Haunted Love

Chapter 19 Part 21

Epilogue

A beautiful fall day in October

Orange...everything was decorated with different shades of orange with a few touches of brown, green, and yellow thrown in to keep things interesting.

Harsherry roses, sunflowers, and helenium blooms with hanging ivy made up the bouquet in the hands of the bride. Lights hung from trees in colorful jars held in place by beaded strings. Round tables with white cloths and centerpieces made from burlap and small pumpkins filled with mums had been set up along the backyard. People sat in the lovely chairs with orange bows and waited patiently for the bride to walk down the aisle on the arm of her father.

A small band sat beneath a white canopy and candles that smelled like baked apple pie were lit and placed on several small pedestals, letting their delicious scent waver over the small crowd that had gathered to watch Thane and Lindsey get married.

Joan and Martha sat at a table near the front of the yard, waiting and watching with anxious, tear filled eyes for Lindsey and Elijah to make their way to the beautifully decorated arch where Thane stood with John, his best man.

The cool air felt cleansing, as if it too knew that it was the beginning of something spectacular. Leaves floated to earth around them and birds called to each other in beautiful song. A three tiered cake with stunning orange roses was waiting to be cut...and since it is an October wedding, the bride and groom cake-topper were miniature ghosts in a tux and a wedding gown.

Joan had nearly fainted when she had seen the cake-topper that Lindsey had requested, but even she couldn't stay upset on the day she was giving her only daughter away...especially since Lindsey had finally told her where the emerald necklace was hidden. It was now snuggly around Joan's neck and on display.

"Are you ready to become Missus Thane Wilson, honey?"

Lindsey took a deep breath and smiled as she ran a hand across the beaded gown she wore. It was simple, with a train that attached to the shoulders and trailed behind here in sheer glory. Her feet were bare but her toenails were painted a bright tangerine for her special day. She had a pearl necklace that had a blue tint that belonged to her grandmother, a new, shiny penny in her garter for good luck, and a pair of tear drop diamond earrings she had borrowed from her mother.

"I feel like I have been ready forever."

Elijah kissed her cheek softly and had to wipe at his eyes. "Let me make sure everyone is set to go and I will come back and give you away." He brushed a stray hair from her eyes and gave a watery smile, "I can't believe you are all grown up. When did that happen?"

Lindsey gave him a quick hug and stood up on tiptoe to whisper in his ear, "It was when you blinked dad."

He nodded and walked away as he wiped at his unruly tears. He readjusted his black bowtie before walking outside to check on everyone's position. A man always had to look his best...or get nagged by his wife.

There were no ushers or fancy caterers, to Joan's horror. The food line would be self serve and the wedding photographer was a friend of Thane, not some high-class business man that charged and arm and leg. There was an announcement in the local paper, but personalized invitations had been delivered to fifty friends and family. It was a small, intimate affair and it was exactly what the bride and groom dreamed of.

Penny was Lindsey's invisible Maid of Honor, even if her name was never mentioned in public. The ghostly ladies from the weekly tea-parties were there, sitting in their favorite spot amongst the flowers. Luke's grandmother even managed to attend, on the arm of William Applegate. Everything was perfect...almost.