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They also both had wanted the girls to come, but their grandmother had wanted to keep them for one last day. They would be arriving on the farm in the morning.
Mabel had been very disappointed when she found out the girls wouldn’t be able to make it. But he appreciated the fact that she hadn’t made a big deal about it. She accepted the fact that they wouldn’t be there, and that was that. She didn’t suggest that they postpone the wedding.
Actually, that suggestion had come from him.
She had denied it immediately. After all, his dad had flown in just for the day, leaving his new wife in the Keys, and Lark had taken off work, and the ladies of the Sweet Water church had decorated the sanctuary.
In other words, a lot of work had been done, and she didn’t want to inconvenience everyone, just to make herself happy.
He thought of the pastor’s words on humility, and he felt that Mabel was living them today. It wasn’t about her, it was about serving everyone else, even though she was the bride.
He hadn’t heard her demand anything, and he admired her for that, because, if anyone had a right to demand anything, surely their wedding day gave them that prerogative.
He came to the wall, spun on his heel, which Mabel had just given him permission to walk on, and paced to the other side of the small room.
The pastor calmly sat in a chair in the corner with his eyes on the open scripture in front of him.
James figured he would probably be better off if he opened his own Bible, instead of allowing the thoughts that were racing through his head to have free rein.
He wasn’t exactly nervous... That was a lie. He was more nervous than he’d ever been in his life before. But it wasn’t necessarily him wondering whether the wedding was a good idea or not, although he thought he would probably be crazy if he wasn’t a little bit nervous, considering he was about to make vows that were to last a lifetime.
“Can I help you with anything, son?” the pastor said, lifting his head up and removing his glasses as James crossed the small room once more.
“No. I’m good.”
“You seem a little worried.” The pastor was pretty good at understatement. “Marriage is a big step.”
“I’m not worried about the marriage necessarily, but it’s been a long time since I’ve made vows that I have to keep for a lifetime.”
“You’re right to be nervous. Actually, if you weren’t, I would be more concerned. After all, the more you mean it, the more significance it has.”
“I mean it with everything I have, so I guess that makes this the most significant event of my life.”
“Even though it’s a marriage of convenience?” the pastor asked, and James figured he was playing devil’s advocate. “Are you changing your mind?” the pastor said, and that pretty much confirmed James’s thoughts.
“No. I’m not considering for one instant the idea of changing my mind. I just... I just know it’s a lot of responsibility. I want to be the very best husband that I can be. I want to be a great dad, I want to be all the things that Mabel deserves. I’m not sure I am, and I’m not sure I ever will be.”
“And if she is thinking the same thing, then your marriage has an excellent chance of success. After all, someone who goes into a marriage thinking that the other person is lucky to get them is not going into it with a humble attitude.”
“That’s true. I’m pretty sure that Mabel is one of the most humble people I know. So I’m not worried about that at all, either.”
“Then, if you’re sure that this is the Lord’s will for your life, I think you have a solid woman in Mabel, and I’m impressed with the way you are too. I think your marriage has every chance of succeeding. And I think you’re going to make an amazing husband and a really great father. I say that with confidence, because one of the most important qualities in being a good husband or a good father is the willingness to be teachable, to realize there is much room for improvement, and then work on improving.”
The pastor stood, wiping his glasses on his tie and setting his Bible on a shelf.
His words had eased James’s mind; they were words he needed, even though he didn’t realize it.
“All right, if you’re ready, it’s time.”
He hadn’t even realized that the strains of music were the ones to which they were supposed to walk out.
There had been a small rehearsal the night before, basically to show everyone where they stood and to let them know what would be playing when.
Amber, Darby and Jonah’s daughter, played the piano, and for some reason, James wondered if any of his girls would want to take lessons.
Children weren’t something he had considered in his life before, but he liked the idea that he was starting to think fatherly thoughts, even though the kids hadn’t even arrived yet. Hopefully that boded well.
The pastor stood at the end of the aisle, and James took his place beside him. They had decided not to have attendants, just to make things as simple as possible. They didn’t want to put any added stress and strain on their friends. They wanted it to be a fun day, a day of celebration, not a day of stress and care.
