How does the old saying go?
The bride the sun shines upon will be happy.
The bride the rain falls upon will be wealthy.
Diana Caroline Lynch was wealthy.
Immeasurably wealthy before ever having her first date with Martin Johnson Belden.
The morning of her wedding dawned bright and sunny.
Shortly before eight that morning, Honey Wheeler pulled her Volkswagen Jetta convertible into the driveway of Crabapple Farm and beeped the horn. Trixie Belden ran out carrying a small bag and lavender high-heeled shoes. Trixie threw her packages into the back seat.
"Looks like you're feeling better." Trixie said as she climbed in.
"I'm not letting anything interfere with Diana's happiness today. Promise." Honey smiled weakly at her best friend as she turned the car around. "Is everyone awake at your house?"
Trixie reached over and hugged her friend. "You're so strong, Honey. Do you know that?" Honey shrugged as she headed down the driveway and turned onto Glen Road.
"Mart was up all night and I don't think Bri...Trixie cut herself off, wondering if she should mention Brian's name.
"What about Mart and Brian?" Honey asked. "Don't worry, Trix, no tears. See!" Honey contorted her face into a large, fake grin.
Honey turned onto the drive to Maple Crest behind a large refrigerated catering van. There had to be at least 100 persons walking and even running over the lawn and gardens. Lined up along the drive were catering vans, florist vans, the orchestra's bus, vans from rental agencies providing tents, tables, chairs and more. They had never seen the Lynch home so busy.
"Di's mother said she was doing it 'right'," Trixie commented as Honey parked the car. "I wonder what the church looks like!"
Di was waiting for her friends in her suite. Her hair was already set in curlers and the manicurist was touching up her work from the day before.
"There's food over there," Di pointed with her chin towards a table covered with platters of food. "Our gowns are being touched up by one of Ella's assistants, but all our other stuff is over there." Di pointed in the other direction with her chin.
"Did you get any sleep last night?" Trixie asked as she grabbed a sweet roll. She offered one to Honey who shook her head.
"I had a hard time falling asleep, but once I did, I was out cold." Di responded. "I feel absolutely wonderful this morning, although I am a little numb--just can't believe it's my wedding day."
The hairdresser walked in and announced he was finished with Jan and Jill. He asked who would like to be next.
"Take Honey, first." Trixie responded. "I don't know if there's anything you can do with my hair."
The hairdresser stepped back, stared long and hard at Trixie and smiled. "You'll be beautiful before I'm finished. Almost as beautiful as the bride."
At the same time, the kitchen of Crabapple Farm began filling up with hungry and excited young men. Mr. Belden had gotten up, showered early, and taken charge of cooking so that Mrs. Belden could spend the entire morning getting dressed. Brian, Mart and Barry had eaten before heading upstairs to shower and they were quickly replaced at the table by Jim, Dan and Bobby. Mr. Belden had prepared his special pancakes with doughy centers and crispy edges, along with blackened sausage and mushy fried apples. But, the milk was cold, the juice sweet and the coffee fresh and steaming, so no one seemed to mind. Conversation was loud and animated.
"Mart, your last chance. My car's in the driveway if you want to escape," Jim called up the steps when he arrived.
"Not on your life," Mart called back. "I'm getting married in the morning," he began singing.
Jim heaped a pile of pancakes on his plate. "It's hard to believe that Mart, the youngest of all us guys, is the first to be married."
"I hadn't even thought about that," Dan responded. "But I guess I always thought it might be Honey and Bri..." He stopped himself mid-syllable.
Everyone stared at him.
"How is Honey doing?" Dan asked Jim.
"She was in pretty bad shape yesterday, but got up smiling this morning. She's a trooper. She'll never let her own feelings interfere with Mart and Di's happiness."
Everyone sat and ate in silence for a few moments.
"Does everyone have enough?" Mr. Belden tried to break the glum mood. "I can make more." Mr. Belden knew that Brian and Honey had broken their engagement, but none of the details.
"No. No. There's plenty." Dan, Bobby and Jim assured him.
Brian came into the room in his bare feet but wearing his tuxedo pants, shirt and suspenders. "Any more coffee?" He asked, walking over to the counter.
"How's the groom doing?" Jim asked.
"About as nervous as I've ever seen him, but I think his mouth is frozen in a grin." He laughed as he poured some steaming liquid into a mug. "Did you bring your tuxes?" Brian asked Dan and Jim. They pointed to the service porch where their things were hanging.
Mart came into the room. He was barefoot, shirtless and his hair was wet. "I'm ready, let's go," he joked as he started to pick up the phone.
"Who are you calling?" Brian asked.
"Di."
"No way little brother. That's bad luck." Brian tried to grab the phone from him.
"It's not bad luck. I just can't see her...." Mart jumped away. Brian tried to reach across the table, almost knocking over the jug of milk.
"Boys!" their father growled. He then laughed as he took the phone receiver from Mart and handed it to Brian. Brian hung it up and chased Mart back up the stairs. Jim and Dan grabbed their things from the service porch and, with Bobby, followed the two brothers.
"Hewo?" The phone had awakened Jen.
"Jen, it's Dan. Did I wake you?" Dan was on the phone in the upstairs hall of Crabapple Farm.
"Hi Dan, I was dreaming about you." Jen sat up and stretched.
"Good dreams, I hope."
"Only."
"What time will you be ready for the wedding?"
"Are you picking me up? I thought you'd go with Mart," Jen asked as she swung her legs over the side of the bed.
"Mart has enough help this morning. I thought I'd come by and get you. You'll be the first guest I seat. I can't wait to enter the church with you on my arm."
"I can't wait, either."
"Jen, about last night..."
"I'm sorry I yelled at you."
"I'm sorry I couldn't stay. I wanted to. You don't know what you do to me. You have no idea what you do to me...how much I want you..." Dan's voice became low and husky.
"Don't you realize how I feel? After the whole summer apart?"
"I'll make it up to you tonight."
"I know your uncle's upset about us."
"How soon can you be ready?" Dan wanted to change the subject.
"Give me 45 minutes."
"I'll count the seconds."
"I love you, Danny."
Dan hung up the phone just as Mrs. Belden came to the top of the stairs. He wondered how much she had heard.
A long line of white limousines had formed outside the Lynch home. Inside the cosmeticians and hairdressers were making final touches to the women members of the wedding party. Mr. Lynch paced nervously in the foyer, listening to the laughter drifting down the stairs.
"Has anyone noticed the time?" he called up, just as his twin daughters Jan and Jill came to the head of the stairs.
"Whewhrilll," He let out a long whistle. "My two little girls are all grown up today."
"Daddee." Jan and Jill called in unison as they came down the stairs. This was the first time either girl had dressed in formal gowns and heels, much less been treated to manicures, make-up and having their hair done professionally. They were feeling quite grown up for their thirteen years.
Honey Wheeler was the next to come down the stairs. Her golden hair was pulled back from her face and fell in loose curls down her back, entwined with tiny flowers and ribbon that matched her dress. The lavender of her gown made her hazel eyes almost look blue. She carried herself regally. Grace and sophistication personified is the only way to describe this beautiful young woman, Mr. Lynch thought as he watched her descent.
Just as Honey reached the bottom step, another young woman came to the top of the stairway. Mr. Lynch would never have recognized Trixie Belden if he hadn't known she was in the wedding party. Her blond curls were piled on her head and entwined with the same flowers and ribbon used in the other attendants' hair. A minimum amount of make-up accented her natural coloring. Only the sparkle in her blue eyes betrayed that she was the infamous tomboy. "This can't possibly be the little girl who used to come over to play with Diana," he commented as Trixie managed the stairs with surprising ease.
Seeing how the other women of the wedding party had been transformed, Mr. Lynch couldn't wait to see his wife and oldest daughter.
"Caroline? Diana?" he called impatiently.
Diana came to the head of the stairs. "I'm ready," she said, almost in a whisper. Mr. Lynch was stunned by what he saw. For the first time, he realized that Diana was no longer his little girl but a beautiful young woman to be desired. His mouth hung open as he shook his head. "Martin Belden is one lucky young man," he said as he ran up the stairs to help his daughter.
When he got to the head of the stairs he saw, standing in the hallway, a woman he thought could have been the bride's sister, but never her mother. He smiled slyly at his wife. "Martin Belden isn't the only lucky man in Sleepyside today."
Even though St. Michael's was the largest church in Sleepyside, the chapel was packed with people. Mart and Diana had been born and raised in the small town, attended the local high school together, and were known and respected by almost everyone in the area. The entire community celebrated their happiness that day.
The groom's parents had been seated by their youngest son, Bobby, and Dan had seated Mrs. Lynch. Mart was pacing back and forth in the church library, sweating and pulling at his collar. His brothers and friends were trying to give him some last minute encouragement and support. They could hear the music through the closed doors into the chapel.
After what seemed an eternity to the groom, Reverend Wallace led them into the chapel. Mart had to concentrate to take each breath. He watched anxiously as each attendant proceeded down the aisle. He knew that they had spent hours dressing, but barely noticed them. It looked like they might be wearing something purple. His shirt was so wet it stuck to his torso. He pulled nervously at it as Bobby and Barry unrolled the white runner down the center aisle. Finally it was time for the bride to appear. The doors at the rear of the chapel opened. Mart swallowed hard and looked to the back of the church. He gasped audibly. There she was; the woman of his dreams; his only love since he was seven years old. He could not believe what he saw. She was like an angel in white lace and satin. He swallowed hard and tried to catch his breath.
Martin Belden passed out cold.
The sky was a deep blue spattered with puffs of white cotton. The air was remarkably cool and dry for August. The champagne flowed. Delicious food kept coming from the mansion kitchens. The orchestra had been playing for almost two hours with only one short break. The guests ate, visited and danced in several white tents that had been set up for the occasion. The hosts for the reception, the bride's parents, had spent the entire afternoon wandering over the vast lawn of their estate, ensuring that each and every guest was comfortable and enjoying the festivities. The entire reception had proceeded flawlessly. There was no indication that it had begun almost ninety minutes late.
After the nervous groom had taken one look at his beautiful bride and fainted, the best man had been able to quickly revive him, but had cautiously insisted on calling the EMT's to ensure there was nothing wrong with the groom other than a bad case of hyperventilation. The groom was helped into the church library where he was checked out and deemed fit to go on. He and his groomsmen returned to the chapel, the bride and her attendants reentered, and the ceremony proceeded, if not exactly as planned. It was definitely a day to remember.
After the requisite photographs, the wedding party was transported from the church to the bride's home for a reception that was certain to be the town's social event of the year.
Dan Mangan sat to the side of the main tent between Jen and Trixie. Jen was wearing a pale yellow knit dress that clung to every curve. Her lightly curled hair framed her face perfectly. The exquisitely designed bridesmaid gown and sophisticated hair style had transformed Trixie into a stunning young woman. Sitting between two such beautiful women, Dan felt he was the luckiest man there, except perhaps the groom. He grinned broadly as he looked first at Trixie and then at Jen.
"So these must be the bride's twin sisters?" An elderly woman approached them and asked. Trixie and Jen look at each other and laughed.
"No, we're both friends of the bridal couple." Trixie explained.
"But you are sisters?" she asked.
"No." Trixie shook her head and then looked at Jen. They both laughed again.
Dan looked from one young woman to the other. He had recognized a resemblance the first time he ever saw Jen. But he always considered Trixie "pretty" and Jen "sexy". Today, he was amazed at how beautiful and sophisticated Trixie looked and realized the resemblance was even greater than he originally thought.
"Trixie, would you dance with me?" Dan stood and offered her his hand.
"Again, Mr. Mangan? It would be my pleasure." Trixie quipped as he helped her up.
Dan nodded apologetically to Jen as he led Trixie away on his arm. He took one of her hands in his and placed his other hand on her waist before leading her across the dance floor. "Trixie, I've never seen you more beautiful than you are today." When did this happen? he thought to himself.
Trixie didn't know what to say in reply. She wasn't used to compliments about her appearance.
"I guess we're all changing," she finally said. She tried to change the subject. "Do you think Jen's enjoying herself? I feel guilty we haven't paid much attention to her since she got here."
"She knew when she came up everyone would be preoccupied with the wedding. I'm just thankful Mart and Diana invited her and she's here."
"So she's the one?" Trixie looked over at Jen.
"Hmm?" Dan stopped dancing. He seemed to not understand Trixie's question.
"She's the one. You've found the one, the only one for you?" Trixie tried to clarify.
Dan looked at Trixie. Her blue eyes seemed to be staring right into his soul. "I guess." He mumbled, looking away.
"Dan?" Trixie waited for him to respond. "Just be happy Danny."
Dan pulled her closer and looked away.
Honey was dancing with Barry. Both were products of many years of dance classes and cotillions and moved easily across the dance floor.
"I'm sorry if I've made anyone uncomfortable this week." Honey started to apologize.
"What do you mean?" Barry looked into her large doe-like eyes and inhaled her perfume. Brian Belden is an idiot, he thought to himself.
"You know. I wish Brian and I hadn't put a damper on the happy feelings and all.."
"Honey, why are you apologizing? You haven't done a thing. Brian's the one who's been a total ass." Barry squeezed her waist just a little tighter. He couldn't believe Honey was apologizing for Brian.
"Barry, don't say that."
"He has. He is. I've spent more time with him the past few days than you have. It really makes me angry when I think of how much Mart worships him and..." He stopped himself and danced silently for awhile. "Honey, I know the timing is all wrong, but could I call you some time? I'm going to be in New York this year, at Columbia."
"I don't need your sympathy."
"It's not sympathy, Honey. I've been waiting on the sidelines for a long time....Hoping you might.." Barry caught himself. He had been attracted to Honey for some time, but until now thought of her as untouchable. "I'd really like to see you."
"Then call me." Honey almost smiled. Barry has always been a good friend, she thought as they danced. Maybe, just maybe.
After dancing with Trixie, Dan returned to ask Jen for the next dance. She agreed, but pouted as they walked out onto the floor and began to dance.
"There's just something I don't like about Trixie." Jen said as she laid her head against Dan's chest.
"What do you mean?" Dan couldn't believe what he was hearing. He couldn't imagine anyone not liking Trixie.
"I don't know. She seems nice enough, but I feel uncomfortable around her."
"Trixie's one of the best friends I have."
"I know Dan, but...I guess I'm just a little protective. Especially where old girlfriends are involved."
Dan pushed Jen away and looked directly at her. "You must be kidding...Trixie's never been a girlfriend...certainly not in the way you're suggesting."
"But I do worry, Danny, I do. I see the way she looks at you...THAT way...She's attracted to you." Jen pulled him back to her and they resumed dancing.
Dan couldn't respond. He looked across the dance floor to see Trixie talking to her mother and father. Trixie had never looked at him "that way". Never, never would he believe that.
Brian Belden was dancing with his new sister-in-law. It was the first opportunity they had to be together, much less talk, since he'd arrived two days earlier.
"You really are beautiful, today, Diana." Brian offered. "Mart is a lucky man!"
"I think I'm the lucky one." Diana blushed as she smiled at her new brother-in-law. "All the Beldens have made me feel so welcome and...I don't know. I'm just lucky."
"I've never seen two people more in love," he offered.
"Now I won't argue with that." Diana laughed.
They continued to dance in silence.
"Mart told me about you and Honey." Diana finally offered. "I can't tell you how sorry I am..."
"Don't, Diana. I know the timing couldn't have been worse...I don't want to do or say anything more to spoil your special day."
"You aren't, Brian. I...I just want you to know that I love you and Honey...BOTH of you, and while I want nothing more than the two of you together...
"Please, Diana." Brian interrupted her.
"No, Brian. Hear me out," Diana continued. "It would make me happy to see the two of you together as part of my new family...but I want you to know that I think it's far more important that the two of you do what's best for you....not what's best for me, or Mart, or anyone else. And I want you to know that I support whatever the two of you decide."
Brian nodded as they continued to dance.
"Did I make myself clear?"
"I think so, Diana."
"I hope you don't think I'm interfering. I just felt...I just want you to know that I support whatever the two of you work out."
"I understand, Diana...I, ah, I appreciate your concern...and support." Brian smiled just as he felt a tapping on his shoulder. He turned to see his younger brother.
"Excuse, me, Bro', but I've been told I have enough time for just one more dance with my bride." Mart laughed.
Brian stepped back to allow Mart to take Diana into his arms.
Jim finally asked Trixie for a dance. As they took off across the dance floor, they fell into dance moves comfortable to a couple who had been dancing together for many years.
"This does feel right, Trixie. Doesn't it?" Jim asked as he twirled her around.
"I guess I step on your toes considerably less than anyone else who's asked me to dance." Trixie laughed.
They danced in silence for awhile. "Jim, you'll always be special. You were my first love." Jim didn't answer. "Do you know what that means?"
"I'm learning, Trixie."
"Well, you are a quick study."
"Yeah. I guess I am." Jim said just as Trixie stepped on his foot. They stopped dancing for a moment and then broke out laughing.
Sharing one last dance before leaving the reception to change, Mart and Diana saw Trixie and Jim laughing as they danced together. "Do you think?" Diana asked.
"I don't know. At least they've called a truce," Mart pulled Diana just a little closer. "But they'll never be as happy as I am right now. Never."
The bridal couple had danced with their parents, their friends, family members and each other. They enjoyed a luncheon with all the traditional toasts, shared cake, tossed the garter and bouquet, and finally disappeared into the house to prepare for their departure. The bride and groom wanted to leave as early as possible, despite the objections of the bride's mother, for what was to be a very short honeymoon. After only three days at a local resort, they would have to return to pack and head to Ithaca, New York where the groom was starting graduate school in just one week.
"You have everything?" Mrs. Lynch asked the new Mrs. Martin Belden, as she helped to straighten the skirt of her daughter's dress.
"It's only three days, Mom," Diana replied.
"I know, but...Oh, this is so difficult." Her mother sobbed.
"Thank you so much, Mom. Everything was absolutely perfect." Diana hugged and kissed her mother.
There was a light tapping on the door.
"Come in, Mart," Diana called.
Mart Belden came in wearing khaki pants, polo shirt and a navy blue sports jacket, still a little red-faced from his earlier ordeal. Diana wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him. "Let's get out of here, fast, fast." she whispered, hoping her mother wouldn't hear.
Mart picked up the large suitcase in one hand and a smaller one in the other. "What all do you have in here?" He teased his new wife.
"Let Harrison get those," Mrs. Lynch told her new son-in-law.
"I'll carry them out into the hall."
Mart carried the bags into the hall, handed them over to the butler, and grabbed Diana's hand. "I guess it's time to make our exit, Mrs. Belden."
He led her down the stairs and out onto the portico. Most of the guests had gathered around when they saw the limousine pull up and were waiting for the newlyweds to appear. They let out a cheer when Mart and Diana stepped out of the house.
Mart kissed Diana, took her hand once again, and together they ran down the steps and to the waiting limousine in a shower of bubbles. The chauffeur held the door open for them and they got into the back. The chauffeur shut the door and, as he walked around the vehicle, Mart closed the partition between the front and back seats. The chauffeur started the engine and lightly tapped the car horn as he headed down the drive. Mart reached over and pulled Diana to him. "Come here, Sweetdiana. Come here, my love."
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