Allison and Will's car had just arrived outside Will's parents house. Allison's first impressions of the house were that it was a cosy home, ideal for raising a family. She was helped out of the car by one of the chauffeurs while the other helped Will with the bags. As soon as the Murdoch family heard the car pull up at the front entrance, they all rushed out to help with the luggage and also to get a glimpse of the girl that captured Will's heart. Once inside the house and their cases taken up to their room, Will formally introduced Allison to his family.
"Everybody I want you to meet my beautiful fiancé, Miss Allison Smith. Allison, dear, this is my father, Samuel, my mother, Jane and my sisters Marie and Elizabeth."
Allison stepped forward and shook their waiting hands. "It is so lovely to meet all of you finally," She said as she shook their hands, "Will has told me so much about you."
"And he has told us a great deal about you my dear." Samuel, Will's father, said.
"All good things I hope." Allison said.
"Of course. Hasn't a bad word to say about you." Will's mother Jane said to her. "Now why don't we all sit down, have some tea and you can both tell us all about how you met and about your wedding plans."
Will and Allison told the story of how they met and fell in love. Once done with that, Will and his parents went to another room for a more private discussion leaving Allison, Marie and Elizabeth to discuss the wedding in more detail.
"So Marie and Elizabeth, how would you feel wearing lavender gowns because I would be honoured if you would be my bridesmaids along with two of my very good friends." Allison asks the sisters.
"Are you sure you want us to be your bridesmaids, Allison?" Marie asks.
"Of course I do. I would not have asked otherwise. What makes you think I don't."
"You just met us." Elizabeth speaks up.
"You're Will's sisters and soon you'll be my sisters as well. I would love for you to be more involved in the wedding."
"Allison we'd be honoured." Marie says, rising from her seat to embrace her soon to be sister. Allison returns the hug and accepts the hug from her other soon to be sister.
"Thank you for asking us." Elizabeth said as she was released from Allison's embrace.
"Thank you both so much for accepting." Allison said as they all sat back down.
"Now Allison, you must tell us all about your wedding plans." Elizabeth said.
"And don't miss out a single detail." Marie added.
"Well, Will and I both decided to get married over here. He was telling me about a church you all attended when you were children. He was telling me how beautiful it is. We're both going there tomorrow afternoon to speak to the priest about marrying us. You're more than welcome to join us. Your mother and father included."
"We'd love to." The sisters responded. "So what about your wedding dress."
"That's what I wanted to ask you both. Do you happen to know any good dressmakers in Dalbeattie."
"Mrs Mooney." Both girls shouted at the same time.
"Mrs Mooney?"
"She is the best dressmaker in all of Dalbeattie, Allison, we can assure you of that." Elizabeth said.
"For example, she made the dresses we are wearing right now." Marie said standing up and twirling around so Allison could get a good look at her dress.
"Oh my. That dress is beautiful." She gets up from her seat to get a better look at the dress. "There is not a single thing wrong with this dress. Alright girls, you've convinced me. After we've seen the priest. I shall give Mrs Mooney a call and see if she would be interested in making the dresses for my wedding." Allison, Marie and Elizabeth continue their discussions about the wedding. Meanwhile, Will is talking to his parents.
"So son, you're getting married." Samuel said to his only son.
"Yes father I am." Will responded to his father's statement.
"She's a very pretty girl Will. You should count yourself lucky my boy." His mother said.
"I do, Mother. Everyday."
"So have you both set a date for this joyous occasion."
"No not yet. We're both meeting the priest tomorrow at our church and we shall see what dates he is available on. I was thinking sometime in October. Give us plenty of time to plan and get everything ready. I'll speak to Allison later on in the day about it."
"So who's going to be your best man, Will." Samuel asks.
"I've asked Charles to be my best man and he's accepted."
"Good choice son. Good choice." His father said.
"So when can we be expecting grandchildren." His mother asked smiling.
"Give us a chance to get married at least, mother." Will said, a slight blush creeping up on his face.
"Have you both talked about having children?" His mother asked curiously.
"Yes we have and we both decided that we were going to wait until after we're married of course."
"Wonderful. Now let us not leave Allison alone with your sisters. Lord knows what they are doing to her." Samuel jokingly says to his wife and son.
"Right you are dad." Will says and they all leave to join the girls in the sitting room. When they reach the sitting room, they can hear laughter from the other side of the door. They walk in to find Allison, Marie and Elizabeth laughing hysterically. They take a seat, Will sitting next to Allison. "What's so funny, my love." He says giving her a kiss on the cheek.
"Oh Marie and Elizabeth were just telling me a funny story from when you were younger involving some cake being thrown in your face." Allison laughs at the thought of Will with cake in his face.
"Oh yes these two hooligans," he nodded in his sister's direction, "told me someone was here to see me. So I go down to the front door to see who, only when I get there, these two throw cake in my face." Everybody bursts out laughing, even Will. Once everyone calmed down, Allison decided to mention the church.
"I was mentioning to the girls that Will and I were going to your church tomorrow to speak to the priest. I've invited the girls to join us and was wondering if you would both like to come along as well Samuel and Jane."
"We'd love to Allison. Thank you." Jane replied.
They then spent the rest of the day getting to know each other. Will and Allison were getting ready for bed when Will decided to ask Allison about a date for the wedding.
"Allison we should think about a date for the wedding if we're going to see the priest tomorrow."
"I know. When do you want to get married."
"I was speaking with my parents and I was thinking about October. What do you think, dear?"
"That's perfect, Will. It would give us a lot of time to get everything planned and ready. As soon as we have a date set I will send out formal invitations to all our guests. How does that sound?"
"That sounds just fine, my love." He kisses Allison on the lips quickly and they climb into bed and fall asleep.
The next day, the Murdochs and Allison went to Saint David's Church to speak with Father McBride. The rest of the Murdoch clan looked around the church while Allison and Will went with Father McBride to his office.
Once inside the office, Father McBride shook Will's hand. "William, it is so good to see you after all these years. It's been too long."
"Indeed it has, Father." Will said shaking his hand.
"And who might this lovely young lady be?"
"This is my fiancé Allison Smith. Allison this is Father McBride."
"It is an absolute honour to meet you Father."
"Likewise my dear. Now why don't you both take a seat and tell me how I can be of assistance." They all sit down.
"As you just found out Father, Allison and I are engaged to be married and we were both wondering if you would be good enough to perform the ceremony." Will asks.
"It would be my honour." He gets out his diary/organiser. "Now did you both have a date in mind."
"We were thinking some time in October." Allison said.
Father McBride looked through his dairy/organiser. "I only have two christenings booked in October." He continued to look through the diary. "How about October 20. Is that convenient for the both of you?"
"That's fine for me. What about you, dear?" Will says to Allison
"October 20 is perfect."
"Good that's settled." Father McBride said making note of the date in his diary. They then discussed with Father McBride which hymns they wanted to be sung at the ceremony and everything else that needed to be decided. Two weeks after that meeting, invitations were sent out which read:
You are cordially invited to the wedding of
William McMaster Murdoch
Allison Elaine Smith
On October 20 1912 at 12pm
In Saint David's Church
Charles, Molly and Anna all came down to Dalbeattie a couple of months before the wedding for dress fittings and such. So Molly, Anna, Marie, Elizabeth, Jane and Allison were all in Mrs Mooney's dress shop getting their measurements taken. Allison was had just finished getting her measurements taken and discussed with Mrs Mooney and the girls what it was she wanted.
"For the bridesmaids dresses I was thinking a light lavender colour silk like material."
"That can easily be arranged dearie. Now what about your wedding dress." Mrs Mooney said taking down notes.
"Well with the dress being white I was thinking it would be lovely to have diamonds along the neckline with a glittering, sparkling train."
"Excellent choice, dearie. I have everything you said in my notes and will begin designing immediately. I will notify you when I'm done so you inspect them for yourself."
"Thank you very much, Mrs Mooney." She said shaking the elderly woman's hand. They all left the shop and headed to the nearest café for a spot of lunch.
Will, Charles and Samuel had just returned from the tailors after getting fitted for their tuxedos. They called out for the girls when they got into the house but nobody answered as they were still out at lunch. They decide to have a drink and toast to a bright future.
Two weeks later, Mrs Mooney called Allison to let her know that she had finished putting the designs to paper and that she should come over to give her approval. When Allison laid eyes upon the designs for her dresses, she couldn't believe it. It was exactly as she imagined. She approved the designs and Mrs Mooney began work right away. Everything was falling in place. The only things left to organise were the flowers, catering, the photographer and the rings.
The day of the wedding had finally arrived and the butterflies in Allison's stomach were driving her insane. She was both nervous and excited at the same time. She was looking forward to seeing Will as she missed being apart from him, even if it was only for a day. She had woken up at five o'clock to get ready and have breakfast. Will was staying at a hotel while Allison stayed at the house. Samuel had left to be with his son. Allison had just finished putting her dress and veil on and was looking at herself in the mirror.
"Allison, is everything all right?" Molly asked.
"I just wish my parents and grandparents could have been here today, Molly." A single tear made it's way out and Molly wiped it away.
"Now listen here Allison. We'll have no tears of sadness today. Today is meant to be a happy day. Your parents and grandparents surely wouldn't want you to be upset on your wedding day, would they?"
"You're right, Molly. They would say the same thing. I just miss them so much."
"Come here." Molly embraces Allison, careful not to crease the dresses. A knock on the door breaks the two apart.
"Come in." Allison called out and Joseph came in.
"The cars have arrived." He announced.
"Thank you Joseph." Allison smiled at him.
"Right everyone. Let's get out to the cars." Jane said and everybody left the room leaving Allison and Joseph alone.
"You look beautiful Allison." Joseph said coming over to sit with Allison.
"Thank you so much Joseph."
"Edward would be so proud of you and so would your grandmother and parents."
"I wish they were here Joseph."
"They are in a way. They will be watching from the heavens above."
Allison could recall her grandfather saying something similar to her the morning they were going on board Titanic.
Joseph stood up and held out his arm for Allison. "Alright, let's get you married."
With a smile, she accepted Joseph's arm and walked outside with him to the cars. The drive to the church, for Allison, seemed like an eternity when in fact it was only a twenty minute drive. With help from Joseph and her bridesmaids, she got out from the car.
Will was a bundle of nerves waiting in the church for Allison. Charles and his parents, who were sitting next to him, laughed as they noticed this.
"It's alright son. There's nothing to be nervous about. I was the exact same way the day I married your mother and we've been together ever since. You and Allison will be just fine." Samuel said to his son.
"Thanks Dad. I needed that." Will said.
Father McBride looked to the doors and signalled for everyone to rise. Will and Charles shook hands before going to the front of the altar. The wedding tune resounded through the church as Allison and Joseph came through the doors. Everybody turned around to get a good look at Allison. When Will caught sight of her, his heart stopped beating for a second. She looked like an angel sent from above. It was now sinking in that this beautiful woman would soon be his wife. Allison and Will joined hands as Father McBride began the ceremony.
"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today, in the sight of god, to join this man and this woman in holy matrimony. Marriage is a lifetime commitment and it is rare when two soul mates find each other they way these two have."
Allison and Will didn't hear anything else Father McBride said as they were too lost in each other. A couple of hymns were sung and then it was time for Will and Allison to say their vows. They both promised to love, honour and protect each other. Care for each other. For better for worse. For richer for poorer. In sickness and in health till death part them. They exchanged rings with huge smiles on their faces.
"By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride."
Will and Allison turn to face each other. He lifts the veil over her head and pulls her in for a loving kiss. Everybody in the church applauded as Father McBride announced, "Ladies and gentleman, I give to you Mr and Mrs William Murdoch."
Allison and Will were the happiest they had ever been in their lives. The smiles never leaving their faces as they signed the marriage certificate and took photographs outside the church. The reception was wonderful and everybody had a great time. They all went home after a very long day and Molly, Anna and Jane helped Allison get ready for bed. They also gave her a little talk because she had been nervous about her wedding night. They told her what to expect and not to be nervous. Once they were finished, they left her alone in the room to wait for Will. She didn't have to wait long. A few minutes later Will came in. They locked eyes and the nerves they felt the nerves melt away. They met in a loving kiss which grew more passionate by the second and they spent their first night together as man and wife.
Hey guys sorry it took a while to get this chapter up. I hope you like it. Thank you to everyone who has reviewed. The next chapter will be the last. I'm looking forward to writing it. I have big plans for the last chapter and have saved the best for last. I'm hoping to get the chapter up either today or tomorrow. Until then happy reading.
Lady Wesker xxx