Mother of the Bride (42 page)

‘Come on, Mum,' called Ronan. ‘We all have to go. We don't want to be late.'

Krista was staying at the house to photograph Amy and Paddy as they got ready to leave in the Bentley.

‘I'll meet you in the church in a few minutes,' she promised Ronan. ‘I want to get Amy and Paddy arriving at the church, too.'

Taking a last glance at the house, and giving Amy a hug, Helen and the bridesmaids got in the car with Ronan for the short drive to St Mary's.

As they pulled into the church car park, Helen was greeted by the sight of friends and family gathering in the sunshine and filing into the church. There wasn't a rain cloud in sight and the sky was clear and blue. She tried to quell her own nerves as she got out of the car. Ciara and Jess were all excited as they fixed their dresses, adjusted their bouquets, and stepped out to a cheer from Dan, his two brothers and Liam.

Helen said hello to a few friends, delighted with the two big bay trees decorated with white ribbons that Carmel had placed at the church entrance. As she walked across, Jeremy, who was busy with his camera filming all the arrivals, said hello to her, getting her to stop for a minute so he could film her properly. The girls moved over to the side to wait for Amy's arrival, chatting to Dylan and one of his cousins.

‘The Quinns and Gran and loads of others are inside,' said Ronan, after walking into the church to see what was happening. ‘Dad sent me a text to say he and Amy are leaving home in a few minutes. I'll get Rob and Liam to ask everyone to move into the church.'

Helen could hear the music inside the church, and waited while the last few slipped into their seats. Then she took a deep breath
to gather herself, linked arms with Ronan, and began the walk up the aisle to her seat. Carmel had tied lacy hydrangeas, pink roses, pretty purple daisies and lavender and white ribbon to every second bench. Fran and Tom and Maeve and Andy gave Helen a huge smile as she walked up the long aisle on her son's arm. She felt like she was walking on air, she was so happy and so proud of her family.

She went over to Dan to say hello. He looked so handsome in his tuxedo, standing tall and nervous beside Rob and Liam. She couldn't ask for a better son-in-law, and she hugged him before saying hello to Carmel and Eddie.

Carmel, slim and elegant in her silver shift dress and coat, had a sweeping cream and silver hat complementing her outfit.

Sheila was in her element, sitting up in the front pew, wearing her peach suit, a stylish hat trimmed with peach and pink and cream chiffon roses perched jauntily on her head.

‘Mum, you look gorgeous,' Helen said to her, giving her a hug and a kiss as she sat in beside her.

The altar looked magnificent, with two huge arrangements of giant cream hydrangeas and blowsy end-of-summer pink and cream roses mixed with tall purple and cream delphiniums and green leaves. Carmel had done a wonderful job creating such a display.

Helen could hear a ripple of excitement go through the congregation and guessed that Paddy and Amy must have arrived outside. The musicians started the music as Ciara and Jess walked slowly up the aisle in their sassy purple dresses, their pink and purple posies in their hands, both looking fantastic and smiling at friends and family. As they reached the top the bridesmaids slipped into the seats in front of Helen.

Helen held her breath as Paddy and Amy now began to walk up. She turned to watch father and daughter, arm in arm, walk past all those who loved them. Amy was bright-eyed and smiling with
happiness as Paddy proudly led her up to the altar towards Daniel, the man she loved.

Paddy stopped at the top, where Daniel was waiting, and formally placed Amy's hand in that of her beloved. Daniel's eyes shone with love as he took Amy's hand.

Helen tried not to cry as the young couple stepped forward together and stood at the altar, Jess taking Amy's roses.

Helen smiled as Paddy, relieved, sat in beside her.

The ceremony was beautiful: the hymns, readings and prayers, and especially Father Tom's wonderful sermon, which made everyone laugh but also reflected on the importance of the marriage they were witnessing.

Helen had to fight to control her emotions when Amy and Dan made their vows to each other in front of the whole congregation. They were relaxed and word-perfect and there was a huge cheer when Father Tom declared them formally husband and wife. Helen reached for Paddy's hand as the young couple lit the marriage candle.

Every piece of music was special – Schubert's ‘Ave Maria', the Gaelic ‘Ag Criost an Siol', Fauré's ‘Pie Jesu', Leonard Bernstein's ‘One Hand, One Heart'.

Everyone in the small congregation had played their part, and before she knew it, the ceremony had ended and Father Tom had invited Amy and Dan and their families into the sacristy to sign the marriage register.

As she looked at the wedding ring on Amy's finger Helen said a silent prayer for a lifetime of happiness for her daughter and her husband. As she did so, Krista took more photographs.

‘Are we ready to go?' smiled Dan, eyes shining as he clasped Amy's hand.

The music of Mendelssohn's ‘Wedding March' swelled and filled the church as Amy and Dan stepped back out from the altar again and began to walk down the aisle hand in hand, their friends
cheering and clapping for the happy couple. The air was electric with excitement as Jess linked arms with Rob and Ciara with Liam and they walked behind the bride and groom. Eddie, laughing, took Helen's arm, with Paddy and Carmel following behind. And finally, Ronan held his gran's arm and slowly walked the old lady in her finery down the church, to huge applause.

Amy and Dan stood together in the warm sunshine near the church porch, greeting all their wedding guests as they came out of the church. Jeremy set up the camera to record everyone as Krista mingled among the crowd taking photos.

‘Mr and Mrs Quinn!' screamed Sarah and Tara in unison, giving them both hugs and kisses. Sarah's husband Tom wished them luck.

Amy was all smiles as everyone complimented her and Dan, told her how beautiful she looked and wished them both all good things.

‘Amy, what a beautiful wedding!' Fran hugged her, squeezing her tight. ‘You look absolutely gorgeous. Helen and Paddy are so proud of you!'

‘And I'm proud of them, too,' Amy said, glancing over at her parents, who were busy chatting to Uncle Brendan and Claire and Auntie Mary and her husband Jimmy.

‘What a Mother of the Bride!' said Fran, coming over to her. ‘You look amazing, Helen, and Paddy looks so fit and handsome.'

‘He was determined to be well for today,' admitted Helen, who at times had wondered if the wedding was going to be too much for Paddy.

‘Well, it's great to see you both looking so proud and happy,' Fran added. ‘That's what it's all about.'

‘You look lovely, too.' Helen admired Fran's fancy turquoise dress and wrap.

‘I'm poured into it!' confessed Fran. ‘I was half an hour trying
to get myself into my new pair of Spanx, and I don't know how I'm going to last the day in them. God knows what will happen when I need to go to the bathroom!'

Helen laughed. Leaving Fran and Tom chatting to her sister-inlaw she went over to check that her mother was OK. Sheila Hennessy was in top form, entertaining everyone around her with memories of her own wedding during ‘The Emergency'.

Amy and Dan, along with Dylan and Rob and Liam, who were all wearing dark shades, were standing surrounded by their friends, laughing and enjoying themselves.

‘I think we should be making a move to Wicklow,' suggested Paddy. ‘Eve will be expecting us.'

Ronan and Rob and Liam were instructed to get everyone moving as the bus they had booked for travelling to Glebe House pulled into the car park. Amy and Dan drove off to cheers and much honking of horns in the Bentley as everyone set off for Wicklow.

Helen and Paddy O'Connor couldn't believe how well Glebe House looked as they turned up the avenue and approached the old house. The place was magical, bathed in sunshine, the lake sparkling in the distance, the borders and flower beds in full summer bloom. They checked in with Trudy and made their way to their room, then quickly freshened up before joining their guests downstairs. Eve had set tables and chairs and parasols out on the terrace surrounded by beautiful herbaceous borders and the first guests to arrive were laughing and chatting, sipping mojitos and Pimms and champagne. Ronan's friend Paul was playing his guitar, and music filled the air as people introduced each other.

Krista called the family and the bride and groom down to the lake for a few photos.

‘Oh, Helen, this place is stunning,' declared Carmel as they posed for photos, ‘far nicer than any castle! Do you see the swans on the water? It's so romantic here.'

Helen looked around. Having a summer family wedding here in Glebe House couldn't be more perfect!

She watched as Krista, serious and in complete control, photographed Amy and Dan, and then the bridesmaids and Liam and Rob,
before turning her attention to the family groups: the O'Connors and the Quinns. Sheila insisted on a big group photo of her family, her children and grandchildren. ‘Might as well, as they are all here, before I kick the bucket,' she said.

‘I need the bride and groom for a few more shots,' demanded Krista, as the rest of them returned to the garden to top up their drinks.

‘What a great place for a wedding, sis,' said Helen's brother, Tim, coming up to give her a hug.

‘Thanks for the car.' She smiled at him.

‘It's the least an uncle with an old Bentley can do!' he joked.

He and his wife were tanned after ten days in the South of France, at their apartment near Cannes.

‘You and Paddy should go down for a break there after the wedding,' he offered. ‘The place is sitting there empty, and the pool is lovely. After all you have been through in the past few months you deserve to put your feet up and laze. You'll be near everything and can walk most places!'

Helen was tempted by her older brother's offer. A wealthy publican, he was extremely generous to all the family.

‘Tim, I'll talk to Paddy, try to persuade him,' she promised. ‘A break in France would be lovely.'

Carmel Quinn took her by the arm and insisted on introducing her to her brother, James, and to Eddie's older brother Donal and his wife. They were lovely people and were full of praise for the wonderful wedding setting!

Eve came over to Helen to check that she was satisfied with everything, and to tell her that they would be ready to get people into the dining room in about ten minutes.

Helen and Paddy had eaten in the dining room at Glebe House many times over the years, but seeing it dressed up for a wedding Helen couldn't believe how beautiful it looked with its long white
linen tablecloths, and magnificent arrangements of flowers in matching glass vases on the mantel over the big fireplace and on the giant mahogany sideboard. Every table was bedecked with three or four antique glass vases filled with pretty garden flowers with a white or pink ribbon tied in a neat bow around them. There were candles everywhere, and each place held a place card tied with ribbon to a bunch of lavender and rosemary from the garden.

‘Eve, it's beautiful,' murmured Helen, ‘absolutely beautiful.'

‘We aim to please,' smiled Eve as she helped people to find their tables.

Everyone rose and cheered as Amy and Dan, arm in arm and eyes shining, entered the dining room and made their way to the top table to sit down. They had decided to have the speeches first, conscious that Paddy might get overtired, and that Eddie Quinn hated speaking in public and only did it under duress.

Helen noticed Ciara talking disdainfully to Liam; and that Dan's brother, Rob, seated beside Jess, seemed totally smitten by the glamorous bridesmaid and was lavishing attention on her. Jess's face glowed as the two of them talked. They have hours together, thought Helen as she and Eddie chatted.

Liam Flynn stood up to introduce the proceedings, as the waiters went round the tables filling everyone's glasses.

Helen could sense Paddy's nervousness as he fiddled with his linen napkin and glanced at the paper he had his speech written out on.

‘You'll be fine,' she whispered as Paddy stood up to do his Father of the Bride speech. The room went quiet as everyone turned to listen to him.

‘On behalf of my wife Helen and myself I would like to warmly welcome you all today to our daughter Amy's wedding to Daniel. I would like to thank Eve Hanlon of Glebe House for her magnificent hospitality and to thank head chef Sean Delaney, his beautiful wife Trudy, and the staff here for the wonderful meal we will all enjoy
in a short while. Glebe House is renowned for its food! I would also like to thank Father Tom Doorly, a family friend, for marrying Amy and Dan on this very special day. I should also mention and thank Carmel, Dan's mother, for making the wonderful flower arrangements in the church today and the beautiful bouquets for Amy and the girls. Ciara and Jess looked so stunning walking up the aisle today ahead of us. I'd also like to thank Tim Hennessy for driving Amy and Dan today, and Bibi Kennedy for making the most beautiful wedding cake. Amy and Dan wanted this day to be special, and by joining us here you have all helped to make their wedding day one they will always remember.

‘Helen and I and Ronan and Ciara are delighted to see both families united and to welcome Daniel to the O'Connor fold. The first time I met Daniel he'd fallen asleep on our living-room couch after walking Amy home from some charity ball. I went to read the Sunday papers and found this stranger asleep in a tuxedo. We became friends, and I soon discovered that he is a perfect gentleman, and is now considered so much like another son in our house that I even heard Helen asking him the other night to put out the bins!

‘Now, to Amy! Amy, as most of you know, is a wonderful girl, a very special daughter, and it would always take a very special man to win her heart. From the minute Amy was born she has brought joy and happiness into our lives; from her first word, first step, first day in school, and first day in college she has brought sunshine to everything she has done. She is kind and thoughtful, and has a bright clever mind that is always interested in the world around her and the people she meets. She is as beautiful on the inside as she is on the outside.