Page 14 of The Preacher's Wife
Prudence couldn’t control the tears that streamed down her cheeks. She’d never heard it explained the way Hubert was explaining it. Instead of fire and brimstone, he was preaching it as a message of hope and assurance. The weight of her doubts and fears lifted off her shoulders, replaced by a renewed sense of faith. She looked around the chapel and saw others wiping away tears, their eyes shining with the same realization that she had just experienced.
It was as if his words were specifically chosen to quell the doubts that had been plaguing her heart, soothing them with gentle reassurance. As she listened intently, a sense of peace washed over her, and a melody of hope filled her heart.
The more he spoke, the more certain she became Hubert was truly an answer to her prayers.When she wiped her eyes once more, her vision cleared, and the pulpit came into view.He was watching her!She thought to divert her eyes, but something made her continue gazing forward. She closed her Bible and focused solely on him. A warmth washed over her, and she could feel her heartbeat and the breath of life flowing through her.
A whisper echoed in her mind.You are safe; you are loved, and you are wanted.
Clearly, she was going mad. Prudence admitted she would willingly lose her sanity if it meant Hubert would continue to gaze at her with such adoration for eternity.
Hubert stood at the pulpit, his hands tightly gripping the edges as he spoke with fervent conviction. He felt the familiar thrum of the Spirit deep within him, guiding his words and aligning his mind and spirit. On the last pew, Prudence sat with tears streaming down her cheeks. Hubert desperately wanted to comfort her, but he stayed focused on delivering his message. It was one that had come to him in a sudden rush, before he even received the letter from his mother, that confirmed it. As he spoke, he could see the impact it was having on Prudence. She needed this message to heal her heart and allow Hubert into it.
To allow the Lord to touch her.
“Thank you all for taking the time to listen to me this morning. I want all of you to go into your week with a spirit of hope, knowing that our futures are assured because of our relationship with Him. Now, if my mother would humor me, I suggest we close withO Come, All Ye Faithful.”
Glancing at his mother, she nodded, and soon the first notes of the song rang through the church. His father stepped up to lead the congregation, and Hubert excused himself from the pulpit, making his way to the back of the church to Prudence, who hadn’t taken her eyes off him.
“Hi,” he whispered, filling the space she’d created when he joined her.
“Hi.”
Prudence laced her fingers through his, and together they sang through the beloved hymn as his father led them to repeatit. The older man beamed from the pulpit, giving Hubert the reassurance he hadn’t known he needed.
Once the hymn was done, Reverend Fitzgerald addressed the congregation. “If you would like to stay, my son is getting married right after services. I’m aware it’s short notice and understand if you have other commitments. However, I will ask that if you are not staying today, perhaps you can converse outside of the sanctuary.”
As the room erupted in a symphony of clapping hands, Prudence felt her cheeks flush with embarrassment. She turned, burying her face in his shoulder for comfort. He couldn’t help but chuckle at the awkwardness of the moment, his hand gently resting on her waist as they stood amidst the cheering crowd. Slowly, the room settled back into their seats, and the two of them remained locked in a warm embrace. The only parishioner to leave was a young mother with a demanding infant.
“I don’t think I can get married in front of these people,” Prudence whispered, standing on her tiptoes to reach his ear.
“It’s just you and me. Don’t take your eyes off me, and we’ll get through this.”
“What if they hate me?”
“Then it’s a good thing we don’t live here.” He tipped her chin up so that their eyes met. “Can you trust me with this? This town raised me. You like my parents. And anyone who may dislike you will not mention it today.”
He watched her blink several times. “Take a deep breath, Pru, and let it out slowly.”
When she followed his direction, he nodded his approval before glancing at his father. “Then let’s get married and get out of here. No one will fault us for wanting to be alone.”
“I can do this,” she murmured, more to herself, but pulledaway from him and straightened her skirts.
Slowly they walked to the front together, his mother appearing to hand her a small bouquet of dried baby’s breath, then melted back to her seat at the end of the front row.
His father offered a handshake. Hubert felt his brows scrunch together but took the hand. The weight of something falling into his palm started the self-chastising that he’d been avoiding all day.
He’d forgotten about rings.Prudence deserved a ring. His father had remembered, though.
“We are gathered today to witness the joining of Hubert Montgomery Fitzgerald and Prudence Anne Underwood in holy matrimony.”
Hubert watched the feelings flow over Prudence. His Prudence. She continued to take slow breaths, and her eyes did not waver from his. He could not imagine the amount of effort and commitment that took, but pride in how easily she allowed him to guide was a heady sensation.
They repeated their vows, dedicating their marriage to the church and the Lord. Then it was time to slip the ring onto her finger. Repeating after his father, Hubert opened her hand and slowly placed the gold band against the tip of her finger.
“With this ring, I thee wed, through sickness and health, through struggles and success, until death do us part.”
Prudence’s breath caught when it slid down her finger, symbolizing their commitment to each other and to God.Hubert committed the sound she made to memory, wondering what else would cause her to make that sound. Holding out his hand, he waited.
“With this ring, I thee wed. I will honor and obey you, to stand at your side until death do us part.”
