The Rise of the Beldam

Judy's Wedding, Summer 1870

Four year later, the Coleman sisters stayed their same, poised selves, but had changed at the same time. Florence had fallen deeply in love with Charles Garner and he had fallen in love with her. Judy and William were getting married in the beginning of June this year. Judy was even more beautiful now. She wore her hair up in a bun similar to Eunice, she wore grown up dresses and only wore an apron while cooking. Her smile was still stunning and her eyes were shinier. Florence had let her hair down more often, and she had looked more like a woman. She started wearing different color dresses and had finally learned how to make sweaters. Florence was a lot like Judy when Judy herself was fourteen almost fifteen. Eunice and John were proud of their daughters for the young women they had become.

Judy was looking at Eunice's wedding dress with a smile stretched upon both of their faces. "Oh Mother, it is absolutely beautiful!" "I am so glad you like it." Judy pulled out her mother's veil. It was attached to a gold prairie bonnet and went down to Judy's waist. "If you want to get a different veil, I understand darling." Eunice explained. "It is beautiful Mother, I just want to leave something for Florence to use when she gets married." "That is very thoughtful of you." "Yes, it is." Florence agreed, walking into the room. "Flo, look at Mother's beautiful wedding dress!" Judy held the dress up. "Wow, it is beautiful indeed. Do you have a veil already?" "I am afraid I do not." Judy responded. Florence left the room, then came back with a wrapped box. Judy opened it to find a long veil attached to a gold tiara. "Flo? You got this just for me?" "Of course! Anything for my sister." The two girls hugged as Eunice cupped her mouth with tears of joy in her eyes.

Judy carefully placed the wedding dress and her new veil in a box then put it in her room. Florence wanted to show Judy her dress for the wedding. She had gotten herself a red ball gown with short sleeves that had lace on the ends and ruffles down the front. She also had a matching hair ribbon for the occasion. "You will look divine Flo." "You will too." Later that afternoon, Anna and Nancy came over to show Judy their dresses as well. Anna had a blue ball gown with puffy sleeves and Nancy had a yellow gown with white lace on the sleeves and skirt. "You will both look amazing!" Judy and Florence both remembered Anna's wedding last year to Oscar Turner, they both remembered how lovely Anna looked in her wedding dress. The whole town was excited to attend another wedding, especially because it was finally for Judy. Both Florence and Judy were considered the nicest girls in town that would do anything for almost anyone.

Florence went into town that afternoon with her new friend, Mary Hill. "Where are we going Flo? I thought we needed to stop by the church to check and see if all the decorations are in." Mary asked. "I wanted to check on the musicians playing Canon at Judy's wedding. They said they would have the song ready by this week." Florence and Mary stopped by a small house in a nearby neighborhood where a husband and wife lived. "Good afternoon Miss Coleman, Mary." "Good afternoon Mrs. Johnson, I was just stopping by to check on your progress with Canon in D for Judy's wedding." "Oh yes, my husband and I are ready! Come in, we will play it for you girls." "Thank you." Florence and Mary took off their hats and shoes then sat down in the living room where Lily and Gary Johnson prepared to perform Canon in D. Mrs. Johnson started the beginning on the piano, then Mr. Johnson started the melody on cello.

The song lasted for about five minutes and the girls were amazed. "Wow, bravo!" Florence said with an applaud. Mary was applauding beside her. "You will be magnificent at Judy's wedding and I know she will love it." "Florence, what are we going to do with a five minute song?" "I guess we will have to send in the bridesmaids in one at a time." Florence answered. "It is too beautiful to cut short. Well, we will be on our way, have a great afternoon." "Thank you Miss Coleman." Mr. Johnson said, walking the girls to the door. "How long have they been playing?" Mary asked. "Mrs. Johnson told me she has been playing piano since she was only eight years old." "Impressive." When the girls got to the church, Florence went to the back to check on decorations. She counted ribbons, table cloths, and the amount of flowers ordered for the wedding. "Looks like everything is on track."