Until Forever (Women of Prayer) (36 page)

Julia leaned back on the chair, listening to Jessi and watching Olivia brush her own hair. Just watching her do the simple things most took for granted gave her pleasure. Julia hadn’t told anyone her own news yet. She and Bert were going to get married. They had so much in common and they both shared the same dreams. It was hard living day to day without him. He owned his own business in town and was able to get away during the day to bring lunch. They spent many afternoons talking about their past and where they saw themselves in the coming years. There was so much going on that she really didn’t want to add anymore to the list, but she didn’t think she’d be able to keep it in any longer, let alone keep the ring off her finger when she was around family. She decided to tell Jessi and Olivia. “Hey, you guys. I have some news of my own. I wasn’t going to say anything with everything else going on and all, but I feel like if I don’t tell someone I’m going to burst. Bert asked me to marry him and I said yes.” She held out her hand to show Jessi and Olivia the ring. “We are waiting until August, when you guys will be back from Oklahoma, and I thought I would ask Mark to give me away.”

Jessi gave her a big hug. “I am so happy for you Julia. He seems like such a nice guy in the little bit of time that I’ve gotten to know him. Look at you. You’re practically bursting as it is. How didn’t I notice before?” Jessi blew out a big breath. “I’m sorry, Julia. I should have noticed how happy you are and guessed.”

“Oh, don’t be silly. I’ve done a pretty good job of hiding it until things settled down, at least somewhat.”

Julia gathered her things to leave. Jessi was spending the night with Olivia, and visiting hours ended at eight; it was ten to.

***

The weeks continued to pass quickly, and before everyone knew it, it was only a week until the wedding. The dresses had been fitted; the seamstress even came to the hospital to fit Olivia. Everyone was impressed with her services. The cake had been ordered, and the only thing left to be seen was if Olivia would be able to go on a trip. She had not been allowed to go home yet. In the three months that Olivia had been in therapy, she had learned to do almost everything, everything, that is, but walk. Her latest victory was using a walking crutch to make it across the room. This was the plan for walking down the aisle.

***

Jessi and Mark purchased a small house that was set up for handicapped access. Hoping that Olivia would be able to come home after the wedding, they had everything ready for her.

Aunt Merry would be flying home a couple of days later. Although she volunteered to drive to Oklahoma with them to help with Olivia, they said it would be better if she flew and prepared her own place to make it easier on all of them. Olivia wouldn’t be climbing stairs this time, so she would need a place to sleep on the main level. So that was the plan. There were things she could change, things that she had used for her husband’s care when he was still alive, things she could put to good use now with Olivia.

Olivia was permitted to spend the night at home on the eve of the wedding to see how she would fare. Jessi and Merry spent the night with her at the new house, making use of the equipment that was purchased to ease Olivia’s transition to home. They stayed up too late talking about the wedding, and it was after midnight by the time Olivia was sleeping soundly. After Aunt Merry went to bed, Jessi called Mark, knowing he would probably be asleep but wanting to hear his voice. “Hi, were you sleeping?”

A sleepy voice answered, “Uh, no…I mean, maybe I just dozed off.”

“I’m sorry I woke you. Olivia just went to sleep and I wanted to hear your voice. And I wanted to tell you I love you. That was all.”

“I love you too. We haven’t had much time to spend together, just the two of us lately. I miss those times.”

“I know; I was missing our time together too. I guess that’s why I called. I’ll see you in the morning.”

“It’s going to be here soon; you should try to get some sleep. It won’t be long before we’ll have more time together. Know that, okay?”

“I guess I better get to bed. It’s going to be a long day tomorrow. Good night.”

“Good night.”

Jessi hung up the phone, wondering how she had come full circle. There was no doubt she loved this man, more than she ever had. God’s grace was more than she’d ever hoped for. She drifted off to a wonderful place in her dreams.

Chapter 41

The morning of the wedding was clear and sunny. It was going to be a beautiful day for a wedding. Jessi stretched and looked outside her window. Having a house in town was going to take some getting used to. She put on her robe and peeked in Olivia’s room. She was still asleep. Jessi took a hot shower and dressed in a pair of sweats until it was time to get ready for the wedding. Aunt Merry had coffee on and a light breakfast of fruit and muffins on the table when Jessi emerged. Julia would be here around eleven to help her get ready. The ladies at the church were taking care of the decorating, and the caterers would be arriving around noon. The wedding was taking place at one o’clock, and lunch would be directly afterward.

Julia arrived with bags and baskets, makeup and hairstyle products. It took a good hour and a half to get everyone ready. Aunt Merry didn’t want to be fussed over but still admired herself in the mirror when she looked at the job Julia had done on her hair.

Julia drove the four of them to the church, and Jessi and Olivia hid away in the women’s bathroom until it was time to walk up the aisle. Jessi’s parents were unable to come for the wedding, which didn’t come as a big surprise, seeing as they hadn’t made it the first time she and Mark wed, so going against tradition, Aunt Merry was walking her down the aisle.

Jessi looked in the mirror at herself, trying to see what Mark might see when he looked at her from the front of the church. Her hair was piled up on her head with curls cascading down here and there. Her makeup was perfect, and the dress was a bride’s dream, so why was she so nervous? Maybe because this was her wedding day? Because she was marrying the same man she had been married to before? What if this was a mistake? What if she had allowed her emotions to control her and not her head? She couldn’t believe after all they had been through together lately that she was still questioning him and his character, but a small voice kept creeping up, whispering in her ear. Aunt Merry chose that moment to enter the room Jessi was waiting in. “Are you ready?”

Jessi still stood in front of the mirror looking at her image. “I guess I’m as ready as I will ever be.”

Merry took her hand and pulled her away to the sitting area. “It’s only natural that you are asking yourself some hard questions right now. You are marrying a man who brings some painful memories of the past into your relationship.” Merry looked from Olivia, who was napping on the couch, back to Jessi. “Do you love who Mark is today? Do you want to spend the rest of your life with him? Can you see yourself living without him? I know I’m asking some very pointed questions, but they are questions you will have to answer before you can say ‘I do.’”

Jessi already knew the answer to all the questions. “Yes, I do love Mark, and no, I can’t even begin to imagine living without him. We are meant to be. I guess I just have a case of the nerves. There have been so many changes in the last few weeks, and now I’m getting married.” What she said was just beginning to sink in. “Aunt Merry, I’m getting married. I’ve been so focused on Olivia and her therapy and planning the wedding that I’ve hardly given any thought at all to getting married. Maybe that’s why I’m so nervous. I haven’t prepared myself for the actual marriage to Mark.”

Merry looked at her watch. “I think you better wake Sleeping Beauty; the wedding is supposed to start in a few minutes.”

Instead of being scared, Jessi was now excited. She gently nudged Olivia and woke her from her light sleep. “Hey, it’s almost time. Are you sure you feel okay enough to do this? We can still get your chair up here.”

“No, Mom. I can use my crutches. It’s not that far to walk.” They both heard the music start to play. Olivia smiled and with Jessi’s help, stood up. With a crutch under each arm, she made her way to the door. “I’ll be right outside if you need me, Mom.”

Aunt Merry held the door open and joined her. “We’ll be waiting for you. Come out when you are ready.”

They both left the room, and Jessi felt the excitement begin to build. She was going to have a husband again. Someone she could share her dreams and goals with, someone to laugh with, someone to love and to be loved by, and someone to fight with; of course, making up always used to be fun. Yes, this was what she wanted. She walked out the door ready to get married.

Julia walked down the aisle first, and then Olivia followed. Halfway up the aisle, she handed her crutches to Bert and took a basket of rose petals from him. She looked to the back of the church to her mother and smiled a great big smile and continued forward, without crutches, sprinkling rose petals as she went. Jessi really didn’t want to cry, but after seeing Olivia walk, even for the short distance that she had, she couldn’t help but shed a few tears. It truly was a miracle watching her daughter overcome her obstacles. She focused on what she now had to do. They had written their own vows, and though she had hers memorized, she was afraid she would forget them. The wedding march began.

Mark watched the most beautiful woman in the world walk toward him. She was the epitome of grace and beauty. Every day since she said yes he’d thanked God for his wonderful mercy. He didn’t deserve to be here. There were many places that he did deserve to be, but this was not one of them. He smiled at Olivia, who was standing across from him. After today, they would all be together as family, both in God’s sight and in the natural. It was a day he had been looking forward to for a long time.

Jessi reached the front of the church. Mark smiled and took her hand, hoping to put her at ease. He knew she was nervous doing anything in front of crowds. There were only a hundred or so guests that came—some friends from school, some of Mark’s friends from work, and the church family—but Jessi would still see a multitude of faces. As long as she only looked at him and their pastor, she would be all right.

Pastor Tim started the ceremony. When it came time for the vows, Mark began. “Jessi, my dearest Jessi. I promise that I will cherish you, honor you, lift you up when you are weak, and love you as Christ loved the church and gave his life for it. You will always be the center of my life. I would forsake everything to be by your side. Your needs will always come before my own, and I promise to provide for us to the best of my ability. I will stay near when you become ill and wipe your tears when you cry. I will rejoice with you when you rejoice, and I will mourn with you when you mourn. I promise to love you all of my days.” When it came time for her to say her vows, Jessi felt her voice wobble slightly, but she remained strong. “Mark, I promise to love you, to honor you, to encourage you, and uplift you. I will stand by you every day for the rest of our lives, no matter what circumstances come upon us. You will always be the one I look to for leadership, love, and friendship. I will remain loyal to you and be your companion all of my days. All of my love will be yours till death do us part.”

Mark placed the ring on Jessi’s finger, and then Jessi placed the ring on Mark’s finger. They kissed and were pronounced man and wife.

Before sending the couple down the aisle to wait in the receiving line, the pastor made an announcement. “Everyone is requested to make their way out to the back of the church by the pond where chairs are set up for your convenience. After the outside portion of the service is concluded, the bride and groom will have a traditional receiving line.”

Mark and Jessi left the platform of the church by way of the side stage doors. They changed into summer clothes, and when they found Olivia changed and ready, they headed out to the pond. Everyone was already seated and wondering what was happening. Pastor Tim let them know. “Mark and Jessi have requested something very special as their first act together as a married couple. They would like the whole family to be baptized together. I am going to baptize Mark, Pastor Gregg will be baptizing Jessi, and our children’s pastor, Pastor Mike, will be baptizing Olivia. While Mark and Jessi are going to be baptized by immersion, the manner our church normally baptizes, we will be doing things a little bit different with Olivia. Because of her recent accident, we don’t want to shock her system, and the water is still pretty cold from the long winter, so Pastor Mike is going to baptize her in the manner of our Christian brothers and sisters who choose to baptize by sprinkling. Our biblical view of baptism indicates that by being baptized we are telling the world we are Christ’s. I believe that God will see Olivia’s heart and know that she wants the world to know that she is truly his. First Corinthians tells us that baptism symbolizes that when we are going under the water, we are burying our old self, and when we are lifted up out of the water we are being resurrected with Christ. Therefore, by dying with Christ, we choose to live with him.”