Lj Idol Topic: It's A Trap
The old barn was gussied up in pinks and greens, looking every bit the star. The wedding was to be at 7, just before the sun set, when the mountain became something altogether magical.
They hadn’t known one another long, three months to the day, actually. She wore her mama’s dress, all lace and bows, beautiful as her daddy had ever seen her. She was only 17, too young he knew, but babies need parents, and he couldn’t keep her forever. This boy she was marrying, he was a hard worker, came from good people. He reckoned the boy must love her, if he were willing to give up going to the city to stay and work and take care of his soon to be family. No, her daddy wasn’t sure if it would work out, nor was he too pleased about it, but he had to let her make her choices.
The yellow blossoms in her hair framed her face just so, and you could see in her eyes that she was happy. Mama stood behind her and clasped the white pearls behind her daughter’s neck, remarking on how her own ma had given her the same necklace on her wedding day. Mama stared at her daughter in the mirror, wondering what it was she saw in her big blue eyes.
“You sure you know what you’re doing?”
“Mama…”
The boy, the sweet boy, didn’t know if it was love. Didn’t know what that even meant yet, really, but he knew about responsibility. He knew about not letting his family’s name down, about stepping up. It had happened so fast- one minute their eyes met across the very barn they were about to be wed in, each swaying to the music and excited for the start of the harvest. The next they were in the back of his pick-up, buttons and hats flying this way and that. And now, here they were. He was still scared of the world, scared of being on his own, scared of holding a little life in his hands. His ma had told him to just be gentle, that he would be alright, and he believed her.
The music began, and the men took their places. Her daddy offered her his arm, and together they made their way to the front door, and out the porch. Slowly they stepped, being careful not to tear the old dress’ hem. One last look at his daughter, a kiss on the cheek, and he handed her off to another man, ignoring the tear rolling into his beard.
Her heart swelled with love, and she had to remind herself to listen to the preacher. With her cheeks flushed, eyes sparkling, she knew she made a beautiful bride. She knew, too, that she was doing the right thing- the slight flutter in her belly reminding her. She didn’t want to live on daddy’s farm forever, wasn’t cut out to be a farmer’s wife. This boy was different from the rest, his pa owned a pharmacy and his ma had hands as soft as silk; they would take care of them.
Vows recited, rings exchanged, she hesitated just slightly when the words “You may now kiss the bride…” were spoken. Wondered what she would do if the honeymoon didn’t result in a baby, how she could fake a loss if she had to.
“Never mind all that now”, she thought, “It will work out”.
Leaning in for their first married kiss, eyes closed, she sealed both their fates.