Elsie

Chapter 21: A Wedding

Elmsdale buzzed with activity on New Year's morning. Lois and Verda were preparing the wedding feast, Nora was adding the finishing touches to the parlor décor with the aid of Mr. Lane, Adam was pacing around the mansion like a lunatic, and Elsie was ready to surprise Hannah with the dress. It wasn't the most exquisite dress in the world, but she had spent tedious hours sewing each stitch with diligent care.

"Hannah," Elsie took the other girl's hand in her own, "there's something that I want to show you."

"Is this another ploy to keep Adam from seeing me before the wedding?" Hannah giggled.

"Not this time," Elsie grinned, dragging Hannah into her room. She stepped aside and waited nervously, wringing her hands.

Hannah's expression gave nothing away. She simply stared at the dress.

"I know it's not very fancy," Elsie began babbling, "and if you don't want to wear it, you don't have to. I just wanted everything to be perfect for your wedding day."

Hannah's head rotated slowly towards Elsie. "This... this dress is for me?"

Elsie nodded.

Hannah took three steps and stood next to the bed, examining every detail carefully. "Did you make this, Elsie?"

Elsie nodded again, biting her lip in anticipation.

"Elsie, this dress... it's too beautiful! I am afraid to touch it." Hannah's hands covered her cheeks in amazement.

Elsie blew out a sigh of relief. "Oh, I'm so glad you think so," she finally smiled. "But you can certainly touch it!"

To prove her point, Elsie took up the dress in her arms and held it to Hannah's shoulders.

"I thought this color would look dazzling on you," Elsie smiled, "and I was right!"

Hannah's dark skin contrasted beautifully with the pale pink of the fabric. Just as Elsie was about to speak again, a drop of liquid fell onto the bustline of the dress. Elsie glanced up sharply and found that Hannah was crying.

"Oh, Hannah!" she quickly dropped the dress on the bed and hugged her friend. "Don't cry!"

"It's just so beautiful," Hannah sobbed. "I've never had anything so gorgeous. I've never had anyone do something like this for me."

Hannah gripped Elsie tightly, and Elsie felt her own eyes well up with unshed tears.

"Now, now, we mustn't cry!" she released Hannah and wiped her cheeks. "We will make a mess of our faces, and we can't have that on your wedding day!"

Hannah giggled at Elsie's outburst, and wiped her own tears away with a smile.

"Would you like to try it on?" Elsie asked. "I got your measurements from Nora, and I tried it on myself once for reference, so I hope it fits. If it's a little loose, I have some pins."

Elsie helped Hannah into the dress, buttoning up the back. To her utter delight, it fit like a glove.

Gazing at herself in the mirror, Hannah teared up all over again. "Thank you, Elsie. This is... it's beautiful."

"Adam is going to faint when he sees you!" Elsie grinned mischievously, earning a very unladylike snort from her friend.

"I hope not!" Hannah laughed.

The parson arrived in the late afternoon. The men waited in the parlor while the women attended to Hannah. Lois and Verda, Nora, and Elsie entered the parlor first, taking their place to the side. The parlor looked magnificent. Candles burned all about the room: across the mantle, on every end table, in all the window sills, and on the floor by the fireplace. Blush pink sashes were draped in the doorframe, over tables, and under the mantle.