Novel Treatments / In the Hearts of Men - Ch 15

Chapter 15
A Wedding
The following day, Regina woke with the realization that today she was getting married. She was alone in Johnson’s large bed, covered lightly with a blanket. She stretched, feeling lazy and content, for the first time in so long. She looked around Johnson’s room, seeing a set of clothes laid out for her and a note on the writing desk. She stood up and walked across the room to read the note:
My Darling,
I should return to Wren’s Nest by noon. I have a wedding surprise for you!
Mama and Felicia are waiting for you. I will see you at the church at 3 PM, when we will become Man and Wife, Till Death Do We Part.
I Love You,
Johnson
Regina smiled as she read the note again, a delicious feeling of belonging, love and happiness enveloping her. It was such a foreign feeling, she felt slightly overwhelmed, and tears sprang to her eyes and her heart felt like it would burst. She reached down to her belly, feeling the slight swell, and finally felt comfortable with the way her life had gone.
She dressed in the clothes she knew must have been set out by Felicia or Johnson, but had the startling thought that she would need to find something suitable to wear for her wedding day – what would she wear? Surely, she could not wear white.
After dressing in the skirt and shirt that was just beginning to feel snug around her belly and breasts, she went down to the tavern kitchen where she knew her brother would be hanging about, wandering after Felicia. Mr. Jackson had hired him as kitchen help, which suited him just fine since it meant he was always in close proximity to Felicia. When Regina walked into the kitchen, however, she was surprised to see not only Elijah and Felicia standing near the wash bins, but also Delilah, whose tear-streaked face and gaunt expression gave her a forlorn and unhealthy look. Regina rushed to her, hugging her and bursting into tears at seeing Delilah alive.
“We thought you were all … ,” Regina cried into Delilah’s hair and clinging to her. Delilah squeezed Regina back, her tears flowing freely. It was quite evident that she didn’t want to let go of Regina. They stood there, holding each other and crying for all of their mutual losses together for several minutes. Regina finally pulled away from Delilah, and led her to the small cook’s table in the corner, where Felicia brought them chamomile tea with granulated sugar cane and fresh cream. Elijah and Felicia sat across from Regina and Delilah, Felicia’s arm draped possessively through Elijah’s.
“Blake told me where I could find you,” Delilah said finally after they were all seated. “My children are upstairs sleeping still, we arrived late last night. I guess my brother thought I had perished in the fire along with Sariah, Miss Granger and Mrs. Cromwell, but I hadn’t gone to the Mercantile that day, as Little Edward had had the flu.
“The story that’s gone around town now from what I’ve heard, is that Jacob had gone to find Jeremiah Burns; he had been telling a bunch of men at the tavern about wanting to find and kill Burns for how you had been treated. I guess he took all his anger and frustration about losing you and put it into hating the man who would have killed you.” Delilah was silent for a moment, fresh tears spilling down her cheeks again.
“Well, apparently, they found each other,” Delilah laughed, a tin, hollow sound that matched her demeanor. “Sheriff Dawson told me that Burns and his accomplices ran over Jacob 6 times with their wagon, and that the horses were whipped when they balked at running toward him. Then they left him for dead in front of the Mercantile while they set fire to the building. Sheriff Dawson said that by the time he had made it to the building, around 4 in the morning, the building had burned to the ground and they found Jacob covered in blood, crying and screaming, looking through what used to be his room.”
Delilah was silent for a moment, collecting herself, then added, “Sheriff Dawson got a confession from Burns and 3 other men, who were all from Jackson County, and they were all hanged 2 days ago. I watched as they struggled, not leaving until they had breathed their last breath.”
Regina was relieved to hear that justice had been served to Jeremiah Burns. She nodded to herself, and said a prayer that Jeremiah’s soul would not make it to heaven, then prayed for her own for such horrible thoughts.
“That is the best news we’ve heard from Gatlin since we arrived here,” Regina said to Delilah, holding her hand, hoping she was providing some comfort to this woman who she had been so close to.
Regina sensed Felicia’s discomfort over Delilah’s familiarity with Elijah; Delilah was quite simply the most beautiful woman that Regina had ever seen, and she had an aura of sexuality, comfort and kindness that mingled together into a very attractive package. Felicia seemed to sense it, even in Delilah’s present state of deflated sadness, thus her show of ownership over Elijah. Only, Elijah seemed unaffected by Delilah’s charisma, instead his affections and attention being directed to the woman on his arm.
“I wanted to speak to Johnson,” Delilah continued, looking about as if willing Johnson to come walking through the doorway. “Blake told me that he had performed a surgery on Jacob, tried to save his life. And,” Delilah looked into Regina’s eyes, sincere love and gratitude in her gaze, “I hear you were by Jacob’s side throughout the ordeal. I am happy to hear that his foolish jealousy didn’t turn you away from him when he needed you so. He treated you badly when you needed him, Regina, and he and I spoke several times after you left. He knew he had been foolish to let you go, knew he had let his pride get the best of him. I’m so glad that your compassion and love for him helped him through his last hours.”
Regina’s eyes grew tearful again at the words. She looked back at Delilah’s lovely, yet gaunt face, the hollow eyes and cheekbones that defied her beauty.
“Delilah, I loved your brother, so much,” Regina squeezed Delilah’s hands in her own. “He told me before he died how he felt, and for nothing else, I am grateful to God that he and I could be together while he died, so that we could both know the depth of each other’s feelings. I will never forget our love, our time together.”
They stared at each other a long time, so much that wasn’t said between them in words being conveyed through their eyes and silence. Delilah finally broke the gaze, looking over at Elijah and Felicia. She smiled wanly at Felicia, and said, “That’s a good man you’ve got there, Felicia.”
Felicia looked back at her proudly, stoically. “I know.”
A moment of silence enveloped the table. All four seemed to be lost in their own thoughts. Finally, Regina broke the reverie.
“Delilah, I have news that, well … I’m marrying Johnson today.” She wasn’t sure how Delilah would react to the news. She didn’t meet her eyes, only looked down at her chipped teacup. I’ve returned to chipped teacups, she thought to herself as she recalled having tea at Blessed Hill, so long ago now, in Lenita’s little cottage. She smiled inside, knowing she had found what really mattered in life.
“I would like to come,” Delilah responded instantly, kindness and acceptance in her voice. Regina looked up at her, grateful, smiling. “The two of you will make a handsome pair, standing up there together with the preacher.”
Regina smiled again. Delilah always knew how to make her feel better.
“Felicia came to take you to Mama’s,” Elijah told Regina.
“We’re going to put your hair up in curls,” Felicia gushed out, smiling, a twinkle in her eye. “You’re going to look like a princess.”
Regina just smiled at her, but knew that she was anything but a princess. She murmured a thank you, but was a little embarrassed at the fuss being made.
“Alright, I just need a bite to eat first,” Regina had begun to feel the effects of no breakfast, and knew she had better eat soon. At the words, Felicia jumped up and began a pot of oatmeal for Regina, her new favorite breakfast meal since she had become pregnant. Elijah had gotten up from the table as well, trying to anticipate Felicia’s needs and following her around the small kitchen.
“Regina, I have something for you,” Delilah reached into her skirt pocket and brought out a ring. It was a gold band, etched with a lovely flowered vine around the edges. “Jacob was going to give you this ring when you returned from Heston House the first time, but he had become so angry and bitter that he had me hold it for him. When you went away again, he asked for it back, said he would put it away in his valet case. I think this is what he was looking for when Sheriff Dawson found him searching through the charred remains of his room. In fact, I know it is. He had told me that he wanted to find you, ask you to marry him, ask you to forgive him.” Delilah paused for a moment, opened Regina’s right hand and folded the ring into her palm. “He would want you to have it. It was the symbol of his love for you. He told me that the vines were like your lives, intertwining and growing together. He was always so symbolic and poetic, must have been all that reading he did.”
They both smiled at this statement.
Regina slipped the ring onto the ring finger of her right hand. “Johnson will understand completely, which is why he is so wonderful.”
Regina looked down at the shining gold band, the delicate filigree work on the edges. It must have cost Jacob a small fortune, Regina knew. It was a beautiful ring, simple and elegant, making the large-stoned ring that Moses Heston had given her look garish and contemptuous.
“Thank you, so much,” Regina said, hugging Delilah again. “This really means a great deal to me.”
Delilah nodded, knowing.
Felicia brought the two ladies each a bowl of delicious looking oatmeal, fresh butter and brown sugar melting into the mush. Regina stirred cream into her bowl and ate ravenously. Delilah followed suit, eating as though she hadn’t had food in days. Regina watched her, hoping Delilah could find peace within herself. It was hard for them all; there had been so much death, so much heartbreak.
After eating, Delilah stayed to clean the dishes while Regina went with Felicia to Mama’s. Regina was stunned to walk into the front room of Mama’s small bungalow, seeing bouquet flowers strewn about.
And in the middle of the room, lying across a high-backed chair, was a white wedding dress. Regina’s breath was taken away by the sight of it. She stood stock still, gazing at the dress, wondering how and who and why.
“Isn’t it beautiful?” Mama asked, bustling into the room from her kitchen. “Johnson brought it by this mornin’. He even had it tailored for ya.” She smiled conspiratorially, then said, “ Tha’s a good man.”
Regina stood in amazement. Johnson did this for her. He was asking her to wear white, even with her stained past. She was pregnant with his father’s child, yet he treated her, just as last night when he stopped himself from making love to her, as though he was her only one, as though she were a virgin bride, chaste and pure.
She walked to the dress and observed the intricacies of the pearls sewn into the bodice, the long lace sleeves that came to a point.
“It’s gorgeous,” she whispered in awe.
“Well, let’s get it on ya,” Mama insisted, taking the dress into her hands and undoing the many buttons down the back. “He said yous ain’t ta wear a corset, said he din’ want nothin’ hurtin’ that baby.”
Regina blushed. She began taking her clothes off, leaving on her pantaloons and slip, but Mama shook her head.
“You got new of them, too, see here?”
Regina took up the new under clothes in her hands, the pure silk slip that she knew would slide gently against her growing, and aching, breasts, would caress the swelling belly. The pantaloons were short, lace trimmed and also made of silk. Regina smiled as she slipped them onto her body, feeling the delicious sensation of being wrapped in such delicate fabric. Mama was holding open the dress for her to step into. She slipped her arms into the white lace, her skin seeming to glow through the white mesh. The bodice was slightly snug around her ribcage and breasts, just enough to show her curvaceous body through the demure fabric and style of dress. The neckline was cut in a slash across the line of her shoulders, lace trim tickling her throat. Mama began the tedious task of buttoning up her back all the tiny pearls. When she finished, she fastened a heavy necklace around Regina’s throat, a large pearl in the center that hung down to the lace from a thin gold chain.
The dress had a small train in the back, which Mama pinned up to Regina’s waist, then spun her around.
“Oh, Child, yous a vision,” she crooned. “A right princess, you.”
Felicia had watched the transformation as she had prepared the items for Regina’s hair.
“I told you, didn’t I?” Felicia teased Regina. Regina just smiled at her, not trusting her voice. She was so overwhelmed by the care and love that Johnson was showing her on her wedding day, she felt as though she would break down in happy tears if she uttered a word. So she just smiled, a stunned, happy smile.
Next, Mama led Regina to a small table in the corner, where Regina had seen Mama’s numerous children studying in the past. There sat an array of curlers, brushes and pins, and hanging across the back of the chair was Regina’s veil, a long thin mesh with a small crown at the top. Regina was astounded once more, looking at the inlaid pearl and diamond design that formed into a small peak, a large pearl at the center. Despite Regina’s feelings from earlier this morning, feeling as though these material things didn’t matter to her, she couldn’t help but be overwhelmed and excited at wearing such opulence.
After nearly two hours, in which Regina had to ask for a snack twice to keep from feeling sick, Regina was brought to a mirror. She couldn’t believe her eyes. Is that me? She thought to herself incredulously. She saw a lovely café-au-lait woman standing before her, the traces of girlhood long since gone from her figure and her face. Her hair was falling around her shoulders in cascades of long curls, brought up on the sides on top of her head where they were held by the veil. She did look like a princess, she admitted, admiring her reflection. Her belly looked flat, hardly a trace of the babe that grew inside, no hint of the shame that she and Johnson were trying to rectify. The skirts fell in an A-line from her hips down to cover her bare feet. The large pearl at her throat looked stately, becoming, tying the dress and veil together perfectly. Her tiny earlobes, which had only recently been pierced by Mama, held pearl and gold stud earrings.
“You don’t even need make up,” Felicia told her, leaning over Regina’s shoulder to speak to her reflection. “Johnson is going to be so pleased.”
“Thank you so much,” Regina smiled at the two women who looked at her through the mirror, proud of their work. Lastly, she slipped on a pair of white sequined slippers.
It was nearly three o’clock, and Regina’s stomach began doing flips. But she knew she had to eat again, or else she would faint, or worse, vomit, during the ceremony. Mama brought her some sliced apples and wild grapes with a couple wedges of soft cheese, which Regina spread across the offered table crackers. It was simple fare, but Regina was thankful, happy. She ate every bite, then drank a large glass of iced tea.
Mama brought her some peppermint herbs to brush her teeth with, and then, it was time to go.
Mama and Felicia, who had both changed into their Sunday best, walked with Regina the short distance down the dirt road to Wren’s Nest only small church. She stood outside the front doors, breathed in deeply, then pushed them open to find a large congregation of white and black people together inside: all the ladies she had learned household chores from, Mr. and Mrs. Jackson who owned the Inn, Sheriff Dawson and Dr. Estrand from Gatlin, Delilah and her two children, and Johnson’s youngest siblings, accompanied by their new, sweet matronly governess, Mrs. Grabel, and the carriage driver, Blake. And, in the front row, to Regina’s surprise and happiness, sat Regina’s family – Charlie and Rachel, who held a large white and wriggling bundle, Samantha, Jack and their three children, Elizabeth and Tobias, Moses and Angelina with little Jilly sitting between them, and Elijah, who was waiting expectantly for his Felicia to join him. Regina beamed at them, and they all gasped with awed expression at such a lovely bride. Regina was already a beauty, and to see her in such regal, queenly attire was truly stunning.
Regina finally allowed her gaze to move to the front of the church, where Johnson stood with Pastor James, waiting for her. Johnson stood in sharp contrast to the Pastor, tall, tanned and muscular, his sandy brown hair brushed lightly to the side, and wearing a nicely tailored tuxedo. The Pastor stood a head shorter, a stout black man in a white robe with gold cord around his neck. Regina’s gaze drifted back to Johnson, thinking, He is so handsome, and she smiled at him.
Johnson’s gaze swam over her, drinking her in with his soft blue eyes that glinted with satisfaction, with love, and a bit of lust as his sight caught at her breasts straining against the delicate wedding dress. As Regina drew nearer to him, he walked out to meet her, taking her hands in his as they met, then leaning down to brush a light kiss against her forehead.
“My Princess,” he said smiling, looking down into her beaming face. She smiled back at him, staring up into his eyes, her gestures and gaze saying, Yes, I’m yours, and please be patient and gentle with me. Johnson led her by the hand to the alter, hardly able to tear his eyes away from her.
The ceremony was quick. Regina heard herself say “I do,” when asked if she would take this man as her husband, to have and to cherish until death do they part. She saw Johnson’s serious, soul-searching inspection of her face as she said the words, and seemed convinced by her frank acceptance. His own “I do” to her was just as serious, impressing upon her how deep his love for her was. Elijah produced the rings, stood and brought them forth quickly. Regina’s ring was a large, lovely band of gold and diamonds, and Johnson’s, a gold band with three diamonds in the center.
“You may kiss your bride,” Pastor James said, chuckling as he watched the two of them, so lost in each other’s gaze. Regina smiled up at Johnson as he leaned down to press his lips against hers. But his seal of their vow was to be no mere brush across the mouth; he wrapped his arms around her waist, pulled her tight against him and possessed her mouth with his, his tongue finding hers and searing her mouth with his passion. Regina was surprised by his kiss, but succumbed to it. When finally they pulled away from each other, still staring into each other’s eyes, the congregation laughed appreciatively at their show of affection for each other. Pastor James turned them to face their friends and family.
“I present to you, Mr. and Mrs. Johnson Heston!” he proclaimed proudly. His huge voice matched his huge black face, and Regina turned to him, kissed him on the cheek, which made him blush instantly, then walked with her husband down the church aisle.