Missing Scene (or rather, from another viewpoint!)

                      Wedding Day??  -- SG

   Looking back on those few days, I still have to shake my head at the foibles of anyone planning a wedding!  I had seen some rather strange ones over the years, but this one certainly rated up in the top ten for "different"!  June is THE month for weddings, of course, and this June was no exception.
   My first indication of anything about to occur was when I received a call at my office, a Mrs. Williams requesting some time to plan a wedding.  Not unusual, really.  Schooner Bay is a quaint, seashore town ... very picturesque.  Many people come here to get married -- either in the church or even along the shore. I had quite fallen in love with it when I arrived only 2 months previously from a parish in the Lake District in England.  There is something about the ocean...
   But I digress.  As I was saying, Mrs. Williams came in to see me.  I agreed to do the wedding at the Inn the following evening, we chose a scripture reading.  Then I asked if she wanted a rehearsal, so I could meet with both her and her future husband beforehand.  She laughed softly.
   "Oh dear, I'm so sorry, Rev. Farley.  I am not the bride!  No, it's my daughter, Carolyn Muir.  But she doesn't know it yet."  Obviously my face showed my bewilderment, because she continued, "I discovered that she was planning to elope, so I decided to surprise her with a wedding!  You see, she eloped last time, and we do so want to go to her wedding THIS time.  I'm sure you understand THAT."
   I wasn't sure I understood anything.  I admit I was still speechless.  How could you surprise someone with her own wedding?  Mrs. Williams rushed into more explanations.
   "It's OUR 35th wedding anniversary, my husband and I, and we came down to visit Carolyn and the children.  You see, my niece was here not long ago, and she told us about Carolyn and Captain Gregg.  I'm sure you know him...a fine man."
   "I've ... heard of him.  I really haven't lived in Schooner Bay very long."  I was making excuses.  EVERYONE in Schooner Bay had heard of Daniel Gregg, of course.  Even in a New England town where many seafaring men had lived, he was a legend!  Why, when they first began having the annual Seafarer's Contests over a hundred years ago, he had won them all -- laying claim to the title of the strongest man in New England!  He'd had many adventures both on sea and on land.  Even I, having been in Schooner Bay for such a short time, had heard of him.  Yes, Captain Daniel Gregg was a legend.  And they STILL talked about him in Schooner Bay ... claiming that he was haunting his house up on the hill.  I had heard many stories of Gull Cottage, too.  I discounted most of them ... some people are so superstitious!  Naturally I had met Carolyn Muir, a writer originally from Philadelphia, still thought of as a glamorous newcomer to the tiny community, not as a "real" resident.  She rented Gull Cottage from Claymore Gregg, Daniel Gregg's great-nephew.   I couldn't imagine Mrs. Muir living in a house that really WAS haunted, so the stories must be just that.  Stories!  And now her mother thought she was going to MARRY a GHOST???  And I was to do the ceremony?
   Mrs. Williams was continuing, "So after meeting him yesterday afternoon, I just KNEW I wanted to do something to help them get together."
   "So you're planning a wedding."  I know I spoke a little flatly, but I was TRYING to understand!  She had MET him?
   "Yes.  You see, they already have agreed to be at the Inn for an anniversary supper tomorrow night.  I thought if you could be waiting in another room, with the organist, we could just move over after we eat, and have the wedding!"
   "I see.  And...Captain Gregg is going to be at the supper?"
   "Of course!  We can be the witnesses, or if you need someone else OUT of the family, Martha will be there.  The children are too young, of course, to be signing witnesses, but..."
   I was still trying to figure out whether the Captain Gregg Mrs. Williams was talking about WAS the only one I had heard about.  Maybe there was another?  Hardly.
   "Is Claymore Gregg going to be there?"
   "Who is Claymore?  The Captain's name is Daniel!"
   "Yes, I'm aware of that.  Claymore is the real estate man for Schooner Bay, and the Justice of the Peace, and...never mind." 
   "Well, I really must go, if you think you have everything you need, Reverend Farley.  See you about seven tomorrow night?"
   "Very well..." before I could even finish, she was gone.  I was left staring foolishly at my desk, trying to figure out what kind of wedding ceremony I was to perform. Maybe I should take a couple of "backup" services...like a renewal of vows!  Definitely I'd have to cut at least ONE part of the vows out ... "until death do us part"!  Obviously death hadn't parted THIS couple!  Quite the opposite!  It seemed to have gotten them together!
   Later that day, as I was heading from the church office to the hospital to do some visiting, I met up with Claymore Gregg coming out of the drug store.  He was going my way, so fell in step with me.
   "Lovely day, isn't it, Mr. Gregg?" I said, eying him curiously.  Something was different about him...then I realized he was sporting a beard!  Somehow it changed his looks entirely!  I looked more closely.  No one would have guessed that it was fake had they met him for the first time.  But I knew, as would everyone else in Schooner Bay, that as lately as yesterday morning, Claymore had been clean-shaven.  Now he was emulating his famous ancestor.  Why?
   "Yes, Reverend Farley, I suppose it is...but I have so many arrangements to make today...you see, I'm afraid I'm coming down with a cold...and I've been invited to an anniversary party tomorrow night..."
   "You ARE going to the Williams' anniversary?"  Why was I not surprised, given all that I had experienced this morning?
   He nodded abstractedly, then pushed up the sleeve of his jacket to check his watch.  "Oh, I've got so much to do -- and I STILL have to find time to get this watch fixed!"
   Reaching his office, he marched in with a muttered ‘good-bye'.  I carried on to the hospital, still lost in thought.  This was a puzzle I was almost enjoying!  It now was obvious to me that Claymore was pretending to be someone else ... Captain Daniel Gregg, in fact ... and that Mrs. Williams had no idea as to his real identity.  This could be quite interesting.  I started to wonder if Carolyn Muir had any idea what was happening ... if she knew she might end up being married to Claymore Gregg?  And why was the pretense needed at all?  I would have liked to have talked with Mrs. Muir, but I had been sworn to secrecy by Mrs. Williams. 
   Once at the hospital, I managed to stay busy enough that the entire Muir/Gregg question was as good as forgotten.  Then, at supper that night, it came back when I mentioned to my wife that I had a wedding booked at the Inn the following night, and could she please come to play, as usual.
   "A wedding at the Inn?  Whose?"  She was quite excited.
   "I'm not at liberty to say just yet."  Fortunately, I had that truth to fall back on.  Otherwise I might have had to admit that I wasn't really SURE!!  And that would have led to more questions without answers, and then I wouldn't be able to sleep that night!  So I firmly pushed the entire matter out of my mind and concentrated on readying myself for a meeting with the elders of the church that evening.
   The next morning, after breakfast, I headed across to the church office after reminding my wife about the wedding that evening.  She was already fussing about music, so I promised I would try to get in touch with someone to see if any special pieces were required.  As I walked across the lawn and between the tree row separating the manse from the church, I tried to decide whether or not to phone Mrs. Williams or whether Mrs. Muir would answer and I'd have to come up with an excuse.  Since I'm not very good at intrigue, it was fortunate that at that moment a car drove up and Mrs. Williams called to me.
   "Rev. Farley, I'm off to Boston for the day, but I thought I should just check with you to see if there was anything else you needed.  After all, I DID throw this wedding at you with such short notice!"
   I went up to the car.  "Actually, my wife, who is the organist, was wondering if you had any special pieces in mind you wanted played."
   "Oh!  Well, no, not really.  She can just improvise!  Except that I'd rather she NOT play ‘Here comes the bride, short, fat and wide...'  It doesn't really FIT Carolyn, you know.  She doesn't ‘waddle from side to side' either!  There are some rather nice other pieces, aren't there, that can be played instead?  Maybe a hymn?  Oh, that nice - what is it called? - Ode to Joy?  Well, I'm sure she knows suitable pieces.  That's rather out of my league, you know!"
   "Very well, Mrs. Williams."
   "And remember, this is to be a complete surprise for Carolyn!  I wouldn't put it past her to run off and be married this afternoon while I'm gone if she heard about it!  I want to be able to see her face when she realizes what I've done!"
   "I'll remember." I promised.  If it was to be a complete surprise for Mrs. Muir, I knew it was going to be a complete surprise for me as well.  I STILL would like to know who she was marrying!
   I went into the office and went through a number of my books.  Not surprisingly, no one had designed a marriage service for a woman and a ghost.  I wasn't sure how to handle it if Claymore showed up still pretending to the Williams' that he was Captain Daniel Gregg ... I'm sure  Mrs. Williams would want the wedding to be legal!  After phoning my wife and telling her the "good" news of having free rein with the music, I pulled together something for a wedding service, making sure to use the scripture readings and vows and prayers Mrs. Williams had chosen.  THEN, since I greatly dislike being at a disadvantage and caught off guard, I wrote up a renewal of vows ceremony for the Williams' anniversary using those same choices.  It was quite possible Mrs. Muir would refuse categorically to get married -- although I'm sure I don't know how she could possibly stand up to her mother.  Perhaps the fact that the prospective groom was dead would be of some help!  At any rate, I would have an anniversary service ready to perform should it be necessary.  Weddings are such fun occasions, and I enjoy making each one unique.  In this instance, of course, it was quite unique enough even without my touch!
   That afternoon, on my way to the bank, I again met Claymore.  This time he was just coming out of the funeral parlour, something over his arm.          "Hello, Mr. Gregg.  I DO hope you are feeling all right, that you haven't caught your death of cold?"  I teased him gently.
   "No, no, Rev. Farley.  I had to borrow the undertaker's tuxedo." he leaned over and spoke confidentially.  "You see, Mrs. Williams told me it was a formal affair tonight, and I was to wear a tuxedo.  Well, of course, I couldn't just go out and BUY one!  I mean, for one night it's hardly worth it.  And prices to rent are outrageous!  So I borrowed this one.  It's for formal funerals."
   Well, that sounded like Claymore Gregg, all right.  Never buy what you can borrow free!
   At eight, my wife and I went to the Inn.  I knew the anniversary supper was just beginning, so I wanted to slip in before I was seen by the bride to be.  We were shown to the room which had been set aside for the ceremony, and decorated for the occasion with a few chairs in rows, a carpet up an aisle, the organ and some bouquets of flowers.  I finally had to give in and satisfy my wife's curiosity by saying it was Carolyn Muir who was to be the bride.  I also told her it was Mrs. Muir's mother who had arranged it.  I did NOT tell her who was to be the groom...just said mysteriously, "You'll see."  As would I, I thought to myself.
   While we were looking over the music and coordinating it with the scriptures, the curtain over the doorway was suddenly swept aside, and the very beautiful Carolyn Muir was standing there, a startled look on her face. 
   I smiled.  "Ready when you are, Mrs. Muir."
   "When I am?"  She sounded flabbergasted, and her face paled slightly.
   "I WISH I had a camera.  Your mother SAID you'd be surprised..."
   She swallowed.  "Stunned is more like it." she faltered.  "Ex..Excuse me, Reverend." and she disappeared.
   "My dear, that does NOT look like a woman about to be married." my wife said firmly.
   "You're right.  Maybe we should brush up on anniversary services!  Or, we may just have to go home."
   "Not until you treat me to a fancy dinner!" I was informed.
   "Very well."  We could turn this into a festive occasion yet!  I was most anxious to slip into the other room and hear the discussion, but controlled myself.  Sometimes that can be a most difficult task.  Controlling myself, I mean.
   A few minutes later, a flushed and apologetic Mrs. Williams was ushered into the room by a now cool, composed Mrs. Muir.  "Rev. Farley, I believe my mother has something to say to you."
   "Rev. Farley, Mrs. Farley, I want to thank you for agreeing to do this at such short notice.  I guess I didn't really think things out properly.  I thought I could surprise Carolyn with a wedding, but it turns out she's not ready to be married.  I can hardly force the two of them to go through with it, now can I?  But Carolyn has a wonderful idea..."
   We turned to look at Mrs. Muir.  She was looking away at the moment, and her face seemed intent, yet relaxed.  She gave a little nod, then seemed to realize we were all watching her.  Her attention returned to us as a blush crept over her cheeks.  "Yes, we... I thought it would be fitting if you could do a renewal-of-vows service for my parents, Rev. Farley.  It is their 35th wedding anniversary, and with our whole family here, and two special friends, it would seem to complete the evening.  Would that be acceptable?"
   "Of course." I nodded, thankful once again that I had been a boy scout and learned the motto well ... I WAS prepared!  "When your meal is finished, we can begin."
   "Thank you."  Mrs. Muir's green eyes smiled into mine, then as her mother turned to leave, I caught Mrs. Muir give a small wink ... to a space about 3 feet from anyone.  I almost spoke, but caught it back in time.  What could I ask, anyway?  ‘Is there a ghost here?'  That may be what I thought, but I couldn't even tell my wife that, and everyone else might think I was crazy.
   In a surprisingly short time, the meal was finished and the party moved from the other room into the "reception" room.  There the service proceeded as planned...Martha Grant and Candy Muir on my right, Claymore, Carolyn and Jonathon with the ringbearer's pillow on my left.  Bradford and Emily Williams stood before me -- Emily looking lovely in spite of the change in plans.
  I began the service, speaking in what my wife calls my "ministerial tones".
  "Tonight we are gathered here to help this good man and his dear companion to renew the sacred vows they made thirty-five years ago to the very day.  These years of happily-married life have ripened into a love and loyalty that has become a blessing and a benediction to them, their family and friends.  Bradford and Emily Williams, thirty-five years ago you pledged your troth to one another.  You promised to love, honour and cherish each other in the times of good report and in the times of evil report.  These thirty-five years have found you to be faithful to that pledge.  Will you now therefore, in the presence of your daughter, your grandchildren and your friends, renew these vows and continue this devotion as long as you both shall live?"
  They both replied in the affirmative.
  "Take the ring and repeat after me..."
  Bradford repeated the vows in a steady voice.  "With this ring, I renew my vow of love and loyalty.  With my heart's affection and with all my worldly goods, I continue thee to endow."
   I then closed my book and smiled at them.  "The Lord bless you and keep you and give you peace, now and forever more.  Amen.  You may kiss your bride."
   As they kissed, I happened to glance over at Mrs. Muir.  She had been gazing raptly at her parents, but as they bent forward to kiss, she seemed to see or sense someone coming up behind her on her left side.  I saw her tilt her head a bit as if looking up at someone, she smiled, and I heard a faint whisper, "Lovely solution, Captain!"  After a pause, when she faced  her parents, she again smiled and looked back, saying, "Oh, I do, Captain."
Once more there was a pause as she faced forward, then a questioning look appeared on her face and she shot another glance behind her.
   Yes, that was a very strange almost-wedding...and to this day I wonder about the ending.  Had I, in fact, been the instrument for a "ghostly" wedding?  Surely God would accept love expressed in any form, spiritual or physical.  Yet I wasn't even sure I was willing to believe that the ghost of Captain Gregg WAS around.  I never quite had the courage to say anything to anyone, either at the time or ever afterwards -- until now.  I was transferred out of that parish a few months later, but I've often wondered whatever happened in the story of the Ghost and Mrs. Muir!