A New Beginning

Chapter 69: Going to Get Married

Chapter 69: Going to Get Married

Church bells ring merrily announcing that the ceremony would be starting soon. The trees outside have turned wonderful colours of red, orange, and yellow, setting a vivid and quaint background for this double wedding. Patrons from all the walks of life, dressed in their very best, are entering the church, greeting friends, and family members, as well as becoming acquainted with new ones.

Molly Brown pulls up in her black car and helps Wendy out of the back it, dressed in her nicest gown, Tommy soon follows behind in a tuxedo. The heiress' chauffeur goes to park the car while the passengers walk towards the church, which was decorated with beautiful flowers and lively decorations, all homemade. The male of the group offers his arms for both the ladies and begins to escort them to the front doors. Molly had insisted on helping both find suitable attire for this occasion. She'd done it for Jack once before and was more than happy to do it again. After both insisted that the heiress not to buy them formal wear, but she did manage to find clothing from both her children's wardrobe that fit them well enough. The "unsinkable" woman did insist on driving the couple to the wedding instead of having them take the bus to the church.

Wendy is very excited and happy for her friend Rose. She hopes one day that she and Tommy could get married in a church, maybe not as extravagant, but simply done. She also knew she could write about this unusual wedding for her book and hopefully hear a few more stories to write about.

At the door to the church, Father Bill greets each of the guests with a smile and a warm handshake. Next to him stands the mother of one of the brides, Ruth DeWitt Bukater, dressed in a simple, but a very pleasant floral dress and hat. When she sees Molly Brown, she gives the woman a hug, very out of character for the seemingly stiff upper-lipped woman. She chatted with the only woman from first class whom she could still call a friend. She also greeted Wendy like a friend, not a former servant.

Ruth's transformation impressed Molly Brown; she actually thought that losing their fortune was the best thing to ever happen to DeWitt Bukaters. They seemed to be much happier and free to be themselves. She also thought that today was not about class or how fancy the party was, but everyone being equals to celebrate this wondrous occasion.

Mr. Calvert drives up to the church and greets the woman he's courting with a nice kiss on the cheek.

"Just think, this might be us someday," he whispers with a mischievous wink.

"In due time, Henry, but today it's all about Rose."

The private investigator goes on to meet other guests.

Peter's parents; John, and Talia Whitman, had come from West Virginia just a few days before, staying at Holly and Carl's house, along with Holly's twin, Halley, and Peter's brother, Joseph. They were the only parents of the grooms there. They receive much thanks and praise about their son from co-workers and were asked about how happy they must be for their him. They had become acquainted with Ruth as she was the only other parent to meet and took a fair liking to her, but they could still sense the first-class behaviour inside of her. At least, she saw them as equals, not lowly farmers.

Meanwhile, Holly is doing her best to keep Thomas in line. Her rambunctious four-year-old was anything but calm or quiet. He complained that morning about having to wear the suit and tie and now he was running all around the church, with his mother struggling to chase after him in her dress. He thought that this was a fun game of hide-and-seek, going behind pillars and statues with his mother in pursuit. She slips in her heels several times trying to catch him. She finally caught him behind a statue of St. Thomas (ironically) and he began to get restless, fighting her grasp. Finally, Jack came to her rescue and gave the kid some pencils and paper to draw with.

Jack Dawson had become very close with Thomas over the past few weeks during all the wedding planning. He adored the young child's enthusiasm and wonder at the world. He was often reminded of little Cora. He began showing Thomas how to draw as the boy showed interest in the pictures that the sketch artist was making. The four-year-old particularly liked drawing trucks and other cars, instead of people, but Jack made it work to bond with the boy. Jack and Rose were close with the young child and felt like it was practice for when their own baby came.

Carl carries Sybil around the church to keep her calm and clean. The tiny tot contended on crawling everywhere now, but on Ruth's insistence that they keep the infant's dress clean until after the ceremony, so he was dealing with a restless child. Sybil is dressed in a small white gown with pink trimming and a rose sash around the center. She wore a small matching pink headband in her blonde hair, which she was not particularly pleased about wearing on her small head. Several times Holly had to wrestle the headpiece from the tot's mouth and clean it off. Her feet had small white shoes that kicked incessantly with distaste of having to be carried. She was also gaining another tooth and screeched often in annoyance.

Jack and Peter wait close to the front of the church, re-adjusting their ties and swallowing hard.

"Do you feel ready?" Peter asks, as his compatriot paces in front of the altar.

"I should be, Rose is the one for me there's no doubt about it. So why am I so nervous? Were you like this that night on Titanic?"

"Yes, I was, but I also felt ready. I knew that I loved Emma and I'd do anything to make her happy. I knew she and I were destined to be together. We never hesitated or strayed away from our love and that wedding was a way to prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that this was true. Emma also wanted a fresh start for when we returned to America, leave the past behind and start anew. I know this applies to you and Rose as well. You two have been through a lot and your love never wavered, did it?"

"No."

"Then that is the reassurance you need to know that you and Rose are meant to live a happy life together."

Jack stops pacing and stands next to Peter.

"Thanks, Peter, you always know just what to say."

"Just doing what a best man/groom does," he chuckles.

...

Unbeknownst to any of the happy wedding guests, a few shadowed figures had parked their car at the rear entrance of the church, off to the side so they would not be seen.

"Are you sure he only wants the girl?" one of the men asks.

"He was very clear about it and we do whatever it takes to get her."