Sara ate as much as she could, but most of it was wasted. Aunt Catherine put most of the leftovers in a basket for Gil and Sara to take home. When Gil stepped out to speak to Uncle Jim, Aunt Catherine took her into the sitting room to talk.
"Are you feeling alright?" her aunt asked her.
"Yes, I am," Sara replied.
Aunt Catherine smiled. "It hurts a little the first few times," she said.
Sara looked at her aunt in astonishment. Having her mention it was embarrassing and made her blush. She had been told about men and women a few times, but hearing that it hurt made beads of sweat pop out on her forehead. Suddenly, she didn't want to be married. She wanted to go to Reverend Tucker and have him undo it, but she knew it didn't happen that way and divorce was shameful. Not to mention that Gil would be hurt.
"I am sure I will be fine," Sara managed to say.
Aunt Catherine smiled. "If a woman marries a man that she loves then everything will turn out fine," she said.
She heard the front door open and Gil knocked on the door to the sitting room. He opened it and stuck his head in.
"Are you ready, dear?" he asked.
Sara said that she was and they said goodbye to everyone. Uncle Jim gave them a wedding present in the form of a wind up clock. It looked like it cost a great deal because it had a pendulum. With their new gift the walked towards their new home together. Her other trunk was there waiting for her.
"Are you feeling well?" Gil asked. "You're very quiet."
Sara nodded. "I ate too much," she said.
Gil knew this was untrue because he had been watching her during the meal and she had hardly touched her food. He knew what she was nervous about, but didn't say it. He opened the front door for her, but when Sara tried to enter he stopped her. He put one of his arms under her legs and lifted her up in one powerful motion. Sara laughed as she felt herself being lifted up. Gil's arms were strong around her and she felt on top of the world. He carried her over the threshold and set her back on her feet once they were inside.
"Welcome home," he said with a smile.
Sara couldn't do anything but blush. Gil kissed her on the lips and she felt herself melting. She wanted him to touch her, but she didn't feel relaxed. Gil felt her tension and stepped back to look at her.
"I won't ever hurt you," he said.
Sara looked at her feet. "I know you won't hurt me," she said.
Sara took the clock she had been holding and looked for a place to set it. She knew she was stalling, but what else could she do. Gil gently took the clock from her and hung it on a nail that was sticking out of the wall.
"I think it looks nice there," Sara said as she picked up the basket of food and took it to the pantry.
Gil watched Sara as she moved about the little house.. His first wedding night hadn't been like this. Abigail, his first wife, had gotten it over with and it really didn't feel special to him. The way Sara was acting gave him a challenge. He wanted to put her at ease first.
"Sara," he said. "do you want to take a walk?"
Sara nodded and took his arm. They stepped out the back door and walked around the house to the dirt road. Along the road the black-eyed Susan's were waving in the breeze. Sara adjusted her hat as they walked and gazed at the beautiful day that God had made just for them.
"Gil, can ask you something?" Sara asked.
"You can ask me whatever you want to," he answered her.
Sara smiled. "What was your first wife like? I mean, how come she divorced you?" she asked.
"I suppose that was something we should have talked about. I hope you don't think less of me," he said. "I thought I had been in love, but I was just in love with the thought of love. Abby was the daughter of a wealthy man and they were loosing their funds. I had been smitten with her and I believe she played on my admiration so she could marry me for money."
"That's doesn't sound honorable," Sara commented.
"I wanted children and she didn't. We fought about it for a while and then one day I came home to find her gone. I hoped she would come home, but she never did. I suppose it may have been wrong of me, but I filed for divorce on the grounds of adultery," he said. "I was allowed to remarry."
"I hope we don't divorce," Sara said before she caught herself.
Gil laughed. "I agree," he said.
Sara leaned her head on his arm as they walked and she felt that it was strong. She couldn't understand why someone would hurt a man like Gil.
"I'll never hurt you either," she said.
Gil stopped and turned to his new wife. "Lets go back home," he said.
Sara didn't know how to reply. She knew that it was a wife's duty to honor her husband, but she was afraid. She got a sudden burst of courage and nodded. She wanted to love him physically, because she loved him in her heart. Along the way home Sara made comments on the flowers and pointed out a few animals.
"Isn't it a pretty sunset?" Sara said.
Gil nodded. "It is beautiful," he agreed.
When they reached home again, Gil let Sara to herself. She dug her knitting out of her trunk and settled down in her rocking chair. Gil lit his pipe and opened a book. Every now and then he glanced at the time. When the sun had sunk lower Sara warmed up some leftovers and they ate at the table. Sara found that her appetite had come back and the knots in her stomach had loosened. Gil took note that she was more settled and he smiled.
"I suppose it must be nearly time to turn in," Sara said as she cleared the table.
Gil nodded and started to clean his pipe out. Sara rinsed the dishes, dried them, and set them on the dish shelf that Gil had made for her. Gil stepped out of the house for a moment and Sara took this time to step into the bedroom. She knew that Gil would have to see her undress one day, but she would rather have that day come later rather than sooner. She untied her dress and she hung it on one of the nails that was used for clothing, Then she took off her stay and hoop-skirts and set them in her trunk. She hurried with her undressing because she feared that Gil would walk in and see her naked. Finally, she slipped her gown over her head and climbed into bed.
"It'll be fine," she told herself as she waited for Gil to come in.
Moments passed and Gil did not enter the room. Worried that something had happened to him, Sara went to check on him. Keeping in mind that she was in her gown, she opened the bedroom door and saw that the big room was empty. This puzzled Sara, so she walked to the back door to look for him. Gil was standing close to the door, watching something out in the distance.
"What in the world…" Sara thought as she opened the door.
Gil looked back when the door opened and he smiled. "Fireflies," he said turning back to gaze out into the darkness. Sara followed his gaze and saw what he had been looking at. It was a mass of fireflies, blinking on and off as if they were speaking to each other. She had seen fireflies before, but this spectacle look like a gift that God wanted her to see. It was truly beautiful to see.
"It's beautiful," she commented as she stepped out.
The air that had grown cooler and her body became chilled, but not cold. Goosebumps broke out along her skin and even on her most intimate parts. She put her hand on Gil's arm and laid her head on his shoulder.
"Let's go back in," she said in a voice she had never used before. "It's getting chilly."
Gil nodded and Sara led him into the house. There was an expression his face that told her that he too may have been nervous as well. As they were heading back into the bedroom Gil put his hand on the lowest part of her back and it sent a shiver up her backbone. His hand felt warm through her nightgown and it felt right. As soon as the door clicked shut, Gil pulled her close and kissed her deeply. This kiss was different then ones they had shared before. This one was full of passion as well as love. Gil scooped Sara up in his arms and carried her to bed.
~0~
The next morning Sara awoke beside her new husband. Gil had been gentle with Sara and she found herself at ease with him.
"The first day as Mrs. Grissom," she said to herself as she slipped out of bed.
For their breakfast she scrambled eggs and made buttery biscuits. She would have liked to have made hotcakes for breakfast, but she was afraid that it would take too long. They had slept until nine and she knew that most of the day was almost over. Gil opened the bedroom door, dressed in his nightshirt and trousers, and breathed in the smell of breakfast.
"Everything smells great," he commented as he kissed Sara on the neck and sat down to eat.
To her surprise the breakfast had turned out well. It was her first as a new wife and she wanted to please him. As soon as they were done eating, and Gil was drinking his coffee, Sara washed the dishes and swept the floor.
"Do you have anything you need to do today?" She asked him.
Gil nodded. " I am going to go hear the news from Nick and then I need to go see about a dog," he said.
Sara couldn't hide her excitement. She wondered weather Gil was going to get a big dog or a small one. A boy or a girl.
"I figure I'll just read," Sara said.
So it was settled. After Gil left, Sara pulled her rocking chair over to the window and opened her book. After a few moments she became lost in the world of animals. She read stories about bears and wildcats and even fish! Soon Gil returned with a wiggling sack and Sara hurried over to see what he had brought back.
"He is a rascal!" Gil said as he opened the sack and pulled out a brown ball of fur.
Sara tilted her head sideways and wrinkled her nose. It was positively the weirdest dog she had ever seen in her life.
"What kind is it?" She asked.
"It's a boxer," Gil said, picking it up.
Sara held it's head still and looked into it's big dark eyes. It had a dopey look about it and floppy ears. She gave it a pet and it's fur was as soft as velvet.
"It is a boy or a girl," Sara asked.
"It's a boy," Gil said.
"Oh," Sara said. "does he have a name?" she asked.
Gil shook his head. " We will have to name him," he said.
Sara thought and thought. "How about Brown Dog?" she said.
Gil shook his head. "That name doesn't have character," he said
Throughout the day, Sara and Gil tried the name the little dog. When Sara set down a plate of scraps for him, he devoured them. Gil took some spare boards and some nails and made him a dog house. Sara wanted him to sleep in the house, but the house was too small for her, Gil, and an animal. That night Sara and Gil loved each other again. As Sara was going to sleep, she remembered that Gil had spoken to Nick. How long did he have before he had to leave?
~0~
The next day, Sara was eager to play with her new dog. Brown Dog ( a temporary name) was happy to see her and brought her a stick to throw almost immediately.
"You are a clever dog," Sara said as she took the stick and threw it.
Gil had gone before she had gotten out of bed. She hated that it was only the second day into their marriage and he was already working hard. She told herself that she was going to have to get up earlier and have his breakfast ready. The day went by slower then ever. Aunt Catherine came up from her house to have lunch with her and they both played with the new dog. John got to playing roughly with it, so the ladies went into the house to sit. Her family didn't stay long and soon they left. Aunt Catherine appeared to have something on her mind, but didn't say what it was. After she was alone again, Brown Dog settled down to sleep and Sara looked for things to do. For an hour she knitted a pair of socks, then she worked on a quilt. The hour hands of her wedding clock seemed to go slow and the sun seemed to be stuck in the same place. Finally, Gil came over the hill and the day was over. Sara put away her sewing and went to hear about his day.
"I have something I must tell you," he said, first thing.
Sara bit her lip. "Is it about you leaving?" she asked.
Gil nodded. "I talked to Nick and he said the troops are going to be in Stoney Point in July," he explained. "it is my duty to go back to them."
Sara felt her heart sink. She wanted to kick and stomp and tell Gil that he was going to stay home with her. But Gil was her husband and he knew what was best.
"We have the dog and locks for the doors. You should be safe, but if you don't feel comfortable alone you should stay with your aunt and uncle," Gil said.
Sara nodded. "I will miss you while you are away," she said to him.
Gil pulled her into a hug and held her close. "I will too," he said.