She took the delicately formed key from the top of the crystal cabinet and unlocked the door. She had already gathered her mother’s and her grandmother’s favorite hats and two mirrors from the dressing tables. Now she gathered teapots, plates and tea cups.

She set the small table for tea for three. The well-loved tea pot was her grandmother’s. Small plates of her Mom’s prized short bread and her grandmother’s sugar cookies adorned the table with a small arrangement of flowers from the garden. Each place had its own cup and saucer. This had to be perfect.

She put the two mirrors on the table facing her in front of the chairs. The two hats were beside her.

She missed her mother and grandmother terribly. Usually she was fine, knowing that they were with her in a different way now, but for this she wanted to feel their presence.

She put her grandmother’s hat on and looked at that mirror. Everyone told her that the three of them looked like sisters. She could see the resemblance as she looked at herself. She said, “Grandmother, I met a fellow and he has asked me to marry him. I think you would like him. He does have a tattoo and I know you are not fond of those, but if you can just look past that I think you will see a person with a good heart. Thank you for accepting him into our family.” She took that hat off.

Then she put her mother’s hat on and looked at the other mirror. She did indeed look like her mother. “Mom, you know Luke and I think you liked him. And, yes, I know he smoked when you knew him, but he quit a year and a half ago. You know his heart is good and that he is caring. Thank you for accepting him into our family.” She took her mom’s hat off.

She sipped her tea and ate a shortbread and thought about these women. She loved them dearly. “If either of you have any thoughts or words of wisdom, I welcome them. The wedding is in three weeks, so if you can let me know by then I would appreciate it.”

I few more sips of tea and a sugar cookie. “Oh, and then there is the baby – a little girl.” She munched another cookie and thought she heard a chorus of “Hallelujah!”