The center of Winslow was a lot busier than it had been earlier; almost every parking space on the street was filled, and Maggie noted quietly that it was handy Gussie could use the handicapped van spaces in the church parking lot.
“Reverend Palmer doesn’t mind,” said Gussie. “Only four of us in town have vans with wheelchair lifts, and all of us attend his church, so he optimistically made sure there were plenty of spaces for us in the church parking lot. The chances we’ll all be downtown at the same time, other than for services, is pretty minimal. That leaves the other handicapped spaces in the area for visitors to town.”
The church was, as Maggie assumed, handicapped-accessible, with a ramp from the parking lot to the front door so anyone who wished to or needed to could avoid the steps. Maggie pushed a button and the heavy doors opened in front of them.
The sanctuary was classic New England: a center aisle lined by white pews, and high clear glass windows on each side. Small round stained glass windows picturing scenes of the sea set above the tall pillared windows were the only decorations. The pew cushions were dark blue, as was the carpet which led to the simple pine altar raised two steps at the front of the church. A gold cross above the altar was the only other ornament.
“It’s beautiful, Gussie. Elegant. I hope your wedding day is sunny, like today.” The sun pouring in through the clear glass brightened the whole room.
Gussie smiled at her. “I hope so, too. But the chandeliers,” she pointed at classic brass fixtures hanging from the ceiling, “are also lovely. And we’ll have candles and a flower arrangement on the altar. Come; I’ll show you.” She led Maggie down the aisle. “The ceremony will take place here on the floor, in front of the altar. You and Ellen will stand over here,” she pointed at her left side, “and Andy and Ben will be with Jim on the other side. All very traditional.”
“Music?” Maggie asked.
“The woman who plays the organ for services on Sundays is going to be here. We chose a Mozart piece we like, his Piano Sonata in A, for while people are coming in, and then we’ll have the traditional processional.” Gussie shrugged, almost in embarrassment. “Ben’s been humming ‘Here Comes the Bride’ since we announced we were getting married, and we didn’t want him to be disappointed.”
“Makes sense to me,” said Maggie.
“Now I need to find Reverend Palmer,” said Gussie, heading toward a door on the right side of the front of the church. She was about to knock, when a tall, good-looking man in jeans and an orange WINSLOW BASKETBALL sweatshirt opened it from the other side.
“I thought I heard voices! Gussie, I’m glad to see you. I was going to call you later today.”
“Then I’m glad I stopped in. This is my friend, Maggie Summer. She’ll be my maid of honor. Maggie, Reverend Palmer.”
They nodded at each other.
“I wanted to make sure everything was set. No last minute problems or such. But since you wanted to get in touch with me, I’m assuming something has come up.”
“Well, actually, yes,” said the Reverend. “Shall we sit a moment?”
“Of course.” They moved back and Maggie and the Reverend sat in the front pew.
“I’m sorry to have to bother you with this, Gussie, but I thought you’d decided on a simple ceremony, with no decorations in the church except flowers on the altar.”
“That’s right,” said Gussie. “The church is perfect, just the way it is.”
“And you haven’t changed your mind? You can, you know. But I need to know ahead of time, so we can schedule time to decorate, and there are certain fire regulations that need to be followed.”
“Fire regulations?” said Gussie.
“And insurance stipulations.”
Gussie sighed. “Let me make a wild guess. Has Jim’s mother, Lily Dryden, contacted you?”
“She called yesterday,” admitted Reverend Palmer.
“What does she want to do?”
The Reverend looked around, as though he was afraid he’d be overheard. “I’m in a bit of a pickle here, you understand. She implied you knew what she was doing, but I had a feeling.… I’ve known you and Jim a long time, Gussie, and it didn’t sound like anything you would have wanted.”
“Just tell me. What is she planning?”
The Reverend looked like a little boy telling tales out of school. “Big, double, pink-and-white bows tied on the aisle ends of each of the pews. With ribbons that touch the floor. And in the middle of each of the ‘bouquet of bows,’ she called them, she wants tall candles to be lit right before the ceremony starts.”
Gussie’s eyes took on a hard, glazed look Maggie’d never seen before.
“And she wants a high trellised arch erected in front of the altar. You and Jim and I would be under it during the ceremony.”
Gussie put her hand out, as though to stop the Reverend’s words. “And—don’t tell me. I’m seeing it all now. This arch would also be covered with giant bows.”
The Reverend nodded, slowly. “Flowers, too. And ivy, I think she said. I wasn’t listening too closely at that point. I was still trying to figure out how she was going to arrange all this in a little over a week.”
“Did she happen to mention who was going to do all this?”
“Abigail from Floral Fantasies was conferenced in. I suspect she was taking notes like mad.”
Gussie nodded. “Thank you for telling me. I’ll talk to Lily. And Abigail. Today.”
“You understand. The bows are…”
“Horrible!”
“They may be. But horrible can be done. Has been done. Weddings are…weddings. Some are pretty over-the-top, and bows on the pews are not a catastrophic idea so far as I’m concerned, as long as you take them down before services Sunday. But you can’t have candles lit that close to ribbons without a special rider to the church’s insurance contract, and it’s too late to get one now.”
“Did you tell Lily that?”
“I did. But she kept saying I was a darling man and that what the insurance people didn’t know wouldn’t hurt them.” Reverend Palmer shook his head. “I tried to get through to her. I did. But I don’t think she heard me.”
Gussie patted the Reverend’s arm. “Not to worry. I get it. No candles. No matter what. As it happens, Maggie and I are having lunch with Jim. I think we just put church decorations on our agenda.”
“I’m sorry to complicate your life, Gussie. I know you’re in the middle of a move.”
“Don’t worry. I’d rather hear now than an hour before the ceremony.” Gussie turned. “Maggie, let’s get going. We’re going to have an interesting lunch.”
Chapter 10
Crab.Hand-colored lithograph (1843) from Zoology of New York State, part of five volumes commissioned by the New York State Legislature to provide a geological and natural history survey of the state; published between 1842 and 1844. American zoologist Dr. James Ellsworth DeKay (1792-1851) was in charge of the project. Born in Portugal, he came to the United States when he was two, attended Yale, and graduated from the medical school at the University of Edinburgh in 1819. More interested in natural history than in patients, he seldom used his medical skills, but made many contributions to the study of zoology. John William Halls provided the illustrations for his books. This crab is beautifully and accurately detailed and colored, and frames well. 7.25 x 10.5 inches. Price: $100.
Gussie had reserved a round table in a corner of the Winslow Inn’s restaurant. She maneuvered her scooter so it wouldn’t block an aisle and Jim joined them almost as soon as they’d sat down.
“We stopped at the church on our way here. I wanted to show Maggie where the ceremony would be,” said Gussie. “We ran into Reverend Palmer.” She paused. “Guess who called him yesterday.”
“She didn’t…” said Jim.
“And what would you ladies like to drink today?” asked the waitress.
“Diet Pepsi,” said Maggie. “With lemon, please.”