Roses and Sonatas [Harvest Moon: Tale of Two Towns]

Chapter 46

Despite my worries the day before, the morning of my wedding day dawned bright and clear. The few white fluffy clouds were scattered across the horizon, the sky was a brilliant, deep blue, and the gentle breeze coming down the mountain smelled like the fall woods. I hurried outside to get through my chores as quickly as possible, but I found Dirk and Kana already there. They'd agreed to tend to my farm while we were away on our honeymoon, but I hadn't expected them to start until tomorrow.

"Get yourself back inside and enjoy a nice, lazy breakfast," Kana said as he and Dirk laughed at my surprised expression. "We've got everything under control out here. Go on now, shoo!"

"Yep, you just go relax and make yourself beautiful for your groom! Well, more beautiful!" Dirk added with his impudent grin as he started towards my fields. With a final wave of dismissal, Kana headed into my barn, so I shrugged and smiled as I turned and headed back into my house.

I made some herbal tea and took a long, hot bath, listening to soft music and sipping my tea as I relaxed. As I finished toweling off afterwards, there was a knock on my door. I quickly pulled on a robe and went to answer it, and found Cam on my doorstep, his arms loaded with boxes full of flowers.

"A very special delivery, ma'am," he said with a grin as he stepped in. "I haven't sorted these all out yet—they're all the flowers for the wedding party, and I wanted to be sure you liked them first before taking them over to the town hall."

I looked the flowers over, and they were beautiful—absolutely perfect. My bouquet was a loose cluster of pale peach roses, ranunculus, and white stock, accented with soft grey-green stems of eucalyptus. "Congratulations, radiance, bonds of affection, and protection," he said with a smile as I examined the bouquet. I smiled back at him and set the flowers back into their holder. The girls' bouquets were the same as mine except with pale peachy-pink stock instead of white, while the men's boutonnieres were a single pale peach rosebud and a tiny stem of eucalyptus. There was also a single rose for me to tuck into my hair, and tucked in the box alongside the bouquets was a small box full of pale peach rose petals for Ying's basket.

"They're gorgeous, Cam! Just what I'd expect from you, of course."

He smiled down at me, saying, "Then if you're happy with them, I'll take them on over." He put his arms around me and held me for a moment, then leaned in and kissed the top of my head, whispering, "You're naked under that thing, aren't you?"

I pushed him back, laughing. "Easy, big fella! There's still a few hours to go!"

He grinned at me as he said, "Yeah, and they'll be the longest few hours of my life!" Then he winked as he tipped his cap to me and headed back out the door, taking the flowers with him. I was still laughing as I closed the door behind him, then I looked around and got to work.

First, I started coffee and dressed in jeans and a sweatshirt. I ate a quick breakfast and washed my dishes, then I whisked around tidying the house. I'd washed all the linens just yesterday, though the damp weather had prevented them from drying very well and they didn't smell as fresh as I liked. I looked outside and considered washing them all over again, then decided there just wasn't time. Instead, I just pulled clean bedding out of the linen closet. It would smell like dried lavender instead of fresh air, but I was okay with that. And besides, Cam loved the scent of lavender.

Just as I finished sweeping the floors, there was another knock at my door. I quickly put the broom and dustpan away, then opened the door. My mother, Yvonne, Georgia, Laney, and Eileen all came crowding in, laughing and giggling, there to escort me to the town hall for our preparations. I pulled on my shoes and coat, and we all gathered up my finery and headed over.