Chapter 15: Our Wedding Day

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Our Wedding Day


"Four-thirty A.M. I haven't been able to kick this early rising habit since high school. Then again, I haven't really tried," Linda thought as she crawled out of bed. By the time her feet touched the floor, she remembered. "Hoooooooray!" she almost yelled, just catching herself. "Today's my wedding day!" That thought gave her all the energy she figured she was gonna need. Gleefully, she started getting ready for work.
Later, just out of the tub, she thought, "I'll put my wedding dress out where I can't miss it. That way I can't forget to take it along no matter how excited I get." She hung it on the door of her room. "Geez. I'm too wound up to think straight," she thought, smiling. "Only one way to hold out till I leave for work." She reached in her rack of 45's, pulled out the Beatles' "Do You Want to Know a Secret?" and turned on the record player. She kept the volume low enough to avoid waking the family.
"Listen. Do you want to know a secret?" she sang softly as she dressed. "Do you promise not to tell? Oooooo....closer. Let me whisper in your ear...Say the words you long to heeeaaar.....I'm in love with you-ou......."
Dressed now, she sat on the bed and listened to the rest of the song. As it finished, she picked up Jim's Senior picture from her dresser and held it to her bosom. "Jim, it may not be the big dream wedding I wanted, but I wouldn't pass up this day for anything in the world. And Lord, I thank You for bringing this wonderful day into my life. And with a man like Jim. So gentle and loving. Lord, help me to make him as happy as he's made me. To be the wife I should be." Suddenly, she remembered the way she was always taught to close her prayers. From Sunday School. "In Jesus' name I pray. Amen." "Boy!" she suddenly thought. "I'd forgotten how good it feels to talk to Him like that! I haven't done that so easily since I was little." She sat the picture back on the dresser. Putting the record away, she turned off the stereo and went downstairs for breakfast, grabbing the wedding dress on the way.
"Good morning, Squeek."
"Gooooood Moooooorning!!" she sang. She hung the wedding dress on the front door, then entered the kitchen.
"That's right! Today's the day I lose a daughter, isn't it?"
"Yep." She knew that he'd remembered. That he'd just said that to give her a chance to gloat a little and let off steam. And she loved him for it. He sat the plate in front of her. "French toast!! My favorite! Dad, you shouldn't have!" Smiling, she patted her stomach. "I'll get fat! Then what will Jim think?"
"Sorry about that, Squeek," he said affectionately. "But this was my last chance to fix it for you the way you like it."
She leaned over and kissed him. "I know, dad. Thanks. I love you for the thought."
A little bit later, with just a few minutes left before she had to catch her bus, she had a sudden impulse hit her. Quietly she climbed the stairs and went to her sister's room. Cork was up now, getting dressed already. "Bye, Cork," she said as she walked in. "I'll probably see you this weekend." Linda gave her a bear hug. "And thanks for being here all these years. And don't forget - I still need you, you know."
"I know." They both heard the tears building in Cork's voice.
"Hey! Never forget. I love you!" Linda said firmly. She smiled.
"And I love you!" Cork muttered as the tears started.
After getting Cork calmed down and saying goodbye, she went downstairs to say the same thing to her mother.
"Slipped downstairs on me, didn't you?"
"Yep."
"Goodbye, mom. I love you."
"Goodbye, honey. Take care of yourself. I hope everything works out for you and Jim."
"Aw, c'mon, mom." She smiled. "We're not leaving town, just getting married. I'll probably see you all this weekend."
"Yeah, I know. I just can't help it. Bye, sweetheart. I love you, too."
Linda looked at her watch, kissed mom and dad, grabbed the wedding dress and flew out the door. "Geez. I'm so keyed up I don't know if I can hold on that easy. It's a good thing I only have to work half a day today. Now I’m beginning to see how Jim felt, just for a different reason,” she laughed. “Better not tell him, though. He’d never let me forget it!” she chuckled as she walked.
Minutes later, cheerfully dreaming of the future, and especially tonight, she boarded the bus to town.

"Friday morning, August 16th, 1968," I recited as I climbed out of bed. I had no trouble waking up when the alarm went off. I didn't think I would. Not today! "But how in the heck am I gonna concentrate on working? And until 4:30 yet!!" I gleefully questioned myself as I shaved. "I feel like I'll be totally useless at work! But...who cares??!" Now I was really getting in the spirit of things. "Six o'clock," I said. "Only 13 hours to go. Then we don't have to be apart anymore."
The effort it took getting dressed made me feel like I had ten thumbs, and I had to force myself to eat some cereal, but I knew I'd better, 'cos I didn't know anything about what might happen tonight. I'd decided long ago to just let this night lead us. We'd never done that much "on the spur of the moment", and I figured there couldn't be a better time to start. I'd even kept part of my vacation pay set aside just for tonight, so we could indulge ourselves in a sudden whim or two and not have to worry about money. She was giving up that big wedding, for me, and I wanted to make sure she didn't feel cheated any OTHER way.
I don't know how, but I managed to make it to work on time. Driving yet. I can imagine the stupid grin on my face as I entered the office. "If they didn't know why, they'd have me locked up," I thought, cheerfully going about my initial duties.
About 1:00 I was half crazy with anticipation. I had to let off steam, and I also knew I would be in no shape to drive tonight. Not safely. I went to the Scheduling Center.
"Hey, Mark."
"Yeah, Jim. Don't worry. I didn't forget about tonight. I'm still figuring on being 'best man'."
I'd asked him two days ago. "Thanks for the reassurance, Mark. I'm here to ask one more small favor."
"Sure. what's up?"
"Could you drive to Newport and back? I'm gonna be too keyed up by then."
"By then?" he asked. "What about now?"
"Well...now that you mention it..."
"Thought so. Sure. I'll drive. No problem," he chuckled.
"Thanks, Mark. I sure appreciate it." Having felt I accomplished something in preparation for tonight, I relaxed. But just a little. Had to force myself to eat LUNCH, too.

"See you all Monday!" Linda called cheerfully as she left the office that afternoon.
"Congratulations! And good luck!" they all shouted after her. "Glad you can really use our little gift!"
"In unison, yet!" she thought happily, as the elevator reached the ground floor. "One-thirty. My appointment is at 1:45. Fantastic!"
After the appointment, she ducked into the lounge area and put on the wedding dress. "I hope he likes it," she thought, just a little nervously, as she left the building. "Three o'clock. Darn. How am I gonna blow an hour and a half?" She knew she'd manage somehow. But carrying that "little gift" was awkward. "Oh, well, "she thought to herself, "I'll just have to manage this, too, I guess."

"Four-thirty. Amen!"
"Ready, Jim?"
"What kinda question is that, Mark? Let's get outta here!"
He laughed. "Right."
We flew out the door, but I wondered what for. "These elevators always take forever!" I sputtered.
"Down, boy!" Mark chuckled. "Yes, they do. But you notice it more today, too."
"Check."
By the time we got out of the building and walked down to the Square, Linda and Judy were waiting for us. I introduced Mark to the girls, then grabbed Linda. "Hello there, gorgeous!" I almost made her drop the box. I was so excited I hadn't even seen it as I grabbed her.
"Hi. I love you."
She kissed me. We began the walk to Mark's car. "What's in the box?"
"The rest of the towels and wash cloths."
"Right on!"
Then she noticed our direction.
"Where're we going?"
"Mark's driving. I'm too wound up."
She chuckled: "I wonder why...."
"Bull." I kissed HER this time. She smiled and laid her head on my shoulder.
About 10 minutes later we were on our way to Newport, Kentucky.
"Lin, honey, I love your choice for a wedding dress. You look great. And that hair! When did you find time for that?"
"Mr. Kashner gave me the afternoon off. I just had it done. You like it?"
“I LOVE it. You're sure going all-out, honey. And it shows."
"You don't look so bad yourself, handsome. I love the way you look in that white suit."
"Thanks, sweetheart."
Minutes later, we'd reached our destination. We were greeted at the door by a woman I took to be the Justice's wife.
"Come on in. Mr. Williamson?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"Right this way."
We followed her into the little chapel they'd set up in the rear of their cozy home.
"Hello, again, Mr. Williamson. And this must be Miss Hart."
"How could you tell?" Linda asked, as if she didn't know.
"The look on your face is a dead giveaway."
"Thanks, Judy," Linda said affectionately as she poked Judy with an elbow.
"Shall we proceed?"
"Of course," Linda and I said in unison. We laughed, surprised at the timing on our reply.
He asked who was serving as our witnesses. We introduced Mark Youtcheff and Judy Kayata. Positioning us in the “standard” lineup, he began:
“Dearly beloved, we are gathered here, in the sight of God and these witnesses,…”
He said something about joining our right hands. I automatically took hers in mine.
“Do you, Jim, take Linda, to be your lawful wedded wife, to love and cherish, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, from this day forward, till death do you part?”
“I do.” I looked at her. She quietly smiled. That river of utterly boundless and un-ending love was in her eyes again. Only this time she had the best release for it in the world:
“And do you, Linda, take Jim, to be your lawful wedded husband, to love, honor, and obey, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, from this day forward, till death do you part?”
“I do.”
Our eyes met again. Not one word needed to be said.
On cue, Mark handed me the ring.”
“With this ring I thee wed.”
“With this ring I thee wed,” I repeated.
“Till death do us part.”
“Till death do us part.”
Judy handed Linda my ring.
Linda’s voice never sounded more full of love and devotion than it did as she repeated those same words I’d said only moments before, and placed the band on my finger.
“I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride.”
And did I ever!!”
Mark and Judy signed the license as witnesses, and I paid the $2.00. Plus $25.00 for his services, of course.
As we drove back across the river, two thoughts were on my mind. Foremost, of course, was the total euphoria I felt at having her as my wife at long last: "Tonight we stay together!"
The second thought, just creeping into the picture, was: "Now I need to get up the guts to call my parents and tell them. If I don't do it tonight, I'll have an even harder time of it later." But I resolved that come what may, nothing was going to spoil this night. Not if I could help it.
As we climbed out of Mark's car back on the Square, we three said goodbye to him, and I thanked him again. Then he took off for home.
"Congratulations, Jim." Judy kissed me.
"Watch it, you two!" Linda said playfully.
"Ennnhhhhhhh!" I said. I knew the tongue would get her. Linda chuckled and kissed me playfully:
"Ennhhhh yourself!"
Congratulations, you TWO," Judy said, the deliberate emphasis for Linda's benefit.
We said goodbye to her, put our arms around each other, and headed for the under-ground garage. There we deposited that second present in the car and picked up our suitcases. Then we began our walk down the block toward the Sheraton-Gibson Hotel. "Some honeymoon for Linda," I thought. "One night in a hotel room."
As we walked, I continued my efforts to build the courage to call my parents and tell them. I'd started working on the problem as soon as Judy left us, because I knew it would be a monumental job. With some hesitancy obvious, I stopped at the last phone booth short of the hotel.
"Lin, I think I'd better call my parents and tell them. I don't want the thought of still having to face that situation bothering me all night. Not tonight."
"O.K., Jim. Makes sense to me." Then, as an afterthought, she added, "They can't do anything now anyway."
I entered the phone booth, keeping the door open.
"Do you want me to wait out here?" she asked, smiling, knowing full well the question was totally unnecessary.
I beckoned her with my free hand. She joined me, and I held her close as the phone rang.
"Hello?"
"Mom, Jim."
"Hi."
"Hi. Listen.....um.....mom, there's something I need to tell you....Linda and I are married." Terrified, I waited.
"When?"
"About an hour ago."
"Where?"
"Newport."
"Oh. You can still get out of it, you know."
“Mom, I don't WANT to get out of it!" I didn't like that inference at all.
"Her parents pushed you into this, didn't they?"
"No! Mother, it was entirely our own idea. They knew nothing until the last minute themselves."
"If you say so."
I could tell she didn't believe me. She made no effort to hide it. I said nothing.
"Well, you just remember. I don't want her in this house."
That did it. I didn't care what she thought now. I was through being diplomatic. Somewhat sarcastically, I shot back, "Yes, mother, I'll remember. Goodbye."
"Goodbye, Jim."
I hung up.
"Well?" Linda queried.
"I was hoping she'd open up. But I wasn't counting on it. She still thinks your parents pushed me into all this. I just wish she'd understand."
Linda hugged me one-handed as we began the rest of our walk. "I know, Jim." She stopped, and looked at me. "You've risked your entire relationship with your family for me. I only hope you continue to feel I'm worth it." She smiled and kissed me.
"Honey, if I wasn't sure of that I wouldn't have come this far. You are all I really need. And you always will be. You're a warm, loving girl. You're a beautiful person. And don't let anyone ever tell you different. I love you."
We held a long, loving kiss. Right there in the middle of town. Yes, just like any other lovers, for that one fleeting moment we were the only people on the face of the earth. But soon, coming back to reality, we arrived at the Gibson.
"Williamson," I said as we reached the desk. "We have a reservation."
I saw nothing in it, but the clerk's face must have made Linda a trifle unsure about what he thought. Either that, or she just couldn’t resist bragging a little. The “ham” in her was showing again. I smiled inside.
"We just got married," she said, a little shyly.
"Oh!" Newlyweds, huh?"
"Yes sir," I said proudly.
"How'd you like to have the Bridal Suite instead of that room you reserved?"
We looked at each other, incredulous. Our mouths would have dropped open a mile if we gave them the chance.
"I'm not sure we can afford it," I said, still dazed.
"No extra charge."
"I'll bet I look awful silly right now!" I thought to myself as I tried to get my mouth to work. I finally succeeded. "We'll take it!!"
Linda hugged me. I could tell she was eating this up.
"Shades of the Kon-Tiki," I thought happily.
It wasn't long before we found ourselves in the Bridal Suite, all alone.
Twenty-eight dollars for THIS!!?? Can you believe it??"
"No, I can't," she said excitedly as she jumped around the suite, doing everything she could to take it all in. Moments later she ran for the suitcase she'd brought. "Be right back, love," she called as she took off for the next room.
I got my camera out of the suitcase while I waited. I sure was glad I'd remembered to bring it. "We'll love to remember this," I thought as I checked the film. I brought the Polaroid. That way if any shot we took didn’t turn out right we could do it again. No chance of losing our memories to bad photography. I couldn’t stand the thought of that happening.
Just then, Linda walked into the room, dressed in the sheerest, most flowing nightie I'd ever seen. "Well?" she asked, the anticipation obvious in her voice.
"Lin, darling, you look beeeeautifullll. It's almost a shame you have to end up taking it off."
"Oh, YOU!!" She punched me with that proverbial elbow. "I'm glad you like it, Jim. I bought it just for you.”
I kissed her the way I had at the end of the ceremony.
The next half hour or so was gleefully spent taking pictures of her, in various poses, throughout the suite. We wanted to remember as much of the looks of the suite as we could, and I couldn't get over the way she looked in that nightie, so I just put two and two together and let the "ham" in her come out in the open. She ate it up. When I ran out of film, we called it a night.
As we climbed into the bed a few minutes later, I couldn't help but notice that we were both just about as nervous as we had been that night at the motel. And I loved it. "It certainly didn't detract from the beauty of this night, did it?" I thought. Then I added, "Thank You, Lord, for this exciting day, and the anticipation we feel, even now. Amen."
"Gonna make me work for it, huh?" I laughed. She still had the nightie on.
"Yep."
"Ennhhhhh..." We laughed. I turned out the remaining light.
We embraced for one moment, enjoying, each in our own way, the memories we already had made, today, and dreams of the future. Slowly, romantically, I began to remove that beautiful silken barrier that lay between us. That little minx! She shifted position to help, but let me do all the work. Moments later, I felt the wonderful closeness of our relationship make itself known to me once again as I felt her press her body firmly, and most willingly against mine. Only one embrace had ever meant half as much as that night: the night of her Junior Class play, when she found out I still loved her. "Father," I silently prayed, "I thank You for the beauty of this night, for the Bridal Suite, and for the joy it's all giving Linda...."
I never finished that prayer. With a contentment, and a love for each other that only He could give, we drifted off to sleep, still in each other’s arms.


This work is taken from “A Once In A Lifetime Love: An Autobiography of Two High School Sweethearts”, copyright 2000, as yet unpublished, by the same author.