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her thoughts. “Don’t worry, honey, everything will work out just fine with Luke. Chauncy says the Lord’s hand is in this, which means your marriage will be blessed. You just focus on looking like a beautiful bride today and enjoy the party.”
    “What party?” Philamena asked, her eyes wide in surprise and fear. It had been years since she’d been around a group of people and had no idea how to interact with everyone.
    “Just a small reception after the ceremony at the church,” Abby said, studying Philamena critically and nodding her head in approval at what she saw. “A few of the church ladies wanted to have a little luncheon and offer their congratulations, so Chauncy told them it would be fine. Luke agreed.”
    “Oh,” Philamena said quietly. She wasn’t ready to face a large number of people at one time. Even a small gathering seemed like a big crowd to her after being so accustomed to the solitude of the farm.
    “You’ll be fine. Remember Chauncy and I will be there the whole time,” Abby said reassuringly. “Besides, there will only be a few good friends and church folk at the ceremony who will stay for the reception. It will be good for you to meet some people from the congregation. You’ve already met George and Aleta Bruner from the mercantile and their son Percy and daughter Alice. You made Mrs. Dawber’s acquaintance when she came to pick up her dress and you met a few of the ladies at the quilting circle Wednesday. So they aren’t strangers, after all.”
    Philamena mustered a small smile while trying to tamp down her growing sense of panic. She would get through this wedding because it meant so much to Chauncy and Abby not to mention the fact that she was grateful and beholden to Luke.
    The only alternative to this wedding was going back to the farm and her pa, and that was an option Philamena was not willing to consider.
    Two hours later, when Abby fastened the last button on the back of her gown, Philamena closed her eyes and waited for the moment of truth. The moment she would gaze into the big mirror in Abby’s bedroom and see what the new Philamena looked like. She was afraid she would be sorely disappointed and kept her eyes tightly closed.
    Abby nudged her gently and giggled. “Go on, take a peek.”
    Philamena let out a deep breath, or as deep a breath as she could in her new corset, and opened her eyes. Turning to look in the mirror she stood speechless at the lovely woman staring back at her.
    Her green eyes grew even bigger as she admired the wonderful transformation Abby had wrought.
    “Oh, my,” she finally whispered. “Is that really me?”
    “Well, who else would it be, you goose,” Abby teased, adjusting a bit of lace and straightening a pleat. “You look about as lovely as any bride has a right to look, and then some.”
    Hearing the clomp of boots through the house, they both turned toward the bedroom door.
    “Everyone decent?” Chauncy asked from the hallway.
    “Yes, come on in,” Abby said, sending Philamena a wink.
    “You ladies ready to go over to the church? Everyone is waiting and the groom is more than ready to get things under way. Say, I thought Philamena was getting married. Who is this lovely creature?” Chauncy teased as he gave her an approving nod and a warm smile.
    Philamena blushed and the color added a beautiful pink hue to her cheeks. “Thank you,” she managed to say.
    “You look stunning, Philamena,” Chauncy said as they walked to the door. He helped Abby into her coat then held a warm shawl for Philamena. Abby didn’t want her dress to get crushed by a coat on the few steps it took to reach the church.  As they exited the house and started down the walk, Chauncy couldn’t stop his chuckles.
    “Mind sharing what you find so funny, husband of mine?” Abby asked with a jaunty grin, her hands wrapped around Chauncy’s arm.
    “Luke,” Chauncy said, continuing on toward the church laughing.
    “What about Luke?” Abby questioned