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John has done the impossible. The last in a line of suitors,
he has persuaded Amanda to marry him. Christine has just
learned the news...
The next morning, Christine came flying into Elmhurst
waving a letter. "Mother? Mother!"
"Mind the floor!" exclaimed the maid, just barely
preventing the breathless intruder from landing on fresh
wax.
"Mildred, where's Mother?"
"Did you run all the way over here?"
"Never mind. Have you seen Mom?"
"Many times. She's a white-haired lady about my age, slim
build, your height..."
"Where is she?!"
"She's out tending her plants. Now what can be..."
Christine bolted from the room and found Mrs. Clark in
the conservatory.
"Mother, it's too good to be true!"
"What is?"
"She's getting married."
"Who's getting married?"
"Your daughter - Amanda." Christine relinquished the
letter and collapsed into a wicker chair.
"To whom?"
"Who cares? She's getting married. That wayward,
headstrong, rebel of a daughter is getting married."
"She says his name's John."
"You met him back in the spring. The man deserves a
medal."
"Oh, yes. I remember.... She might have asked me."
"Would you have dared say no?"
"And face you afterward?"
"I can't believe this!" exclaimed Christine, provoked
back onto her feet. "I thought you'd be overjoyed."
"I am happy for her." Mrs. Clark handed back the letter
and returned to her begonias.
"Mother, how can you be so placid? We should be setting
off fireworks. It should be a national holiday."
"Do you want me to do a cartwheel?"
"Yes! And a backflip."
"Chris... You're excited enough for ten people. One of
us has to keep her head."
"You were so enthused when the rest of us got married."
"That was before your father died," replied Mrs. Clark
sedately.
"Aw, Mum, I'm sorry," said Christine, extending a
comforting arm. "We forget how life has changed for you.
The rest of us have our own families to go to.... You can
still rejoice with us over Amanda though?"
"Of course. It's what I've wanted for her right along."
"Actually, we're the only two who know. I should phone
Ginny and Carol."
"It's not till next summer. We'll be writing to them."
"Mother, I can't hold this in any longer. We've got to
start making plans."
"You've had her wedding planned since your own," replied
Mrs. Clark with renewed lightheartedness. "There can't be
that much left to do."
Christine looked somewhat deflated and Mother suddenly
felt a little too successful at moderating her daughter's
zeal. Amanda's younger sister belonged to the same trade
union as the morning sun, the summer breeze, and the
fragrant rose. When she frowned, you felt the loom of a
general strike by these latter.
"You know where the phone is," said Mrs. Clark.
Christine brightened and skipped into the adjacent
sitting room.
"What a marvellous invention," she mused aloud while
waiting for the operator to put her through. "Mr. Bell is
my best friend.
"Hello, is this Jason? Could you put your mother on,
please? It's Auntie Chris.... Because I asked you to,
that's why.... Then find her.... Jason, I'm phoning long
distance and you're using up valuable time.... I will not!
You show some respect to your elders, young man....
"Hello, Ginny.... That's all right. He needed it. Ginny,
you'll never guess what's happened.... No, I'm not having
another baby. That wouldn't be any surprise.... No, a
hundred times more unlikely.... You'll never get it. Our
sister - Amanda Jane Clark - who doesn't know the meaning of
the word 'yes', is getting married. Isn't that exciting?
Ginny?.... No, no. Take your time.... She wrote me and told
me. I have her letter right here.... Yes, it's genuine. I
know her handwriting.... I never thought to phone her to
confirm it.... I suppose. It is just a verbal agreement....
Could we get something in writing? This letter has her
signature but I don't think it's legally binding.... Next
summer, in August... Eleven months is a long engagement.
Maybe we could get her to hack it down.... I know mine was
two months. You need some time to get the invitations
out.... By the way: his name's John.... That's right.
That's the one...."
"Who's Christine talking to?" asked Mildred, having just
waddled in from the kitchen.
"Virginia," replied Mrs. Clark.
"What's she so excited about? Her cat have kittens?"
"I know it doesn't take much. But try this on: Amanda
Clark is to become Amanda Farrington next August."
Mildred looked puzzled. "Why would Mandy change her name?
She disowning the rest of you?"
"As unlikely as it seems for Amanda, she's doing it for
the usual reason."
"No-o-o. Mandy's getting married?"
"That's right."
"Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha! Woo-o-o-o! The Red Sea has parted!
Jericho has fallen! Miracles do happen!"
"You're as bad as Christine."
"Who to?"
"Remember the fellow she brought home that day, back in
April?"
"Oh-h-h. Only Amanda could have said no to him."
"Apparently not even Amanda could."
"She'll have the reception here, of course."
"I presume so."
"The parlor will have to have new drapes and carpet."
"You think so? What about this room here?" Mrs. Clark
left her plants and stepped into the sitting room.
"It should be redone completely. It should really have
been redone for Christine's wedding."
"It will be the last wedding this house'll see."
"And everything will have to be just right. We'll have
Dorsett's cater it."
"Dorothy can make the cake again. That's her specialty."
"She can wear Christine's dress. They're the same size."
"Ginny, I've got to go," said Christine urgently.
"They're starting to plan this thing without me.
"She's not wearing my dress," declared last year's bride.
"It's not nearly elegant enough. This is going to be the
wedding I never had."
"What was wrong with your wedding?" asked her mother.
"It was financed by a man with too much Scot in his
blood. We're pulling out all the stops on this one."
"The Scotsman will still be financing it. Be mindful of
him."
"We're going to have a wedding a daughter of his
deserves."
"We should call his brother and tell him the big news.
Mandy was always his favorite."
"Okay, but hurry. I have to phone Carol."
"And we'd better call an interior decorator," suggested
Mildred. "Hang the expense! Oh, my Mandy's getting married.
I can die in peace."
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Orchard Gate Books
Story link:
5 months earlier
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