Page 118 of Wish You Faith

“It’s time,” she said.

CHAPTERTWENTY-ONE

The string quartet from Sea Island Symphony Orchestra filled the SSLR community center with Johann Sebastian Bach’s “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring,” a fitting tune since their wedding was held only several weeks after Christmas.

Evan’s heart thumped faster when he saw Rosie walking up the aisle shortly after the matron of honor, the flower girl, and the ring bearer had all completed their parts in the processional.

Evan had seen Rosie earlier during their photography session, but to see her coming toward him was a sight to behold. In her resplendent all-white wedding gown and a veil over her face, Rosie had such a graceful walk that she looked like she could have been a dancer or ballerina.

Standing on both sides of the aisle, their family and friends clapped. Evan saw Mom beaming with joy and elbowing Dad who kept nodding as she pointed to Rosie passing by. Evan read Mom’s lips, and she seemed to be saying, “My new daughter.”

Next to them, Connor’s wife, Marsha, also clapped. Her one-year-old daughter was in the building somewhere with a babysitter because Marsha wasn’t sure how she’d do in a crowd.

Surrounding them were Evan’s aunts and uncles, cousins, nephews and nieces, from all over the world. Well, okay, mostly from California and Canada.

Behind them were Cavanaugh Shipping employees and business associates who played golf with Evan on some weekends when he wasn’t spending time with Rosie. The newly bought Seven Seas Maritime Security was also represented this morning by the general manager, who preferred hiking to golf.

On the other side of the aisle, the mother of the bride was beaming with joy. The huge corsage around Sonya’s wrist shook wildly when she clapped for her only daughter. She wiped tears from her eyes. Next to her, Marcella patted her arm, as if to assure her that all was fine.

Rosie’s relatives from both sides of her family also came to the wedding. Evan had met them the evening before during the rehearsal dinner. The Fords on Sonya’s side were scattered across the United States, but her niece, Olivia, and her husband had driven an hour north from St. Simon’s Island, where the husband pastored Seaside Chapel.

The Hamiltons and Fords sat together in one row, with honorary family members, Dottie and Marcella.

Behind them were almost everyone from the Christmastown Tree Farm, as well as the Christmastown headquarters and warehouse. Evan had waved to Lorenzo and Cyrus earlier. Their wives were in the wedding party, so they didn’t sit with their husbands. Lorenzo’s wife, Tabitha, was Rosie’s matron of honor. And Cyrus’s wife, Amy, was the official wedding photographer today.

Beyond all these people whom he had known or had just met the evening before, were SSLR residents who were all invited to witness this holy matrimony. Evan thought it was a good idea to invite them. He and Rosie had catered enough lunch for every resident today. Chefs from Piper’s Place had been working all morning in the SSLR kitchen behind one of the walls.

Evan’s eyes rounded back to the star of the wedding this morning.

Rosie Hamilton.

Soon to be Rosie Cavanaugh.

Evan didn’t mind if Rosie didn’t change her last name. He had told her that it would be up to her. In Mom’s society, married women generally kept their maiden last name. However, Rosie chose to change her last name to Cavanaugh because Hamilton-Cavanaugh would be a mouthful for her third-grade Sunday school class to pronounce. Six syllables in all.

Just like Rosie to think of others first.

Evan made up his mind to make life as easy as possible for Rosie. He would think of her first and consider her needs before his own. As they walked by faith in God as a married couple from this day forward, Evan wanted them to be a team in sync with each other, not antagonistic like his own parents had been to each other for many years.

Lord Jesus, help me to be the godly husband whom You want me to be for Rosie. And help her to be the godly wife whom You want her to be for me. In the future, help us to be the godly parents You call us to be if You so choose to give us children.

When Rosie reached the altar where Pastor Flores was waiting to officiate the ceremony, Evan couldn’t wait to grab her by the waist and hug her. Instead, he gently led her by the hand up the low platform, where preachers preached on Sunday mornings at SSLR.

Best man Connor threw him a wink, and Evan smiled, relaxing. His older brother had a way to calm him down. Must’ve been all those years of training when Connor had been the peacemaker between Mom and Evan.

He didn’t need to do that anymore because Evan and Mom got along fine now. The pivot had come after Mom flew into Tybee to interrogate Rosie, only to become best buddies with Rosie’s mom. They were like sisters now.

Sonya got along well with Evan, and from her, Mom had learned to temper her temper, give Evan some breathing room, and move from being antagonistic to trying to understand her younger son. One year of the motherhood masterclass, and now Evan had started having lunch with Mom once a month when she flew into town to play mahjong with Sonya at SSLR.

“Ladies and gentlemen, we’re gathered here before the Lord God almighty to witness this holy matrimony between Evan Cavanaugh and Rosie Hamilton,” Pastor Diego Flores said. “Both are active and serving members of Riverside Chapel, and both have completed my dad’s rigorous premarital counseling—finally.”

Some people among the guests laughed. Evan didn’t turn to see who did, but he guessed that they were the ones who knew that it had taken him and Rosie eight months instead of six weeks to finish the counseling. It was necessary, and Evan was glad they did it. Pastor Samuel Flores went through all the passages in the Bible that covered marriage, family, parenthood, and children. They also studied biblical problem solving, conflict resolution, team work, partnering in life, leadership, and even money matters.

They also had lunches with Christian couples who had been married for fifty years or more, to learn from and listen to them talk about their marriages. Some of the funniest stories came from semi-retired Pastor Samuel Flores and his wife, who had raised five boys, including their son and senior pastor of Riverside Chapel—the one officiating the wedding today—and Lorenzo, who worked at the tree farm with Rosie.

It was all eye-opening for Evan, and he might say, for Rosie also, to get an idea of what a good Christian marriage could look like. Rosie’s parents had a loving marriage, but it was cut short by widowhood. Evan’s parents were unsaved, so they did not adhere to what would be a Christian marriage. As such, Evan and Rosie had to learn from other older Christians who were willing to share their life stories.

Although Evan was ready to marry Rosie, he knew that they had to proceed carefully and gently with their marriage, honoring their roles as husband and wife, and praying with each other so that they didn’t stray from God.

---