Taylor Family Legacy

Chapter 1

           The dress was white, starchy, and her mother had sewn it for her.

          It was perspicuous that the dress was put together with care, tenderness, and eagerness for what the future would hold. Each stitch kept in mind the young woman, scarcely more than a girl, with the big brown doe-eyes that peered back at me with astonishment, amazement, and curiosity. We sat on opposite sides of the pew with our respective families, hers all in a hushed whisper as they stole glances to me and my kin while mine was just relieved to be there. Doe-eyes was the worst with the stolen looks, her eyes probing my face and taking in my features. I could feel the yearning for my approval, a peak back at her, any sort of acknowledgment to come her way. She seeked my approval as her almost husband, wed in holy matrimony.

          Pathetic.

          My mother lightly touched my shoulder, leaning in close to my ear. "At least she's pretty. Her name is Mabel Sawyer."

          She wasn't necessarily wrong. The girl wasn't a sight to disregard. I was sure that in some other life lived we might have met organically and I would have fallen for her or at least mingled with her. Unfortunately for me, and unfortunately for Mabel, this was not the case. In fact, quite the opposite. I did not want to get married, and I especially did not want to marry Mabel Sawyer.

          The wedding was arranged and strategic. My mother and father had married off my older brother Joseph a few years prior to a fisherman's daughter. It was time to get rid of me as well. They met the farmer responsible for Mabel's creation in the town market. Lucky for me, he had no other children besides a daughter, and couldn't possibly leave his property to a woman. Lucky for my parents, I was an unwed man who could benefit from a small farm. Allegedly, of course.

          There was nothing about farm life that exhilarated me. The animals, the gardening, the child rearing especially, all repulsed me. The thought of my fingers digging into the earth to create life in the form of vegetables and herbs made me crawl in my skin. The thought of breeding to bring on a new generation made me nauseated. The thought of kissing the poor girl who didn't know what kind of person she was being given to made me want to weep. I wasn't convinced that the weeping was for her.

          None of what I wanted mattered. That was made more apparent when the priest rushed into the room, apologizing to both sets of parents for his lack of punctuality. We were both ushered to the altar made of creaky, old wood. Unable to focus on the ceremonial words that would join us, I focused on Mabel's face. Freckled and sun-kissed, her cheeks were rosy as she excitedly shifted her gaze back and forth from the priest to me in anticipation. She couldn't be more than a teenager. My frame bested hers easily. I could corner her in a room, give her no place to run, to hide, I wanted to run, to hide-

          "I do." Mabel confirmed, her voice like honey dripping from her lips. What sweeter taste could come from someone so hopeful? I failed to notice the wedding band slipped over my finger, and the one I slipped over hers. Robotic motions that failed to penetrate my thoughts.

          The priest stared at me expectantly. I nodded, paused, and nodded again. "I do." I could feel my parents sigh in relief, approval radiating towards my direction. I phased out of the room again for a brief moment before clapping and cheers of happiness yanked me back into existence. Mabel was staring at me fervently. It took me a moment to realize what she was waiting for. A kiss to seal our vows.

          I obliged. I kissed the stranger and although I did not know her, I would be lying if I said I didn't enjoy it at least a little. She was soft in appearance and in touch. I cupped her face in my hands mostly to sell the image to our families, and a little bit out of reaction. Mabel Sawyer became Mabel Taylor in my palms.