One of my Stories - Jane's Wedding Dress

This is based on a non-fiction story that seemed to jive very well with the overall feeling of the book. It comes straight from my family’s history. Family histories are full of stories, some of them are quite beautiful and worth searching for. This is one such story.

Two notes: Nain (pronounced nine) is Welsh for Grandmother.
The story in its essence is the same, but I have changed the names and given it my personal spin.


Jane was overjoyed when Evan proposed. She’d been waiting and was beginning to think it would never happen. It was just after World War II and things were still getting back to normal, whatever ‘normal’ is after something like that. Things were hard to come by and the economy wasn’t what it used to be. But the blitzkrieg was thankfully over and, please God, never to return.
The only cloud on Jane’s horizon was her father. He didn’t approve of her getting married. Secretly he had gotten used to her being around and keeping the house for him and didn’t want it to change. He knew he couldn’t keep them from getting married, but he told her point blank that he wouldn’t help pay for the wedding. Jane was disappointed. Her wedding dreams weren’t extravagant by any means, but even the little she wanted was out of her reach without help. Today though, she was not going to think about it. Today was a special day. She was going to tell Nain about her engagement. Nain had always liked Evan and her congratulations would more than make up for the stinginess of her father.

Nain was ninety-five and kept to her bed. It wasn’t that she couldn’t walk. She could motor with the best of them, she just couldn’t wear shoes and it embarrassed her. So she stayed in bed and heard all the goings-on from the family members that came around. When Jane stepped into the room it was like a spring wind had come in with her. She smelled of sun and flowers, but the best part was the tender smile that shone in her eyes. She had something to tell. Nain hadn’t lived for almost a century without being able to tell things like that.
“Well, what is it?” she asked pointedly. “I can tell you’re just about bursting, so you better out with it.”
“Oh, Nain,” breathed Jane. “Evan has asked me to marry him.”
“About time.” Replied Nain, but she was very pleased. Evan was a good man and as close to worthy of her Jane as any man could be.
“I’m so happy.” Jane said.
“I can see that. So when’s the wedding?”
“Three months from now. No point in putting it off.”
“You’ve waited long enough that’s for sure. How’d your father take the news?”
Jane twisted her handkerchief in her hands.
“Come on now, out with it.”
“Oh, you know Father. He doesn’t like change.” Jane said looking down at her hands.
“What did he say?” Nain asked, knowing her son-in-law had said something.
“He told me he wouldn’t help pay for the wedding.” Jane said finally, knowing Nain would keep going until she got it out. “It’s okay, Nain. He’s just sad I’m going, that’s all.”
“Sad my foot.” Said Nain disapprovingly. “Never mind Jane. Don’t let him ruin your fun and I won’t let him ruin mine. I’m going to pay for your wedding dress.”
Jane looked up at her Grandmother. “Nain, you don’t have to do that.”
“I know I don’t. I want to. Go and ask your Aunt to get my purse, would you?” Jane left and came back with Blodwyn trundling up the stairs after her with Nain’s small drawstring purse in her hand. Nain went into the little bag and pulled out a sum of money. “There you go.” She said to Jane holding out her hand. “Get yourself something nice. You deserve it.”
Jane didn’t count it as she had been raised better than that, but instead thanked her Grandmother and kissed her.
When she got outside again, she looked at the money in her hand. Counting it carefully, she found Nain had given her £5. “Oh, Nain,” Jane whispered, “this would have bought you a wonderful dress when you were a girl, but-“ Jane broke off her thought. I don’t care, she thought again, I’m £5 richer than I was before and that’s something. Smiling bravely she made her way along the sidewalk.
It was hard to keep hopeful about finding material for her dress. Jane went to store after store, searching for the perfect material, but never found anything she could afford, at least in white. Her heart was set on a white dress, but as day after day passed without material, she began to doubt it would come to pass.
One afternoon, she was pouring out her fabric troubles to her cousin Gwen when the latter suddenly piped up. “Jane! Have you forgotten?”
“What?” asked Jane wearily.
Gwen worked Kendal Milne, a large shopping centre in Manchester.
“The year-end sale! It’s next Friday.”
Jane brightened a little.
“Maybe I’ll find something there.”

The next Friday Anne was Kendal Milne bright and early. Scouring the shelves of fabrics, she found many beautiful fabrics, but nothing worthy of her wedding dress. She was beginning to despair, not only because she couldn’t find what she was looking for, but because in her searching she had seen the prices and none of them were in her range. Jane was about to raise a hand and wave good-bye to her cousin when she caught a glimpse of white poking out between two darker bolts of fabric. White satin, soft and gleaming slid out into her hands. She drew in a sharp breath, but how much? Turning the bolt over and over again in her hands, she had to admit that there was no price. With trembling hands she took the fabric to her cousin. “Gwen,” she said quietly. “There’s no price on this one.”
Jane hadn’t told Gwen how much she had to spend. Her cousin turned the bolt over in her hands. “How about….£5?” Jane just stared. Slowly, she pulled Nain’s money out of her pocket and handed it to her cousin.
“Are you sure?” Jane whispered.
Gwen nodded. Jane wrapped her arms around her precious cargo, tears welling in her eyes. “Thank you.”
On her wedding day, Jane looked like an angel. Gwen’s mother, an apprentice to the court dressmakers, had made her the most beautiful gown. It was all Jane could have asked for. “Ready to go?” asked her Aunt. Jane nodded, taking one last look at her reflection, but she had one important stop to make first.
Nain thought that maybe this was it when she looked up and saw that angel floating through the door, but then realized with a shock that it was her granddaughter. The girl stood in her satin dress, radiating happiness with tiny diamond teardrops in the corners of her eyes. “Thank you, Nain. Thank you so much for my dress.” She knelt next to her Grandmother and laid her head on the bed the way she had when she was younger. Nain stroked her shiny hair. “You’re welcome, child. I love you. Now go. I wish you all the happiness in the world.”
Jane stood again and took a long look at her Grandmother. Turning, she walked out of the door as a girl for the last time.
“God bless her,” whispered Nain. And He did.

The End