As the maid of honor, it was Annabelle’s job to ensure Elaine had the best wedding day possible. At first that meant helping Elaine get dressed and arrange her hair, then leading her to an antechamber at the back of the church as the last guests settled in the pews. Their father looked stiff in his best suit as the three of them waited for the ceremony to begin.

Elaine pressed Roy to describe what was happening inside, but it soon became clear that he didn’t know how to report the important things, like what the ladies wore and who was sitting beside who.

“Let me take over,” Annabelle said, sliding up beside Elaine to describe the exact details of Martha’s new bonnet and how Walter looked as he stepped into place before the altar. “He’s wearing a dove gray three-piece suit, very distinguished-looking,” she whispered. “His collar is starched, and I’ve never seen him look so formal. He only looks a little nervous. Oh! He just stepped over to shake the hand of a man who’s got the largest handlebar mustache I’ve ever seen.”

Elaine clasped Annabelle’s hands so hard it almost hurt. “That must be Bruce Ellsworth. Does his wife have twins?”

Annabelle craned her neck to see. “Yes! There are two boys following them. They look ten or twelve years old. Identical!”

Annabelle kept supplying the essential details while urging Elaine not to move toward the opening. “Back, back!” she urged. “Walter keeps peering down the aisle, trying to get a glimpse of you. Don’t let him see you until the last moment.”

Elaine grinned as she flattened herself against the back wall of the vestibule.

At last it was time, and a church attendant closed the doors to the main church so that Elaine could move into position in the center of the aisle. Roy stood beside her, and they prepared for the grand opening of the doors. As soon as the music started, Annabelle would lead the procession as the only bridal attendant.

At least, that was the plan.

“Annabelle!” Elaine whispered. “Will you walk on my other side? I wouldn’t have gotten this far without you. Besides, I want someone to report every detail as I walk down the aisle.”

Annabelle glanced at Roy, hoping he wasn’t offended, but he merely shrugged. “It’s fine with me. I’ve already told her that everything looks very nice.”

She took a step back to stand on Elaine’s other side. “I’ve got it covered,” she whispered.

The organ music began, and the church attendant opened the doors. A joyous melody from Bach filled the church, and it was hard to breathe as the three of them began the stately walk down the aisle. The church looked lovely, but Annabelle knew exactly what Elaine wanted to hear.