An idea began to take shape in Jess’s mind. His family had just happened to flock to town. And she had never before seen John in a tie. He wasn’t wearing a tux or a suit, of course. But he had on a white-on-white shirt with a peach-colored tie that matched Leigh’s dress. It took a moment to sink in. She just couldn’t believe what was happening.

“Dearly Beloved,” Mike began.

Jess nearly swayed against Peg, and Kate came up on her other side. Abby joined Kate, and the four women stood, not six feet behind Leigh, struck speechless for the first time in all their lives. “He’s a minister!” Jess whispered. “I can’t believe it!”

Finally, after a few introductory remarks about being gathered in the presence of God in the event of Holy Matrimony, Mike looked over the heads of the bride and groom and said, “Who gives this woman to be wed?”

Peg held hands with Jess, who held hands with Kate, who held hands with Abby. They looked at one another and grinned through the hint of tears. And then all four hands went up in the air, and with a laugh they said, “We do!”

And they did.

When the bride and groom finally sealed their vows with a kiss, a cheer went up through the yard. The hugging that followed was too complex to keep track of, but families were united, children were passed around, glasses were filled with champagne that Jess had not ordered, and confusion of the most lovely sort reigned.

“You sneaks,” Jess said.

“We had good teachers,” John informed them.

“You’re lucky I don’t have a bad heart.”

“But did you get what you wanted?”

“Well…I did… But I wanted to be in charge.”

It turned out that very few people other than Jess were surprised, because Leigh had found a guest list and charged Tom and his receptionist with the duty of informing most of the guests by phone that a surprise wedding would be taking place. Although it was requested that there be no gifts, it seemed that some people just wouldn’t be denied the privilege and went to their cars to retrieve presents. There were many toasts to the newlyweds, and finally John proposed one.

“I’d like to propose a toast to my mother-in-law,” he said.

“Hear, hear,” everyone chanted.

“Jess, I love you, but we’ll take it from here.”

And she raised her glass and drank.

* * *

It was quite late on Saturday night. The caterers had cleaned up, the kitchen sparkled, the music had died, and even the widows had gone home. The house was quiet, and only a few lamps were lit. Jess held her grandsons on her lap; they were heavy and big and smelled of shampoo and fabric softener.

“Gramma, what’s a honeymoon?”