Chapter 1: They'll Love You
"Don't worry, they're going to love you."
Sherry stopped herself from nervously toying with her wrist corsage long enough to smile at her new husband.
"I can't help it. I don't have much experience with these things."
He laughed at her then, and called her silly. Even so, she couldn't help but feel the knots in her stomach tighten as each mile drew them closer to her new home. Frank was smiling in a peculiar way, almost taunting her.
It was easy for him, being the one who knew the family they were headed to; knew everyone in Closetown, for that matter. He'd grown up surrounded by people. How could he understand how she would feel, never having known a family? How would they react to her, an outsider, a misplaced orphan city girl suddenly with an extended family to deal with? She went back to picking at her wrist flowers.
"What if I'm too city-like? I don't know how to act in a small town."
"They're going to love you," Frank said again.
They drove on, as the cities dwindled to suburbs, and on into fields, miles and miles of nothing but fields. Sherry couldn't believe she was still in the same country, it suddenly felt like another world. An old-fashioned small town, Frank had said, far inland. Cable hadn't made its way to their televisions yet, and to get a line for long distance one still had to dial the operator. She didn't believe it, and argued over it with him. The technology had made that obsolete, no matter where you live, hadn't it? In a huff he'd said to wait and see, just wait and see.
So she was waiting, and soon she would see. The radio had fizzled out long ago, and as her fatigue finally won out over her nervousness she drifted into a fitful sleep.
****
Frank's lips, full and soft, brushed against her own to draw her from sleep. She opened her eyes to find his big brown eyes smiling at her. Frank, who gave her love and companionship when she thought she was alone in the world. Now he was her husband, giving her a life and a new home, a new town and neighbors, all the kinds of things that she'd longed for but never had. Tonight she would give herself to her husband, as she'd never given herself before. The thought thrilled her with anticipation, then anxiety, as she woke more completely to see that they were stopped. It was time to meet the family.
"Wake up, sleeping beauty, we're here."
Frank turned his attention to two young boys who were running from the house, leading to a long embrace and plenty of smiles. Sherry knew how Frank had missed his family. He'd been gone for two years trying to settle business affairs for them and for most of his neighbors, who all were related somehow, by blood or marriage, it seemed.
The boys were healthy-looking, enthusiastically bombarding him with the latest news, and sneaking curious peeks at Sherry, who was just getting out of the car. The old farmhouse was just as he'd described it. It had green wood siding that was peeling in places, but somehow that just added to the charm of it. A beautiful long front porch overlooked the fields that surrounded them. There were no cars but their own.
A woman came from the front door and hurried down the steps, wiping her hands on her apron along the way. She was pleasantly plump, wearing a plaid housedress and easy-comfort shoes. She smiled brightly as she rushed over to Frank.
"Frankie, I'm so happy to see you!"
"Hi Mom!" Frank gave her a hug, and motioned for Sherry to move closer.
"Oh, and this must be Sherry! Hi dear and welcome to the family. I'm Frank's mom, I guess you know, but you can call me Emily. Unless you want to call me mom!" She laughed, and kissed Sherry on the cheek.
"How was the drive? Oh, I hope it was okay. I never could manage long drives. No, I'm just as content to stay at home. Oh, I'm just getting things ready for the big reception! There's still much to do. Frank, your old room is all fixed up and waiting, why don't you show Sherry up there and she can rest for awhile."
"Reception?" Sherry asked, looking up at Frank.
"Why, of course!" Emily went on. "No son of mine is going to get married without a proper ceremony and reception! However you did things back in that big city, well let me just say, things are a little different here! Oh yes, must have the reception, and we must-"
"Mom, okay, the reception is no problem. I just didn't tell Sherry about it." He said this last forcefully, shooting a knowing look at his mother.
Emily was unaffected. "Ah well, some things are only meant for family, of course. Send her to your old room to rest, Frank, until I get these things done and I can help her get ready."
"I'm really not tired, I just woke up," Sherry said. "Maybe I can help in the kitchen?"
Frank and his mother exchanged a look. "No dear," Emily responded after an awkward moment, "it really would be best if you rested. You are going to have a long night."
Sherry began to protest, but was taken by the hand and led away by her husband. She barely got to see the inside of the foyer when she was whisked away to an upstairs bedroom. Frank stopped outside the bedroom door and offered her a hurried kiss.
"Just don't argue , okay, Sherry? I've been away a long time and things are going to be a little tense. Everyone's going to love you tonight, you just need to let Mom do her thing to get ready, okay?"
"Frank, I don't think.."
"Get some rest", he cut her off. "I'll see you later tonight."
He opened the bedroom door for her, and motioned her inside. She hesitated for a moment, but then went in, without a word, and heard the door close behind her. She wasn't going to fight today. It was, after all, her wedding day.
Her wedding day. It had not been the sort of wedding every girl dreams of, but it was nice in its own way. She'd worn a plain white dress, and they met early in the morning at the courthouse. A quick ceremony, a quick kiss to her bridegroom, and off they went. Sherry wanted to spend the first night away, in a glamorous hotel.
She wanted the Honeymoon Suite, complete with champagne, a jacuzzi and soft music. There she would, for the first time, offer herself to a man. She imagined the soft candlelight, as he kissed her face, and began to undress her. His lips would fall on her shoulders and her neck. Slowly, he would remove her bra, admiring her breasts, breathlessly telling her she was beautiful before diving into her with his tongue and caress.
Sherry removed her corsage, stretched out on the bed and tried to relax, not sure if it would be better to go on with the fantasy or to end it. Something would happen between them tonight when they lay in bed together as husband and wife for the first time, but it wasn't going to be the candlelit hotel room of her dreams. Frank had been adamant about returning home immediately after the ceremony. He said it was a big tradition in his family to spend the first night of marriage at home. He hadn't mentioned the big reception that seemed to be planned. If there was any consolation at all, it was that she might get her champagne anyway.
Some time later, Emily popped her head through the door.
"Why don't you take a bath and refresh yourself, and then I'll help you get dressed?"
"Help me get dressed?"
"In your wedding gown, of course."
"I...didn't have a gown, I just wore a white dress. It's been sent along with my other things in the truck. I only have a few casual changes of clothes with me."
"Oh no, Sherry! I can see why you're confused, but we have the gown here. I'm sure it will fit, too. Frank sent me your measurements to be exact. Every bride in our family gets a homemade gown!"
"I'm not sure..." Frank sent her my measurements?
"I spent hours and hours working on it, Sherry."
"Oh." Sherry didn't want to hurt her mother-in-law's feelings already. "Yes, of course. I'll get ready then. Where is the gown?"
"I'll bring it in after you bathe."
**
After her bath Sherry did feel much refreshed. Emily returned followed by two young women, that Sherry assumed to be in their late teens. They were introduced as cousins Brenda and Little Emily. The girls brought the gown, covered in plastic wrap. They unveiled it, oooing and ahhing, as Emily beamed with pride.
It was beautifully done. Stark white fabric donned with lace, pearls, and sequins in intricate designs. Sherry admired the handiwork, amazed. It was more dazzling than most of the gowns she'd seen and longed for in the Bride's magazines. She smiled a genuine smile for the first time since coming into this house.
"It's very beautiful, thank you."
She needed help getting into the gown, and she could see that she would need help getting out of it. It fit beautifully, straight to form, and although it was not constricting, there wasn't much room for maneuvering to get out of it. She admired herself in a mirror as Emily and the girls began primping her hair. The gown was made like no other Sherry had ever seen. The seams were entirely different. Two seams showed on the front of the gown, from the knees to the neck, on both sides. The seams came up along her thighs, leading outward across her stomach and moving along the outside of her breasts, circling closer inward through the lace patters at her neck, until they met at the top of the gown. Such an intricate pattern could not be done accidentally.
"Every bride needs to be treated like a Queen" mused Emily as she placed a veil on Sherry's head. "Brenda, be sure the car is ready, I don't want her out there in the wind."
Sherry smiled as she looked herself over in the unusual wedding gown. This was turning into something nice, after all.
***************
Little Emily paced the bride's room nervously.
"Uncle Paul has run this hall for years. Everything's kind of old fashioned since there's not many new people around here to bring in new money for the business. It doesn't matter, though, most of us are pretty happy with the hall as it is. All of the weddings are held here, and the baptisms, birthday parties - everything but the funerals! Auntie will announce you soon, and then we can go in."
Sherry nodded as she admired herself in the mirror. She couldn't even believe it herself, but she looked absolutely beautiful. Her dark hair and been molded into flowing curls, poking out from beneath the beautiful veil and white flowers. The gown was altogether flattering, accenting her figure in a most delightful way. It was amazing to think that it had been done without even a fitting.
She watched Little Emily pace. The girl was wearing a frilly blue dress, with a matching long blue ribbon in her hair. She toyed at it with her fingers. She looked younger than she was, though by design or by her air of nervousness, Sherry was not sure.
"You're making ME nervous, Emily."
Emily stopped then and smiled a bit bashfully.
"I know, and you're the bride. I'm sorry, it's just that it's my first wedding too."
"Oh really?"
"Yes. I've just turned eighteen."
"Eighteen?"
"Well you're not allowed to go to weddings if you're not of age, you know."
"Oh, no I didn't know..."
Little Emily shot Sherry a strange look, as though it was something everybody knew. "Well it doesn't matter. You're the one who really has to worry, being the bride and all."
"Yes, I'm a little nervous too."
