Looking For You All My Life Part 192

and white lights, had been removed from Maggie's house.

Instead, it was transformed into what reminded Maggie of a

fairy princess house, with delicate white roses, white candles,

and white organza ribbons trailing everywhere mixed with

the dark forest shades of evergreen and ivy. The transforma-

tion was nothing short of miraculous, and when Chloe

arrived at four, she oohed and awed over everything. Maggie

had invited Cherise to come and give the bride the full

beauty treatment (although it wasn't a part of her regular

business, Cherise was well known in Pine Mountain for

giving the best herbal facials, and now she was thrilled to

have the opportunity to partic.i.p.ate in this exciting event).

Besides, thought Maggie, perhaps it would help keep her

mind off her own situation with Greg.

By seven o'clock the guests were all seated, and the cere-

mony began as planned shortly thereafter. To Maggie's relief,

both of Chloe's parents had shown up. Chloe's mother, now

seated in the front row, wore an expensive black gown,

which Maggie hoped wasn't a reflection on her att.i.tude

toward this marriage. Cherise had tried to a.s.sure Maggie '1.

300Melody Carlson

that many people wore black to evening weddings these

days-sometimes even the bridesmaids! Sierra looked lovely

and grown up in a tea-length vintage gown of moss green as

she slowly came down the stairs, accompanied by her

brother Max in a dark brown suit. Scott stood next to

Michael (who also looked quite dapper in his neat black

suit). When Scott had told her that he planned to wear an

old tuxedo that had belonged to his grandfather during the

forties, she thought he'd been kidding. But now, seeing him

looking so handsome, albeit nervous, in a well-preserved

satin-trimmed suit, she knew it had been a perfect choice. All

these unique touches, combined with Chloe's wonderful

dress from the turn of the century, created a surprisingly ele-

gant and dramatic ambiance to the whole affair. Maggie sus-

pected that Chloe's parents were somewhat impressed with

what this young couple had managed to pull off so quickly

and with very little expense, all things considered. Now

everyone rose to their feet as Chloe and her father gracefully

proceeded down the stairs, a recording of Bach's Jesu, Joy of

Man's Desiring playing softly in the background. Chloe

looked absolutely radiant with her red curls heaped on top

of her head with a few loose tendrils curling delicately over

her shoulders.

All in all it was a beautiful wedding, and Maggie noticed

both of Chloe's parents daubing monogrammed handker-

chiefs to their aristocratic noses. Midway through the

touching ceremony, Maggie's eyes had met Jed's. He was

seated next to Leah and across the room from her, and he

looked unusually handsome in a dark tweed sports coat over