The Wedding Planners of Butternut Creek (33 page)

“I wouldn’t have you,” he said simply and so sincerely, Hannah could feel her heart beating wildly.

“I’m not the right woman for you. I’m hard to get along with and push myself to succeed and shove others away and…”

“That’s what I told your brother.”

“You told my brother I’m hard to get along with?”

“I also told him you may not be the most perfect woman in the world but you happen to be the woman I love. You’re the perfect woman for me.”

“Oh,” she said, feeling a little awed but needing to understand the whole thing. “But I don’t need a man to take care of me if that’s what you think.”

“Why would anyone who knows you think you do? I don’t want to take care of you.” He paused and glanced across the lawn. “I don’t know how to say this.” He turned back. “I see how much you care and how much pressure you put on yourself. I want to be with you, to take your mind off of the horror you see. I want to love you and hold you and support you. I want to be with you and serve, too, in whatever way I can. What’s wrong with that?”

When she didn’t answer, he said, “Okay, let’s make this simple: If you’re going to Kenya, that’s where I want to be. Does that make sense?” he asked, his lips hovering over hers.

It did.

On Saturday afternoon, three of the Widows stood together in the fellowship hall and looked around.

“This will be the biggest social event in Butternut Creek for years,” Blossom said.

“We won’t have enough room for everyone,” Mercedes added. “Some of the guests are going to have to stand outside.”

“Don’t forget, it’s also a religious event,” Birdie reminded them. “This is a wedding.”

“The biggest wedding in years,” Blossom said, completely missing Birdie’s point.

“Here I am,” Winnie called as she hurried in, her new granddaughter, Sam and Willow’s baby girl, in her arms. “It certainly looks lovely in here,” she said.

Bree and Mac had taken the peach tablecloths home and washed them. Now one covered the table graced with the four-tier wedding cake, white frosting with peach-colored flowers sprinkled across it. Chairs had been spread out in front of the cake table, and the gift table was exactly where they’d planned to put it. Some of the men had placed folding chairs outside under trees on the narrow strip of grass and the edge of the parking lot for the overflow as well as opening the gates into the backyard of the parsonage to accommodate even more.

“What’s next for us?” Blossom asked, her little pink mouth turned down. “Haven’t we accomplished everything we set out to do?”

“This isn’t the end,” Miss Birdie said. “The preacher and Gussie are going to have children. We’ll have to teach Sunday school.”

“And we’ll need to find them someone to marry when they grow up,” Mercedes said.

“I’m not ready to give up yet,” Winnie said. “There’s still Mattie Patillo. We have to find her a husband.”

“If we don’t do that soon, she’s going to lose all that sweet prettiness, won’t be able to attract a man,” Mercedes said.

“On top of that, she’s getting too old to reproduce,” Birdie added.

“But we’ve tried everyone.” Winnie bounced the baby up and down. “Where will we find a single man?”

“We can’t give up,” Blossom said. “I’ve had so much fun.”

“Then we’ll have to get busy, look farther away, maybe even go into Austin,” Mercedes said.

How four elderly woman would find a single man in Austin, Birdie didn’t know. None of them had the slightest idea of how to pick up a man at a bar, and no man would be lured by four old ladies walking down the street.

Still, she wouldn’t correct her. They’d celebrate today and work on Reverend Patillo tomorrow.

At one forty, Adam looked out the bedroom window toward the church. The parking lot was full. He recognized Charley’s truck and Farley’s car and Father Joe’s among many he didn’t recognize.

He straightened his tie, one Blossom had given him, shrugged on his jacket, and glanced in the mirror over the dresser. He smiled. Actually, if it didn’t sound so un-macho, he gleamed with happiness. Today he’d marry Gussie.

“Hector?” He pounded on the door then moved down the hall and knocked on the next door. “Janey?”

Both stepped into the hall, Hector in the suit Adam’s parents had purchased for him and Janey in a dress of pink cotton Ouida had made for her.

He hugged each before he turned toward the attic steps. “Hannah, are you ready?” he shouted up to the attic.

When she started down the steps, Adam smiled again. “You look beautiful.”

The persimmon cotton swirled around her legs and made her look like a flame. When she arrived downstairs, he gave her his arm and the four of them went downstairs and headed toward the church.

“Look at all the cars, Pops. Twenty minutes before the ceremony and the parking lot’s full, with cars lining both sides of the street.”

Adam waved at his friends who covered the sidewalk in front of the parsonage and the church and grinned. Today he was marrying Gussie.

Gussie looked at herself in the mirror in a classroom that had been turned into a bride’s room by the Widows. The dress looked wonderful, like her. When they heard the music begin from the organ, she lined the three attendants up. Clare wore peach, Willow wore deep coral, and the persimmon was wonderful on Hannah.

Then Yvonne looked out into the hall. They had to head out the side door and over to the entrance of the church. Not the handiest way for a bride to get to the sanctuary, but knowing Adam would be waiting for her made everything wonderful.

“Here are your bouquets.” Yvonne handed one to each attendant and the lovely cascade of coral and peach roses to Gussie.

Thank you, most loving and generous God, for this moment, for Adam and our lives together.

“Are we ready, ladies?” Gussie asked. With their nods, they headed toward the entrance to the sanctuary.

“Do you have the ring, Sam?”

“Calm down,” Adam’s best man said. “I’ve had it the last twenty times you’ve asked.” He held out his hand to show the tiny ring box.

When they heard a chord from the organ, Adam led the men from his office, across the hall, and into the sanctuary. He looked toward the chancel area where Mattie stood in her white robe, holding her worship manual. She looked very ministerial until she winked at him.

Then the music began and his father escorted his mother into a pew. After a few chords from the organ, Hannah came from the narthex and walked toward them, glowing with happiness. Willow came next, followed by Clare. After her, Henry escorted Yvonne down the aisle and they settled into a pew.

Impatiently, Adam looked toward the narthex but couldn’t see Gussie. He turned toward Janey when she stood on the other side of the chancel. In her lovely, clear voice, she sang “Whither Thou Goest.” As she sang, gratitude filled Adam. The young man he considered his son stood only a foot away. His daughter sang in front of the church. He stood with his two best friends. In a few minutes, Mattie would join him and Gussie in marriage.

All of that was terrific, but he wanted to see Gussie.

As Janey sang, he studied the congregation. The Widows sat in the back, ready to leap up before the end of the service because they were, after all, in charge of the reception. The Kowalskis must have come early because they sat immediately behind his parents with Carol and Gretchen fighting for the aisle seat and Lucy in her father’s arms. Sam’s father, the general, kept an eye on Leo and Nick. His minister friends were sprinkled throughout the congregation, as were Gussie’s friends from Roundville and camp and area churches. There were chairs in the side aisles. People stood against the back wall and the deacons had placed chairs on one side of the center aisle, leaving a narrow passage for the bridesmaids and Gussie to come through. Still, there must be people outside.

When Janey finished singing, the chords of the wedding march began and the congregation stood. Adam looked to the door where he knew from the rehearsal Gussie was supposed to be, but he couldn’t see her over everyone’s heads. So he took a step and then another until he stood at the head of the aisle and looked down at her standing in the doorway. She smiled at him, that wonderful, loving Gussie smile he adored, and walked toward him. His life clicked into place and stretched out ahead of him with Gussie next to him. They’d have children—maybe not the number the Widows hoped for but enough to fill the parsonage with laughter and life. They’d serve the community and go to camp and respond to emergencies and live happily and joyfully, blessed by God and surrounded by family and the people of Butternut Creek. This moment was the beginning of that promise and those adventures.

When she reached him, Adam took Gussie’s hand. Together they turned toward Mattie.

“Friends and family,” the minister said. “Those of us who love Gussie and Adam have gathered here to celebrate their love, to witness the joining of their lives before God…”

1. Gussie has put off choosing a date for the wedding. Why do you think this is? Why did she suddenly decide to set it? Have you ever made a choice during a difficult or frightening time? Did you feel as if God was leading you in that direction?
   
2. Bree and Hector are heading off to college. How does Adam feel about Hector’s leaving? Why is Janey worried? Do you believe Miss Birdie has accepted Bree’s leaving? How have you handled the departure of someone you love?
   
3. Why does Adam dread counseling others? This happened in
   The Welcome Committee of Butternut Creek
   when Sam came in for a talk. Have you ever felt that way when a friend or family member comes to you with a problem—or if you need to approach them? Why does Adam go ahead and counsel his sister? Does he talk to her as a brother or minister or both? For Adam, are those two roles hard to distinguish? What did you think of his way of reaching Hannah when she didn’t want to hear him?
   
4. Hannah believes her goals and dreams have vanished. Has that happened to you? If so, how did you handle that? Did you pray or talk to someone you trusted? Did that help? If so, how?
   
5. How would you deal with a friend or family member who feels as if his or her dreams have been dashed? What would you say? How would you respond to their depression?
   
6. Gabe is very good-looking and talented. He seems to have lived a charmed life. Have you ever envied someone whose life seems perfect? How did that feel? Does anyone have a perfect life?
   
7. How did the following people help Hannah when she returned to the United States?
   
   1. Adam
      
   2. Janey
      
   3. Gabe
      
8. When Hector first came to live in the parsonage, he didn’t have a high opinion of churches. How has that changed? How does Hector show his appreciation of the church and the congregation? In what ways do you attempt to reflect the nature and goals of a church or of groups you belong to?
   
9. Contrast Adam and his father. How do you think Adam became the man he is? How did Hannah react to her father’s expectations?
   
10. Adam feels guilty about his love of several possessions. Did this make sense to you? Why or why not? Why do you think Adam felt that way? Do you believe a Christian’s having nice possessions is all right or is it wrong? Why?
    
11. From working in the refugee camp, Hannah believed she’d lost her faith and wondered where God was in the midst of suffering. Where can we find meaning in the midst of tragedy and loss? Does God cause suffering? Why do you believe this?
    
12. Where have you found strength during times of sorrow and crisis? Do you have a favorite Bible verse that helps you at these times? Psalm Twenty-Three speaks to many people about God’s steadfast love and eternal care. Does it lead you? If so, what lines or passages are particularly helpful?
    
13. How do people you know handle difficult times? Have any turned away from God? Did you find a way to support friends who hurt? How? Were you able to speak a word of healing or show how God worked through you for their recovery? If so, what did you say or do?
    

The Welcome Committee of Butternut Creek

The Matchmakers of Butternut Creek

Available from FaithWords wherever books are sold.

THE WELCOME COMMITTEE OF
BUTTERNUT CREEK

“A warm, witty, wonderful book. I loved it, and you will too.”

—Susan Mallery,
New York Times
and
USA Today
bestselling author

“[G]entle, funny, romantic, and honest new series.…The veteran author and ordained minister has a sure eye for smalltown church drama, as well as the dynamics of life in a town where everyone knows your business. Perrine does a fine job blending small and large story lines, portraying details and dilemmas of regular folks, and offering spiritual messages from real life. This is a delightful first volume in what promises to be a wonderful series.”

—
Publishers Weekly

“…will definitely appeal to fans of Jan Karon’s ‘Mitford’ series and other readers who enjoy homespun fiction about small-town life.”

—
Library Journal

“I couldn’t resist. The Widows’ scheming had me grinning, and I loved how all the quirky, lovable characters got my mind off my worries.”

—Lorraine Sullivan, Associate Editor of
First for Women

“Wow! Jane Myers Perrine has penned an amazing story with heart, hope, and humor. She created a setting with such unique and spunky characters that you can’t help but fall in love with the people and the place.”

—Christie Craig, author of
Hotter in Texas
, the humorous romantic suspense series released by Grand Central/Forever

“Heartwarming and hilarious,
The Welcome Committee of Butternut Creek
offers a touching, small-town view of the ties that bind.”

—Award-winning author Colleen Thompson

“
The Welcome Committee of Butternut Creek
is a treasure from talented author Jane Perrine! She’s created a charming community filled with all the delight and drama of small town life. The residents of Butternut Creek will draw you into their world making you thankful this is only the first installment in Jane’s new series.”

—Mae Nunn, author of
A Texas Ranger’s Family
, 2010 Carol winner from American Christian Fiction Writers

“Fun characters and a storyline that will hit close to home for a number of readers make this novel appealing to a wide variety of people.”

—
RT Book Reviews

“Perrine has penned a charming, heartwarming story with endearing characters and a lovely small town. I adored Butternut Creek and its residents.”

—Vicky Dreiling, author of
How to Marry a Duke

THE MATCHMAKERS OF
BUTTERNUT CREEK

“I did not want to put this book down. The characters and Jane
Myers
Perrine’s storytelling gift captured my heart on page one and held on to the satisfying end. This is truly a special story.”

—Laurie Alice Eakes, award-winning author of
A Flight of Fancy

“With small-town charm and the perfect amount of humor, Perrine’s second novel set in Butternut Creek is sweet and engaging.”

—
Romantic Times