Eddie rolls his eyes and shakes his head again, but something like a hint of approval lights in his cocoa eyes. ‘I suppose it’s about time I got used to seeing you with my sister. Just take care of her, will you?’ He extends a hand to shake Ollie’s, but Ollie pulls Eddie into a boisterous bear hug and slaps him on the back.
‘Always, man. Always. Never doubt it.’ A sincerity so strong rings in Ollie’s every syllable, no one could ever doubt him.
After a split second Eddie wraps his arms around him, offering a man squeeze in return. Perhaps he’s glad there’s someone looking out for me, perhaps it’s a relief he doesn’t have to anymore. Who knows? I’m just glad things have worked out for all of us.
When the two bromantics eventually pull apart, sheepish smiles light both their faces.
‘Are you ready?’ I ask Ollie, eyeing his weekend bag by the door.
‘Are you ready more like? They don’t call it The Wild West for nothing…’ His eyes glint devilishly at me and his full lips part into a grin.
Taking his hand, I pull him towards the front door and tell him, ‘I was born ready.’ And for the first time in forever I really feel it. I was born for this man, this moment and anything his family, or mine, throw at us ever again.
EPILOGUE
AMY
Seven Months Later
Number six really is my lucky number. It’s the sixth day of the sixth month of the year and coincidently, my twenty-sixth birthday. In my wildest dreams, it’s not how I imagined I’d spend the day but there is nowhere else in the entire world that I’d rather be.
Geri fusses at my dress, smoothing imaginary specks from the lace while Emma adds the final touches of blusher to my cheeks. ‘Are you ready?’
‘Yes.’ Butterflies swarm my stomach, circulating, dipping and soaring.
I take a deep breath and one final glance in the mirror, barely recognising the bright-eyed beauty that stares back at me. My hair is swept up into an elaborate French twist clipped with tiny individual pearl slides. A couple of stray spirals escape just enough to soften the style. Pearl earrings drop daintily from my earlobes. They’re the only jewellery I wear, bar my engagement ring and the precious platinum necklace Ollie gifted me this day last year.
The dress I wear is simple but stunning. High-necked ivory lace clings in all the right places before dropping sharply to the floor, flowing into a five-foot slim train.
My bridesmaids, Keira, Geri and Emma, congregate either side of me wearing dusky pink floor-length gowns in styles of their own choice. Each of them selected which best complimented their own figures and Emma’s tiny new bump.
‘Emma, you are a miracle worker.’ She’s managed to keep my look natural yet enhance every contour of my face, and somehow enlarge my eyes to appear twice their normal size.
‘It’s effortless with a canvas like yours.’ She runs a hand over my arm and squeezes, offering a watery smile. The pregnancy hormones have her blubbing at almost everything these days. I’m secretly praying it’s a boy she’s carrying because we all know how protective Eddie can be of the women in his life. Either way, the child will be adored.
A swift, light rap on the door signifies the arrival of my father and mother. Dad’s in a sharp jet-black suit with a dusky pink shirt and tie and Mam wears a pink and ivory knee-length dress, complete with a silk pashmina and a ridiculously oversized hat.
‘Oh, look at our baby girl,’ Mam coos to Dad and my eyes roll to the heavens, even as the grin erupts on my face. At least no one will dare ruffle my hair today.
Dad pretends to swipe an eyelash away, while we pretend to believe that’s all it is. Outside the lavish five-star castle nestled amongst the mountains between Mayo and Galway, a helicopter awaits. The rhythmic thudding of the chopper drowns out the palpitations from my rapidly increasing heartbeat. Downing the last mouthful from my nearby glass of champagne, I link an arm through the one my father extends and allow him to guide me out into the summer sunshine. Cloudless blue skies above promise a beautiful afternoon, perfect for a fairy tale wedding to my very own skinhead prince.
The girls hop into a white limo and I overhear Geri asking the driver if he has the champagne at the ready. Seems she’s making the most of her child-free weekend anyway. Aboard the helicopter, the pilot checks we are securely strapped in before beginning our smooth ascent into the air. The noise is a welcome relief, god forbid Daddy feels the need to say something rare and emotional because I’m teetering on the edge of tears as it is. This is already the happiest day of my life and it’s barely midday.
Gazing across the impressive landscape, greens blur to blue as the mountains meet the ocean. London is a distant memory. I can’t imagine living anywhere else in the world, for there is no place more beautiful than Ireland. And no person that offers more excitement than Ollie.
The pilot provides a lengthy tour from the air, allowing the limo time to reach its destination long before we do. Dad squeezes my hand, silently absorbing the view. Amazement shines in his dark-brown eyes and he slips an arm over my shoulder in a protective embrace.
After twenty minutes circling a small seaside village Ollie used to holiday in as a kid, the pilot begins our descent. My stomach flips, but not because of the flight. Because I can’t freaking wait to marry Ollie Quinn. Amy Quinn has a fabulous ring to it. I can only imagine how smug my face looks right now.
The famous historic white chapel comes into view and my heart lurches in my chest as I scan the grounds for my groom. It’s pointless; I don’t doubt he’s already inside. We chose this place because it’s the same one Ollie’s parents declared their vows in, thirty years ago this year. Even if they aren’t outwardly the most loving couple in the world, I know without a doubt they are happy for him, for us.
Only when we are safely on the landing pad and the pilot has turned the engine off do I unbuckle my seatbelt. Daddy’s strong hands lift me down, carefully placing my feet on the sandy gravel, grounding me in more than one sense of the word.
‘Let’s go get you married, kid.’ He winks at me and links my arm in his once again. I’m grateful because as much as I want to marry Ollie Quinn, the thought of walking into a room with three hundred eyes on me is more than a little daunting for a woman who isn’t yet used to the limelight.
My eyes well as the organist begins to play the familiar bars from Des’ree’s ‘I’mKissing You’.Keira enters the chapel first, her head held high, accustomed to a courtroom full of onlookers staring at her. Geri turns to blow me a final kiss before bursting in through the solid oak doors a little less gracefully than Keira. Emma follows closely on her tail.
Taking a deep breath, I concentrate on putting one foot in front of the other, careful not to fall flat on my face as I step into the multicoloured rays of light as the sunlight filters through the stained glassed windows.
A collection of ‘ahh’s’ ripple around the congregation, but I only hear one. The low breathy sigh that falls from my fiancé’s lips is one that I could distinguish in a stadium packed with people. Tilting my face upwards following the source of the sound, my eyes lock with Ollie’s where he waits at the altar. To his left stands Eddie, who slaps Ollie on the back in a single strong gesture of solidarity. A grin rips across his face, almost as wide as my fiancé’s.
One intense optical exchange has me smouldering, almost running towards the altar to reach the familiar safety of Ollie’s side. The only place I want to be for the rest of my life. My father places my hands into Ollie’s outstretched palms, kisses my cheek and turns to sit with the rest of the Harrington clan in the front row.
‘Happy birthday, beautiful.’ Ollie’s breath grazes my lips as he steps in for a kiss.
‘Ahem.’ The priest clears his throat noisily, with mischievous mock disapproval. ‘I’ll decide when it’s time to kiss the bride.’ A titter of laughter echoes through the room and up towards the high ceilings.
Ollie’s hands grip mine like I’m the most precious thing he’s ever held. And that is exactly how he’s always made me feel from the moment we first kissed. As we say our vows in front of our closest family and friends, I make a vow of my own. I will do everything in my power to make this man happy, to cherish him and love him like he’s the only man on this earth. Because, to me, he is and always will be.
THE END
