Just as she finished dressing, Clara knocked twice and opened the door, peeking her head in. “Are you ready?”
“Oh, Clara, I’ve never been more ready for anything in my life.”
Clara laughed as she set the brushes and hair pins down on the vanity. “It’s just a wedding, Meg, but I’m glad you’re excited for it.”
Meg tried to keep any and all expressions from her face as she sat down on the stool and Clara began to fix her hair. Her nerves were starting to buzz and excitement filled her chest as Clara worked through her hair, turning it into a beautiful mixture of twisted buns pinned high and soft tendrils framing her face.
“There. What do you think?” Clara said, admiring her handiwork in the mirror.
“Oh, Clara, it’s beautiful. Thank you.” Meg stood and gave Clara a big hug before she picked up the tortoiseshell combs and held them out to Clara.
“Those are beautiful, Meg. Would you like me to place them in your hair?”
Meg looked down at the combs in her hand and thought of her mother, once again wishing she was with her today. “Yes, if you wouldn’t mind. They were a gift from my parents, and I think they go well with the dress.”
Clara took the combs and guided Meg back down onto the stool. “Yes, they are gorgeous, and so are you. Maybe there will be someone there who strikes your fancy, and maybe we can convince your father to allow you to accept suitors. You certainly look beautiful today, and it wouldn’t surprise me at all if you caught someone’s eye.”
Meg’s neck grew warm at Clara’s compliments. She really should tell her that she wouldn’t need suitors, that Sam Allen was the only man she’d ever even thought of, and that soon, he would be her husband.
Once again, though, she realized that since she hadn’t told anyone, now was not the time to start, now that everything was so close and within her grasp.
She hugged Clara once more before she left, and Meg returned to her packing. She’d just finished when she heard another knock on the door and Hank’s voice say, “Come on, Meg. If you’re going to come, now’s the time. We need to get going.”
“I’ll be right there, Hank,” Meg said, her hands momentarily shaking as she put on the purple satin jacket that perfectly matched her skirt.
“You look lovely, dear,” her father said as he helped her into the buggy with her other sisters—all five of them—and Hank and Clara. Her father had had to order a special buggy to fit the entire family long ago, and Meg wondered how long it would be before he’d need to order another one.
Meg couldn’t focus on any of the chatter between her sisters as the buggy headed down the drive and into town, and as it neared the Occidental, she drew in a sharp breath when she saw Samuel standing on the porch of the restaurant, utterly dashing in his dark suit and bow tie. His black hair was slicked back, his blue eyes clear and twinkling as he assisted her family out of the buggy, one by one.
As she stood and it neared her turn to be helped down from the buggy, the last of the family to do so, her heart beat so fast she was afraid it would thump right out of her chest. She had practiced many responses to him when he noticed she was the woman in the letter, the one in the purple dress. She had not rehearsed a reply to the comment she did get.
As Samuel reached up and she placed her hand in his, she smiled, waiting for him to react joyfully that it was she who had responded to him. She was so surprised, she couldn’t think of a thing to say when he said, “Meg, you look lovely today,” and although she thought she caught a spark in his eye when he said it, all she could do was nod when he continued. “Thank you for coming to my wedding. I’m glad you’re here, and I can’t wait for you to meet my new wife.”
Chapter 10
Thoughts ran through Meg’s head faster than she could keep up with them. Had he just said what she thought he had? That he was anxious for her to meet his wife? Could he not see her purple dress? Was he blind?
She suddenly wished she had told someone—anyone—so that she could ask for advice. What should she do now? All the daydreams she’d had about this moment had been very different, and she had nothing at the ready at all for this contingency.
She took a deep breath and followed her family into the Occidental, playing through different scenarios in her head. Now she was left with making a big announcement, in front of her father and her entire family. She supposed she could just stay silent, and everyone would think that the bride to be had just not shown up. But no, that would mean that she’d still need to negotiate with her father, something she’d rather not have to do.