No place would suit the occasion better. It was where Alexander had spent his childhood. It was also where Marjorie was brought in from the streets and shown that there were still good people in the world, who wished to help others instead of pushing them away in disgust.
It was not even noon when she found herself seated at the table that was set up outside in the endless garden of Vaughan Estate, just for this occasion. It was laid out with all sorts of breakfast items, including different varieties of bread and buttered toast, hot rolls, ham, and eggs. To the children’s utter delight, there was chocolate on the far end of the table and of course, the wedding cake which occupied the prized position at the very center of the table. Alexander had left creamed ice as the last treat, keeping it still hidden from sight and from the heat.
She watched Edith foot-racing with the rest of the children, pinpointing the big oak tree as the finish line. All huddled together in one line, they started running the moment Edith shoutedstart.Giggles and chuckles spilled all around them, with children playfully pushing one another out of the way. They all allowed Jonathan to win this time. The sheer look of joy on his face was priceless.
At that moment, Edith walked back to the table, sitting next to Marjorie. She was breathless, and her cheeks revealed that the race was quite the exertion for her.
“Perhaps I ought not to have had that piece of cake right before the race,” Edith chuckled.
Marjorie smiled at her friend. “Do come closer, dear Edith.”
With those words, she wrapped her arms around her, refusing to let go. Edith immediately returned the hug, and the two women remained like that for quite some time, neither of them willing to let the other one go. When they finally did, Marjorie once again felt overwhelmed by emotions of the day and everything that had happened in the last several weeks.
“Oh, do not tell me you mean to cry, Marjorie,” Edith teased.
“Only tears of joy,” Marjorie replied, wiping the corner of her eye.
“Those are allowed,” Edith nodded. “But I would prefer smiles. I think everyone would prefer smiles from the most beautiful bride in the world.”
“Isn’t she?” Alexander suddenly appeared from somewhere behind her and placed his hands on Marjorie’s shoulders. He lowered his head gently, then placed a tender kiss right on the top of Marjorie’s head.
“Goodness,” Marjorie pressed her hand to her heart. “Where did you come from? I thought you were inside instructing the cook to start serving the…” She paused to look around whether any of the children were within earshot of them. Once she was assured that they were safe, she continued less audibly. “Creamed ice.”
“Remember what I told you?” he asked her.
“You told me many things,” she teased jokingly.
“Many silly things you ought to forget, yes,” he agreed, playing along. “But one of those very important things I said, which you should never ever forget.”
“Do remind me, please,” she smiled innocently.
“I will never leave your side, Marjorie,” he said, and she realized that he had said those exact same words when he first professed his love for her. “Never ever. Not even if you want me to. You are stuck with me, my dear.”
Marjorie chuckled as he wrapped his arms gently around her neck, hugging her from behind, and bringing their cheeks together.
“I suppose there are worse things to be stuck with,” she smiled.
“Like being the one to tell the children that the creamed ices melted on the way here.”
“What?” Marjorie gasped. “No… you said that they arrived here safe and sound from Claremont’s.”
“I did?” he wondered, pressing his index finger to his chin, in the guise of deep thought. “Well, if I did say that, in which case my joke failed.”
“Oh, you are just the worst,” Marjorie shook her head at him, once again playfully, her heart brimming with joy that this man was her husband. “Off with you now and prepare the treats.”
“As my lady demands.” He bowed down before her, then disappeared back in the house.
Marjorie turned around to follow him with her gaze, then turned to Edith who was still seated next to her. “Sometimes I think it is unfair for someone to be this happy.”
“Dear Marjorie,” Edith smiled warmly, “if there is anyone who deserves to be blissfully happy, then it is you.”
“But what about everyone else? What about you, the children?” Marjorie knew that she had obviously ben born under a lucky star, and that luck arrived at a later point in life, atoning for all the hardship of her early years. Now she had the same chance as her beloved benefactor did. She could help those in need.
“You cannot hold yourself responsible for the fate of the world, dear,” Edith reminded her. “Everyone is responsible for their own destiny. And if they have the means, then they can help those who are still not mature enough to realize that all their decisions matter.”
Marjorie looked at the happy children playing all around them. There, under the big oak tree, Ella was sitting on a blanket, reading a story to baby Henry and a few other toddlers, including Jonathan. They all listened to her as if mesmerized.
“What you’ve done for those children is immeasurable,” Edith continued, almost able to read her friend’s mind. “Young as they are, I believe even they are able to recognize how fortunate they have been with having someone like you in their lives.”
