In Name Only by Danielle Rae

Author:Danielle Rae
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: BookBaby
Published: 2012-01-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 13

In seemingly no time at all, the big day had arrived for Stewart and Maggie. The housekeeper had moved into the old ranch house the day after she and Lena had put it all in order. Early that morning, Lena took a covered basket of piping hot biscuits, fresh butter, strawberry preserves and a mug of steaming coffee to the bride-to-be. Lena had been asked to serve as the matron of honor for her friend. She thought she would start her duties early by delivering a light breakfast to Maggie.

Later that morning, Lena oversaw many of the last minute preparations for the reception. She and women from Maggie’s church put the final touches on the festive fall decorations in the barn and placed food in bowls and platters that would later be set out on long plank serving tables in the barn.

Lena was glad she had time to spend a few quiet minutes with Maggie earlier in the morning. She had come to love Maggie and was so happy for her on her special day. Lena was also glad for all the last minute details and all the hustle and bustle in the kitchen. It made it all but impossible to think of her own loveless marriage. It allowed her to pretend she was just like any of the other women crowding the kitchen.

As the time for the wedding drew closer, all the activity gradually died down; as one by one the other women went home to bathe and dress for the wedding. One matron remarked that she needed to go home and cajole her reluctant husband into wearing a suit and tie, when he’d have to wear one to church the next day, too. This made Lena laugh, but she secretly wished she got to do the same thing with Jud.

After sending the last of the ladies on her way, Lena shut the front door and enjoyed the silence that had fallen over the house. The only sound she could hear was the steady rhythm of the pendulum clock in the front room. She took a breath and wandered through the dining room, running her hands over the top of each chair and pushed open the door to the kitchen. She assured herself all was in readiness and stood looking one last time at the perfection of the wedding cake. She said a little prayer that all would go well today and always for Maggie and Stewart and then quickly went up to bathe and dress for their big day.

She ran into Jud in the upstairs hall. He and the other ranch hands completed their chores and Stewart’s, and had hung lanterns from several trees, which had already lost their leaves. Seeing his wife at the end of the hall he asked, “Is there anything else you need me to do for this shindig?”

She surprised him with, “Yes, may I please use the bathroom first?”

He responded with, “Sure thing, just don’t use all the hot water. I smell

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