Shamrocks and Secrets (36 page)

I threw my arms around his neck and hugged him tightly.
“
Thank you.
”

Thomas was gracious enough to tell the room what Patrick had given me.

Finally, we broke apart and I took his hand in mine.
“
I have a little something for you as well, Patrick.
”

Nora had asked me if I wanted her help with his gift. I told her absolutely, since I had no clue what to get the man who had everything. I took his hand and led him out of the building. There in the valet circle, was a black Bentley.

The look on Patrick
’
s face was that of a kid on Christmas who had just gotten the one special toy he had asked Santa for. He picked me up and swung me around in several circles.

“
Your Ma said you wanted this one.
”

“
I did, I
’
d planned on getting one after we got back from the honeymoon, but this is so much better.
”

I watched as he ran his hand up and down the sleek hood of the car. It was merely seconds before the majority of the men at the party were standing around the car, hands in pockets, staring at it in awe.

“
Christi, it
’
s getting late. We need to get you to your father
’
s house so go say goodnight to your groom. That is, if you can get him away from that car long enough,
”
Maggie grinned. She was on her game till the end.

Nora
had suggested making Matthew
’
s house bridal central and her house for the groom. The distance was enough that the chances of us seeing each other were quite slim.

I made my way over to kiss my soon-to-be husband goodnight when I noticed a love-struck Sherman give Sharon a kiss that would have made Hollywood stand up and cheer.

“
Mmm,
”
Patrick
’
s silky voice sounded in my ear.

“
It
’
s time for me to go,
”
I spoke softly.

“
I know, I
’
m just not ready to see you leave yet,
”
his lips brushed the shell of my ear.

“
Oh, I think you
’
ll have a little something to hold your attention,
”
I giggled and gestured toward his new car.

“
Oh, Babe, that car has nothing on you. It can
’
t love me back.
”

“
I do love you, Mr. Malloy, so much,
”
I looked him directly in the eye as I spoke.

“
I love you, too, Mrs. Malloy.
”

“
I
’
ll see you tomorrow?
”

“
Yep, I
’
ll be the one in the tux at the end of the aisle trying not to run to meet you halfway. I
’
ll be waiting for you, my love.
”

I smiled as I said,
“
Yes, and you
’
ll get to guess whether or not I
’
m wearing any panties under my dress.
”
With those words, I removed myself from my stunned fianc
é’
s arms and ran to the waiting limo, giggling the whole way.

Tomorrow would be the first day of the rest of my life. I couldn
’
t wait to start it.

T
he church could not have been more beautifully decorated. I would have to remind myself to have Books give Maggie a huge tip.

As the organ softly played I began to remember the sight of my Christi when she was just a girl. How I tried to get the very essence of her out of my life. How now I couldn
’
t get enough of her.

I turned to my left to see Father Murphy standing reverently, bible in his hand ready to bless this holy union.

I could hear faint whispers from the sea of guest that were currently seated in the wooden pews. The constant smiles that graced each face as they mirrored my glances.

I could feel the bead of sweat as it rolled down my back. Why isn
’
t this thing starting already?

Christi was extremely punctual and I began to worry that she may have had a problem with her dress. Looking at the clock that hung on the back wall, I noticed it was now twenty minutes past the time we were to have begun. The murmurs from the crowed and the lack of smiles, confirmed that I wasn
’
t the only one who was worried.

The thump of the door that kept the bride from the church caused me to look up to find a distressed looking Matthew making his way down the aisle toward me. The look on his face was one of sadness and I could feel my heart rising to my throat.

“
Patrick,
”
His hushed voice sounded in my ear.

“
I
’
m sorry, but she changed her mind.
”

With those words, he placed her ring into my hand alongside her shamrock pendant.

Sweat was running down my face and body as I shot straight up in bed. I looked around the pitch black room. I was still at my parent
’
s house. It had all been a dream.

When my breathing finally returned back to normal, I tossed back the covers and made my way down stairs, pausing at the bar long enough to pour myself a tall glass of scotch.

I wanted to call Christi. Make certain she was all right and that she still loved me. It was foolish I know, it was only a dream for Christ
’
s sake. The tinkling of the piano keys echoed in the room as I began to softly play random keys. That was my mood right now, random and uncertain. Would my dream become a reality? Would I do something to cause her to leave me? Would she someday wake up and find that she can do so much better than me?

“
This is a good sign you know
”

The sound of my
da
’
s voice, startled me.

“
Fuck, Da, you scared the shit out of me.
”

He could only chuckle as he made his way into the room, sitting down on the leather couch that rested not far from the piano.

“
Sorry, I figured I would find you in here.
”

I turned my head in a questioning glance. He lifted his glass as his eyes never left mine.

“
I heard you shout.
”

Oh
...

“
Bad dream, I take it?
”

I didn
’
t reply immediately. Honestly I was a little embarrassed, my dad having to make sure I was all right after a bad dream. What was I three?

“
She changed her mind.
”
I spoke softly, terrified that God was listening and mistook it for a prayer.

My father let out a deep sigh as he placed his empty glass on the bar.

“
The night before I married your Ma, I was so sick that my father had to take me to the emergency room and have fluids put back into me. They had to give me medicine to make the vomiting stop.
”

I turned my attention back to him.

“
I was terrified that she would come to her senses and see what a douche I really was.
”

Hearing my father call himself a douche made me chuckle to myself.

“
I will tell you what your grandfather told me.
”

He had my full attention now. Thomas
’
father was a bad ass. He would shoot you between the eyes just because he could. He died in his sleep a few days after my grandmother passed. My da said he died of a broken heart. I didn
’
t believe him at the time, but now I got it.

“
You can set back and worry everyday about how you
’
re going to do something incredibly stupid to cause her to leave. Or you can wake up every morning and have a plan on how you will make her smile.
”

Does the tub in my new house have jets? If not, I am so asking Patrick to change that.

Maggie had arranged for me to spend the morning at a local spa. I had just finished this amazing salt wrap that was designed to get rid of dead skin and leave your skin silky soft. I was currently resting in a jetted tub getting the salt and skin taken off from me
...
it felt like heaven.

Last night was some of the best sleep I have had in a long time. I dreamed of Patrick having a tea party with three little girls. His hair was full of colorful barrettes and his lips were painted bright pink, the lines of his lips not taken into consideration as the lipstick was touching his nose. He was laughing and talking to the little girls in the most adorable British accent. Would I have three girls?

With recent events, Patrick had insisted that I have five of his men surrounding me at all times before the wedding.

When the limo finally reached the church, a huge group of black suited, Ray ban wearing, beef cake men surrounded the limo, effectively blocking anyone from getting to me. My wedding dress was waiting for me inside the dressing area of the church. I didn
’
t want to one, risk getting anything on the dress
,
and two, I didn
’
t want to look like a raving
lunatic
trying to move around with the full skirt.

“
Time for tradition,
”
Charlotte announced.

She was the honorary
‘
mom
’
for me today. She would be on my left while my father was on the right. She would kiss Patrick and pass him the traditional mother of the bride gift, a lock of the bride
’
s hair that is carefully placed in the pocket watch of one of the bride
’
s grandfathers.

Charlotte carefully placed the lace handkerchief inside the bow that secured my bouquet. Legend has it that the handkerchief will be used to dry the tears of the first born child, and then it will be used in the making of the baptismal bonnet.

My hair had been pulled back and several braids were placed as a sign of strength and fertility. It was held back with a beautiful silver clip, with green stones. Green was the traditional Irish wedding color and It was important for this to be as authentic as possible.

As I slid on my peep toes shoes, Charlotte inserted the coin Patrick had given me.

Next came the horseshoe that I would carry as a sign of good luck. Many brides wore it as a necklace, but I chose to carry it instead.

With one final deep breath, I gathered my skirt and nodded my head as a sign I was ready.

“
Auntie Christi?
”

Abigail's small voice caught my attention and I glanced down at her.

“
Yes, Baby?
”

“
Are we marrying Patrick today?
”

I had to smile at her, it wasn
’
t if I was marrying him she felt the whole family was going to marry him. I guess in a sense we were.

“
Yes, we are. Are you ready?
”

Her face suddenly looked upset.

“
But I don
’
t want to marry Patrick. I want to marry my daddy.
”

I looked to my sister who had her hand firmly covering her mouth, a small sob escaping as she quickly turned to gather her flowers.

“
Abby, I think that if you want to marry your daddy, Patrick will understand.
”

The smile that covered her little cherub face was enough to brighten the room. And she began to jump up and down excitedly, the yellow ribbon of her dress following her every move.

My father stood at the end of the hall, dressed in a crisp black tuxedo. He, like Patrick, would not have the same tuxedo as the groom
’
s men.

With Charlotte on my left and my dad on my right, I focused my eyes on my sister who stood directly in front of me.

The beautiful one shoulder dress that we had chosen would truly be one of those you could wear after my wedding. I had ordered one for myself as a matter of fact.

Once Shannon was on her way down the aisle and the doors again securely closed, I could hear the rustling of the runner as it was being laid down the aisle. Nora had insisted that it be made of real lace and not the waxed paper version that so many brides did these days.

The doors opened, and with a final breath and a quick close of my eyes, I took my first step at becoming Mrs. Patrick Malloy.

As I placed the ring on Patrick
’
s left hand, I spoke the words I
’
d memorized since I was a little girl. As I looked into his deep green eyes, I tried to picture what my life with him would be like. Will he remember this day as a day he will never forget, or will he wish it was just a bad decision he made in his youth? I would spend the rest of my days reminding him how wonderful this day was.

"Ní fé
idir leat a bhfuil liom go mbaineann m
é liom féin.

Ach fad is mian linn an d
á é, mé
a thabhairt duit go bhfuil mianach a thabhairt.

Ní féidir leat gceannas orm, mar tá mé
ag duine saor in aisce.

Ach beidh m
é ag freastal ort sna bealaí de dhí
th ort,

Agus beidh an honeycomb blas bhinne ag teacht
ó
mo l
ámh.

Geallaim duit go mbeidh mise an t-ainm a bheith caoin m
é os ard ar an oí
che,

Agus na s
ú
ile isteach a aoibh gh
áire mé
ar maidin.

Geallaim duit an bite ch
é
ad mo feola agus an deoch ch
éad ó
mo chup
án.

Geallaim duit mo bheo agus mo bh
á
is, gach cothrom faoi do ch
úram.

Beidh m
é
a bheith ina sciath do do ais agus t
ú mianach.

Ní dhé
anfaidh m
é clú
mhilleadh t
ú, ná mé tú.

Beidh m
é
honor t
ú
thar aon rud eile, agus nuair a quarrel beidh muid
é
sin a dh
é
anamh i

Phríobhá
ideach agus insint N
í hannamh ár casaoidí.

Tá sé
seo vow mo bainise a thabhairt duit

Is é
seo an p
ósadh ar comhionann."

(“
You cannot possess me
,
for I belong to myself.

But while we both wish it, I give you that which is mine to give.

You cannot command me, for I am a free person.

But I shall serve you in those ways you require,

And the honeycomb will taste sweeter coming from my hand.