the shopkeeper to bill me?"
"Yes, Uncle Perry, Mrs. Mann knows you're payin' for everythin'." I assured him, causin' him to just nod his head in approval.
"Ella, ya ready t'get back? I got a lot t'get done over at the cabin." Tolbert remarked while gettin' up from his chair, tossin' the book onto it.
"Yea, I'm ready to go." I told him as he walked over to me.
"Novella, Tolbert, have a nice day." Uncle Perry wished us goodbye, an earnest smile on his foxlike face.
"We will, Uncle Perry. Bye." I told my uncle right before walkin' out of the study with Tolbert, our hands linked together.
We walked silently, hand in hand, out of the house and to our wagon. Tolbert helped me up into the bench seat before goin' over to his side and climbin' in. He snapped the reigns and yelled, "Yah!", causin' the horses to take off, movin' our wagon. Now this time when I went back to the McCoy house the reality of my weddin' day would be cemented by one more brick, the brick of my dress havin' been ordered.
AN:
Next up will be a small-time jump.