Ethan's Song (21 page)

IT WAS a clear day that Ethan pulled up in front of Jenà’s parent’s home. Following the directions she’d given over the phone, he’d made it in plenty of time. It had been several days since he’d seen her, helped pack her bits of belongings into her car and saw her off. He had to go back to Savannah to finish up some work before they met in Milledgeville where they would be married in her parent’s home.

Jenà had gone to stay with her parents, to arrange everything, or at least help. Her mother had taken care of most the details, being happy to do so. Ethan’s parents had flown in from Washington D.C. the day before.

"I can’t believe my baby is getting married." Mrs. Wisdom had tears in her eyes. "I’m so happy you wanted to have the wedding here, even if it did mean so much trouble."

"Oh, Mom. You said it would be no trouble when I asked." Jenà was finishing her hair. "Is Ethan here yet? I’m afraid he’s going to be late."

The door opened, her father peeking around it. "The groom just arrived. I guess we’re just about set?" He smiled at the blushing bride standing beside his daughter who sat in front of the dressing mirror. "You are such a beautiful woman, Jenà. I’m proud to be your papa."

Jenà stood and hugged him. "I’m glad I had the privilege of calling you papa. You’ve both been so good to us."

"Is the preacher here?" Mrs. Wisdom asked her husband, looking at her watch. "We have an hour, he shouldn’t be here yet."

"No. I’ll let you know, alright?" Mr. Wisdom backed out of the room, closing the door softly.
"I thought brides were supposed to be late." Sitting back in front of the mirror again, she sighed. "Here I am all ready and still have an hour to wait. It would be nice if we could go for a walk or something."
"You can’t do that." Her mother warned with a smile, moving a stubborn piece of hair that didn’t want to stay where it was supposed to. "You don’t want Ethan to see you yet. I think I’ll go out and meet my new sonin-law. If he’s anything like you’ve described, I know he’s perfect." Leaving her daughter alone, she was gone.
The door wasn’t closed long before it was opened again. "I just had to come in to see you." Mrs. Ayers entered, sitting on the edge of the bed. "I know Ethan has made the right choice. I’ve never seen him so happy." Her face beamed with the happiness she felt for her only child. "He’s out there getting the third degree from your father."
Jenà stood quickly. "Dad’s doing what?" She was almost to the door when Mrs. Ayers spoke again.
"Don’t worry, Jenà. Your father has the right to know what my son’s intentions are with his only daughter. Ethan’s holding out well. I think his father is enjoying it thoroughly, as he went through the same thing before we were married." Mrs. Ayers seemed to be enjoying it also. "You do look lovely, dear."
The two women were joined by the bride’s mother, and the three talked until Mr. Wisdom came in to tell them the preacher had arrived. Jenà found her legs were shaking almost too much for her to stand on.
Seeing his daughter’s wavering, he came to her side, taking her arm. "Not too steady, are we?"
Looking up at her father, she smiled. "Just a little nervous, Dad." Holding his arm as if she would fall without it, she walked beside him, down the long hall to the living room where dozens of people sat until the organ in the corner struck up the wedding march. Everyone rose to their feet as she walked beside her father to where Ethan stood. When she saw him, it was as if he was the only one in the room with her.
Taking every bit of energy she had, she kept a slow pace until her father was handing her over to the man she was going to be married to in a few minutes. The organ finished playing and the man in front of them began speaking. His words seemed to be all jumbled together until he called her by name.
After he had finished the customary words, he looked from one to the other, speaking the words they were both waiting to hear. "By the authority vested in me by the State of Georgia, I now pronounce you man," he looked at Ethan, then at Jenà, "and wife. You may kiss the bride."
Bracing herself for what she knew would be felt throughout her whole being, she turned toward her husband, allowing him to seal the vows in the way he was expected to. She was not disappointed in the feelings he created in her, nor in the way he continued kissing her when everyone in the room began letting them know they were happy for them.
After receiving hugs and kisses from those present, Jenà went upstairs to change out of the dress that had been her mother’s, the same one her sister should have worn, and she would only wear one time. From her window, she could see the back yard which had been set up for the reception, and there were more guests arriving. Her mother had put an announcement in the local paper. She was sure many of her childhood friends would find their way over in the two hours before the newlyweds would be gone.
With shaking hands, Jenà put on the light green dress she had worn that first night she had dined and danced with Ethan. It was his favorite and as she would be dancing with him again, she thought it appropriate. Her mother was behind her, zipping the dress as she spoke to her.
"What is it mothers are supposed to say to their daughters?" Try as she might, she couldn’t keep the tears from spilling over. "I only wish Darlene were here for this day."
Turning, Jenà put her arms around the woman. "She is here, Mom. In our thoughts, in our hearts. She’s been kept alive because we remember her with love. I miss her a lot, too."
"I want you to be happy, dear. I know your husband will take care of you, but don’t forget to care for him, also." Her mother moved the hair out of her daughter’s face. "Things won’t be smooth all the time, but if you’ll remember the love you have for him right now, that will help smooth out the rough spots."
"I know that, Mom. You won’t have to worry about me." Stepping away from her mother, she took a deep breath. "I guess I’m ready to leave this room as a married woman."
"You look the part. You are so beautiful," Mrs. Wisdom complemented. "It’ll be different addressing letters to you as Mrs. Ayers." Her smile came, though the tears continued falling.

THERE WERE more people at the reception than she expected. Jenà stood in front of her husband, knife in their hands, poised above the big white cake as the photographer snapped off several pictures. She accepted the bit Ethan offered her, as she offered him a taste. Stepping back, they allowed the two mothers to serve the cake and punch.

Soon she was in his arms, being moving about on the soft grass to the music that came from the two speakers set on the patio. After a few minutes, they were joined by others until almost everyone was dancing. Following the first, her father insisted on being her partner, then Mr. Ayers. Ethan stood watching until his mother tapped his shoulder, reminding him both mothers would enjoy a turn around the make-shift floor with him.

Before she knew it, Ethan was taking her from the yard, telling her it was time they left, the two hours they promised were gone, and he was anxious to take her away.

Their first night would be spent in a nearby luxury hotel, then they would be going to the airport in Atlanta, flying to Montreal. They would take a month to explore the Canadian side of the Great Lakes before settling down in their home in Savannah.

As they prepared to leave, both sets of parents came to wish them well. They were surprised to find Ethan’s car decorated with ribbons, shoe polish and tin cans dragging the ground behind.

"We could take my car." Jenà winked at her new husband.
"What? And spoil the fun?" Ethan’s father asked. "What better way to start a marriage than with a lot of noise?" He was speaking of the cans that would be pulled along the street until the heavy strings would be broken.
The three couples embraced, then parted. The two older couples stood on the sidewalk, waving the younger couple off, noise filling the air for blocks.

THE HONEYMOON over only because the time said it was, Ethan drove back to Savannah with his bride, from the Atlanta airport where he’d left his car. Jenà sat in the seat nearly sideways, watching her husband’s profile as he concentrated on the freeway before them.

"What are you thinking about?" He finally broke the silence. His glance at her produced a smile.
"Just how lucky I am." She sighed, touching the hand he placed on her thigh. "And how much I love you."
"That’s about all you’ve thought about this whole trip." With a chuckle he glanced at her again, teasing. "Don’t you get tired of the same thoughts over and over?"
She grinned childishly at the look he gave her, then shook her head. "No. Are you going to get tired of me?" His head shook quite hard. "Good. I won’t get tired of thinking of you. Or being with you." She wanted to scoot next to him, but there wasn’t a seat belt there. "How much further?"
"I guess you’ll never grow up, will you?" At her questioning look, he laughed again. "You sound like a child on a long trip. Are we there yet?" He mocked her. "You aren’t that anxious to get home, are you?"
"I am," she answered, turning to face the front window, mocking a pout. "It’s been a long time since I’ve seen our home, I’ve almost forgotten what it looks like."
"It’s only been two months." Ethan reminded her. "We’ve got another hour."
Settling back in the seat again, she rested her head, closing her eyes. The sun was setting behind them and it wouldn’t take much for her to find a short nap, even as excited as she was about going home. In her mind she pictured Ethan’s childhood home, all that it stood for, all that it would be for them.
"Jenà." His voice was soft. "Hey, sleepyhead. I thought you were anxious to get home." He was pulling the car into the garage.
Stirring, she left the dream behind. Covering her mouth as she yawned, she sat straight up. "Time sure went fast. I really didn’t mean to go to sleep."
When he turned off the head lights, shut off the engine, he walked around the car to help her out. "Are you awake yet?" He asked as she held on to him to find her legs.
"Probably not." Her arms went around his neck as he picked her up. "Now that we’re married..." She didn’t finish what she knew he would.
"I intend taking you upstairs, Mrs. Ayers, and making love to you all night. Any objections this time?" He opened the front door, kicking it shut behind them as he turned on the light.
"Surprise!" The room was full of people. Some she knew, most she didn’t. Ethan knew them all.
"Looks like that promise will have to hold." She whispered as he set her down.
"We heard you were on your way, so we gathered together to give you a welcome home reception." Dr. John Foxx spoke for the crowd. "So, come on in, join the party!" He invited the couple to enter their home.
Because there wasn’t anything else they could do, Ethan escorted Jenà into the large living room, accepting the champaign they were offered. What was a few more hours, anyway, he asked himself.

WHEN THE last of the uninvited guests left, Ethan looked around him. "Looks like we’ll need a cleaning crew in the morning."

"It won’t take long to get it all taken care of." She bent to pick up the glasses from the table where she stood.

"Put them down!" was his order, as if he were speaking to a misbehaving child. "This time they’ll be left for the night. If you feel up to cleaning in the morning, then we’ll do it together." Beside her, he pulled her into his arms. "But right now, Mrs. Ayers, I have other things in mind."

Her arms around him, she tiptoed to reach his lips. "I think I like your idea better." she whispered, finding herself up in his arms again, as he ascended the stairs.

"This time, you open the door." His command was obeyed. "If there’s anyone up here hiding, I don’t know what we’ll do." His chuckle ended in a kiss. "If you don’t like this room, we’ll move to another tomorrow."

"I don’t want to change a thing." Behind them the door closed, her hand had pushed it. "I’m your wife now, Ethan. As my husband, I expect you to make the decisions, after you consult me, of course." Her giggle was smothered out by another kiss.

"Alright." He continued holding her, not moving from the closed door. "This is how I want things done, if you agree." He whispered his suggestion in her ear, hearing her giggle as she agreed. "Then the decision is that we shut up and go to bed."

"And tomorrow I’ll call Dr. Foxx and make an appointment." She was set down on the floor next to the king sized waterbed.

"What would you need John for?" He held her hips snug to his, looking down into her blue eyes. "You don’t think..."

"Yes, I
think
." She grinned up at him. "I want to make sure before I tell you."
"You’ve just told me, sweetheart." His grin told her how he felt about the possibility. "Do you feel all right?"
"Of course I do." She reached up, putting her arms around his neck. "I’ll feel even better when you quit talking and start acting."
"You’re something, you know?" His kiss began while she stood, ending with his wife on his bed, beneath him. "I love you."
Returning his words, she let him know through her actions also. Taking the buttons from the buttonholes, she kissed his chest, his neck, his chin, finally his lips. Everything was going to be perfect.