Blood and Fire - Chapter Four

“Wasn’t it so beautiful? The colors, the flowers, the music, the food, the cake, the reception! It was as if we walked into a dream, such a lovely dream to keep in our memories. Each of my girls will have a wedding just like that! Right, dear?”

Mrs. Bennett dances across the room as if she is the bride gliding down the aisle.

“Yes dear” answers Mr. Bennett ignoring Mrs. Bennett while grabbing the remote simultaneously trying to satisfy her need for agreement.

“The colors were so striking! I would have never thought of putting such contrasting shades together. Jane has such good taste! Don’t you think so?” recalls Mrs. Bennett daydreaming of her own wedding “Mr. Bennett, are you listening to me?”

“What? I didn’t quite hear you. I vaguely remember you saying something about colors and memories. I’m not sure that I am the one you should be asking about an opinion of white, more white, and a dapple of a shade of white” replies Mr. Bennett heading to the kitchen to make a cup of coffee and to escape the conversation before there is any confrontation.

“The colors were ivory, lace, and cream. There is a distinct difference. You are not alone dear, most men seem to be color-blind” yells Mrs. Bennett into the kitchen while offering her worldly opinion of a typical man.

“Yes, whatever you say dear” nonchalantly agrees Mr. Bennett ignoring everything that has just been mentioned.

“Our girls were the prettiest ones at the wedding, excluding Jane Fairfax, of course. The bride is always the most beautiful at a wedding. Did you see how many men noticed our girls?” asks Mrs. Bennett feeling very proud that they are part of her offspring.

“I make it a habit not to notice men noticing my daughters. If it were up to me, I would prefer that they didn’t exist” stirring his hot coffee and finding his comfortable chair back in the living room following Mrs. Bennett joining him in the kitchen, Mr. Bennett adds “But you are right. Our girls looked very pretty tonight even if my billfold feels a little thinner and weaker.”

Mrs. Bennett heads upstairs to change into something more comfortable and passes Lydia running down the stairs having changed her clothes into a comfortable pair of pajama pants, her school team t-shirt, and fuzzy bunny slippers plopping down on the floor while grabbing a pillow from the couch to sit on. Mary follows closely behind her in her favorite frontier red plain flannel long dress pajamas with the color trimmed in white eyelet and finds a comfortable spot next to her mother on the sofa worn a little through years of functional use. She tucks her Isotoner slippers underneath her, throws back her long braid behind her shoulder cuddling one of books she borrowed from the library the day before.

“I want to be a bride some day, but my wedding is going to be glamorous. I’m going to have tons of gold and shimmer. Everyone is going to know that I am getting married. I’m going to have over 1,000 guests. Even Beth Elliot will be green with envy!” fantasies Lydia twisting the end of one of her pigtails.

“That’s just silly!” replies Mary “I would never have such an ostentatious extravaganza. I think that the only ones I will want at my wedding are all of you and a few of my closest friends. I would like to marry in a small chapel, something built in the 1800’s with lots of wood and stone.”

“I would be freezing. Old buildings are never warm enough!” joins Kitty in shorts and a large oversized shirt with white socks munching on some potato chips she found in a cabinet in the kitchen. She has kept her hair up in a variety of reckless buns held loosely together with vibrant colored scrunchies.

“Let me have some Kitty. You can’t have them all!” irritated states Lydia trying to grab the bag from Kitty at the same time.

“All you have to do is ask” replies Kitty pulling away from her.

“All right then. Can I have them?” asks Lydia.

“Say please and I might consider it” remarks Kitty hiding the chip bag behind her back.

“PLEEEEAAAASEEEE!” on her knees Lydia begs with her arms in a prayer position in front of Kitty.

“Okay” returns Kitty giving her the bag to which Lydia replies by sticking her tongue out at her.

“The two of you are so immature” replies Mary “maybe one day there might be hope that you will make it to womanhood like me”.

They both turn to her and roll their eyes. Lydia replies “Don’t you mean ‘old maid’?” dissolving into fits of laughter with her sister by her side.

Mary narrows her eyes and imagines Lydia’s head a red and white target with her eyes as a focused arrow.

“What did you think of Bingley? He seemed to give Jane lots of attention all evening” asks Kitty wanting to talk more about the romantic events of the wedding.

“O.M.G. He’s gorgeous!” replies Lydia grabbing her chest as if being overwhelmed and about to faint falling backwards in her Indian style position on the floor “If Jane ever gets tired of him, she can send him my way!”

While shutting the glass door behind her, Jane overhears her name being mentioned coming in from talking with Liz on the porch in the warm humid August moonlight. Liz appears flushed and a little annoyed.

Mrs. Bennett enters the room wearing her orange and mint terry-cloth housecoat and an olive facial mask to help give her smooth and luxurious skin tone and finds a comfortable place on the sofa.

“What were you saying about me?” asks Jane wanting to clarify anything that has been said about her knowing how her sisters like to indiscriminately talk and yak.

Lydia and Kitty say nothing but giggle. Mary responsibly replies “They were discussing the level of handsomeness in regards to your new boyfriend.”

“What boyfriend? Do you mean Bingley?” sincerely asks Jane blushing “He was only being kind to me.”

“Baah hahaa!” shrieks Lydia “Who else would we be talking about? How many admirers do you have? He couldn’t keep his eyes off you all evening! You didn’t leave any time for us!”

“Actually, she has quite a few admirers, Lydia, as I am sure you will too” answers Mrs. Bennett keenly aware of both of her daughters’ beauty and innocent appeal to the opposite sex that Jane seems too oblivious about.

“I’ve had one or two guys who have liked me before Lydia. I just may have not been interested in them” defends Jane feeling slightly rejected by Lydia’s comment.

“Oh I know” and then seeing Jane’s face, Lydia apologetically responds “I’m just teasing you. Ben Wick followed you around like a puppy dog for three different summers at camp.”

“I thought Hugh Darcy looked like a star! I like his chiseled profile and aquiline nose. He reminded me of Adonis!”

“Yes, but he came to a terrible end. Adonis was killed by a wild boar because of the jealousy of the goddess Diana over Aphrodite” replies Mary with all of her sisters staring at her.

“What does that have to do with anything?” asks Kitty a little confused.

“Just that looks are not everything and that they can’t prevent you from your fate” replies Mary wanting to share her knowledge with the others.

“Fate or not, I still think Darcy was the most handsome man in the room!” replies Kitty sighing at the memory.

Liz looks at her, smirks and replies “I think he and Adonis had a lot in common. They are both quite arrogant and aware of their level of attraction to others. I am not a fool and will not be put under any spell. He has no affect on me!”

Lydia and Kitty stare at her in disbelief.

Jane wanting to see the good side of things defends Darcy’s behavior, “Liz, I’m sure he has some good qualities. Maybe he was tired and in a bad mood for other reasons that you and I are unaware of. You need to give him another chance” defends Jane.

“I really don’t think that is necessary” responds Liz still hurting from the secret overheard conversation.

“Well, that’s too bad. I’ve already invited both of them tomorrow afternoon to dinner and told them that you will both be here to keep them company” replies Mr. Bennett.

“Why didn’t you tell me? I’ve got so much to do! I’ve got to plan a fantastic dinner, clean house, find something to wear, and have something fun to do after the meal is over!” disconcerted replies Mrs. Bennett “Mr. Bennett is more than welcome to come but why did you bother inviting that arrogant Hugh Darcy?”

“I didn’t want to get in trouble again for overlooking an invitation. I thought that you liked Hugh Darcy. When did he suddenly become your enemy?” confused asks Mr. Bennett by the swift change of emotions within the last few hours.

“When he slighted Liz, he said she was too old to find a man!” angrily replies Mrs. Bennett.

“That’s not exactly right mom” gently corrects Jane sensing more unconscious ache from Liz at the reminder of his unkind words.

Blood and Fire - Chapter Three

As the guests enter the Fellowship Hall, nameplates are scattered throughout the room on the identical linen and floral tables. Jane and Liz search for their names because they have been seated at a different table than the rest of their family.

Jane calls out from the table next to where Liz is standing “Liz, I think we’re over here!”

“Who are we sitting next to?” curiously asks Liz not sure that she appreciates the entire concept of assigned seating at a formal banquet.

“Charles Bingley, Caroline Bingley, Hugh Darcy, Brigadier Jennings, Mr. Woodhouse, Alice Hammer, you, and then me” replies Jane walking around the table and reading each card one at a time to not make a mistake from her previous glancing.

“This should be interesting” suggests Liz wondering what all of them will talk about.

“At least we know Jennings. She was such fun as a counselor at the American Music Institute each summer as teens. I always looked forward to her being with us. I wonder if she will remember us?” considers Jane hoping that the answer will be a ‘yes’.

They find their seats as the program is about to begin but the Bingleys and Darcy are missing.

“Jane and Liz Bennett – how are you doing? It is so good to see you! You were such good girls growing up! I loved having you in my cabin each summer!” delighted states Jennings excited to see some of the girls that she mentored for a few years as teenagers “I want to introduce you to some of my friends. This is my best friend, Alice Hammer and our side-kick, Mr. Woodhouse”

Jane and Liz greet and shake their hands “It’s very nice to meet you”.

“We all live at the Silver Crest now and are having a good time together. You need to come visit me. I’ll make cookies and we can have some of my favorite coffees. I just got a cappuccino machine and I’ve become quite an expert. It’s worth a cup.” Jennings pleased to see both of them again.

“We would love to. We don’t often have a chance to visit Crestwood but we will have to make it a plan to visit sometime soon. Cookies sound delicious!” exclaims Jane missing being around Jennings who has brought many happy memories into her life.

“What about you, Liz? What is your schedule like?” asks Jennings “You could help Jane drive. My apartment has a guest room and a pull-out couch. There would be plenty of room if you both came at the same time.”

“I would love too! We definitely have to make this on our agenda to come see you again” honestly replies Liz who is a meticulous calendar keeper of dates.

“Isn’t it amazing seeing Jane and Grant together and also Emma and Knightly. Elton and April are doing all right even if it was a bit of a shock at first too” reflects Jennings as then adds “I’m sure you remember all of them from camp. There is another wedding coming this summer too. As you know Brandon and Anne got married and now have a little one. Well her sister, Ellen and Ted are finally getting married next June after commissioning. I hope that they are appointed somewhere around here. It would be so good to see them again too.”

“I hope so too. We’re very good friends with Ellen. She’ll make a wonderful officer” shares Jane excited for her friends upcoming summer nuptials.

“How’s your love life Liz?” asks Jennings

Liz looks directly at her and blushes. She kind-of misses Jennings’ bluntness but the answer to that question might be a bit boring.

“Not much to say really. I’ve been very busy with school and now I am working in a career that I am enjoying” Liz answers feeling the words fall flat and then shrugs “There isn’t much opportunity to meet people. Who knows? This may be my lucky year” Liz adds with a self-conscious smile.

“Love may just be around the corner. You never know when it is going to pop up. He may be fallen before you or vice-versa but it has a way of working out if it was meant to be and worth the effort. If it is not worth waiting for or working towards, it probably isn’t worth having” day dreamily replies Jennings as she glances over at Mr. Woodhouse munching on a few decorated Italian wedding nuts.

“That makes sense” replies Jane tasting a few of the flavored mints on the table.

“I think love comes in many shapes and sizes. As a child you’re in love with a doll, as a teen you’re in love with a poster, as a young adult perhaps a model, but as an adult you realize that real people are the best of all with their quirks, nuances, eccentricities, as well as all those other things that make them special and unique. There’s someone right for you if you just give it some time” shares Jennings taking a sip of her fruit and berry flavored punch “We all eventually become a fine wine to someone – or at least a good punch. Isn’t that right, Alice?”

“Yes, but I think that I would like to think of myself as a tall glass of cool lemonade” smoothly states Alice as she smiles moving her hand as if it gliding through the air in front of her and pleased with her own joke.

Jennings lifts her lip and shakes her head and the two laugh together as they have many times before.

Liz and Jane turn towards the door and notice that the two men each had observed and an elegantly dressed woman standing beside them. They seem a little out of place and slightly uncomfortable. Bingley notices Jane and immediately smiles.

Carolyn asks the hostess to look at the seating chart. The hostess points to where Liz and Jane are sitting. Carolyn frowns and seems displeased with the option that has just been made available to her. She grabs the arm of the handsome brunette whom Liz noticed in the chapel and moves toward their table.

Bingley sits down next to Jane and seems to hardly contain himself before starting to ask Jane a few questions and in conversation with her. Darcy pulls out Carolyn’s chair. She moves in slow motion holding on to her purse and sliding a hand to fix her skirt as she finds her place. Darcy remains to help to slightly scoot her chair in next to the table. She gracefully sets down her purse on the floor next to her. As if part of a lesson in etiquette to the others, she takes the linen napkin and lays it gently on her lap and folds the ends once inch away to keep the crumbs at bay.

Liz watches her but feels Caroline’s intentional air of superiority aimed directly at her.

“Weddings are such dull things. I don’t know why we bother to attend except for they are our friends” remarks Carolyn to Darcy only even though everyone else at the table can hear her speak and obviously disagree with her.

Darcy doesn’t reply but stretches his neck as if to make his shirt and tie more comfortable. He is very striking close-up even more so than across the room.

“Caroline, you’re so boring. I love weddings! The food, friends, and fun are the best part of any year” states Bingley while looking over at Jane “meeting new friends is great too! You need to relax and enjoy yourself.”

Caroline gazes at him as if a dart is piercing through her eyes but then slightly relaxes when Darcy appears to be slightly surprised at her response, “I guess that I can suffer through another wedding of one of your friends”.

Liz decides that someone needs to liven up the table again. She introduces herself and then asks Caroline “Where do you work? You seem familiar. Maybe we have met before someplace else.”

“I highly doubt it. You probably recognize me because I am news anchor at Galaxy Global Network – GGN. I have a way of making strangers feel they know me” snidely replies Caroline “And what do you do?”

“I’m a copywriter for a local community paper. I’ve been working there a couple of years and I really enjoy it” replies Liz “I write articles about the school clubs and teams, vet suggestions, special community events and other things like that”.

“That’s interesting. You and Caroline are in the same type of business. You both are relating information to the public” intuitively remarks Bingley trying to ease the tension that he feels but not knowing why it exists.

“It’s not the same thing. I report real news and events to people who need to know. She is writing articles about the importance of using cat litter. There is hardly a comparison” retorts Caroline wiping her lip with her napkin.

“Well, I don’t know about you. But I need to know what kind of litter is best for Twinkles and Peaches. I don’t want anything to harm them” replies Alice Hammer glaring a little and not liking Caroline’s attitude “It really doesn’t matter if a bus is broke down Dry River Creek to me. Twinkles and Peaches are my family.”

“Hey they are getting ready to do a line dance. Do you want to try Jane?” asks Bingley taking her hand and not letting her have a chance to refuse as if Jane would have ever thought of doing so.

“Line dancing is one of my favorites! Come on Alice and Mr. Woodhouse, it’s time to jiggle our old bones!” exclaims Jennings pulling them behind her.

“I think that I am going to check my messages. I’ll be back in a few minutes” states Caroline not wanting to be left alone with Liz to ask any more stupid questions that she doesn’t feel like answering just in case Liz should want to interview her for the local paper.

As the music begins, Darcy looks a bit uncomfortable and looks at her a few times but doesn’t say anything. Liz takes a few sips of her punch and decides to plunge into a conversation.

“So what corps are you from?” asks Liz thinking that this is a safe question to begin.

“I attend Pemberly Hights. My family has attended for generations. They have a band, songsters, praise teams, and all kinds of youth musical groups, small Bible Study groups, and are very involved in community programs” states Darcy with what Liz perceives as a slight tone of arrogance. “What corps do you attend?”

“My family and I have attended Longbourn Citadel since I was a child. It is a family corps where everyone is comfortable. We have a soup kitchen for the homeless on Friday nights and have a lot of community care activities. We have a band ensemble and a praise team. We’ve just started a songster group which is a lot of fun too” happily replies Liz thinking about how much the corps as grown in the last couple of years.

“Do any of the homeless individuals ever attend your corps?” asks Darcy interested in her answer.

“Yes, of course” replies Liz “They are always invited but actually on a few attend”.

“That would cause such a scandal at my corps” frankly states Darcy.

Assuming that he thinks the same way Liz earnestly replies “Not all of us are born with privileges and the advantages of some. But God uses us no matter where we came from. He sees us as who we are not what things outside of ourselves that define us.”

“I’m just saying that not every corps is prepared to work with the homeless. For some corps more than others this is a rather challenging thing” explains Darcy.

Misunderstanding him Liz replies “I wonder why ‘some’ corps then choose to still have the ‘Army’ somewhere in its name.”

Darcy smiles with his lips closed. Liz doesn’t understand his response but assumes he is mocking her. “It looks like they are getting ready to cut the cake. Are you going over to watch?”

“No, I’m quite comfortable here for the moment” replies Darcy finding Liz’s spirit someone enlightening to his other friends.

“Suit yourself. I’m going to go watch my friends and get a delicious piece of cake as well” replies Liz not sure if she likes or doesn’t like Darcy but feeling that she needs a break to breathe for a moment.

Near the beverage table, Liz is left by herself for a little while to chat with Charlotte Lucas and some of her other friends. Jane attention seems to be completely occupied by Bingley which is rather sweet to see.

As she reaches for another glass of punch, she hears a ping on the floor. Setting her glass down Liz touches her ear and realizes that she has lost her earring. She looks around and sees a shining piece of metal flashing in the light from under one of the tables she bends down to pick it up but someone gently kicks the earring making it hide somewhere deeper under the linen tablecloth. Liz finds herself mostly covered while trying to find the strayed earring. She recognizes two voices from earlier in the evening standing on the other side of the table.

“Isn’t it a wonderful reception! There are so many pretty girls here. I particularly like Jane Bennett. She is so beautiful. She’s sweet and funny. I think we have spent the entire evening talking. I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone like her” gushes Bingley.

“I’m sure it is the excitement of the day. Jane does seem like a very nice person though. I have no complaints about her” remarks Darcy in a non-committal tone.

“Her sister is rather interesting. What do you think of her?” asks Bingley “She might be someone for you. She seems quick and smart which seems to the type of woman that you like to choose” replies Bingley

“I’m not sure what I think of her yet. She isn’t the beauty of her sister, but I guess she’s tolerable if a little outspoken” taking a breath Darcy objectively observes She’s a little older not to be attached to someone yet” as he walks away still talking to Bingley but out of range for Liz to hear what they are saying.

“Who is he to judge me?” furious Liz thinks to herself “Each of us have our own beauty. Who is he to say one way or another? Why do I care? I don’t know him. I don’t need him to make an opinion of me. I’m fine just like I am. I don’t need to be with anyone who doesn’t appreciate that!”

Darcy smiles at her from across the room as he sees her heading toward their table. Liz picks up her purse and gives Alice and Jennings a hug.

“Aren’t you staying? They still have to throw the bouquet and a few other things. I thought girls always like to stay for that part” asks Darcy with a plea in his tone that surprises himself.

“No, I’ve got more important things to do than try and catch a bouquet” tightly replies Liz.

“Alice and I don’t. This may be our lucky day! Right, Alice?” excitedly quips Jennings. Mr. Woodhouse is asleep for a short nap in the chair beside her. “Before you go, you must make plans to come down and see me again at Crestwood. It would be so good to see you again!”

“I promise. I’ve have to look at my calendar and vacation dates. I’ll let you know” replies Liz walking away before the tears start to fall at the memory of Darcy’s comment.

Blood and Fire - Chapter Two

“Are you ready? You are always so sloooow!” shouts Kitty through the bathroom door “The rest of us need to get ready too. You need to leave some hot water. It’s not fair that you take it all!”

“Stop yelling. She can hear you” advises Liz walking up the stairs hoping to help her sisters compromise and find a solution to sharing “Lydia is just choosing to ignore you”.

Through the bathroom door Lydia’s voice rings out “I am not! I’m not done yet” sticking her head through the crack in the door “She’ll have to WAIT her turn!” slamming the door again as it echoes through the hallway.

“I wish that I lived with Jane and you. It would be so much easier. I wouldn’t have to put up with Lydia’s selfishness or Mary’s moaning all the time!” yells Kitty while stomping off to her bedroom and slamming the door.

Liz heads downstairs to find something to do other than listening to her younger sister’s argue. It was Jane’s brilliant idea that they should ride together in her parent’s minivan so they could all go to the wedding as a family. Right now it reminds her of being grounded as a child and punished for something that she did wrong, however, she can’t figure out what that possibly could have been to deserve this.

Some peaceful music radiates throughout the house as she hears Jane play at the piano some of her favorite pieces. She admires Jane’s ability to turn off the world around her while she escapes into a landscape of flowing chords and expressive dynamics. Liz plays the piano but her place of solitude and escape is usually found in a good novel but there seems to be a apparent lack of availability of finding one at her parent’s home at the moment. She settles for the latest Faces magazine with articles of some well-known celebrities who are entering their fifth and sixth marriages as a celebration for each year of their notoriety.

“Where is everyone?” flounces Mrs. Bennett into the room “Where are my girls?”

Lydia walks gracefully and none too quickly down the staircase taking in the moment of her grant arrival.

“You look beautiful Lydia! You remind me of myself when I was your age. All the boys chased me but somehow your father managed to catch me and bring me home” reflects Mrs. Bennett sighing for affect.

“Maybe I should have lost the address” states Mr. Bennett under his breath but loud enough for Liz and Jane to hear with slight giggles.

“What’s that dear? What are you saying?” asks Mrs. Bennett.

“I was just saying how lovely you look in that dress” smiles Mr. Bennett catching Liz and Jane’s eyes with a gentle plea not-to-tell.

“Where is Kitty? Mary is already in the car waiting for us. I think that she has been sitting there for over an hour!” exaggerates Mrs. Bennett but the truth is that Mary has been waiting for quite a while. She makes it a rule and habit to be punctual. “It seems like we are always waiting for Kitty!”

Kitty runs down the stairs jumping over the last three steps and awkwardly sliding across the tiles on the floor in her heels gently pushing Lydia as she comes to a stop, “It’s because Lydia hogs the bathroom and won’t let me in until the last minute!” Lydia shrugs her shoulders and pushes Kitty away.

“I don’t want to sit in the back!” firmly states Lydia to Jane “I always have to sit in the back with those two” pointing to Kitty and Mary.

“You do not always have to sit in the back because Jane and I don’t live with you any more nor do we go to many places together. You can handle it for a day” responds Liz annoyed at her sister’s immaturity.

“Okay, but tell Kitty to not take off her shoes. I can’t stand the smell of her feet” returns Lydia.

“My feet are fine. I had smelly feet from old tennis shoes one time and you’ve never let me forget it. Your feet stink too but I’m kind enough to never mention it!” shouts Kitty.

“I don’t want to talk about stinky feet when we’re going to wedding. Why don’t we talk about the flowers or something else” replies Mary to the relief of Jane and Liz reconsidering if this was a wise idea to all ride together for an hour.

“So are we ready for prom?” as Mr. Bennett starts up the minivan.

“This isn’t a prom, dad. We’re going to a wedding. We don’t have dates like someone might if they were attending a prom. Also none of us are wearing white which you can at a prom but not at a wedding to be polite to the bride” remarks Mary informing her dad of social customs.

“Thanks Mary, I will need to keep that in mind for the next wedding we attend. I will make sure that I do not wear my white suit from my prom many years ago” replies Mr. Bennett.

“I don’t think you could fit in it anymore” frankly replies Mrs. Bennett as a statement of fact and then reflecting “However, we need to get you a new suit. You’ve gained some weight lately but this suit will do for today”.

“Thank you for noticing” politely responds Mr. Bennett tapping his stomach with both hands over the buttons that are struggling to close on his vest and then placing them back on the steering wheel.

Lydia and Kitty giggle to each other and at Mary who turns up her nose and decides to observe the various types of trees that line the streets in their neighborhood and challenges herself to remember as many as Latin names as possible to keep her mind off the laughs of her ignorant sisters tightly sitting next to her.

Many of the spots are full as they pull into the parking lot of the Netherfield corps. It is a huge corps by Army standards and has many of the traditional music and character building programs as well as being a trendsetter for upcoming media and social networking ideas of community outreach.

Several families are the foundation of the corps. They have been members for many generations. They have intermarried and remarried to form a stable community of fellowship and belonging. Some of the smaller corps feel left out from this tight-knit group and often mistakenly referred to the corps as exclusive.

The truth is that reaching out to other Salvationists and trying to include them is not exactly their strong point. They are polite but not friendly, they are nice but not kind, they are caring but not merciful, they are warm but not loving, they are accepting but not necessarily advocates of grace. But this could soon change.

As they enter the chapel, Jane notices Emma and Knightly coming in the doorway. She is so happy to hear about their engagement. Attending camp was fun with both of them even though they do not see each other very often as adults.

“They seem so happy together!” Jane points out to Liz who whole-heartedly agrees with her.

“I think that is the happiest I have every seen Knightly. He’s usually pretty serious, but he can’t seem to stop smiling” observes Liz.

“Do you see anyone else that we know?” asks Jane

“Oh no, there’s April Hawkins! I use to not like her at all when we were teens. She was such a twit each summer at camp to me. She always seemed to be competing with me, but I didn’t care. I wasn’t in competition with her. She could do whatever she wanted and seemed to get by with it too” but after reflecting for a few seconds, Liz continues. But you know, Elton seems to bring out the best in her too”.

“I’m sure that you both have grown up a lot since then. Life has moved on” wisely remarks Jane “We didn’t have much of a chance to get to know her better then.”

Liz wonders if Jane ever gets tired of her optimism about people. “I’m sure that you are right and that there are many more qualities to appreciate in a friendship with her now”.

They find their places as a family in one of the many long mahogany pews that outline the chapel. The place is packed with friends and loved ones. The chapel is exquisite with every finest detail attended to with affection. It is a moving ceremony of devotion and commitment.

Each of the Bennett girls recognizes friends from various places and events in the passages of time. Sitting among the pews are long lost best friends, secret crushes, a handful of challenging individuals, some that they shared moments of hilarity and laughter, and others who have been there at poignant moments in their lives. But most have moved on to other places, met new friends and are not as close as they once were. It is a day of reckoning the overall view of God’s plan in the many relationships that God has brought into their lives.

As Jane sits watching the service, she politely looks around at the crowd. She notices a man with blond wavy hair that seems to be staring at her. She politely smiles and turns back around. A few minutes later, Jane considers taking a better look at the attractive guy that appeared to have noticed her too. She turns and with her peripheral vision looks casually over her shoulder. Jane is stunned to discover that the handsome man is still looking back at her. She nervously squeezes her hands together in her lap and smiles to herself. It has been a long time since she has noticed anyone being so directly interested in looking at her.

Liz stretches her neck as she reflects on the words of what Elton is emphasizing to Jane and Grant earnestly and sincerely standing before him. Words such as ‘love’, ‘commitment’, ‘faithfulness’, ‘promise’ ring through her thoughts. She unintentionally turns to the row across from them and notices a man to be appearing to mimic her thoughts. Perhaps feeling that someone is watching him, he turns and notices her response as well but quickly looks down at his program to recollect his composure. Liz notices his profile and finds that there is something very appealing about him. He does seem a bit astute and standoffish but maybe that is just a first impression. There is something masculine and gentlemanly about his demeanor. Liz considers introducing herself if there is time at the reception.

Next to her, Lydia is obnoxiously swinging her crossed leg back and forth waiting for the ceremony to end so they can meet new guys at the reception. Her gum smacks with each finished affirmation of affection. Occasionally a bubble will burst on impulse. Kitty is attuned to this and hits Lydia’s rhythmic leg every time that it happens. Lydia immediately replies with a whispered “oww” but quickly forgets the sisterly discipline and annoyingly continues the same routine.

On the other hand, Mary has spied a young man with red lieutenant’s trim from across the room stoically paying attention to the service through his loud sniffles and cough. After each torrent, he raises his nose a little higher. Mary wishes that she had brought some tissue with her to let him borrow because he seems in need of some.

The lieutenant with one star on each shoulder is tall and gangly with unkempt black curly hair. It appears he forgot to brush his hair this morning because his hair is slightly flat on one side. His uniform is a little worse for wear but Mary assumes that he wasn’t able to get to a dry cleaner in the hustle of recently moving to Crestwood. She notices that when he crosses his legs his pants only reach mid-calf and show his brown socks that do not match his midnight blue uniform. Most men usually choose to wear black or blue socks with their uniforms. The brown color of choice makes Mary believe that this new lieutenant must have an independent spirit about himself much like her own. He is sitting with his tunic unbuttoned with an un-ironed shirt and an obviously stained tie but at least he is wearing a tie-tack.

“Tunics are only worn on Sundays during the summer anyway. Maybe he just didn’t have time to iron his shirt with everything else that was going on” thinks Mary to herself “Maybe he doesn’t even own an iron yet.”

Holding hands with Mr. Bennett anxiously Mrs. Bennett looks around the chapel and counts the number of what appears to be available single men for her daughters. Mrs. Bennett attempts to match up what she considers might be likeable pairs to match her daughters’ temperaments and personalities. She is not selective in her appraisals and would be happy to see any of her daughters if not all find a suitable or even just available match at the wedding today.

Watching the service, Mr. Bennett sighs. His girls are growing up. Jane and Liz have finished college, Mary in community college, Lydia a senior in high school, and Kitty just behind her as a junior. Regardless of how much he wants to ignore the fact, they will be finding husbands soon and starting their own families. It has all gone too quickly. “Couldn’t time slow down until we are ready for our inevitable futures?” he thinks to himself.

The ceremony is completed and the guests are invited into the large carpeted Fellowship Hall for the reception. Jane and Grant lead the procession down the floral decorated aisles of the chapel.