Chapter 6

Laurey

"I do" Laurey beamed at her husband the way she knew a bride ought to. Jud gave her a delicate peck on the lips and she felt an illicit thrill at the fact that people were watching. It was a very small wedding, just Aunt Eller, Ado Annie, Mr. Carnes, and Will Parker, but still, that was four people watching her kiss Jud for the first time as his wife. Four people who knew just what they were going to do that night. Not counting the preacher, and preachers weren't supposed to think of such things.

The ceremony was finished, so after a moment of hesitation, Aunt Eller headed into the kitchen to finish making lunch, and the men drifted together as Ado Annie grabbed Laurey's hand and pulled her outside.

"I'm so happy for you! And you look so pretty!" She threw her arms around her.

"I know" she spun around, the added lace on her dress making it look brand-new. "I just…I can't believe I'm married!" It felt all right to brag like that, since Ado Annie had Will. "It's everythin' I wanted" she added, punch drunk with excitement and trepidation. "I used to be scared I'd never even have a sweetheart. But, I guess I don't have to worry about that no more."

Ado Annie giggled. "No, now you're a married lady with a feller who loves her. That's just about the best any woman can do. I'm sorry you ain't goin' on a honeymoon, though. Know how much you'd like to see new places. And you know, if you two wanted to spend a night or two in the hotel in Catoosie, I could always loan you—"

Laurey shook her head. "No, I-I think I'd rather stay on the farm. Still wouldn't feel safe stayin' anywhere else, least not for a while."

Ado Annie sighed and gave her a hug. "I know, I'm sorry. But a weddin' night's a weddin' night, no matter where you spend it. You, uh, how're you feelin' about that? You've never…before, have you?" She whispered conspiratorially.

"No, I'm a…I ain't ever. I'm a little scared" Laurey confessed. "I just don't know what to do, and supposin' I do it wrong…"

"Laurey, you're the girl; first time, you just gotta lie there. Can learn all the fancy things later."

"Just lie there?"

"Yeah."

"Don't it hurt?"

"Hurts some the first time. But you get used to it. 'M sure Jud's gonna make it nice for you. Ask him to start with his fingers if it's too much for you, I had to do that my first time and it made all the difference, it'll kinda loosen you up."

Laurey nodded, able to guess at her friend's meaning. She wished she could ask so much more, wished she could ask what kinds of things made it nice, what made it fancy, but she knew asking for details where anyone could walk outside and overhear them was risky. Besides, it wasn't right for a girl to learn all those details from a friend.

She wondered if her mother were still alive if she would share everything a girl was supposed to know, or if she would keep her in the dark as much as Aunt Eller did. "Is it…" she reached for a word "mostly fun, or is it excitin', or scary, or…how's it feel?"

Ado Annie shrugged. "Depends on the boy. Different boys make you feel different ways when you're doin' it. But usually it ain't much of a surprise. You know, if you like a boy because he's excitin', it'll probably feel exictin', if you like a boy because sweet, it'll probably be all nice and gentle."

"Oh. That makes sense, I guess" Laurey supposed she liked Jud because he made her feel safe, but it seemed impossible for lovemaking to feel safe, at least not at first, not when she was so scared.

"And it's supposed to feel good. So, if it don't feel good, you gotta tell him so, and he'll do somethin' else instead."

"All right."

The smell of lunch lured them back towards the house. "Oh, and the most important thing—don't laugh if it's small."

Laurey giggled as they walked back into the house, where her husband waited for her.