THE LIGHT SHINING THROUGH THE WHEAT

That afternoon, Alistair took Ahnna down by the sea where they sat together a long time just watching the boats come and go. Gulls wheeled above them and the air, bright and fresh, seemed to blow away some of the morning's pain. She had dated a young man once who talked all the time, but in Alistair she'd found a man who could enter into her deepest silent places and commune with her without the need of words. She nestled against his shoulder, held his hands, and let herself settle into the comfort his mere presence always brought to her.

Later, he took her to the parsonage where he'd lived for two years so she could meet Willis Todd, the minister who lived there now. They had applied for their license and planned to be married day after tomorrow. Willis, a pleasant, rather non-descript man in his mid-forties was delighted that he could be of service to them.

"Ahnna," he said as they sat in his small parlor, "I cannot begin to tell you of all the wonderful things my congregation has to say of the time your Alistair was pastor here." He smiled fondly at Alistair. "You remain dear to the hearts of all of them."

"I can easily understand that, Reverend Todd. He's already been such a blessing to me and to the community in the Glen."

"It's only that I find people so easy to care about," Alistair said softly, "so worth the caring."

"Well, they know that about you, Alistair," Willis nodded. "They really know." He looked from the man to the woman who sat side by side on his small sofa. "So you want a simple ceremony, is that right?"

"Yes," Alistair replied, his hand covering Ahnna's. "Other than the two of us and you, there will only be two friends there. It seems best ...right now...you know."

"All I want," Ahnna spoke up, "is to be this man's wife. That's all in the world I want, all I need. Just the words to make that so." She turned her face up to him. "It's all I want."

"I love you," he said, and she closed her eyes, her lips curving into an utterly content smile.

"I'd like to use that little side chapel if we might," Alistair continued. "The sanctuary itself is too large and the chapel would be more intimate for what we have in mind."

"Perfect!" Willis agreed. "About two o'clock then?"

The next day was passed with Alistair showing her all his favorite places in Coffs. They ate at quiet, out-of-the-way places, walked in parks and along the shoreline, just simple being-together sorts of things. And they shopped for rings. Ahnna didn't want a diamond, just a gold band, and they found a matching set with very tiny gold-beaded edges that she felt was perfect. Alistair had a suit with him, but wanted her to have a special dress. She chose a flared, knee-length one in off-white with the barest watercolor hint of pale pink roses.

Maximus and Joimus arrived at noon the next day and the four of them had lunch at a restaurant with a view of the sea. At 1:30 their two cars pulled up by the brick church. "Just a minute!" Joimus sang out. "There's something I need to get out of the car. You two go ahead. We'll be right in."

Willis came to the door to greet them, leading the way to the chapel Alistair had mentioned. Just before the door to it opened, Alistair paused, looking down at Ahnna. "This was my special place to come pray," he said. "I wanted you to know that, to know that this small space is very dear to me. It's why I wanted it to be here that I make my vows to you."

He opened the door, letting her pass through first. There were only two short rows of pews and in the front a two-stepped platform with a carved oak table upon which rested a plain gold-colored cross. It was the window behind the table that caught her eye immediately, tall, curving up to an arched point, made of leaded glass in which had been worked a field of ripe wheat with a large bunch of purple grapes above it. In brilliantly golden glass lettering curving over it were the words, "This do in remembrance of Me." The early afternoon sun streamed through it, casting the colors of the wheat, the words, and the grapes all over the room, lighting the cream-colored walls with themselves in glorious splashes.

Alistair watched her response, a small smile on his face, both of them so intent they didn't notice Maximus' arrival in the doorway. He paused, his eyes suddenly bright, and whispered, "Wheat."

Joimus slipped around him so she could see. "Oh, perfect!" she breathed.

Alistair and Ahnna turned to find their friends standing there, both of them with arms full of flowers. "Oh, Joimus!" Ahnna exclaimed.

"I couldn't let you be married without flowers, now could I?" Joimus smiled. She had a bouquet for Ahnna of mixed flowers, primarily white and light pink, but even with blue iris highlighting it. She remembered it was his search for blue iris that had brought Alistair to the Greenery that first day. There was a single blue iris for his lapel, and a glorious array she arranged quickly behind the cross.

"There!" she announced, stepping back in satisfaction. "Flowers."

The chapel was, indeed, very small, but it sang with color and even more so with the joy in the hearts of the few people within it. Rev. Todd came in, smiled broadly at the flowers, greeted Maximus and Joimus and took his place at the front. The ceremony was not long, and Alistair and Ahnna said their own promises to each other. Joimus wiped away a tear or two and Maximus stood, his arm around his wife, his eyes traveling from time to time upwards from the wedding couple to the light shining through the wheat.