I made my way across the entire pub, one slow step at a time. Clara babbled and lunged for Ronan when I reached him. He grinned and took her from me, then stepped to the side just enough for us to stand in a semi-circle in front of a man in a black suit.
Father MacKenna lowered his glasses to the bridge of his nose.
We’d asked him to officiate the ceremony, assuring him we knew it would not be recognized by the state or the church but that we felt we deserved the chance to have a ceremony anyway. “We’re gathered here today…”
I partially tuned him out, except for the times when I needed to speak. I was too busy reveling in my good fortune and ogling my men. They really did look delicious.
We all spoke our vows our own way. Nothing traditional or from any template but from our hearts.
Finn took my hands. “I promise to love you. Every day. In all the ways you need and the ways you don’t even know you need. I promise to show up and stay when things are complicated.”
Declan went next. “I promise to protect you and Clara and whatever else we build together. I promise this pub will always be a place you can call home, a place of hope and peace. I promise to love you for all of my days.”
Ronan didn’t look at anyone else when he took his place in front of me. “I thought I was done with love. I’m so glad I was wrong. I promise to build a life with you that’s worth the risk of loving someone this much. I promise to be a presence you can count on.”
I’d written my vows down and read them over and over until I memorized every line.
They still fled my mind as soon as I opened my mouth. But my heart spoke for me. “I promise to build a life here that Mom and Nana Maeve would appreciate. I promise to love all three of you with my whole heart and without apology. I promise to trust that what we have is worth fighting for.”
Father MacKenna closed out the ceremony with the traditional ‘you may kiss the bride.”
Everyone in the pub joined in with the music, singing and laughing as we kissed, then turned and faced them.
Finn hooked an arm around my waist and kissed me a second time, which caused a rising cheer from his fire station buddies and a groan from Declan and Ronan.
Family. That was what I’d created.
I returned Finn’s kiss, and a breathless anticipation for later swirled in my stomach.
“Your mother would have loved this.” One of the women who’d been close with Bethany stood off to the side. She held her arms loose over her stomach. “Thanks for letting me come.”
Bethany had left Clover Hill not long after my return last year.
Her friends had all come and apologized to me, and despite the pain they’d caused, I forgave them.
If we were going to move forward in this town, I had to let it go.
I would if they would, and so far no one said a single bad thing about us.
Everyone who could packed into the pub for the ceremony.
The party spilled out into the patio and the front sidewalk, and we’d hired several competent people to run the pub so we didn’t have to deal with any responsibilities today.
Ronan pulled me into a dance as the music slowed. “You look incredible.”
“You too.” I ran my hand over the green silk poking out of his breast pocket. “Any chance you can wear this tonight?”
“I think I can make that happen. Any chance we can kick all these people out and go upstairs?” He arched a brow. “Say the word.”
“Tempting, but not yet.” I leaned into his chest, resting my ear over his heart. “This is more than I ever dreamed possible.”
His chest rumbled an agreement without words.
We danced and laughed for five hours straight. People came and went in waves, but the party never stopped. Every single person congratulated us, and there was not a single sarcastic, hurtful word spoken. They really had accepted us.
It had taken me a while to fully believe it, but today proved it once and for all.
By the time Declan shooed the last people out the door and locked up, my feet ached from dancing and my cheeks and ribs from laughing.
