Dressed In White

Elizabeth Jane Shelton

Today was supposed to be the happiest day of Ana’s life.

The room downstairs overflowed with swaths of gauzy tulle, delicate ivory roses, and tasteful LED candles, all arranged in perfect drapes and centerpieces, ready to be driven to the church. Ana wore the dress of her dreams, all floral swirls and lacy embroidery, and a solitaire diamond glittered on her left ring finger, waiting to be joined by a gold band. Yes, everything, including her, was completely dressed in white, and it was supposed to be the happiest day of Ana’s life.

Unfortunately, the ground outside the cabin was just as dressed in white as the inside.

When her bridesmaids had called to say the roads were too icy, Ana wanted to wail. When the caterers cancelled, she wanted to scream. But when her pastor called, voice full of regret, to inform her that it wasn’t safe to open the church, Ana just stood there, cellphone glued to her ear long after the pastor hung up, silent tears running down her face. 

“Hon?” Her mom’s face was lined with worry. “What can we do?”

But Ana remained frozen until her phone rang again. Evan. The only person whose voice she wanted to hear right now. “Evan? Did you hear—” her voice broke, and she swallowed, pressing her hand to her mouth.

“I heard. Ana, I’m so sorry.” He took a deep breath. “But it doesn’t change anything. I love you, and I’m going to marry you.” Resolve filled his voice. “Remember when we talked yesterday? I promised you that nothing on Earth could stop me from marrying you today.”

“Yeah, but Evan, look outside.” She sniffed. “I think God had other plans. And you can’t exactly change the weather.”

“Ana, listen. I can—” Evan’s voice broke off in a rush of static.

“Evan? Can you hear me?”

“Ana? I—” Another garble of static. The call dropped. 

Ana looked at her parents, panicked. “Do you guys have cell service?”

Ana’s father tapped his own phone, then shook his head. “No signal. The blizzard must have taken out the cell tower.” 

First, she couldn’t marry the love of her life. Now she couldn’t even talk to him? The room swam, and Ana took a step back. Dimly, she registered her cellphone falling from numb fingers and bouncing on the carpet. 

“I… I need a minute.” She turned and fled up the stairs.

As soon as the bedroom door was closed, the grief crashed down like an avalanche. Still in her wedding dress, she crawled beneath the bed’s many quilts and sobbed into the pillow until she thought she might be permanently out of tears. She ached from the inside out, shaking with a cold that had nothing to do with the storm outside.

After at least an hour, Ana heard a knock at the door. When she didn’t answer, the door creaked open, and Ana’s sister Tessa poked her head in. “Oh, honey.” Tessa closed the door behind her and knelt by the bed. “This sucks. It really, truly sucks. But you’ll be okay.” She stroked Ana’s hair. “You’ll still marry Evan. Maybe just not today.”

Ana sniffed. “What if it’s a sign, Tess?” she whispered. “What if I’m not supposed to get married?” The thought had popped into her head as soon as the pastor called, piercing her heart with a chill she couldn’t dispel. 

Tessa shook her head. “No. Don’t let yourself believe a lie like that. A little snow doesn’t mean anything.”

“I’ve waited so long for this, Tess. I’d nearly convinced myself that it wouldn’t happen, that some freak accident would make the whole thing disappear. What if I was right? What if Evan thinks about it more and decides this was all a mistake?”

Tessa’s mouth twitched, and she stood, tugging Ana gently from the bed. “I seriously doubt that’s going to happen. Now, come on. There’s something downstairs you need to see.”

“Do I have to?”

“Yes. Hang on.” Tessa grabbed a brush off the vanity and ran it through Ana’s hair, then retrieved a washcloth from the bathroom and gently wiped Ana’s face. “There. You’re all ready.”

“Ready for what?”

“Just follow me.”

Confused but resigned, Ana let Tessa lead her. On the landing, she paused. Why had they draped the tulle all over the stair railings? And lit the candles? 

After a few cautious steps, the living room came into view, and Ana’s breath caught. 

Evan. He was here! Dressed in his tuxedo, and with snow in his hair.  

Tessa turned and grinned up at Ana. “Maybe God just wanted to show you how much your husband-to-be really loves you.”

Ana smiled so wide it actually hurt, and she found a couple more tears left to shed. She ran down the stairs and flung herself into Evan’s arms. “How are you here?”

“I told you.” He kissed the top of her head and grinned. “Nothing on Earth was going to stop me from marrying you today.”

Her heart began to thaw, and she smiled as she brushed snow from his hair. “I’m supposed to be the one all in white, not you.” Her smile vanished. “But the church, and the pastor—” 

“My brother is ordained.” Ana peeked out from Evan’s arms to see Evan’s brother give a little wave from his spot by the hearth. “And we have the marriage license, and your whole family is here. We have everything we need.”

Warmth flooded her, chasing the last of the chill from her veins. Evan was here. Evan braved the ice and snow to marry her. She kissed him, a real, passionate kiss of pure joy and love.

“Whoa, now,” Ana’s father joked. “We haven’t gotten to that part of the ceremony yet.”

But Ana didn’t care. This was the happiest day of her life.

Elizabeth Jane Shelton was born and raised in southern Appalachia and is now thriving in the DC metropolitan area. She has loved stories of every kind since she was young, although fantasy has always been her favorite—along with a touch of romance, of course. She strives to write stories that are both entertaining and meaningful, and she hopes to impact others and honor her Creator with her work.

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