The Homecoming Bride

Chapter Seventeen: Dog Days Are Over

CHAPTER SONG: "Dog Days Are Over" by Florence + the Machine

The marriage reception for the newlyweds William Schofield and Emmanuelle Hunterson-Schofield was arranged at the local Surrey village lodge; after war had been declared, such a traditional setting had not been used since the townspeople had gathered together for a dance to send off all the local boys who had enlisted in the British Army and were about to be shipped off for their service.

Will possessed bittersweet memories of that evening before he himself had first departed for France.

The masked smiles of his fellow comrades, the naïve facades of patriotic confidence for their loved ones, the shining, pitiful eyes of a faceless lady he had danced with. He didn't even remember what she had looked like or the sound of her voice, just a phantom maiden of his past, a passing dalliance just to soothe the sting of romantic loneliness.

But that was all ancient history as the married soldier walked hand in hand with his wonderful bride beside him toward the dance hall, the joyous roar of laughter and music floating in the air.

All their dearest friends and loved ones awaited their arrival...

Will looked up to see the sun beginning to dip into the sky with the approaching evening, the golden lined clouds blending into the blue atmosphere.

It truly was a magnificent visual...

But in his eyes, his wife was the true beauty beside him.

Out of all the men she could have called her own, in body and heart, she had chosen him.

His Emmy...

Her hand clasped in his own, feeling her wedding band and the Schofield heirloom engagement ring on her finger gave an electrical thrill through his veins as he heard her soft gasping for breath and he led her toward the lodge.

The soldier saw there was nobody else around as he realized they had an opportunity to finally be alone for a moment, to take in this instance together as an officially married couple.

He stopped in his tracks as Emmy noticed he gently kept hold of her hand and she turned to face him. Her wedding veil cascaded gracefully behind her head and followed the length of her back, the ivory and pink blossom skirt of her gown swirling around her legs, giving the uncanny similarity of a winged angel descending from the heavens to watch over him.

Her inquisitive and concerned green eyes met his as she placed her hands on his shoulders, standing on her tiptoes to meet his statuesque height.

"Will... baby, are you okay? Everyone's waiting for us." She reached up to touch his cheek, her other hand carefully removing his parade hat from his head to smoothe out his awry waves of brown hair.

"I...I'm alright, my love." He gulped down a breath to reassure her, his fingertips grazing the webbed fabric of her veil as he placed his scarred hand on her warm cheek. "I... I just wanted to take this moment alone with you before we go in there. Part of me feels like I'm in a dream... and I just want to feel you with me here and now."

Emmy's free hand reached behind his neck to lovingly tickle his nape, starlight in her eyes as she smiled up at him. "I feel you, Will. I've felt you since the day we first met and I'll always feel you with me."

He closed his eyes for a second, leaning down to touch his forehead to hers, an adoring smile forming at his lips as a burst of ecstatic happiness overwhelmed his soul. Bending down further, he carefully swept his arm underneath Emmy's knees and his other arm against her back, mindful not to snag the veil fastened to her head, and he chuckled at her startled squeal.