Chapter
13 June 1942
The
day of the wedding arrived very quickly, Chrissie and Lindsey were putting the
last touches to the decorations that covered the garden and the barn,
"There
the decorations are done" Chrissie said admiring them,
"Let's
get the boxes inside, we need to get ready" Lindsey picked up a couple of
boxes and carried them inside, Chrissie followed,
"Hey
Louis the decorations are all done and it's such nice weather out there,
perfect for a wedding" Chrissie said as she walked into the dining room,
"That's
good, Mrs Carter rang, she said all the food and drink should be here and set
up by the time we get back from the church" Louis told them
"Ok,
how's Ellie and Martin doing"
"Ellie's
getting ready, she's a bit nervous but really excited, I took her and Jenny a
cup of tea half an hour ago and Martin, not a clue he and Ian stayed at the
shop in the spare room last night" Louis continued to tidy the kitchen,
"Ok
well we're going to go get ready" Lindsey said.
Upstairs Jennifer was helping Ellie
get ready,
"You
look so beautiful Ellie" Jennifer said as she finished pinning Ellie's
hair up,
"Thank
you Jenny, I can't wait to get my dress on"
"I
know you are going to look amazing"
"I
can't believe this day is finally here, I am so excited" Ellie beamed with
happiness
"I'm
not surprised and I can't wait for you to be a part of the family"
"Thank
you Jenny" Ellie stood up and gave her future sister-in-law a hug
"Hello"
Nicky shouted as she came through the door,
"Mum"
Chrissie came running down the stairs with Lindsey in tow,
"Hello
darling" she gave her daughter a big hug "you look beautiful and so
do you Lindsey"
"Thank
you Nicky"
"Mum
you're here" Louis said coming out of the dining room
"Louis
you're not dressed yet"
"Going
right now and to be fair neither are you"
"Yes
but I've just arrived"
"Ok
you win, the car will be here in twenty minutes so hurry"
"Ok
Louis go and get ready" Louis ran up stairs as Nicky took her outfit out
of her bag
"Mum
where's Auntie Maria" Chrissie asked
"She's
gone straight to the church darling, right I'm going to get changed" Nicky
smiled at Chrissie and Lindsey
"Hello
Mum"
"Ellie"
Ellie stood at the top of the stairs, Jennifer stood behind her. Ellie wore a
full length white lace and satin dress with a train and vale with a small shiny
tiara. Nicky gave her daughter a hug as she reached the bottom of the stairs.
"You
look amazing, so beautiful" Nicky told Ellie
"Thank
you mum" Ellie gave her mother a smile
"How
did you afford the dress" Nicky asked
"I
made it, also I found an envelope in Dad's bedside table with a bit of money
and a note saying 'For Ellie's
Wedding'" Ellie replied
"Oh
of course I forgot about that, there is also one for Louis and Chrissie. Right
I'm going to get changed, let's get you into the dining room so no one stands
on your beautiful dress" Nicky helped Jennifer move Ellie's train off the
stairs "I will be five minutes" Nicky went upstairs to change.
At
the church guests were arriving and taking their seats,
"Ian
darling" Maria spotted Ian at the door to the church
"Maria,
how are you" he greeted her with a hug
"I'm
fine thank you, I've been taking care of my sister"
"Of
course you have, how is Nicky"
"Much
better, the change of scenery is doing her good"
"Good,
so where is she"
"I
dropped her off at the farm, she is going to be arriving with Ellie"
"Ok
well let me show you to your seat" Ian showed Maria into the church.
Martin stood near the Altar talking to Reverend Edward as Ian showed Maria
towards the front of the church,
"This
must be Martin" Maria said holding out her arms towards him "I
haven't seen you since you were a baby"
"Maria
wonderful to see you, where's Nicky"
"At
the house, she will be arriving with Ellie, which should be very soon"
Maria looked at her watch as it was almost time for the service to begin.
The car arrived at the house ready
to take Ellie to the church. The car took Jennifer, Louis, Lindsey and Chrissie
down first before Ellie and Nicky,
"I
can't believe this day it finally here" Nicky said "I remember my
wedding day, your father standing there
at the Altar looking so handsome, my heart pounding I was so nervous, but it
was the happiest day of my life" she looked at Ellie "and now it's your
turn"
"I
can't wait, I'm a bit nervous but not as nervous as I will be tonight"
"Ah
yes your wedding night, just relax and you will be fine" Nicky smiled at
her daughter. The car arrived at the church, Jennifer helped Ellie out of the
car and helped straighten up her dress,
"Are
you ready" Jennifer asked
"Yes,
I am" Ellie smiled. She took her mother's arm and walked inside the
church. The wedding march played as they walked down the aisle. Louis went
first caring a velvet pillow with the rings on, Lindsey and Chrissie where next
scattering rose petals on the floor and Jennifer the bridesmaid followed with
Ellie and Nicky not far behind. As Ellie walked down the aisle Martin looked at
his beautiful bride, he smiled as his heart melted. Nicky kissed her daughter
as they reached the end,
"Look
after my little girl" she whispered to him
"Don't
worry I will" Martin replied and he took Ellie's hand,
"Dearly
beloved, we are gathered here today to witness the joining of Martin Dinsdale
and Eleanor Pickard in Holy Matrimony" Reverend Edward started the
ceremony. Martin and Ellie started at each other the whole time, Martin kept
his arms around her until the end,
"I
now pronounce you man and wife, you may kiss the bride" Reverend Edward
came to the end of the service and Martin kissed his new wife.
"Ok
smile on the count of three, one, two, three" The photographer took
official wedding pictures back of the farm in the garden "can I please
have just the bride's family and friends" he said lifting the black cloth
from over his head "right on the count of three, one, two, three"
After
the photographs dinner was served, a green salad starter with a roast chicken
dinner and rich lemon cheesecake for dessert. Ellie and Martin went round all
guests and thanked them for attending their big day,
"Ellie"
Brenda waved to Ellie from where she was standing and made her over to her,
"Congratulations,
I can't believe you're married, I thought I would be the first to marry but you
proved me wrong, my god you look so beautiful" Brenda gave Ellie a hug,
"Thank
you Brenda, It's great to have you back home" Ellie said hugging her
friend back
"It's
great to be home. Three years is a long time, not much has changed though"
"We're
in the middle of a war, the only way this place will change is if it was
bombed"
"Yeah
you're right you should see London, anyway enough war talk this is a happy day,
all that matters is your happiness" Brenda smiled at her best friend
"Attention
everyone" Ian stood on top of a chair "I have a few words to
say" he took a piece of paper out of his pocket, "when I first heard
of my son's engagement it was the most amazing news I had heard in a long time
and the happiest, I was not in the place I wanted to be, a hospital bed, when
the news came to me but it gave me joy and hope that after all I've seen
something so amazing and beautiful could come out of this war and Ellie I know
for a fact your father will be looking down from the heavens with joy and that
his wish came true, he wished that you both would one day fall in love and
marry and you know Patrick" Ian looked up to the sky "they did and I
have never seen two people more in love" he looked back to the bride and
groom "to the bride and groom and may you both have a long and happy
life"
"To
the bride and groom" everyone raised their glasses. A tear rolled down
Ellie's cheek, it was the first she had thought of her father all day,
"Sweetheart
are you ok Martin asked
"Yes
I'm fine, just thinking about my Dad, he would have loved to have been
here" Ellie wiped her tears away,
"He's
here Ellie, in spirit" he kissed her on the forehead
"Ellie
can you throw the bouquet now" Chrissie asked running up to Ellie and
Martin
"Of
course sweetie" Ellie replied
"Yes
it's getting late and we need to head to the hotel" Martin said leading
Ellie towards the barn,
"Everyone
it's time to throw the bouquet" Ellie shouted standing on the same chair
Ian had. All the unmarried ladies gathered in front of Ellie, Chrissie tried to
make her way to the front but couldn't,
"Ok,
one, two, three" Ellie tossed the bouquet into the air towards the huddle
of women, all of a sudden Chrissie came shooting through the top of the crowd
and caught the bouquet,
"Yes
I caught it" she shouted with excitement
"How
did you do that" Louis asked
"Martin
helped me" Martin had snuck into the crowd without anyone knowing to help
Chrissie after seeing her struggle to get to the front,
"I
was wondering where you were going" Ellie said as he helped her down from
the chair, Martin kissed his wife,
"I
think it's time we went to the hotel don't you" he put his arm around her
waist,
"Of
course" Ellie replied. They both said their goodbye's
"Have a great
time on your honeymoon" Jennifer told Ellie as she gave her a hug. Ellie
and Martin got into the wedding car and drove away for their honeymoon.
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