TITLE: A WOMEN IN LOVE
BY: Lorie

DISCLAMER:  The story of Christy is owned by the Marshall-LeSourd LLC. This
is just for fun!



I kept looking at myself in the mirror, and it never got any better, no
matter what angle I chose.  What was I going to do?

I looked into the eyes that had always seemed too large for my face, today
they looked to be about the size of saucers.  My mirror self looked back at
me with a bemused expression on her face.  Her face looked pale as if dusted
with much to much powder, and two bright red patches seemed to glow high on
each cheekbone.  The girl in the mirror looked like a little girl who had
gotten in to her mothers make-up.  My hair had been taken down from it's
elaborate bun, and had been savagely brushed, till it shone.  The little
girl in the mirror looked like she was pouting because her mother had made
her get ready for bed when she wanted to stay up and play.  And to be honest
that was exactly the way I in fact felt!

I slowly became aware of the women gathered around me chatting, the tea in
front of me had gone cold.  How long had I been sitting there? Mary Allen
had helped me into my "fancy Ashville" nightgown.  When we came back into
the room, all the women had come over and touched the little blue silk bows
that had been embroiered on the white silk gown. They "ooohed" and "ahhhed"
over them, touching them lightly with their fingertips.  I myself could have
gladly kicked myself all the way back to the store in Ashville where Mother
had wanted to buy me the matching nightgown and robe set.  The shopkeeper
had said it was the latest fashion from France, but one look athe price tag
and I had stubbornly rufused, saying that the nightgown alone would suit me.
How I longed for that costly robe now!  I placed my hand self consciously in
front of the scoop neck front, and watched as the girl in the mirrors face
turned even darker shade of red.

Mother had been wonderful about having the wedding in Cutter Gap, but she
made it quite clear that she would NOT attend the sheveree.  She and Father
watched from the Mission porch I was swept away by a flood of laughing
women.  I looked back one last time and saw my father hug my mother tight as
she dabbed at her eyes with her hankie.  I took a fast glance for my new
husband, but he was nowhere to be seen.  Now sitting in my husbands room,
full of my friends, I felt a swell of sadness.  How I missed Fairlight!  I
had felt her presence around me all day,  but how I wished that I could have
her here to talk to at this moment.  Miss Alice, who had taken the tea cups
to the kitchen, had returned.  She looked at me and smiled gently.  "Ladies,
it's time for us to leave."  I could now hear the loud laughter and talking
of the men as they arrived.  I could hear my husbands booming voice "Jeb,
I'm going as fast as I can, quit jabbing me in the ribs!"  As the women all
filed out, they were talking in hushed wispers, as if they were in church. 
I watched them leave, and noticed that they all wore the same dreamy
expression on their faces.  I hoped they were remembering their own wedding
nights.  Miss Alice looked at my worried face, and came to give me one last
hug.  "Do you trust him, Christy?" She asked me kindly, then not waiting for
me to answer, she turned and walked out the door closing it after her.

Because I was still uncomfortable with all the shiveree customes, the men
agreed to forgo putting the broom to bed.  Instead they left him at the
bedroom door.  I heard them leaving I turned back to look at the little girl
in the mirror.  The door opened and I saw my new husband in the mirror.  I
just sat looking at our reflections, as he closed the door and stood against
it, looking back at me a triumphant smile on his face.

No matter what angle I chose, I could not help but notice the love that
radiated from both our eyes.  I looked back at the little girl in the
mirror, but she had gone.  For the first time saw myself as the others had
seen me.  Where the little girl had been sat a women, a women in love.  I
turned away from the mirror.  "Welcome home" I said as I confidently walked
to meet my husband halfway.