Having finished her letter to John Boy and listening to the grumbles of her stomach Elizabeth bounced down the stairs to see what was for supper. As she rounded the corner of the staircase she couldn't help notice that there was no waft of anything cooking. The sight that met her in the kitchen Erin, Cindy and Toni sitting at the kitchen table with a notebook in front of them. Though it was well after four o'clock it seemed no one had been thinking of food. Wedding plans were taking priority. Not that Elizabeth could complain – it was exciting. The last wedding was Mary Ellen's because Ben eloping with Cindy didn't count.
"We don't need a fuss," Toni was saying.
"Yes you do," Cindy said.
"You only get married once," Erin said.
"Hopefully," Elizabeth interjected with a laugh and they all joined in.
"Flowers, food, dress, guests," Erin said.
"Simple. Please," Toni insisted.
"But it's been so long since we had a party," Erin said.
"Okay, but just a small one," Toni gave in, knowing that arguing for something small was becoming pointless. Neither of them were much for big celebrations.
"What's for supper?" Elizabeth asked, looking around the kitchen. She was right, there were no supper preparations; not what her growling stomach wanted. She considered grabbing an apple but her grandmother's voice echoed in her ear that she'd spoil her appetite.
"It's only us. So I was just going to make some sandwiches. Is that alright?" Cindy asked, turning to smile at her. Elizabeth nodded and decided she was going to start making the sandwiches. She pulled the loaf from the bread basket and began slicing it as her sisters began talking again.
That's what they were. All sisters – Cindy had slipped into the family seamlessly and after a few minor bumps Toni was going to do the same. Elizabeth could admit now she was jealous at first. She didn't have time to be jealous of Cindy. She just appeared. Whereas with Jason and Toni it was a slower process; where she realised she wasn't the preferred company of her brother when he had free time.
After John Boy went to college and then New York the second Walton tried to spend time with his youngest sister. If he wasn't working at the Dew Drop Inn he liked taking Elizabeth to the movies and for ice cream. Mary Ellen and Erin had each other and he was aware that she was too young for them to include all the time.
"How many people do you think there'll be?" Erin asked. Toni flicked through the notebook to the list she'd created that morning.
"Maybe 30?" She said. "It's pretty short notice. Will said they'd come. So did Jean. Then just everyone from the Mountain." Toni was glad her cousin had agreed to come, it made her feel like they were rebuilding that relationship that had disappeared years ago. And her best friend had eagerly said she was coming once she heard the news.
"Is John Boy coming?" Elizabeth asked.
"Jason said he'd call him tonight," Cindy said.
"I hope he can. I wish Mama and Daddy could be here," she said.
"Maybe soon," Erin said, smiling at her little sister.
"Most important thing is we need to go dress shopping," Cindy said.
"Are you going to have a bridesmaid?" Erin asked. Toni shook her head.
"No fuss," she repeated firmly. Neither of them were ones to cause a fuss. Honestly, the two of them in the courthouse would have suited fine, but no one was going to go for that.
"Just a little bit of fuss?" Erin pleaded. Toni sighed.
"Alright," she relented.
"Good," Elizabeth said, joining them at the table with a plate of sandwiches and napkins. No proper dinner meant no properly plates and cutlery in her opinion.
"We'll go dress shopping tomorrow," Cindy grinned.
"I can come at my lunch," Erin said.
"Doesn't JD make you work through lunch?" Elizabeth asked.
"Not tomorrow," her sister said. If she had anything extra to do she'd stay late. But she really doubted it, they were going though a quieter period at the plant and she was not complaining.
"And Reverend Marshall was fine about next week?" Elizabeth asked. Toni nodded.
"He was more than happy," she said. He congratulated them and said that even if he had have been busy he would have changed his plans.
The following afternoon found the five Waltons sitting in the bridal shop in Rockfish. Erin, who had decided to take a half day was wandering around, running her hand over the veils and gowns; completely in her own world. Mary Ellen and Elizabeth were watching her with interest.
"She's dreaming of her wedding to Paul," Elizabeth giggled.
"I think so," Mary Ellen smiled. They were both glad that Erin seemed to have finally found her partner for life.
"What about you and Jonesy?" Elizabeth asked. For all he relationships in the house no one seemed to move very quickly.
"I want to get another year of school done," Mary Ellen answered sensibly. There was no rush, especially when she had John Curtis to consider.
Cindy came out of the changing room and motioned for the three sisters to come over.
"She says she's not sure," Cindy said.
"She's said that about the last three," Erin said with a sigh. And they had all been beautiful even if not Toni's style.
"You're going to run out of dresses to try," Mary Ellen said. She was pretty sure the store didn't keep that many dresses in stock.
"Are you sure it's not too tight?" Toni asked, as Cindy pulled back the curtain to reveal the dark hair girl, who was examining herself in the mirror. She had had a minor panic when getting dressed that morning that her stomach was looking a little rounded. And she was convinced you could notice a non-existent bump in every dress she'd tried on.
"Oh no. I love it," Elizabeth said. Mary Ellen nodded in agreement.
"I think it's perfect," she said.
"It is my favourite," Toni said, looking in the mirror again.
"That's it settled then," Mary Ellen said, standing up. She went to find the salesgirl as Erin carried over a veil.
"And then this," she said, holding it to the back of Toni's head. Cindy nodded, the veil matched perfectly.
"You know I kind of wish me and Ben didn't elope. I never got all of this," she said, thinking of how she never got to wear a white dress or enjoy the preparations. Erin and Toni smiled a little sadly, understanding what she meant.
"Well if you and Ben hadn't been so impulsive," Elizabeth pointed out.
"I don't know why we didn't wait," Cindy admitted.
"Because once Ben wants to do something he does it!" Erin said.
"We need to find all of you dresses now," Toni said, changing the subject and the three girls' faces lit up at the next task.
I hope you're enjoying so far. Let me know what you think.