EPILOGUE — JOURNEY

Scarlet sucked in a breath, earning herself an apology from Lily, who stood behind her, tying the laces of her dress.

“It is too tight, Mama.” She winced.

Lily loosened her grip on the lace a little. “Better?” Scarlet nodded. “Alright.”

She waited until Lily had made a bow before turning around.

Lily stood before her, dressed in an elegant blue dress with a bald skirt that helped to keep her protruding stomach hidden. Her hair was held bound by several pins behind her head, two curly strands left to fall to either side of her ears—she was beautiful, Scarlet thought, as beautiful as the first day she walked into their lives.

Stepping forward without a word, Lily pulled Scarlet into an embrace. “You’re perfect, darling! Oh, so perfect!”

Face ablaze, Scarlet unwrapped Lily’s arms from around her and stepped back, folding her hands before her and bowing her head. “The dress you made is perfect, Mama, not me.”

Lily’s hand settled on her chin, gently nudging it until she was staring into tear-filled blue eyes. “You are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen, and I mean it. I think Josh will say the same thing once he sees his bride.” Tears slipped down Lily’s face as she spoke.

Scarlet stood staring at Lily for a long while, loving the woman who had been her mother for six years. She could not fully grasp the extent of Lily’s sacrifice when she was a child, but as she grew older, she understood that mothering six children who weren’t even yours, was a great sacrifice.

Turning from Lily to the table, Scarlet opened her small jewelry box and began rummaging through it. When she found what she was looking for, she pulled it out and turned back to Lily.

Reaching out, she took Lily’s hand captive and placed her fist into it, tears slipping down her face as she did. “Remember the day I asked you to be my Mama?” She raised her head up to find Lily nodding. “May I ask another favor of you?”

Shaking her head, she said, “Being your Mama isn’t a favor, darling, it is a privilege.” She smiled, tears staining her face. “You may ask.”

Releasing her fist, the silver necklace fell into Lily’s palm, the same one she had given Scarlet on the night of the Town hall party.

Scarlet turned around then, sweeping her brown locks to the side. She heard Lily take a step to her as the heart-shaped pendant settled on her neck.

“Will you give me away?”

Silence.

Swallowing, she nodded. “Of course, you do not have to…”

“Scarlet!” Scarlet spun around just in time to find Millie making her way into the cabin, followed closely by fourteen-year-old Josie, twelve-year-old Lexie, and their little three-year-old brother, Benjamin.

Her sisters each wore matching peach bridesmaid dresses that she had made. Their hair was pulled into matching up-dos, a single rose flower each tucked behind their ears, unlike Scarlet’s hair, which was set to fall loose around her shoulders. Curled with rags for three days, they formed small curls that helped frame Scarlet’s face.

Lily made her wedding dress, sewing it perfectly to her body. Intricate lace designs covered the bodice and short sleeves, and the silk fabric fell to her toes.

Lily had made her wedding dress. She watched her mother labor for several weeks—irrespective of her rapidly growing pregnancy—to put the dress together. Mostly made of lace and silk, it was a masterpiece that fitted her body perfectly.

“Mama!” Benjamin stood on tiptoes, tugging on Lily’s skirt.

“How long do we have to wait?” Millie frowned. “Papa and everyone else are getting impatient, especially the groom.”

“Oh, pay her no mind, Scarlet, you look absolutely wonderful!” Josie squealed, circling Scarlet as she examined her dress, as if in search of something off.

“You’ll just have to make me a dress as lovely as this one, Mama!” A smile spread across Lexie’s face. “Perhaps even more lovely, and if you cannot, then I’ll be borrowing Scarlet’s. Good thing Papa built another cabin for Scarlet and Josh here on the farm. That way, we won’t have to go far to see each other and I can borrow this dress whenever I want!”

“It will not fit,” Millie pointed out, throwing the three girls into an argument about who was going to inherit Scarlet’s wedding dress.

Benjamin turned his wide green eyes to Lily, blond hair bouncing up and down as he tugged on her skirt.

Lily stepped forward then, ignoring Benjamin’s antics. She placed her hand against the side of Scarlet’s face, her eyes searching hers.

“I’m sorry, Mama, I didn’t mean to stress you further. I know how much work you’ve had to do although you’re pregnant…”

“Sh.” Lily placed a finger on Scarlet’s lips, halting her flow of words. Shaking her head, she removed her finger from her lips and took her hands captive. “I’m just overwhelmed, that’s all. I’m overwhelmed you’d consider me for such a wonderful task. I’m as happy as the evening you asked me to be your mother, and even more so.” She squeezed her hand. “And like that evening, my answer is yes!”

Taking a step forward, Scarlet wrapped her arms around Lily and leaned against her shoulder. “Thank you, Mama.”

When Lily pulled away, fresh tears stained her face. “We mustn’t cry.” She smiled, wiping her tears. “Millie is right; we cannot be late or your Papa or Josh will come barging in. We still have a long ride to the church in town. We must leave now.” She leaned down and brushed Benjamin’s blond locks. “And you mustn’t fuss, Benny, or stain you clean shirt. And,” she turned her attention to Josie, Lexie, and Millie, “you mustn’t argue. I do not look forward to making a wedding gown for any of you just yet. Will you tell your Papa that we’re ready to go?”

All three sisters nodded their heads. Taking a hold of Benjamin’s hand, Lexie followed her sisters out of the door and slammed it shut behind them.

Turning to Scarlet, Lily held out her hand to her. “It’s time, darling, you’re about to be a bride.”

A shiver of excitement raced down Scarlet’s spine at Lily’s announcement. Stepping forward, she took Lily’s hand. “What did it feel like, Mama?” she whispered solemnly. “What did it feel like being a bride?”

Silence followed, both women standing beside each other with their eyes fixed on the closed door.

“A journey,” Lily’s voice broke the wall of silence that was building between them. “A journey of uncertainty and loneliness. You will not travel several miles like I did, but you will walk down an aisle that will feel like such a long journey. Every step will be uncertain, yet sure. Steps of fear, but somewhere in your heart will lie confidence. Eventually, you will get to your destination and you will find it was worth the trek, for you will have the man of your dreams standing beside you. You realize that you have traveled this road, just to be with him.”

With that, Lily reached forward and pushed the door wide open, the sunlight flooding the cabin.

Scarlet sighed softly, tears stinging her eyes. “You weren’t just Papa’s bride, Mama, you were a bride for all of us.” She turned to Lily “Will you journey with me, Mama?”

“Always,” was her simple response as she tightened her hold around Scarlet’s hand and led her to take a step forward, the first step of the journey—the first step to being a bride.