A Wish for Christmas (39 page)

The church was quite crowded, Lillian noticed, though they had only invited a handful of guests to the reception at her house later. Far more people had come to watch her and Ezra get married than she ever expected. So many of the church members—Sophie Potter and Vera Plante, Lucy Bates and the Hegmans, Molly Willoughby and her husband, Dr. Harding. Up toward the front, she saw Carolyn Lewis, the Reverend’s wife, and their daughter, Rachel. Even Dan Forbes’s daughter, Lindsay, was there, taking time off from running the newspaper. And there were Jessica’s two boys and her husband, Sam. Sam was holding her newest grandchild, a little girl named Lily Rose. Lillian had been surprised and even flattered when they had named the child after her, but she still wondered why they couldn’t find a sitter for the day. She hoped the infant would not start squalling and disrupt everything.

My, my, she and Ezra seemed to be the hot ticket in town today. She smiled slightly and nodded at the familiar faces. She felt unexpectedly grateful to see them all here, though she suspected that most had not come on her account. After years of being the town’s only doctor, Ezra was well liked. She was sure that he was pleased by the turnout.

When they reached the altar, her daughters each kissed her on the cheek, Emily on the right, Jessica on the left. Ezra met her and held out his arm. His blue eyes twinkled behind his spectacles. He looked very happy, she thought. As happy as she had ever seen him.

And as handsome as she’d ever seen him, too, dressed in a three-piece suit he bought for the occasion, a fine pin-striped navy blue with a vest, a stark white shirt underneath, and a burgundy bow tie. His silver-grey hair—he still had a lot of it—was freshly cut and smoothed back flat.

The church had been decorated with thick white ribbons and more white flowers and greenery. Just the right amount, Lillian thought, festive but not too showy.

Reverend Ben stepped toward them, and smiled. “Ready?” he asked.

“I’ve been ready for over fifty years, Reverend,” Ezra answered. “Please proceed with the ceremony.”

Lillian saw the minister hide a smile as he opened his prayer book and began.

It all went by in a blur. Lillian soon heard Ezra speak his vows in a clear, strong voice and she repeated her own. He slipped a beautiful gold band on her finger, and she gave one to him as well.

“I pronounce you man and wife,” Reverend Ben said. “You may kiss the bride,” he told Ezra.

Her new husband leaned closer and gave her a heartfelt kiss. Lillian heard applause and even a few low whistles—her onerous grandson-in-law, Luke McAllister, she suspected. She felt herself blush. The nerve of that young man.

They received a final blessing from Reverend Ben, and music burst from the pipe organ in the balcony, a joyful piece by Bach that they had selected.

Everyone stood to watch them walk down the aisle. Lillian felt breathless. She pressed her hand to her chest.

“Are you all right, Lily?” Ezra asked quietly.

“Just getting my bearings. Perhaps I need my cane, after all,” she whispered as she started down the long walk to the back of the church.

Ezra wound her arm in his own. “You have me to lean on now, dear. We’ll do just fine.”

Lillian glanced at him, surprised for a moment by his answer. He was right. She had forgotten. She had grown so used to managing on her own.

She tenderly pressed her hand over his. “We will do just fine. I’m sure of it,” she said.

And she was, too.