Eternal Love

Chapter 5: An arrangement

Sheila woke up the next morning hearing her mother calling her from downstairs. She quickly got out of bed and got dressed, then proceeded downstairs. Ophelia and John Busby were sitting at the kitchen table, enjoying a cup of coffee together. John had a strange smirk on his face as he glanced over at Sheila. Sheila grabbed her cup of coffee and joined them at the table. They ate breakfast quietly and quickly, it seemed Ophelia had something important to say.

Ophelia began lecturing Sheila about being 18 and still not married. She informed Sheila her and John had spoken. It was decided that Sheila would marry John Busby and live here on the estate. Sheila looked angrily at her mother, then got up and ran out the front door. She ran until she got back to the wooden cabin Thomas took her to the day before.

She lit the fireplace and sat in the rocking chair, waiting for Thomas. She cried as she waited; thinking how unfair it was for her mother to arrange a marriage for her. She heard the door behind her fly open suddenly and watched as Thomas came through the fog. She informed him of her mother's plans; Thomas assured her he was okay with it. He reminded her he was a spirit and she was flesh; there was unfortunately no way for them to be physically together.

Sheila wiped her tears away; then suggested maybe he could possess John. Then they could be physically together. Thomas agreed it could work; but it had never been done before that he knew of. Sheila suggested he think about it quickly because her mother wanted this wedding as soon as possible. Thomas gave her a comforting kiss, then disappeared.

Sheila reluctantly went back to the mansion and apologized to her mother and John for running out so abruptly. She told John she accepted the arrangement and she went upstairs. Sheila went into her room, blocked the door with her Vanity chair; then laid down on her bed. She cried for a while, wiping her tears away from time to time with her rose colored handkerchief. She eventually cried herself to sleep.

The next day was a busy day. Ophelia had contracted a company to come out and set up a gondola and chairs and tables for the wedding. Sheila was upstairs getting ready with her cousin Justine. John was entertaining the guests while Sheila and Justine got ready. Soon, the whole estate looked like a scene from heaven itself and Sheila was still feeling as though she was betraying Thomas.

She did her best to hold back her tears during the ceremony; she may have looked happy on the outside, yet she was dying inside. The ceremony ended and Sheila went upstairs to change into something moreso comfortable than her wedding dress. As she was changing, John Busby was outside being congratulated by the dates of her two cousins. They teased him about Sheila being looney, but John knew better. He laughed it off and proceeded inside with Sheila's cousins. Sheila came down and met up with them in the foyer; then they followed the rest of the wedding party to the backyard in the Bell gardens.

The reception party went well; except for Sheila's cousin getting drunk and trying to hit on her husband. She waved it off and helped her cousin into the carriage when it arrived. She gave her cousins and Aunt hugs and bid them good night. Sheila knew her cousin didn't mean any harm with her behavior. She simply couldn't handle her liquor.

Sheila retired to the parlor with her new husband and mother. Her mother had decided to retire to bed; the day had worn on her and she couldn't stay awake any longer. Her husband's mother stayed with them long enough to play one game of bridge and decided to retire to bed herself. After one more game of bridge and a thimble of Brandy; Sheila and John decided to go to the guest house and retire for the night themselves.

The next day, John had gotten up early and rode into town to collect his rent from his tenants. Sheila was relieved due to she desired to go meet Thomas at his wooden cabin. After Breakfast with her mother on the front porch of the mansion; she made her way down to the cabin. When she got there, she was surprised to see the fire had already been stoked in the fireplace. She walked to the kitchenette and saw plates and glasses had been set up for a lunch.

Sheila walked around the table, admiring the fine china plates and silverware. The champagne glasses were sparkling clean and waiting to be filled with a bottle of fine red wine sitting next to the bouquet of red roses in the middle of the table. She sat down in the chair closest to the window. Suddenly, Thomas appeared in the chair across from her; offering his ghostly hand out to hers. She took it; her hand passing through his and landing on the table.

Sheila sighed in dismay; but Thomas simply smiled sweetly at her. She poured herself a glass of wine and then began to eat her lunch. Thomas watched silently with a comforting smile on his face. She finished up and they moved over to the fireplace. She read her Bible aloud while Thomas sat in the rocking chair next to her; admiring her as she read on.

Sheila looked out the window and realized the sun was just getting ready to set. She blew a kiss to Thomas and told him she would meet him again tomorrow morning. She took her leave and walked quickly back to the guest house. John was not there yet when she arrived, so she went ahead and walked up to the mansion for dinner. She found John and Ophelia sitting on the front porch; apparently dinner was not ready yet.

Ophelia asked her sternly where she had been; but John interrupted her. He said she was still on the grounds all day, so it shouldn't matter what she was doing. Sheila was grateful for John's interruption; her mother could be a bit of a busy body sometimes. The Butler came out just in time to save a argument. He informed them dinner was served and then he turned and went inside.

Sheila followed her mother and John into the kitchen. She helped her mother to the table, then took her place next to John. The cook brought out a delicious pot roast with a side of russet potatoes and broccoli in garlic sauce. They enjoyed their meal quietly; taking their time with every bite. Finally, after what seemed like hours, Sheila finished up her dinner and informed John she was ready to go to the guest house.

Her mother told her they should stay in her room upstairs, considering the wedding night was over. John agreed, saying he was far too tired to walk all the way back to the guest house. They retired upstairs after helping her mother to bed. Sheila changed while John changed on the other side of the bed. They climbed into bed and went to sleep, holding each other.

The night went on uneventful and Sheila got up early for breakfast. She decided to ask cook to teach her how to make pancakes and bacon for her husband. She thought it would show her gratitude to him for putting her mother's mind at ease. It definitely made life easier with John around; he entertained her mother whenever Madam Gabriela couldn't make it to the mansion. John and her mother came down just as her and cook were finishing up the final touches. Everyone was pleased with her.