“Indeed. Worry is saying that God can’t possibly manage the matter. You’re the same as calling God a liar because He promised to see to your every need.”
“I certainly don’t mean to do that. It’s not my heart.” Addie considered her friend’s words. “I’m glad that God already knows my heart, but even so, I will try to fight against worry.”
“Take those thoughts captive, as the Bible says.” Pearl frowned as she tried to figure out how to accommodate Addie’s broken arm. “I think we’re going to have to open the seams of the sleeve.”
“Oh no! This was your wedding dress, and I don’t want you to do anything to harm the gown.” Addie had been so touched and surprised when Pearl showed up with the gown. Her only real regret about marrying in the hospital was that she’d have no real wedding dress. Pearl’s gift had made everything perfect, but no one had considered the cast on Addie’s arm.
“It’s not the end of the world, Addie. It won’t hurt a thing. Let me see if I can borrow a pair of scissors and get this open. The wedding is in less than an hour, and we still need to do up your hair.” Pearl left for a few minutes, then reappeared with a small pair of scissors in hand. “Ask and you shall receive.”
Addie was half in and half out of the gown, but Pearl wasn’t daunted. She took the sleeve and started cutting the seam at the wrist.
“Now we should be able to get your arm in there.” She helped Addie to maneuver the casted limb and within moments had the dress in place.
“Oh, it’s just perfect,” Addie said, more excited than she could ever imagine a dress making her feel. “I feel just like a princess.”Princess Addie, indeed.
“I knew it would be a good fit. It’s a little large at the waist, but I could take it in if you think it needs to be.”
“No, this is just fine, Pearl. You’ve been such a dear to me. I can’t thank God enough for the way you’ve been at my side all these years. I know I would have ended up in dire straits had you and Otis not taken me in.”
“God always provides, dear Addie. He always provides.”
Pearl finished doing up the buttons on the back of the gown. “Now for the hair.”
“I’m sure it’s a terrible mess after being under bandages all these days.”
“We shall manage,” Pearl said, beginning to brush the long, dark brown mane. “I remember when I first met you, I thought you were a boy with your hair cut so short.”
Addie smiled. “I was so glad you were willing to hire me on. And that you were so forgiving when I told you the truth—that I was a girl. It seemed to take forever for my hair to grow back out.” Addie shook her head. “What a mess of a person I was back then.”
“But just look what God has done with that mess.” Pearl chuckled.
Addie laughed. “It’s true. He took a very broken and hopeless girl and changed her completely.”
A knock on the hospital door startled them both. Mary peeked in and smiled. “Mind if I come in?”
“Mary, I’m so glad you could come.” Addie nodded toward the Brownie camera around her neck. “I see you came to work.”
“I will get you some very special pictures of the day,” Mary promised. “You’ll be able to make an album and show them one day to your children.”
“I appreciate this so much. How wonderful to have this to remind me of our day. Although I have a feeling every detail of this day will stay with me always.”
Pearl continued to twist and pin Addie’s hair, while Mary set her things aside. She pulled a framed picture from her knapsack and brought it to Addie. “Besides taking the photographs, I have another wedding present for you.” She handed the picture to Addie.
To Addie’s surprise, the photograph was one of her and Isaac. They were standing face to face, looking quite absorbed in each other. Addie remembered the moment. It was shortly after Isaac had revealed himself to her.
“You were both just standing there so still, I couldn’t help myself,” Mary declared. “I don’t really know why I was driven to take the photograph, but now I’m so glad I did.”
“As am I,” Addie murmured. She held the frame up for Pearl to see. “Isn’t this something?”
“I’ve seen it. When Mary had it developed, Otis and I both saw it and remarked on what a handsome couple you made. Little did we know.”
Addie nodded and lowered the photo. “Mary, I can’t thank you enough. This is so special to me. I shall always cherish it.”
“Oh, look, it’s nearly time for the others to arrive,” Pearl said. She put a final hairpin in and stepped back to survey her work. “What do you think, Mary?”
“It’s perfect. She couldn’t be more beautiful.” Mary held up the camera. “Let me take a picture.”
Pearl finished picking up the room while Mary took a couple of pictures. Addie could hardly remember that just the night before her brothers had been killed. She was determined to put all of that from her. This day was dedicated to God and to Isaac. She wanted nothing else to influence her thoughts.
