Chapter 19
Katie and Hannah moved closer together, searching for the other one's hand. They rarely questioned instructions but this time they knew in mute agreement that they were asked for too much. "We wanna stay with Mommy," Hannah insisted and Katie affirmed decidedly nodding, "Uh huh."
"Children," Elizabeth's tone was stern. "There is still so much to do. Buying the wedding dress was only the start; we don't have any other accessories yet. Then your mother's hair has to be done and she needs make-up. I have no idea what your father was thinking…"
At this point Maude chimed in, casting a glare at the other woman before she bent down laying one hand of every little girl's shoulder. Searching for their gazes she suggested, "How 'bout we go to your father's apartment and see if more guests arrived already?"
This time Katie voiced their contradiction shaking her head, "Daddy said when the secret is out we can stay with Mommy and tell her about all our plans."
Seeing the pleading looks on the small faces, Maude swallowed hard. This was more difficult than anticipated. Secretly she agreed with Mrs. Quinn; Sully's idea of surprising Dr. Mike with her own wedding was, at best, foolish. Which bride wanted to miss all the things before the big day like deciding for the right location or having a bridal shower? However, it was her task to keep the girls busy until the ceremony would begin in the afternoon. Straightening, she explained, "Well, your Daddy didn't know how much there is still to do. And you don't want to be in Dr. Mike's way today, do you?"
This had obviously been the wrong approach to the problem. Both pairs of eyes clouded over and tears threatened to fall. Of course Hannah and Katie didn't want to be a bother for their Mommy, but they had so looked forward to spend this day with her that it was difficult for them to give up this dream.
Before one of the older women could try to reason with the children again, Michaela with Rebecca and Charlie in tow joined the group. The dress would be delivered to the new house later so they didn't have to take care of that right now.
"What's wrong?" was Michaela's instant question, seeing everyone's strained expression. Since both, her mother and Mrs. Bray hesitated to reply, Michaela hoped for an explanation from Marjorie. She, however, continued keeping her distance to all the commotion about the wedding she wasn't interested in even the least. Gaining only a shrug in response, Michaela turned to the little girls reiterating, "What's wrong, Sweethearts?"
Elizabeth didn't give the children time to respond but retorted herself instead, "They were about to leave with Hannah's grandmother right now." The stress on the last couple of words wasn't lost on Michaela.
"Oh," she finally understood. However, she didn't want for anyone to be unhappy today. "But they can't leave because I will need their help."
Instantly, the children's faces lit up and Michaela added, ignoring her mother's scowl, "So, where will we go next?"
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If someone would ask Michaela later how she had spent the hours before the ceremony, she would barely be able to recall them. She went from being excited beyond all measures to being horrified that this was all a big misunderstanding. After all, much more belonged to a wedding than a dress. It wasn't that she doubted Sully's organizational talent or his good intentions. She knew though that she had to sign at least one paper so that the ceremony would be acknowledged by the law later, and she was sure that she had never done it.
However, the longer the day went on, the more she pushed this thought away. Of course it helped that her mother couldn't feed her doubts much longer because Elizabeth and Marjorie soon went their separate ways. Maude volunteered to show them to the place where the reception would be held because Mrs. Quinn didn't stop worrying out loud whether her orders, which she had given on the phone the day before, would be followed properly.
When their group had melted down to only Katie, Hannah, Rebecca, Charlie and herself, Michaela's first decision was to shorten the stay at the hairdresser's considerably, insisting on her own imagination of how she wanted to wear her hair. Her mother had already come to an arrangement at this shop though and the owner was first hesitant about following Michaela's wishes because it was the other lady that would pay. However, Michaela had the ability of persuasion as well and it helped that Sully, who had made this appointment in the first place, had asked them to follow the bride's wishes. Secretly hoping Michaela would want to wear her hair down because she knew how much he loved that, he had suggested to have some fresh flowers in store, just in case. So it came that in the end Michaela and the little girls didn't have the complicated hairstyles Mrs. Quinn had ordered for them but the long hair now fell in easy waves down their backs. The strands on the sides of their heads were pinned up with the pins being hidden under intertwined flowers which had, very much to Hannah's delight, the color of soft pink.
The relative calm Michaela had mustered so far gave way to a sudden nervousness as soon as they left the hairdresser's shop. "What about Katie's and Hannah's dresses?" she wondered, turning to Charlie. "Are you sure they will fit to… I'm sorry," Michaela caught herself, blushing in embarrassment.
Yet Charlie wasn't offended in the least but chuckled, "It's alright, Dr. Mike." Sully had warned her that keeping his bride calm might become a challenge, but she really didn't mind taking care of Michaela until they would drive to the new house.
Charlie had already been fond of the new woman in her friend's life when she hadn't even seen her yet. Noticing the sparkle return into Sully's eyes she knew that the doctor must be someone special. Her assumption had already been proved right during their very first meeting when Michaela came to the café to look for Sully and he wasn't there. She had seen a bit of the doctor's temper then… However, she was prepared to distract her now and suggested with a smile, "Well, next we were to go to Sully's apartment anyway and pick up the dresses so you can see yourself." Addressing the little girls that jumped with joy hearing this news she added winking at them mysteriously, "And I know that there will be a surprise for you two."
Excitedly, the children wanted to know more but Charlie made it a game on their way so that the time went by faster. She would allow them to ask her questions that she only answered with 'yes' or 'no'.
With the three of them being occupied on the backseats, Rebecca took the opportunity to talk to her little sister whose brow was furrowed again, "Mike, if you don't feel ready for a wedding I'm sure Mr. Sully will understand."
"Oh, it's not that," Michaela instantly replied. "It's just… I feel so useless. I'd like to do something but I don't know what. I'm not used to…"
"Being treated like kind of a princess?" Rebecca completed the line, grinning in understanding.
"I guess that's it," Michaela whispered, glancing at her oldest sister. "I'm used to take care of everything myself…" Her tone trailed off again.
"Well," Rebecca straightened in her seat, "I think you can do something, too. Have you already thought about what you will tell your groom during the ceremony?"
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Rebecca's question had ceased any other thoughts from Michaela's mind for quite a while as she tried to come up with the words that were able to translate her feelings for the man that would be her husband in only a few hours. She was distracted though when she saw his surprise for their daughters. As to not make it too difficult for them to spend the night apart from their parents, Sully had asked Cloud Dancing to prepare a special treat: in the middle of his living room the Cheyenne and his wife had built a small teepee for Hannah and Katie to spend the night. The children were enthralled.
Even more Michaela marveled at the dresses Sully had chosen for the little flower girls. They were absolutely lovely. Their color didn't only match the one of her dress but considered each child's fondness as well: while Hannah's satin string leading around her waist to be bound on her back in a big bow was of a shiny pink, Katie's was pastel green. The tiny flowers that were embroidered along the hem of the floor-length skirts and the necklines were made of pink and pastel green threads, too. One couldn't buy such dresses and Michaela looked up at Charlie who had watched her intently, explaining now, "Sully had asked for my advice and I suggested hiring my friend Emma. She has a little shop down-town and was happy to help."
Michaela nodded in appreciation, "I'll go there and thank her next week. Actually, I think I will become her constant customer."
Charlie beamed, knowing her friend could use even the tiniest order. However, glancing at the living room clock, she suggested, "We should leave now. It's only two more hours."
Instantly, the butterflies in Michaela's stomach were alive again.
When they arrived at the new homestead, Michaela didn't have time to take in her surroundings. Her mother, impatiently pacing in front of the house, instantly rushed toward her when she had barely opened the door on her side of the car. "Michaela," Elizabeth was exasperated, "Where have you been so long? We will never manage to get you prepared for the ceremony."
Michaela and Rebecca knew better than to interrupt their mother's flow of words when she was as worked up as she was right now. Charlie, however, didn't have any experience with her yet and tried to come to the bride's defense, "Sully said it would be alright to…"
The young woman fell silent again under Mrs. Quinn's glare, somewhat taken aback by the older woman's huff, "Well, your Mr. Sully isn't even here and I really start to wonder whether this wasn't a big mistake to have him in charge for everything. I should have come here a week ago and…"
"Mom," Rebecca softly chimed in knowing there was only one way to stop this tirade, "Shouldn't we rather go in and get everyone dressed?"
Catching herself, Elizabeth turned briskly as to lead them into the house. The sisters exchanged a look with Charlie, asking her silently for her forgiveness and in mute understanding they all at last followed the bride's mother.
Katie and Hannah's future room on the first floor had been prepared for the women to change. Entering it now, Michaela noticed much to her delight that Colleen was there, too. She already wore a bridesmaid dress and beamed when she saw the joy on Dr. Mike's face at her presence. They weren't able to talk though because Marjorie stepped in their way, showing the same impatient expression like her mother when she reached for Michaela's arm in order to lead her to a chair, "C'mon, little sister. We don't have time to waist now. You can chat afterwards. If you ask me, marrying is a stupid idea anyway. Trusting any man is a stupid idea in the first place."
"That's enough." This was Elizabeth's voice again yet she was interrupted by a knock. Frowning, she turned as to answer the demanding sound. Seeing a man in the doorway she immediately snapped, "No men before the wedding. We should keep at least a few traditions." With that, she shut the door dismissing the male's presence.
She didn't have time to return to her daughters though because a new knock made her halt in her tracks. Pivoting, she stared at the entrance in disbelief. When the sound of knuckles against wood reverberated through the room again, she threw the door open. "Young man," she said sternly, "There is nothing that can't wait until after the ceremony. I ask you a last time…"
Although the young man didn't look like the brightest one and was obviously embarrassed beyond all measures, he didn't give in but stood his ground. His eyes looked as if they would pop out any moment as he insisted, "I … I'm sorry Ma'am, but I need to talk to Miss Quinn." Seeing the annoyance on his vis-à-vis' face deepen he hastily added. "I'm Horace Bing from the Clerk's Office, Ma'am, and I need to talk to Miss Quinn because of the wedding license."
Instantly, all anger left Elizabeth. Like her daughter she had wondered all day how there could be a wedding without a license which Sully couldn't have yet because both, groom and bride, had to apply for it. Now, that this problem was obviously resolved, she finally allowed herself to believe that her youngest daughter would actually get married in not even a couple of hours. Now only the groom had to join the party.