NO ENGAGEMENT RING

Chapter 15

The first thing he did after she left him alone was to thank God profusely for intervening

and making it all possible. Thereafter, he phoned his mother to tell her the good news. Emily

was over the moon. Setting a date for them to dine together as a celebration of the good news

was inevitable and non-negotiable. He wondered if Hannah would be ready for that. Before

hanging up though, he made Emily promise not to spread the word just yet. Reluctantly, she

promised.

As soon as Hannah got home, Emily waylaid her. "I heard the good news!" Emily burst

out excitedly taking Hannah by surprise.

"You and Jonathan must come to dinner tomorrow night to celebrate," she continued

without waiting for a response from Hannah. She also didn't give Hannah a chance to decline

the dinner invitation. Overwhelmed, Hannah just nodded.

"Have you notified your parents?" Emily asked curiously.

"Er, not yet. Going to phone them now," she managed finally.

"Oh, sorry, yes! Forgive me. There's so much I would like to ask but that can wait until

you are finished or even tomorrow." Emily let her go.

Making the call to her parents was relieving for both sides. They were delighted with the

news but cautious about the preparations.

"Honey, are you okay with going through this again?" her mother asked cautiously.

"I think so mum," Hannah replied calmly.

"Your dad and I have known for a while," Elizabeth confessed quietly.

"I heard," Hannah said without condemnation.

"We know this is what God wants for you," Elizabeth encouraged, with tears in her voice.

"I knew the moment I set eyes on the two of you in the same room," Elizabeth was ardent.

"Anyway, we have a wedding to plan in such a short time."

"Nothing fancy, mum," Hannah commissioned.

"Off course dearest," Elizabeth scoffed.

"And mum?" Hannah said hesitantly.

'"Yes, darling?" Elizabeth encouraged.

"Can I use grandma's wedding dress?" Hannah's voice held uncertainty.

"Baby, is that what you want?" Her mother's tone was pending.

"Yes, it is!" Hannah said with conviction.

"Then that's what you must wear. Off course we will have to alter it a bit but I don't think

it would be too difficult. I will need to send it to you for fitting. Let me see what will be the

best way to do that."

Hannah was relieved her mother didn't talk her out of wearing her grandmother's wedding

gown. Old fashioned though it might seem, Hannah didn't care. It would need a slight change

here and there but Hannah could still picture how beautiful it was in her eyes, when she first

saw it.

Her mind wandered to the day when her mother was airing out the attic and found the

dress in a bag – well preserved. The silk was still white and the simplicity of the style was