First Mates (18 page)

“I wanted to surprise you, and I see that I've done that.” He paused. “I figured if I'd waited and done something special, like having a fancy dinner in a nice restaurant, or asked you on your birthday, it wouldn't have been a surprise. You'd have figured out what I was planning in advance. This way, you didn't even suspect that I was asking you to marry me today. I hope this creamery always stays in business because it's going to be an important place in my life from now on—that is, depending on your response to my question.” He paused again and squeezed her hand. “Lorraine Jackson, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?” he asked softly. “I've been in love with you for a long time, and now I've found the courage to do something about it.”

She slowly nodded. “Yes, Winston, I'd be happy to become your wife.” They stood and he hugged her. As they shared a long kiss, some of the patrons applauded.

When she got home that evening, and Winston had left, she called her parents first to announce the news. “It's about time he asked you. He already asked our permission a month ago,” chimed her mother.

“Huh?” Rainy clutched the phone as she listened to her mother.

“Yeah, baby. He came here uninvited one weekend and said he needed to speak to me and your father.”

Rainy twisted the phone cord as she listened to her mother. She smiled as she recalled the events from a few weekends ago. “He said he had some business to attend to that weekend, and he wouldn't tell me what it was,” whispered Rainy. Winston was a man of honor and integrity, and she was touched that he asked her parents for her hand in marriage.

After she spoke with her mother, she recalled that she had not gotten the mail that day. She felt like she was floating on a cloud as she walked to her mailbox. She was getting married! She still couldn't believe it. The ring felt like a gifted treasure adorning the third finger of her left hand.

She opened her mailbox and removed the stack of mail. She flipped through the envelopes and stopped as soon as she saw the familiar masculine script adorning the envelope. Just seeing Jordan's broad strokes felt like a mockery on her engagement day. She was tempted to rip the envelope apart and throw it away. “I can't let Jordan ruin my engagement.”

Suddenly, she stopped and closed her eyes. She stood beside her mailbox, clutching the letter. A breeze blew, whipping her hair in the wind.
Read the letter,
she sensed a voice telling her.

She gazed at the ring adorning her finger. Her pain and anger toward Jordan now seemed childish and trivial. Her step faltered as she walked to her porch. Birds chirped from the trees as she chose her favorite oak rocker and sat. The floorboards creaked slightly as she
rocked in her chair. She said another brief prayer before she ripped the envelope open.

Smoothing the white wrinkled paper, she read the following:

She read the letter a few times, stunned at Jordan's words. She knew in her heart that she'd finally forgiven Jordan for his sins, and she no longer held any bitterness and anger toward his infidelity. She clutched the letter to her chest and said a brief prayer for Jordan's salvation. She gazed at the sun-streaked blue sky before walking back into the house. The screen door banged as she shut it.

She walked into her bedroom and removed her jewelry box. She opened it and found Jordan's engagement ring nestled in the corner. She removed the ring and stroked the perfect diamond. It just didn't feel right to wear Winston's ring while still in possession of Jordan's. She found a padded envelope in her desk drawer. She opened it and dropped the ring inside. She then removed her cream-colored stationery and her pen and wrote her response to Jordan. She told of her forgiveness, and her reasons for returning his ring. After she signed her name, she read the letter several times, hoping the meaning sounded sincere.

She noticed from Jordan's return address that he moved to another county in Florida. She hoped his
move helped to provide him with the peace and tranquility he needed to find Jesus. When she was finished addressing the envelope, she dropped it into her purse. She would make a quick stop to the post office the following day to send her small package and letter via registered mail.

T
he following six months passed in a whirlwind of activity. Rainy was so full of wedding plans that she thought she would burst with excitement.

The day of her wedding dawned bright and clear. “Thank you, Lord, for this beautiful day,” she said softly as she opened her window and enjoyed the humid summer air. The palm trees rustled in the breeze, and the air was heavy with the expectation of her wedding day.

A sudden knock sounded on her door. “Rainy, are you awake yet?” Her mother breezed into her home with Amber on her arm. Sarah and Rachel stirred in the living room, opening their eyes to the new day. They had spent the previous night at Rainy's house. They'd spoken of the joys of getting married, and Sarah and Rachel had toasted Rainy, reminiscing about the great times they'd had since she'd arrived in Florida those many years ago.

“I've brought the fixings for your favorite breakfast,” her mother stated. Rainy remained silent as she followed her mother into the kitchen. As she broke eggs into a bowl, she told of the smoothness of the wedding plans that day. “Your makeup person should be here shortly and we'll make sure you get to that church on time.” Constance opened a package of bacon, peeled the thin slices apart and placed them into a hot skillet.

Hours later, Rainy stood at the entrance to the sanctuary of the church, gazing at the audience. She spotted Cindy, sitting near the front of the church. She was glad Mark and his wife were now attending marriage counseling and that Cindy was now living back at the farm. She noticed Sarah's date, Carl, sitting in a pew near the middle of the church. Sarah seemed happy with Carl and Rainy sensed it was just a matter of time before they got engaged.

She watched Amber walk down the aisle as her flower girl. Her groomsmen, Mark and Winston's brother Deion, escorted both Rachel and Sarah down the aisle. Their dresses were silky midnight blue, and she'd never seen her best friends looking so pretty.

She had been hard-pressed to pick a maid of honor. She had met Sarah and Rachel at practically the same time, and after much thought, prayer and deliberation, she'd decided to make both of them her maids of honor. She knew it was nontraditional, but this was her wedding and that was the way she wanted it to be.

Winston's parents smiled with pride as they watched their son, tears glistening in their dark eyes.

Finally, she took a deep breath as she walked down the aisle on her father's arm. Her flowing white dress was made with lace, seeded pearls and fine silk. She'd never felt more beautiful, and she was pleased to see Winston's startled reaction when he saw her. She felt honored and blessed as they said their vows. She knew deep in her heart that this marriage would flourish since both of them honored the Lord, and she sensed that God was smiling down on them.