Bill Proposes to Julie

“Wedding March”

Listen to Chapter 15, “Bill Proposes to Julie”

Soon the ceremony was over and all the wedding guests crowded into the new fellowship hall that the church had built when Sandra and Julie had been away at college. Bill and Julie were caught up in the festivities as they watched Bob and Sandra cut their wedding cake, feed each other a bite, then wash it down with the Hawaiian punch. There were presents to open, and then Bob threw a garter from Sandra’s knee. From somewhere back in the crowd, a familiar form rushed forward, and Julie watched Allen Macintosh catch Sandra’s garter that Bob tossed behind him. At last, it was time for Sandra to throw her bouquet.

Julie stood in the line of excited, giggling bridesmaids, never really expecting to catch Sandra’s bouquet. As the flowery bundle soared high above the crowd, Julie thought she felt very familiar hands on her waist, urging her forward just a little. She didn’t have time to turn to see that it was Bill behind her as she lunged forward—and caught Sandra’s bouquet! There were cheers and laughs and teases, but Julie clutched the flowers tightly as if they might disappear.

Bill chuckled, and as usual, could not resist kissing her left ear. Julie turned, looking up into his face. The crowd’s attention dispersed, and Bob and Sandra disappeared to change clothes before Bill and Julie would drive them—in Bill’s ‘57 Chevy—to an undisclosed destination.

Julie and Bill soon found themselves in the back doorway of the fellowship hall, staring up into the June night sky. Bill put his arms around Julie and turned her to face him, planting a kiss on her forehead, and then another on her lips. He lifted her hands—still holding the bouquet—into his.

“I love you, Kitten,” he said affectionately. Then he winked. “I knew you would catch that bouquet!”

“Oh, really, now?” She raised an eyebrow.

He nodded, gazing into her questioning eyes, unable to hide his grin. Then he hugged her just a little tighter as he reached one hand into his pants pocket. And then he kneeled in front of Julie.

“Julie Scott,” he began, “will you marry me?” He held up the ring that had been in his pants pocket.

“Oh, yes, Bill Johnson!” she laughed as she let him put the ring on her finger. “Oh, yes! That would be absolutely… marvelous!”

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