A Starling's Awakening

A Busy Season

Spring in the Whitaker family is birthday season. Bret's birthday was not the only one. Reuben's is at the end of March, Robert's is in early may, and Audrey has hers in mid-may. Helen wasn't kidding when she told me the family takes birthdays seriously.

Meanwhile, Bret and I were putting together the pieces for our wedding. At least it was going to be a very simple one. We took Barney, Ruby, and Raina to the arboretum.

Barney observed, "You won't need to worry about flowers. All of the bushes, and the flowers along the path will serve that purpose. You won't want to have candles out here."

While shopping for clothes to wear while painting, I found a gown which would be perfect for my wedding dress. It was a white chiffon, v-neck halter. The skirt hung to just above my ankles. Ruby added enough to Raina's card so that she could buy it for me. It was one size too big, so it needed to be modified to fit me better.

Audrey had been a seamstress for herself and her children, so we took it to her on Sunday. She suggested adding elastic at the waist. She suggested white canvas slip-on shoes would be the best for the venue.

Bret and I went to the county courthouse on Monday morning to do the paperwork. Robert and Helen offered to pay for the justice of the peace to perform our ceremony.

We were having lunch at Robert and Helen's on Saturday.

Charles said, "Our nephew, Mark Remington, was recently ordained as a minister. Would you allow me to ask him if he would perform your service?"

Robert was concerned. "It would be his first wedding. Do you kids want to take a risk on a first-timer?" I smiled at Bret.

"Bret and I took a risk with each other, and it worked out."

Bret added, "Mark is family. We've been supportive of him for the last several years. No reason to stop now."

We were working on wedding invitations on Wednesday afternoon.

Raina asked, "Are you going to send one to your parents?"

"They won't come."

"You should send them one, anyway. Let them know you haven't written them off. Keep the door open for them to reach out."

"All right, fine. But don't be surprised if you don't see them at the wedding – Or ever." We mailed the invitations out on Thursday morning on the way to school.

Raina joined us for lunch.

"Elise, have you given any thought to if you want to have any bride's maids?"

"I'm not that sure I want it to be that formal. I was thinking Bret and I would stand between those trees. Everyone else could stand around us. There's no aisle to walk down, and I don't think you could fit any chairs out there."

Brian protested, "Come on, Elise. You need to have at least a maid of honor, so I can be Bret's best man."

Bret asked, "Why do I need a best man?"

"To hold your rings at the ceremony. Besides, if you don't have a best man, who will throw you a bachelor party?" Raina rolled her eyes.

"I suppose you'd get him in trouble?" Brian grinned a smart-aleck grin.

"Who? Me?"

I declared, "I'll do it on one condition – Raina, will you be my maid of honor?" She hugged me.

"How could I say no?"

Brian asked Bret, "Will I have to dance with your baby sister at the reception?" Raina pretended to ignore him.

Audrey called Ruby to tell her my dress was done. Ruby and I drove to her home on Friday evening.

"Wow, Audrey. This is beautiful work."

"I do my best." I changed into the dress. Audrey had added subtle white flowers to the bottom eighteen inches of the skirt. She had a tall oval mirror I was able to see myself in. She also handed me a hand held mirror, so I could see the back.

"Oh my gosh! Audrey, this is perfect. How can I ever thank you?"

"By doing right by my grandson."

On the drive home, Ruby asked, "What sort of veil do you want?"

"I'll have to think about it." Laying in bed that night, I debated how long and wide I wanted my veil to be. I started questioning if I even wanted one.

"Raina, what do you think?"

"Veils are traditional, but your dress sort of isn't."

"I won't be wearing heels with it, either."

"I think you should have something on your head. If not a veil, how about a tiara?" I decided at that moment that I wanted a tiara instead of a veil.

Ruby took Raina shopping for her maid of honor dress a week later. She chose a dark-red sleeveless dress, with gold piping. Meanwhile, Bret and I met with Mark Remington, who would perform our wedding ceremony. Their cousin, Heather, volunteered to be our photographer.

Bret's bachelor party was held at Brian's house. I never found out what they did, but they stayed out of trouble. That same evening, Raina and I went to Kylee's, for a bachelorette party. It was all harmless fun and games. I did have to brag on what a great kisser Bret is.

Raina and I went shopping after school on Monday. We found a silver, tapered wave scroll band tiara. It was only one inch tall. It had rhinestones in it.