Merry Christmas to you all! I hope you enjoy this chapter!
"Oh, Christy!" Julia exclaimed, fingers flying to her mouth in amazement as Margaret finished pinning up Christy's hair. "You look absolutely beautiful."
"Thank you, Mama," Christy smiled. "Can I see myself yet?"
"Let us put your veil on," Margaret told her as she reached into the box from Asheville and pulled out the white veil. She lifted it up and fastened it into place in Christy's hair with pins and combs as the church bell rang outside. "There, absolutely perfect."
"Now can I look?" Christy asked in excitement.
Margaret and Julia each took one of Christy's arms and turned her around to face the mirror. Christy gasped in astonishment. Margaret and Julia had helped transform her into the bride she had always hoped she would be. They had all worked diligently to take parts of Julia's wedding gown and sew them into a beautiful wedding gown that Christy could wear. The sleeves and neckline were entirely made of lace, which lined the rest of the gown. A light blue ribbon that matched the color of her eyes, encircled her just below the breasts and tied in the back, leaving the rest of the gown to flow loosely over her expanding abdomen to the floor. The veil reached to the floor in the back.
"What do you think?" Margaret asked.
"I…oh thank you both so much. I let go of the idea of being a beautiful bride because of my pregnancy. You both have given that back to me. Thank you."
All three women smiled at each other and then a knock came at the door. Julia opened it to let Elizabeth in.
"Oh, how lovely you are!" Elizabeth exclaimed. "I do believe we are going to have to peel David's jaw off the floor."
The women all laughed.
"How is he?" Christy asked in curiosity.
"Well, not anywhere near as lovely as you, but quite handsome I dare say," Elizabeth squeezed Christy's hands. "He's excited and wants nothing more than to come in here and see you to make sure you're doing alright."
Christy smiled.
"He was heading to the church with Alice. I came to see if you are about ready."
"I'm ready," Christy nodded.
Julia turned her toward her, her hands on Christy's arms.
"The moment you came into the world, I told your father that you were going to do great things. When you were growing up, I imagined a much different life for you that what you have now, but I have to admit that I couldn't have made better plans for you than God has done. I am so glad that you followed God and let Him lead you here. I know that you have done wonderful things here, and now you and David will continue to do so hand-in-hand for the rest of your lives. I love you, Christina. I hope you are truly happy."
"I am, Mother," Christy smiled. "I love you."
Julia lifted the front half of the veil over Christy's face and they opened the door. The group of women moved out into the hallway and down the stairs. William and Neil were waiting at the bottom for them. Both of them turned to face the women before them.
"Oh my beautiful girlie!" William exclaimed, rushing forward and pulling Christy into his arms. "Look at you. You're stunning."
Christy giggled. "Thanks, Daddy."
Neil and Margaret joined hands.
"You do look like a picture, Christy," Neil told her.
Christy turned to him with a smile. "Thank you both for helping David and I prepare for our wedding."
"It was our pleasure," Margaret assured her.
"Now let's take you to the church," William said, offering Christy his arm. "There's a young man there who cannot wait to see you."
Christy beamed and the entire group made their way toward the church, the bell still ringing out over the mountains. Everyone went inside except for William and Christy and the bell stopped ringing. Neil and Jeb were standing up with David at the altar, and Fairlight and Margaret were standing with Christy.
"This is a happy day for me, girlie, but also a hard one. I can't imagine parting with you for any man less worthy than David. I'm proud of you both, Christy darling. I love you so much."
"I love you, Daddy," Christy whispered.
The doors opened and Christy watched as all of her friends stood and turned toward her. Everyone in Cutter Gap was there to see their beloved teacher marry their beloved preacher, and all of their happy smiles stared back at Christy. She beamed as they began to sing Amazing Grace and she and William began their walk down the aisle. Christy's gaze found David's and he looked at her with the most loving looked she had ever seen. Tears poured down his face as he grinned at her, and she was overcome. She felt tears welling up in her own eyes, but held them back as each step brought her closer to the man she loved.
Candles flickered throughout the room and in the giant Christmas tree behind Miss Alice at the front of the room, but Christy's eyes rested only on David. At last he was beside her, and they smiled at each other. William squeezed Christy's hand which still rested in his as Alice began the ceremony and everyone remained standing.
"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here in the sight of God and in the face of this congregation, to join together this man and this woman in holy matrimony, which is an honorable estate, instituted by God himself, signifying to us the union that is between Christ and His church. Which holy estate Christ adorned with his presence and first miracle in Cana of Galilee and is commended in holy writ to be honorable by all men and therefore is not by any to be enterprised nor taken in hand unadvisedly, lightly or wontedly, but reverently, discreetly, soberly and in the fear of God, considering the causes for which matrimony was ordained. First, it was ordained for the increase of mankind according to the will of God, that children may be brought up in the fear and nurture of the Lord and to the praise of his holy name. Secondly, it was ordained in order that the natural instincts and affections implanted by God should be hallowed and directed aright, that those who are called of God to this holiest estate should continue there in purest of living. Thirdly, it was ordained for the mutual society, help, and comfort that the one ought to have of the other both in prosperity and adversity into which holy estate these two persons present come now to be joined. Therefore, if any man can show any just cause why they may not lawfully be joined together, let him now speak or else here after forever hold his peace."
Silence filled the room as Alice paused for a few seconds, and then she smiled down at the couple and William.
"Who gives this woman to be married to this man?" Alice continued.
"I, William Arthur Huddleston, her father, do," William said, kissing Christy on the cheek and then placing her hand firmly in David's grasp. He then took his spot next to Julia and Ruby Mae on the front row, and everyone took their seats.
"David James Phillip Grantland, do you take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife, to live together according to God's law in the holy estate of matrimony? Will thou love her, comfort her, honor her, and keep her in sickness and in health; forsaking all others keep you only unto her for as long as you both shall live?"
David smiled. "I do."
"Christina Rudd Huddleston, do you take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband, to live together according to God's law in the holy estate of matrimony? Will thou love him, comfort him, honor him, and keep him in sickness and in health; forsaking all others keep you only unto him for as long as you both shall live?"
Christy nodded, squeezing David's hand. "I do."
Alice looked out over the congregation. "David and Christy have memorized their vows and will now make their vows to each other."
David turned completely toward Christy and began, a reverent smile on his face. "I, David James Philip, take you, Christina Rudd, to be my wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish forever, according to God s Holy Ordinance, and thereto I give thee my pledge."
Christy finally let a couple of tears fall, her smile bright and her heart beating in rapid excitement. "I, Christina Rudd, take you, David James Philip, to be my wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish forever, according to God's Holy Ordinance, and thereto I give thee my pledge."
Alice grinned and continued. "The marriage ring seals the vows of marriage and represents the promise of eternal and everlasting love. Let us pray."
Everyone bowed their heads. "Lord, bless this ring, and grant that those who give it, and those who wear it, will remain faithful to each other and abide in Thy peace and favor and live together in love until their lives end. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen."
Amen's echoed throughout the room and then Neil handed David the ring for Christy's finger.
"With this ring, I thee wed," David said, sliding the ring onto her finger and then placing a kiss on her ring finger. She giggled at the romantic surprise, looking down at the gold ring.
Margaret then reached forward with David's ring and Christy followed David's example.
"With his ring, I thee wed," Christy said softly. After she slid the ring over his knuckle, she also kissed his finger. When she looked back up at him, he was laughing softly in admiration.
Alice continued, "Those whom God hath joined together, let no man put asunder. Forasmuch as David and Christy have consented together in Holy Wedlock, and have witnessed the same before God and this company of witnesses, and there to have given their pledge, each to the other, and have declared the same by giving and receiving a ring, and by joining hands; by the power vested in me by the State of Tennessee, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You many now kiss your bride."
David beamed, lifted Christy's veil over her head, and took her in his arms. He kissed her, slowly at first, and once she responded, the kiss turned passionate until a few whistles and chuckles rang out through the room. David and Christy then pulled apart, blushes and grins covering both of their faces.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, I now present to you for the very first time, Mr. and Mrs. David Grantland," Alice's voice rang out as David and Christy joined hands, and turned toward the people of Cutter Gap. Applause and cheers rang out through the church. Christy looked up at him and then they made their way up the aisle and out of the church.
Close to midnight, when the reception party was still going on, but beginning to die down, David found Christy standing out on the porch, a lace shawl wrapped around her shoulders. The crisp night air was settling in as David placed a kiss to her forehead. "How are you tonight, Mrs. Grantland?"
"Perfect," Christy breathed out, "Absolutely perfect."
"Are you happy with how the day turned out?" He asked.
"Yes! It was everything I'd ever dreamed it would be. No, actually, it was more. It was better. It was a gift from God."
David smiled. "Yes, it definitely was. Do you know what my favorite part of all of it was?"
"What?"
"Standing before God in that church and promising myself to you, and knowing that there was no other way I'd want to spend the rest of my life than being your husband. I'm yours, Christy. You're mine. We're together. Forever."
Christy wrapped her arms around his waist and smiled up at him, all of the joy and love in the world written across her face. "Oh, is this all a dream? Are you really here with me? Is it really possible to be this happy?"
David smiled, placing kisses all over her face. "It's real, Christy. And it's perfect."
Inside, they could hear a countdown beginning to take place. "Ten! Nine! Eight! Seven! Six! Five! Four! Three! Two! One!" Cheers rang out, and David and Christy laughed softly.
"Merry Christmas, darling," David whispered.
Christy brought his lips down to hers. "Merry Christmas."
"Are you ready to go upstairs?"
"Yes," Christy nodded, a blush rising up to her cheeks.
David reached for her hand, squeezing it and then leading her inside. Just before Christy stepped inside, she looked over her shoulder and out over the star filled sky and moonlit mountains, and her heart whispered a silent prayer of thanks, love, and joy.