The weeks leading up to the big event passed like mere minutes and before they could catch their breath, the eve of Meg’s wedding day was upon them. The girls changed into their pajamas but nobody felt like sleeping because this was the last evening that Meg would spend with them.
"This time tomorrow, you will be a married woman," Amy stated as she brushed Meg’s hair.
"Are you nervous?" asked Beth, laying her hand over Meg’s.
"No," said Meg with a smile. "After such a long engagement, John and I can’t wait to be married."
"Have you already forgotten about us then?" Jo pouted childishly.
"Of course not, Jo," Meg said gently, extending a hand, which Jo diverted her eyes from and turned away.
"I’m going to miss you girls very much," Meg continued. "But since I’ll live just down the road, I’ll expect daily visits so that we’ll always remain in close touch."
The sisters, including Jo, encircled Meg and after many sniffles, cries, and loving words, they went off to bed.
Several hours later as Jo was lying wide awake in the dark, she felt a familiar hand on her shoulder.
"Jo?" whispered Meg as she slid over to her sister and held Jo’s hand as they did when they were little girls.
"I’m going to miss you, Meg," Jo whispered tearfully.
"Me too," replied Meg. "Take care of the girls, Jo."
Nodding, Jo squeezed Meg’s hand and the two sisters fell asleep side by side.
Meg could not have chosen a more perfect day for the wedding. The sun was out bright and early while a gentle, light breeze pushed away the heat to make the temperature ideal for an outdoor ceremony.
Due to their tight budget, Meg and John had planned a small, intimate wedding, inviting only family and a few close friends. Among the guests was Sallie Gardiner, Meg’s close friend, who had married Ned Moffat a few months before. Sallie had had a lavish, elegant wedding, but Meg’s simple yet warm ceremony was just as memorable.
"Look at your tie, Brookes! It’s a mess," Laurie cried, undoing the tie and re-doing it skillfully.
"Thanks, Laurie, I’m a bit nervous," admitted his former tutor.
"That’s understandable, considering today is the most important day of your life! But everything is going to be fine," reassured his grown-up pupil.
Beth came out wearing a light blue silk dress and pink flowers in her hair. She sat down at the piano that was brought out especially for the occasion and began playing. Although Meg had wanted all three of her sisters to be bridesmaids, Beth was too nervous to walk down the aisle and have everyone stare at her. Instead, she offered to play the music for the wedding. Taking her cue, the guests found their seats and waited for the bride to enter. First Jo and Amy walked in together, each carrying a small bouquet, and wearing identical dresses to Beth’s. The girls smiled as they walked down the aisle.
"She’s so beautiful," Laurie murmured as the girls passed him.
"That Amy is going to break many hearts," replied Sallie, thinking Laurie was talking about the youngest March sister.
Laurie, however, was not referring to Amy; his eyes and heart were set on the other sister.
Finally, the bride walked down the aisle with her father. Meg looked radiant in her white gown. She wore white daisies in her hair and held a simple bouquet of flowers in her hand. It was her smile, however, that lit up her face and illuminated her joy.
The ceremony was short. Once Meg and John had exchanged their vows and rings, Mr. and Mrs. Brookes presented themselves to their guests.
"Congratulations to you both!" Cheers and best wishes for the new couple were heard throughout the reception. Jo, having endured starvation for as long as her body would permit, could no longer neglect her rumbling stomach and purposefully made her way to the buffet table to indulge to her heart’s content. Following closely behind like a lovesick puppy was Laurie.
"Jo, you look amazing," he kept saying, much to her annoyance.
"If you wore this dress and put this paint on your face, Laurie," Jo said, indicating her gown and makeup, "you’d be gorgeous too. Now, stop embarrassing me and go away."
Laurie was not easily discouraged and would have gone on, if not for the entrance of an uninvited guest.
"Josephine!" Aunt March’s voice shrilled loudly, causing everyone to stop mid-conversation and frightening Beth so that she stopped playing her music.
Jo nearly dropped her plate because Aunt March was the last person she expected to see.
"Where is she? Where is your sister?" Aunt March demanded, briskly walking toward Jo and Laurie with determination.
"I’m here, Aunt March," Meg boldly called out and cautiously approached her aunt, while John followed closely behind.
Aunt March did not speak until Meg stood before her. When she arrived, the old woman scrutinized her from head to toe. "Yes, yes, all very simple like you," Aunt March snapped.
John opened his mouth to defend his wife but Meg gently placed her hand on his arm to silence him. Since their last encounter, which had ended so disastrously, Meg had not spoken to her aunt for the past three years. "What can I do for you, Aunt March?" Meg asked calmly.
"I’ve come to give you your wedding gift," Aunt March said, holding out a white envelope.
"Aunt March, it isn’t necessary for you to give a gift," Meg said graciously but firmly.
Aunt March peered at Meg, then softening a little she said, "I know I uttered words that I shouldn’t have and I regret them deeply. You are my only living relatives . . . ," she choked up but continued, "and I would like nothing more than to make the best use of my time on earth while I can."
Mrs. Brookes warmly embraced her old aunt and gave her a tender kiss saying, "Thank you, Aunt March, for helping my husband and me start our married life at peace with our loved ones."
Appropriately, Beth started up the music again and everyone laughed and danced merrily.
"Do you think they’ll be happy?" Jo asked Laurie as they watched her sister and brother-in-law dance.
"Naturally," Laurie replied. "They are, after all, in love."
Snorting, Jo remarked, "I think love is rather silly."
Laurie held his tongue, but he disagreed.
After hours of celebrating, Meg and John were ready to go to their new home, just down the street from her family’s house.
"Well, here we are," John said, stopping in front of their small modest house. "It’s not as cozy as your place or as grand as the Laurence mansion but it’s ours."
Taking his arm in hers, Meg smiled at him and said, "Yes, it’s our home, sweet home."