ANNETTE SIGNALED, then turned the Vetters' car in the church parking lot. Ruby was sitting in the back and their mother was next to Annette in the front seat. There was only one other car parked near the entrance, which they recognized as Pastor Moore's blue sedan.
        “I’m so glad the sun is out,” remarked Ruby. “It’s such a lovely day for a wedding.”
        Annette brought the car to a smooth stop near the sidewalk and turned to smile at her mother. “Are you nervous?” she asked.
        Mrs. Vetter sighed, then smiled and said, “Maybe just a little.”
        “Just think … in just an hour or two, you and Dad will be married.” Ruby laughed.
        It had been two weeks since Annette, her mother and Ruby had returned from their exciting summer vacation at Devil’s Lake. Her mother had been busy preparing for this big day ahead of them ever since then. She had sewn Annette’s and Ruby’s bridesmaid dresses and then had sewn her own wedding gown. Meanwhile, Bob Foley and his friend, Jared, had managed to finish the master bedroom upstairs in the Vetter farmhouse.
        They got out of the car and then took their formals out of the backseat and walked to the church entrance. As they approached the building, Reverend Moore opened the doors for them.
        “Good morning, ladies,” said the middle-aged minister with dark hair and a mustache. He stepped aside as he held the door for them.
        “Thank you, Matthew,” replied Annette’s mother.
        “If you need me, I’ll be in my office,” said the minister. “I’ll be writing my sermon for tomorrow.”
        When they walked into the dressing room in the church basement, Helen Vetter sighed and looked around. “It has been such a busy two weeks … I’ll be relieved when this is over.”
        “You’re not nervous, are you, Mom?” asked Ruby.
        “Maybe just a bit.” She smiled at the girls. “I’d forgotten how it feels to be a bride.”
        Annette hung her gown over a table, then sat down. “Well, I’m glad the day is finally here. You can finally relax after today.”
“Then you and Dad will be off on your honeymoon.” Ruby grinned, smoothing out her formal as she laid it over another table.
        “How many people do you think are coming?” Annette asked.
        “Oh, not a lot,” said Mrs. Vetter. “I expect only about twenty people.”
        “Is that all?” Ruby looked shocked.
        Annette smiled to herself. Her mother had said that she wanted only a small, informal wedding, but she believed her mother and Bob were in for a big surprise. With a glance at the clock on the wall by the door, she said, “Well, in just one hour … you’re gonna be Mrs. Bob Foley.”
        Helen let out a sigh and there was a twinkle in her eyes. “Yes … though it might take me a while to get used to having a new last name.”
        While they started getting ready, they heard noises coming from above them. Annette knew that Terry, Bob Foley and Uncle Will, who was going to be his best man, had just arrived. Terry was going to be a groomsman and was responsible for the rings. As they got into their gowns, Annette heard women’s voices coming from outside the room. Some of the church ladies were setting up chairs and tables in the basement for the reception. She smiled to herself, knowing something that her mother did not.
        “Maybe I should go out there and see if they have everything they need,” commented Helen, heading for the door.
Annette was quick to stop her. “Mom … you don’t need to.”
        “But I …”
        Then Ruby said, “No, Mom, we need to get ready.”
        “Well …” Helen turned around, blinking her eyes.
        Several minutes later, there was a knock on the door. Annette rushed over to open it, to find Penny grinning at her. “We have the flowers,” she announced with a smile. She peeked inside. “Is it safe for Tim to come in?”
        “We’re decent,” Ruby replied with a chuckle. A moment later, Tim stepped into sight with an armload of floral bouquets. Annette grinned at him as the brother and sister entered the room.
        “Here, put them on this table,” directed Helen.
        “This is so exciting!” Penny grinned, then nudged her older brother. “Let’s leave them alone so they can finish getting dressed.” A moment later, she and Tim left the room, and as he closed the door he blew Annette a kiss.
        After they had changed into wedding attire, the three of them crossed the hallway to the ladies’ room and put on their makeup. Annette could see that her mother’s hand was trembling a little. “Want me to help you, Mom?”
        “No, I’ll be all right.”
        “Wedding jitters,” Ruby giggled.
        Upstairs, they could hear the arrival of the guests as muted voices sounded, and laughter came from the other end of the basement, where the church women were getting ready for the reception and food preparation. Within fifteen minutes, the three of them were finally dressed and their faces had been enhanced from a small touch of makeup.
        “It’s really noisy upstairs,” commented Annette’s mother.
        “It sounds kind of like elephants.” Ruby giggled.
        Annette chuckled, then made a face at her little sister. Then they heard the organ upstairs start to play a hymn. A few moments later, someone knocked on the door, and Annette opened it and laughed.
        “You made it!” she exclaimed as her mother and Ruby came to see who it was.
        Helen let out a huge gasp. “Oh, my gosh! Marie! And Fern!” Then she saw the tall Native American man standing in the hallway. “And Joe! What a surprise!”
        Hugs were exchanged as Annette and Ruby smiled at one another before it was their turn to hug the relatives, who had driven down from their lake house in Minocqua.
        “I didn’t expect this,” said Helen, dabbing at her eyes to wipe away tears. “Oh, but I’m so glad you came.”
        “We have to leave after the reception,” Aunt Marie explained. “Fern’s young man, Aaron, is taking care of the lake house for us. But we have new guests arriving tonight and will need to be there.”
        “Fern, it’s so good to see you,” said Annette as she gave her cousin a hug. Then Ruby hugged her as well.
        “Your dresses are lovely,” said Fern.
        “Mom made them,” Ruby said with a grin.
        The minister appeared at the door just then. “Are we almost ready?” he called into the room.
        “Oh, we’d better get upstairs,” Aunt Marie prompted Uncle Joe. She waved as the three of them hurried away after the minister had left.
        “Mom?” Annette saw a tear in her mother’s eye.
        Helen wiped it away and smiled. “I’m ready.”
        “Then let’s go,” cried Ruby. The three of them picked up their flower bouquets and left. The organ music filled the church as they climbed the stairs.
        “Oh, good heavens!” remarked Helen as they entered the Narthex. The Sanctuary was filled with people, who populated three-fourths of the pews. She looked into Annette’s face and blinked. “Did you know about this?” she asked in a low voice.
        Terry, who was giving their mother away, grinned as he stepped forward and waited to accompany their mother down the aisle.
        Ruby giggled, and Annette nodded in a sly fashion. She knew her mother and Bob had not wanted a large wedding, but she and Ruby and Terry had plotted to have more guests appear as a surprise for their parents. Helen let out a sigh, then hugged both the girls as they waited for the organ music to start playing the Bridal Chorus by Richard Wagner. Annette saw Bob Foley standing in front, dressed in his Air Force uniform, and next to him was Uncle Will as his best man.
        Slowly, Ruby started down the aisle, smiling and sure of herself after their rehearsal the day before. Then it was Annette’s turn as maid of honor. She couldn’t help but grin, imagining that perhaps one day in the far future, she might be walking down this same aisle … and hopefully with Tim Duncan.
        Finally, the organ music started over and Helen came slowly down the aisle on the arm of Terry. Annette could see that her mother was teary-eyed at the sight of so many friends that had come to the church that day to honor their marriage.
        Reverend Moore stood at the pulpit, smiling and looking around at the people sitting in his church. Then, he began the ceremony.
        Fifteen minutes later, Helen and Bob had made their promises and commitments to one another, and the organist played the Mendelssohn Wedding March. The newly married couple smiled as they walked, arm in arm, back down the aisle, watched by the multitude of smiling faces from the attendants. Then, Annette and Uncle Will followed, with Terry and Ruby behind them. They lined up near the stairway as guests passed by, congratulating the newlywed couple and greeting the attendants.
        “Doesn’t Ruby look like a doll?” Annette heard one of the nurse friends of her mother say. Her companion smiled and said, “And Helen is absolutely glowing.”
        Ray and Audrey Duncan, Tim’s and Penny’s parents, were next in line to greet the wedding party. Their youngest daughter, Karen, held onto Mrs. Duncan’s hand and appeared a bit overwhelmed with all the people. Annette stooped down and gave the seven-year-old a hug.
        “Your dress is pretty,” the little girl told Annette. “Are you and Tim getting married next?”
Everyone in the wedding party had heard and laughed out loud. Annette felt the heat rise in her cheeks. Karen blinked in surprise and then joined in the laughter. She covered her mouth, then followed her parents downstairs.
        “Hello, Annette,” greeted the first nurse. “Your mother looks so happy.”
        “Yes,” added her friend, “they make such a cozy couple.”
        “Thank you,” said Annette with a smile as the two nurses wandered off. She greeted many more wedding guests, some of whom she did not even know. When Pete Randt and his brother Mark and younger sister Kay approached, Annette quickly reached out and gave Pete an unexpected hug and then kissed him on the cheek.
        “I’m glad you three came,” she said and then hugged Kay and Mark. Penny, who was standing with Pete in the line, giggled and told her boyfriend, “Don’t look so embarrassed.” She then grabbed hold of him and planted a kiss right on his lips.
Pete looked stunned as they pulled apart, and people around them laughed.
        Mark, Pete’s younger brother, was suddenly caught by Ruby, standing behind him in the receiving line, who pecked him on the cheek with a kiss and a giggle. The boy’s face flushed as both Pete and Kay laughed at their brother.
        After the guests had passed along, the wedding party followed the guests downstairs to the church basement for the reception.
        “Didn’t Jared come?” asked Tim after Annette joined him downstairs. “I thought he’d be here.”
        Annette shrugged, then said, “He’s kind of a loner.”
        Ruby spoke up then, and said, “He had a few finishing touches to do on the new bedroom.” She giggled. “I like Jared.”
        “You do?” Annette pretended to act surprised.
        “Oh … not in that way,” Ruby exclaimed. “I just meant … he’s different. He’s interesting to talk to.”
        Annette shrugged, not having talked much with the Vietnam veteran who had shown up on their farm last spring and was now living in Bob’s trailer.
        When they got downstairs, people were mingling, laughing, and lining up for the luncheon at the kitchen window that looked out over the room where many tables and chairs had been set up for the reception. Annette noticed a huge pile of wrapped presents on a table under the windows.
        “Wow!” exclaimed Ruby. “Look at all those presents!”
        Tim had come up from behind them and put his arm around Annette’s waist. He had heard Ruby’s remark and said, “This was such a good idea, surprising your mom and Bob like this.” He smiled at Annette. “I hope she’s not upset that you secretly invited all her friends.”
        “Yeah, Mom wanted just a few people at the wedding,” giggled Ruby.
        “It wasn’t exactly my idea,” said Annette. She glanced over at Uncle Will, who was speaking to some people and suddenly noticed her gaze. He saluted her and laughed.
        Ruby giggled some more and covered her mouth. Annette placed her hands on her hips and said, “I’ll bet you had something to do with it, didn’t you?” she asked the younger girl.
        Then Tim grasped Annette’s arm and nodded toward Helen and Bob, conversing with people who had approached their table and were engaged in conversation. “I don’t see anybody complaining about it,” he told her, then stole a quick kiss on her cheek.
        Lunch was a delicious blend of pot-luck food the church ladies had prepared. After that, there was the wedding cake, and Uncle Will had made sure there was plenty of ice cream in the church freezer to go with it. Annette had to admit, Uncle Will had done a great job coordinating this surprise “bigger” wedding for his niece’s adopted mother and his former brother-in-law. Annette thought she had never seen Uncle Will as happy as he was now.
        The Parker family stayed to eat, but then said their goodbyes as they had to drive all the way back up to Minocqua. Annette accepted hugs from Aunt Marie, Uncle Joe and her cousin Fern, then thanked them for the wonderful surprise of showing up.
After the dishes had been cleared away and the church ladies were busy cleaning up in the kitchen, Helen and Bob opened their gifts and expressed their appreciation to all the friends who were there to celebrate their union.
        “And I also want to thank Annette,” said her mother with tears in her eyes. “I hadn’t wanted a big wedding. I didn’t want anyone to make a fuss over this … but …” She let out a sob, and Bob immediately took her into his arms to comfort her. “It was beautiful,” she said with a sniffle.
        Ruby’s father then smiled shyly and said to the guests, “I’m the one who didn’t want to have a big wedding,” he confessed, “but as you can see, Helen has a lot of beautiful friends … nurses from the Ravensville hospital … and the Duncans … the Randt family … and our kids … I’m glad it turned out the way it did. Thank you all!”
        Then everyone in the room clapped their hands and cheered. Annette had a tear in her eye as she looked up into Tim’s face. He wiped it gently away with his finger, then held her tighter.
        Annette was pleased to see that Chris and Sue Hilgert, the two daughters of the famous artist John Hilgert, had sent a nice gift from California, which included beautiful sheets and a comforter for the newlyweds’ bedroom. Chris had been Annette’s close friend at the beginning of the school year, and they had been involved in the mystery surrounding some luminous green paint. That was when Annette had probably saved John Hilgert’s life.
        Also, Annette noticed that the Mitchells from Colorado had also sent a wedding gift … a very nice modern coffee pot that would replace the older percolator in their kitchen. She recalled fondly the vacation she and Penny had taken almost a year ago, to the Cochetopa Hills near Gunnison, Colorado, where they had stayed at the Mitchell ranch and helped the old hermit, Jebb Hickory—which resulted in their ranch hand, Britches, marrying the hermit’s granddaughter, Sara. Now Britches and Sara were parents to a new baby boy.
        Mandy had visited Ravensville at the beginning of June, and since Bob and Jared were busy working on the addition to the Vetter farmhouse, Annette, her mom and Ruby had taken a family vacation with Tim, Penny and Mandy to Devil’s Lake, where another mystery had surfaced. Terry had stayed behind because he was working for the Randts on their farm.
        Tim nudged Annette and she realized she had gotten lost in her thoughts. Her mom and Bob were thanking everyone for the wonderful presents and their attendance. Uncle Will gave a short speech about the newly-weds which involved a lot of humor. Everyone was laughing by the time he finished, and then it was time for Bob and Helen to leave on their honeymoon up north.
The church ladies were busy, cleaning up the dishes in the kitchen, when Annette and Ruby, escorted by their mother, went to their dressing room and changed clothes. Most of the guests had already left. Helen had tears in her eyes as she hugged her two daughters. Bob was waiting in the hallway, and he gave both the girls a kiss before he grabbed Helen’s arm and they left, laughing.
        “Have a good time,” Annette called after them.
        Tim showed up then, and said, “I’ll drive you home.”
        Penny had been helping the church women clean up, but was now through and laughed when she saw them coming. “What a wonderful wedding!”
        “Where’s Pete?” asked Tim.
        “Oh, he, Kay and Mark left already.” Penny shrugged. “You know … chores.”
        “Which reminds me,” said Annette, “I need to get home soon and milk Alice.”
        “And I’m sure Dad could use my help,” added Tim.
        “It was a beautiful wedding, Annette,” said Penny.
        “And now we really are a family.” Ruby laughed.
        Terry met them outside after everyone had collected their belongings, including the dresses. Earlier, Pete had helped Tim and Terry load the wedding gifts into the back seat of Uncle Will’s yellow station wagon. There wasn’t enough room for all the presents, so they loaded the more fragile gifts onto the passenger seat in Tim’s Chevelle. Annette saw the minister locking up the church as the sun was lowering in the western sky.
        “I hope Alice is okay,” Annette fretted. “She’s used to being milked by six o’clock.”
        “She’s probably fine,” replied Penny, then stopped with her hands on her hips. “How are we all going to fit into the Chevelle?” she asked.
        “I’ll ride with Uncle Will and Terry,” Ruby decided and rushed over to join her brother, who was making more room for them to sit in their uncle’s station wagon. After the three of them had climbed inside the car, Ruby called to the others, “See you at home!”
        “What a day!” Annette let out a big sigh as she climbed into the back seat of the blue Chevelle with Penny. Uncle Will and Terry had placed the rest of the wedding presents onto the passenger seat of Tim’s car.
        “It was a fun day,” said Tim as he got behind the wheel and started up the engine.
        “I wonder who will be getting married next,” said Penny.
        “Fern!” Annette laughed.
        “Oh, maybe so,” said Penny. “After all, she was the one who caught the bridal bouquet!” They laughed.
        “Oh … I’m supposed to give you something,” said Tim as the engine idled. He reached into his pants pocket and produced an envelope, which he handed to Annette.
        “What is it?” Penny asked as she leaned over in curiosity.
        The envelope was sealed with Annette’s name on it, and in very small printed letters on the back side someone had written EYES ONLY.
        “Who gave it to you?” asked Penny.
        “Bob,” said Tim, “just before he and Helen left.”
        “Should I open it now?” Annette could hardly wait to see what was inside.
        Tim shook his head as he backed the Chevelle out of the parking spot. “No. And he told me you were the only one who can read it.”
        “Why me?” she asked, puzzled.
        He smiled, then said, “That I can’t answer.”
        “Open it now,” prompted Penny eagerly.
        Annette fingered the envelope, studying the printed words. She couldn’t imagine why Bob Foley would write something strictly for her eyes only.
        “She can’t,” Tim reprimanded his sister.
        “Why not?” whined Penny.
        “Because it’s private,” said Tim.
        “Well, do you know what’s inside it?” asked Penny.
        “No,” said Tim.
        “I want to open it now,” said Annette, who could hardly contain her eagerness.
        Tim sighed. “I think you should read it after you get home, Annette. That’s what Bob told me.”
        She glanced at the two of them, then shrugged. “Well, okay.”
        Penny moaned in disappointment and Tim reprimanded her again. “It’s private,” he emphasized.
        “Do you know what’s in it?” asked Annette.
        “I do not,” he said emphatically, “and … I’m not going to ask.”
 
 
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