Looking For You All My Life Part 145

elaborate wedding plans that she and her fiance' had a huge

-fight and ended up ~alling the whole thing off just three days

before the wedding. She returned gifts for weeks.''

--"Yes," said Abigail. "My great-niece was so nervous that

she broke out in hives the night before her wedding. She had

to layer on so much makeup just to cover them up that I was

afraid her face was going to crack when she smiled."

"But weddings are supposed to be a happy occasion for

everyone," said Rosa, "including the bride and groom. I

really do like the idea of a simple celebration. After all, it's

4.

not so much about the wedding but the marriage."

"You're exactly right," said Audrey. "I don't know how

--many times I've had to counsel unhappy newlyweds who

had spent months, sometimes years, pulling off some huge, Looking for You All My Life227

fantasy wedding but had invested literally nothing into

preparing for their actual marriage."

They planned and chatted happily for a couple of hours.

Scott's brother, Max, was to be best man, and Chloe had

asked Sierra to be her maid of honor. The banister of the

staircase would be wrapped in evergreen garlands, white

lights, and white satin ribbons. All the flowers would be

varying shades of white, and only white candles would be

used for light. The whole thing sounded very lovely and

romantic. Just the sort of wedding Maggie might have,

maybe someday... When the women were finally satisfied

that everything from mints to napkins had been covered,

they cheerfully parted ways.

Outside on the porch, after the others had left, Rosa

pulled Maggie aside. "Don't tell Scott or Chloe this, but Sam

has arranged for a horse and carriage-or sleigh, if we have

snow-to be used to take the couple away. Then he'll have

their car parked a mile or so down the road. Do you mind if

we use your barn?"

"Not at all. What a wonderful idea!"

"Oh, and I almost forgot," said Rosa. "Would you and

Spencer and Audrey want to join us after church tomorrow?

We're going to cut our Christmas tree-it's sort of a tradi-

tion. We traipse around in the woods for about an hour and

then drink lots of hot cocoa."

"I know I'd love to tag along," said Maggie. "I'm sure

Spencer and Mom would enjoy it too.

She waved from the porch as Rosa's car pulled away, and

then looked over toward the mountains. A heavy bank of

white clouds hung right over their tops. Perhaps not the kind

that bring snow, but it was enough to give her hope as she

quietly breathed another prayer for the weather to change.

Only yesterday she'd received several more angry letters

from agitated businessowners who felt like she was putting