Page 74 of Sensing Selma
We both looked at her, waiting.
“What would you say if I, well...what if I rolled along with you girls down the aisle?”
Holly and I looked at one another again.
“Do you think the aisle would be wide enough to accommodate my wheelchair?”Mother added.
“I’m sure it will, Mother,” I said. “And I think that having you walk us down the aisle is a wonderful idea. I would have never thought to ask, but I’d be so honored.”
“Me, too,” Holly said.
“Good. Good. I really want to do this.”
*****
SENSE AND SENSIBILITYhad wrapped up the day before, leaving the cast and crew free to attend our wedding.
The garden was all set up with dozens of chairs, a simple altar and a paved walk to serve as the aisle. With Mother in a wheelchair, we couldn’t imagine her rolling through the grass.
“You both look exquisite,” Keely said just before leaving us.
We were in the drawing room closest to the door that led out to the garden. Holly and I were in our wedding dresses, Mother in her lavender silk skirt and jacket.
“Abbie said her husband, Gabriel Tillsbury, might be a little late,” I said.
Keely shook her head. “He has already arrived, and he is ready to officiate both your weddings. The grooms are ready and waiting. Everything is set.”
Holly and I looked at one another.
“Ready?”I said.
She nodded.
“Okay, then,” Keely said as she opened the door to leave us. “I’ll tell them to get the music started.”
I turned to my mother. “Ready to go?”
“Yes,” she said. “But I thought I would now share with you my little surprise.”
I frowned. “I don’t really know if this is the time, Mother. Everyone is waiting for us.”
She nodded. “Yes. Yes. They’ll wait a moment more.”
“All right,” I said, my nerves pushing me to sound a little impatient.
“Come, my girls,” she said, reaching out to grasp our hands.
She shifted up to the edge of her wheelchair.
“Mum,” Holly said, instantly alarmed. “What are you doing?”
She set her feet on the floor, tightened her hold on our hands, and stood.
“I may be a little unsteady, and I may be very, very slow, but I will walk...walkyou two down the aisle.”
“Mother,” I whispered. “How did you...?”
“Surprised?”She looked at me with a playful grin.
