Chapter 21

Chapter 21

A few months later

"I'm so excited someone gets to use Rose's wedding dress from the past. It still looks brand new." Bree grinned as she stared at Marie.

Marie fingered the embroidery on the bodice as she admired the floral detail. She would have the wedding of her dreams. This year, a historical wedding in the fully renovated Chapel in the Woods kicked off the reenactment event. They planned the event for months. Bree enlisted the Historical Society of Scotland as they replicated the thirteenth century.

Marie and Bree stood in Marie's room. The handlers from the Historical Society flitted around the dress for the last fitting and used white gloves, keeping it in pristine condition. Her friend Bree hugged her from the side. Her excitement made Marie's heart light.

Marie hugged her friend back. "Aye, thank ye for letting me use it. This is the wedding I have dreamed of my entire life, a fifteenth-century wedding." Marie gazed at her dearest friend and smiled.

Bree patted her arm. "You deserve to have the wedding of your dreams. It almost feels like we are celebrating your wedding and John's parents. It was such a great idea that you and John chose not only the reenactment event but the same date when John's parents wed." Bree giggled. "It's so romantic. I hope it will be the highlight of the historical event."

Marie laughed. "Aye, ye also hope it will be the highlight of yer museum exhibit."

Bree smiled. "Well, yes, and a perfect replication of a historical highland wedding. And let's remember the Historical Society of Scotland is footing part of the bill. The photographers will capture every moment. Not just for you, but for the exhibit as well."

Marie smiled. "Aye, well, I suspect Colin would've gladly paid for everything if they hadn't."

Bree smiled. "Aye, he would've for our best friends."

The twins burst into the room and toddled around the bed with a harried Ainslie, who followed closely behind. "Sorry, Bree, they got away from me again."

Bree bent and swept Evie into her arms before fingers sticky with lord knows what touched the delicate fabric of the wedding dress.

Ainslie grabbed Ewan and tickled him till he squealed.

The handlers quickly picked up the dress and shifted away with it.

Marie sat in her chair before the fire, gazing at her best friends, now her family. Things couldn't be better. Since she and John returned the Stone of Fear to the Fae's hiding place, a sense of peace descended over Dunstaffnage Castle. Life moved on, and no Fae activities disrupted the natural flow of life. The last historical dig on the castle grounds had wrapped up, and Bree's museum tour started soon with the artifacts cataloged and ready for the Scottish Historical Society.

Marie and John's love blossomed, and their wedding remained a mere two days away. John asked her to meet him in the chapel today at dusk. He worked on a project these last months that he and Colin remained very secretive about.

She looked at her friends and smiled. "I must change and head to the chapel now. It's time to meet John."

Ainslie and Bree exchanged a look as they giggled. They had done that a lot recently, and Marie figured they were in on the secret John kept from Marie.

****

John sat in the Chapel in the Woods, waiting for Marie to arrive. He and Colin had worked on this plan since he returned the Stone of Fear to the Fae, and he hoped he had guessed Marie's desires correctly. Of course, he had. Bree harassed him to no end to get his gift ready in time for the wedding. He wanted to surprise Marie and hoped she would become ecstatic about his plan.

A light footfall sounded behind him, and he took a deep breath. He patted his jacket pocket and made sure his present remained there. He rose and turned to greet the love of his life, excited to share his plan for their future.

Marie stood near the door as she smiled. "It's dusk, just as ye asked." She waved her arms to her sides. "Here I am."

John smiled. She seemed radiant, and happy. He would never tire of her smile. He recalled the first time they were in the chapel when she arrived for the restoration project. It was the first time they had seen each other in person. He wanted so badly to meet her, and when he did, he couldn't resist the urge to kiss her, so he had.

"Do ye remember the day we first came here?"

Marie glanced down in a blush. "Aye, that was the first day ye kissed me."

John returned her smile.

Marie took a step toward him.

He took a step toward her. "Aye, did I sweep ye off yer feet as I intended?"

They continued to step slowly toward each other and met in the center of the chapel.

Marie blushed, "Aye, ye did at that."

John took her hands in his, bent and kissed her lightly on the lips. God, she was so pretty, and she was his, his wife, forever.

"I have a wedding gift to give ye."

Marie looked at their hands, then back at John. "John, it's too early for gifts. The wedding is still two days away."

John cupped her face with his hand. "It's never too early for gifts, and I wanted to give ye my wedding gift in private."

Marie blushed. "John, it's not right to do that in a church."

John barked a laugh. "That's not what I mean, ye sexy woman. But I will take ye up on the offer later tonight."

John pulled the box from his coat pocket. He took a moment and stared at the long slender box.

Marie's gaze traveled from the box to her left hand, where the red ruby sat in an intricate setting which matched the scrolls on the cross.

John smiled. He confused her and planned it that way on purpose. What sat in the box wasn't a bracelet. It was so much more. He understood his gift would mean the world to her.

He held the box before him as he gazed into her face. "Marie, do ye remember what ye said to me that day we first had lunch at the priory?"

Marie tilted her head and shook it.

He smiled as he recalled that day. He almost wanted to tease her to drag out his surprise but figured that would torture him as much as it would her. Now was the time.

John took each of her hands, placed the box in both, and released it. "My gift to ye for our wedding." He kissed her cheek. "My gift to ye for our future." He kissed her other cheek. "And my gift to ye for our family." He kissed her lips, and Marie's eyebrows lifted. She blinked, then blushed.

John smiled. "Open it, Marie." Marie pulled the ribbon, and it fell in her hand. She opened the box and peered inside. Set upon purple velvet sat an old skeleton key.

She took the key out, held it between them, and raised an eyebrow. "An old key, John? The castle's locks were changed years ago with the modernization." She glanced at the key and then back at John. "What's this one to?"

He gazed at her lovingly. "Do ye remember telling me how it was yer greatest dream to remodel an entire church or abbey?"

Marie gasped, peered at the key and back at John. "Well, yer wish is mine to grant."

Marie's mouth opened, then she shut it with a click of her teeth.

John beamed at her. "Colin has permitted ye to remodel Ardchattan Priory."

Marie gasped. "John, really? The proposal? He will do it?"

John nodded. "Aye, here's the best part." He paused for a moment, unable to resist teasing her. He enlisted Bree's help for this one as it became near impossible that they kept it from Marie. The entire Historical Society remained abuzz with the project and excited for Marie.

"Bree contacted the Historical Society of Scotland. Ye will lead the restoration, yers to manage, oversee, and remain as caretaker for the future. We will live there permanently while I remain Captain of the Castle for Dunstaffnage."

Marie squealed, jumped into John's arms, and hugged him. He picked her up and spun her in a circle. His heart became whole, his surprise and gift for Marie an evident success.

When he set her down, her head bowed, and she sniffled. "Mo ghràdh, what is it? What is wrong?"

Marie handed the key and the box back to John and stepped back. "John, I can't live there. I can't, knowing who's buried there and how it happened."

John set the box on the pew and took the key, placed it in Marie's hand, then closed his hands around them and held them momentarily. "Marie, I know about how Father Clarke died. I also know that was yer nightmare. Being the nun buried alive in the priory."

He gazed into her eyes. "That is what Colin and I've been busy fixing."

Marie gasped.

"We arranged to have his grave relocated. I would never ask ye to live someplace that bastard rested. He's gone. The clergy arrived and blessed the ground. The priory is all ready for ye, for us."

A tear escaped Marie's eye. John wiped it away and gathered her in his arms. He kissed her deeply as he let all his love flow through the kiss.

When he raised his head, Marie smiled. "My geologist friend had some great news for us, which he just couldn't wait to talus!"

"Talus." John barked a laugh at her pun. Talus was a jumble of loose rocks. She impressed him since she likely looked up talus to make a joke. "Tell us. Okay, ye have some news for me?"

Marie glanced down and blushed. "I have my wedding present for ye today as well."

John's eyebrows rose. "Well, what's my present?"

Swinging from side to side, she peeked at him with a smile. "What do baby rocks wear?"

At a loss as John racked his brain for what she hinted. Baby rocks? Did she mean pebbles, crags, or marbles? Wait, I've got it!

He tilted his head and replied. "Diapirs." Diapirs were piercement structures resulting from the penetration of overlaying material. Diapirs can form anticlines, salt domes, and other structures by pushing upward and piercing overlying rock layers. Wait. What does this have to do with them and how is a rock a present?

He stared back at Marie; she stood with a smile. They were to marry, start a family, diapirs…diapers. His breath whooshed out, and he became a little dizzy. She meant diapers, as in for a baby.

John grabbed her shoulders. "Marie, are ye saying…I mean, does this mean…"

Marie took his hand and placed it over her stomach and nodded.

John picked her up spun her again and laughed as he set her down. He gazed into her eyes; their happiness spread through the chapel.

When the setting sun shone through the chapel window, and a beam of light glowed around the couple, he kissed her with all his heart. As they kissed, John remembered the Stone of Fear Fae Fable ending.

The father thanked God, for our best blessings are often the least appreciated.

He sent a prayer to his parents. Thank ye for my best blessing, the greatest gift ye gave me, my true love, and my family.