And Peggy

The start of a new chapter

In the weeks leading up to it, everyone is in a tizzy about the wedding. People rush around asking for my opinion on decorations, cake, invites and the dress. We are all desperately cleaning the house since the wedding will be held here and poor Amelia is cooking up a storm.

I hardly see Stephan in these weeks. Our families have a few dinners together so that we get to know each other and so that the parents can make wedding decisions. But I can't be myself around all the adults, I must show proper decorum.

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I am thrilled to hear that both Angelica and Eliza will be attending my wedding. I have decided that they will both be my maids of honour and Penny and Eden will be my bridesmaids.

But something weird has been happening in the lead up to the wedding. Everywhere I look, I see John's face. Obviously John is dead so I don't really see him. But when I look at someone, it's his that I see instead of Stephan's or Hannah's. Just for a millisecond, but I still see it.

Angelica arrives two weeks before the wedding. Stephan and I are discussing the cake when I hear the carriage pull up. I start shrieking and run outside to meet her.

That's when it first happens. It's not Angie who I first see. It's John. "It's the stress of the wedding" I think.

Then Angelica's face comes into view. She looks paler and there are wrinkles on her forehead. She looks older and more mature. Despite this she still smiles and hugs me tightly.

"Congratulations!" She squeals to me.
"John Church couldn't come, sorry. He had important work meetings to attend to."
I don't mind. I don't really want a strange man who I've never met at my wedding.
Stephan strides out of the house to check out the commotion.
When he sees Angelica, he smiles and links arms with me.

"Welcome to the family!" Angelica embraces him then the she steps back and admires him.
"Well done little sis. You've done well."

I roll my eyes at her so Stephan knows she's joking.

Eliza arrives two days later Stephan isn't here at the time but Angelica and I burst through the Schuyler mansion doors and start shrieking like a flock of birds. And it happens again. John. In Eliza's blue dress. I blink extra hard and there in the flesh is my sister Eliza once again. "I must be hallucinating" I think.

"It's been so long!" Angelica sighs.
"It's a Schuyler reunion!" I yell excitedly.

Alex had to stay home to look after baby Phillip.

Stephan's relatives arrive over the next three days and finally we can organise roles in the wedding.

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We are all crowded around the living room. Schuylers on one side, Rensselaers on the other. Penny and Eden and their dates are also here.
"So thank you everyone for attending this special meeting. As you know, we need to assign roles and positions for the wedding of Stephan and I." I start.

"So, without further ado," Stephan says. "William, you'll be my best man." He turns to Penny's date.
The two had gotten on well at mother and father's birthday ball and were now quite good friends.
William smile and nods in acceptance.

"Penny and Eden," I turn to my friends. "You'll be my bridesmaids."
They both start squealing and waving their hands around. I take that as an acceptance.

Stephan then crouches down so that he is at eye level with his ten year old twin cousins James and Jane.

"James, I would be honoured if you would be my ring bearer."
He says to the boy who nods solemnly. Then Stephan turns to the girl.
"And Jane, would you like to be the flower girl?"
The little girl nods vigorously and giggles. Stephan smiles at her and ruffles her hair, making her laugh even more.
I can't help but grin. He's so good with kids.