“I do,” he said without hesitation, strong and sure.
She tried to say her own “I do” without tears of happiness trickling down her cheeks, but couldn’t. Jerry’s fingers squeezed hers to give her comfort.
On cue, John stepped forward and placed a ring in his brother’s palm. Adele held out her trembling hand as Jerry spoke.
“With this ring, I thee wed. With my body I thee worship, and with all my worldly goods I thee endow. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.”
The whole room joined in with a hushed, “Amen.”
Then Adele turned to Marie, who was right there waiting, holdingJerry’s gold ring. She took it, her attention on the precious gold promise, and she gave a silent thanks.
When Adele had first come home and announced her engagement, her mother had burst into tears then run into her room. She returned moments later, holding a man’s gold ring.
“This was your father’s,” she said. “Now it will be Jerry’s.”
Adele had never thought about that before. “Why me? Why not Marie?”
“Fred did not want a ring. It passes to you, if you want it.”
“Oh, Maman. Of course I want it.” The gold had been engraved with a tiny, antique scroll, a subtle design on a perfect ring. “Jerry will love it.”
Now she slipped it onto his finger, speaking her vows, promising him everything she had and everything she would ever have. There was no hesitation in her heart or in her words.
Then the minister addressed everyone in the room. “Jeremiah Alexander Bailey and Adele Yvonne Savard, through their words today, have joined together in holy matrimony, exchanging their vows before God and witnesses. They have pledged their commitment each to the other, and have declared the same by joining hands and exchanging rings. I now pronounce that they are husband and wife. Those whom God hath joined together, let no man put asunder.” His gaze dropped to Jerry. “You may now kiss the bride.”
The moment Adele kissed her husband’s lips, John let out a whoop, and the celebrations began. Jerry’s uncle Henry brought out champagne for a toast, and Guillaume followed with a tray of glasses. Adele looked into her sparkling glass and couldn’t help briefly remembering her last taste of champagne, in another lifetime at Ernie’s party. There, everyone had been talking and laughing, but she’d sensed no true affection in anyone’s smiles. Here, love was all she saw.
“This is just to start, folks,” John assured everyone. “Whisky’s on its way. For now I ask you to raise your glasses for my brother and his beautiful wife. Jerry’s my best friend. Always has been.” John’s eyes foundhers, and her throat tightened at the sincerity she saw in them. “In all the world, I never could have imagined a more perfect match for him than Adele, and I love her as I love him.” He looked back at the others, smiling. “I know you all stand with me as I wish them a lifetime of happiness, love, and prosperity. May you always be as happy as you are today. To Adele and Jerry!”
Jerry’s aunt Judy had put out a table full of food that the women had prepared in advance, then she added punch, which she put beside John’s bottles of whisky. Standing beside Adele, Jerry pointed out little Madeleine practically crawling up the table leg for a cookie, but they only laughed, and Adele assured him she was ready to step in if the tablecloth started to slip. By then Marie had taken over the gramophone, playing from discs she’d brought, and was insisting that everyone dance. As John spun a giggly Madeleine around the room, Guillaume took Maman in his arms, and Jerry stretched out his hand to Adele.
“Care for a dance, Mrs. Bailey?” he asked. She took his hand and snuggled in close with her eyes closed, knowing he’d lead her expertly around the other dancers. “Are you happy, Adele?”
She looked up at his gentle smile, at the lines on his face she knew so well. “I have never been happier in my whole life,” she said, and he leaned down to kiss her.
“That makes two of us,” he replied, holding her close.
A half hour or so later, Adele was dancing with Guillaume when she noticed Walter and John going to the door. They spoke briefly with someone standing outside, then turned back. Unease rippled through her as they walked directly to Jerry.
“Warehouse was raided,” John said quietly, but Adele overheard. She dropped Guillaume’s hand and joined the brothers.
“Is everyone all right?” she asked, concerned.
John shrugged. “A few cuts and bruises. No need to trouble a nurse over it.”
“How much did they get?” Jerry asked calmly.
“Sounds like everything,” John said tightly. “Walter and I’ll head over now and see what’s what.”
Jerry nodded, and she was surprised that he was smiling slightly. Maybe she was wrong, but shouldn’t he be more concerned if his livelihood had just been stolen?
“We saw this coming,” Jerry was saying. He put an arm around his brother’s shoulder as they walked toward the door. “That’s what we’ve been doing all this work for. He has no idea about the tunnel.”
Marie appeared, looking nervously at the departing men. “Is everything all right?”
“I think so,” Adele said, reassured when she saw Jerry returning to her. “Jerry doesn’t seem concerned, at least.”
Marie nodded toward the couch, where Madeleine had fallen asleep despite the noise. “Your flower girl needs to go to bed, and it looks like Maman is close behind. Will you be awfully upset if we take our leave now?”
