I am still working on the latter part of Saturday. I hope you enjoy the way I "filled in the blank" space of earlier that day. The characters belong to Martha Williamson. She is the best.
SATURDAY
"And I love you so…" he is certain he can hear her. The sound of her voice saying those words faintly drift as Oliver slowly opens his eyes. It is Saturday. He hears the rain falling outside his bedroom window and there is the temptation simply to close his eye and go back to sleep. Somehow confessing his love to her makes even sleep better - easier.
He thinks of last night with her and smiles. He thinks about how much better last night is just because he dares to admit to her what he has long felt. He dares to love – to love openly – to say the words - to say his lines.
He thinks of when they parted. The two of them only look at each other – her eyes saying how much she loves him, he returning the look to her. He wants to scoop her into his arms, to hold her close, and to kiss her in a way that will stay with her until they meet again, but he believes public displays of affection are not appropriate. However, he cannot help himself from reaching across and taking the tip of her hand and squeezing it in his if for only a moment. She understands because she understands him. It is wonderful to feel understood and accepted.
And so he lies here – just thinking of her, thinking of her as the woman he loves, thinking of her as his fiancée, thinking of her as his wife. His wife…. Allowing the words to roll over in his mind is like trying on clothing to see how well it fits. Maybe he isn't ready to commit to a life long purchase. Or is he?
"What are you waiting for?" He hears his dad say to him.
"What am I waiting for?" he asks himself only to answer his own question. "Well a green tie, a ring - and the certainty of timing."
Voices from his past call to him – encouraging him. Couples whose relationships he always admired and longed to have for himself now beckon to him. "Come on in, the water is fine." These are married couples who set sail together – set the standard. Chief among them are his grandparents.
Images of the life his grandparents built together fill his thoughts – holding hands to walk by the bank of Boulder Creek, standing by the kitchen sink discussing their day, even disagreeing without being disagreeable. "Dear, I'm home," he still hears his grandfather call to his grandmother. "I'm right here," is always his grandmother's reply. It is her way of saying I am here now and always. And she always is. He thinks back to when his grandfather is dying – they hold hands and stare into each other's eyes until his grandfather's eyes close. As a boy he is terrified. As a man he now sees it as a picture of perfect love – til death us do part. "Marry me and I will love you forever." And they did.
He thinks of his former Sunday school teacher, Mrs. Genzinger. Her husband, a big gruff man with a gravely voice, always carries her box of Sunday school materials into class for her. He remembers him saying in reference to her plethora of supplies, "Sweetie, you're only teaching for an hour." This large intimidating man always calls her Sweetie. Then, when class is over this big man returns, "Sweetie, you need me to get those for you." Oliver is thankful that he could carry that box of Christmas decorations for her if only once – what two years ago, or is it three. He is thankful for the example she and her husband set. They always sat together in worship – he singing bass a little off key. But Oliver knows. Even as a boy he knows they love each other and they love God and they love the church. It's funny how the mind can suddenly produce a picture from the past. He recalls her saying once when the girls in the class were giggling about her husband calling her Sweetie, "If you girls are lucky, one day you may have someone to call you Sweetie." The memory makes him smile. Someone to call Sweetie….
He may have found his Sweetie but he can't see himself calling her that. He wonders if they will develop terms of endearment for each other. But he is ahead of himself again. Why is it that he tells her loves her one day and can only think of marriage the next?
The answer is quite simple. A young couple very much in love answered that question for him.
"What do you do when you love somebody? You marry them." His heart sweeps back to Blooms and Hugs Florist and one the most determined-to-marry couples he has ever known – Ellie and Bobby Richards. For the two of them it was an indisputable fact – when you love someone, you marry them.
"What are you waiting for?" he hears his dad ask again.
"What am I waiting for?" He asks himself as he looks at the vacant pillow lying next to him. He contemplates how much longer before he wakes beside her. To wake beside her is start a new day together, plan together, share together, hope together, and even when the time comes to grieve together. To wake beside her is to roll over and stretch your arm across her, draw her close, and whisper "good morning" into her ear through her mussed blonde hair. To wake beside her means that you have married her and will love her forever.
If this is what he truly wants he needs the courage to ask her.
He shakes his head. But they are not married, are not getting married because…he has not asked. You have not because you ask not. "Hasn't The Reverend Marshall preached on that verse? I don't think he was referring to a wife but….possibly a lack of faith is hindering my action."
The sound of a sudden torrent of rain washes away his daydream. He rises from the bed, pushes back the heavy drapery for a better view. He can barely see through the rain-splattered glass.
"Oh no. Nothing else can happen to Norman's wedding," he mutters.
He must put her out of his mind at least for the moment. His thoughts turn to the immediacy of the situation. Perhaps he should purchase a couple of those large umbrellas – golf umbrellas he thinks they are called – in the event that Norman or the guests should have need of one. Does Norman need galoshes? As the best man providing such would seem like his responsibility. With one hand still on the curtain he bows his head. "Dear heavenly Father, forgive the quickness of my prayer but Rita and Norman have experienced many obstacles to their ceremony. I ask You in your mercy…" The ringing phone on the bedside table momentarily interrupts his prayer. He pauses for a second then prays faster. "I ask You to prevent any further impediments to this evening – specifically floods; however should the rain continue may they not be discouraged. In the Name of Christ our Lord I pray, Amen."
Oliver quickly reaches the receiver before the ringing ceases.
"Hello."
"Good morning!" says a very awake and cheery Joseph O'Toole.
"Dad?"
"Did I wake you?"
"Uh no. Is everything well? What is that noise?"
"It's a dump truck."
"A dump truck?"
"Yeah, I'm at Bill's. I drove a backhoe this morning. It was great!"
"I beg your pardon. You did what?
"I woke up about six and heard the rain and called Bill to see if he needed anything. We dug a drainage ditch and got a load of gravel to spread on the drive out to the barn. With all that has happened we didn't want anything else to go wrong for these two kids."
"That is true. It is pouring here now. What about the farm?"
"It rained heavier a little while ago. It has let up some now."
"Your forethought in insuring access to the wedding venue is most commendable. You have everything well prepared," said Oliver.
"How often to you get to operate heavy machinery and save the day?" said Joe with a lilt in his voice. "I just called to see if you were - still smiling. Told anybody you loved them lately?" Joe teases.
"Dad," says Oliver, looking upward with smile and shaking his head.
"No, I just called to see if you needed anything."
"No. I'm fine. I am going to call Norman to see if he needs anything. I have not been - the most - attentive best man. Some time today I have to pick up my tux jacket. They had to alter the sleeves."
"They had to hem my pants. I can get your jacket when I get my pants. I'll just bring it to you at the farm. You can show up without a jacket. I can't show up without pants."
"No dad, this is not a clothing optional event. Slacks are necessary."
Both men laugh
"Actually, if you can get my jacket that would be helpful. If it isn't too much trouble."
"No trouble at all."
"Dad, thank you."
"No problem."
"No, I mean for everything."
"My pleasure, son."
Oliver hangs up with his dad and calls Norman immediately. He is instructed to "bring the umbrellas, leave the galoshes" His favorite men's shop not far from his house. He will call them to hold two umbrellas for him and he will purchase them on his way to farm this afternoon. The wedding is at 6:00. He will arrive by 5:00.
In this moment he is glad for the solitude – the quiet – even the rain. Instead of rushing for a shower and rushing to work he can take his time. It is cool in the house this morning. He takes his navy robe from the foot of the bed and steps into a pair of brown leather slippers neatly waiting for him on the Oriental rug.
This morning he will start his day with a cup of hot tea instead of coffee. If only he had a scone and her to share it with he thinks. He is smiling again. Maybe he is ready for his next line in this love story.
This morning he will have time to read and to pray and to think.
This quiet morning passes more slowly than Oliver expects. He eats breakfast, prays, reads Scripture. He showers and has a lite lunch as he reads the newspaper. He paces back and forth – checking the weather, checking to make certain he has everything he needs, checking the time. The rain ceases but looking out the window he thinks the drainage ditch and the fresh gravel may have saved folks from a boggy doom. He is grateful that Bill and his dad are friends. He is grateful that he has his dad in his life. He contemplates the necessity of large umbrellas and decides being prepared and not needing them is better than needing them and not being prepared. He starts upstairs but half way up can't remember what he needed. He decides it did not matter and goes back down.
He catches himself practicing dance steps. After all, the first dance is hers. Who is he kidding? Every dance is hers. He chuckles to himself. Looking at his watch he thinks of how long it will be until he can see her. A part of him wishes he were not so anxious to see her. He sighs. He regrets not sending her yellow roses today. It is too late now.
As time is prone to do the hour suddenly slips by him and now he must hurry. He wears a navy blazer, gray dress slacks, a white shirt and topcoat to travel to the farm. He carries his tux – minus the jacket – in a hanging bag. He will dress at the barn with Norman. He stops along the way for two large umbrellas – which seem obviously not needed by this time. Nevertheless, bring the umbrellas; leave the galoshes. He dresses in a converted storage room at the back of the barn. Pushing that last cufflink through he checks on Norman.
"You ok my friend?"
"I've been thinking about this day for so long. I just never thought of farm animals."
Oliver embraces his dear friend and thinks Norman is the most blessed man that he knows – finding his soul mate and marrying her. In that moment his heart prays, "Thank you for Norman and Rita. Bless them Father."
His own heart concludes he too has found his soul mate, his one true love. Does she feel the same? He thinks she does. Earlier this morning in his time of prayer he thanks God for her. It was kneeling by his bed that he makes his decision – the first opportunity – he will ask her to marry him. In this moment he reaffirms that decision. He prays again what he had prayed that morning. "And yes Lord, I will ask her to marry me as soon as possible – probably within the next few days. And he senses that peaceful presence come on him."
He had no sooner uttered again that prayer than his dad appears with the needed jacket and some very odd instructions.
"Oh, you might want to check the pockets just in case."
Check the pockets. He slips his hand in his pocket and feels the tie and the ring. Finding them there causes his heart to beat a little faster. "Oh Lord." He did not expect this. He does not believe in coincidence but in providence. He prayed and God provided – the woman, the tie, the ring, the time. This is time. This is the moment. He does not sigh. He exhales.
"Norman would you mind terribly if I changed my tie?" he asks.
"Why do I think this has something to do with the maid of honor?" says Norman.
"I will only say what a good man once said to me, I know what I am going to do."
Oliver smiles. He is ready. He will not waist another minute, another second. Change that tie. Now is the time.
