ABBY
Almost two weeks have passed since the day that changed everything. Callum was discharged after six days, straight into my care. He made a relatively speedy recovery, but one thing’s for certain, he will not be returning to a career as a professional rugby player. The consultant is optimistic for a full recovery, but it will take time. Time is something that Callum does not have on the pitch. I expected him to be devastated, instead, he was quietly accepting of his new fate.
It helps that he’d been offered an indecent amount of work for sponsorship. Ireland’s bestselling brand of running shoes offered him an advertising deal. A huge tech company from America wants to use him to advertise a personal ECG machine that’s currently selling like hot cakes on Amazon. Coach has offered him a position training the under twenty-ones. Callum will not be short of work, if he wants it. And if he is, Candice is still quietly hopeful that he may yet accept a position at Ireland Today.
Having Callum under my roof twenty-four seven is heaven on earth. He slipped into my life as effortlessly as ever and takes care of me as much as I take care of him. The few hours I spend at work each day are torturous with the knowledge that he’s at home in our bed waiting for me. Thankfully, his incident hasn’t affected his libido. He still behaves as though he’s a sex-starved teenager.
Alicia tells me that Sean remains in Carrick, working at his parents’ garage, shifting teenagers in Finnegan’s on Saturday night. I had a narrow escape there. Thankfully, it’s none of my business.
‘Are you ready?’ Callum calls up the stairs impatiently.
At long last, the day of James and Nadine’s wedding has rolled around. James was initially concerned that Callum wouldn’t make it. Callum wouldn’t have missed it for the world, even if it meant wheeling his hospital bed to the venue. Thankfully, there’s no need for that today.
‘Be down in two minutes.’ I squirt a generous spritz of Chanel and give myself a last once over in the full-length mirror. OTT is not the word for it. But this is no normal wedding. It’s the wedding of one of Ireland’s most famous rugby players to his model fiancée. James and Nadine signed an exclusive deal with Hello Magazine to be their main feature next month, but the venue will be crawling with shameless paparazzi desperate to capture a few cheap shots.
A floor-length, backless bronze dress hugs my figure elegantly, and my hair tumbles in loose curls covering my shoulders. I cautiously tiptoe down the stairs in three-inch stilettos, and Callum lets out a long low whistle of appreciation.
‘I feel sorry for the bride.’ He admires me like I’m the only woman in the world. At least now, I’m the only woman in his world.
‘I’ll take that as a compliment. Though Nadine has no fear.’ My smile extends to my pearl droplet earrings.
‘Seriously, you look amazing.’ He kisses me passionately on the lips, and I break away knowing that given half the chance, he will destroy my freshly applied make-up before we step outside the door.
I stand back to pay homage to him. ‘You look good enough to eat.’ His black tuxedo is tailored beautifully over his enormous shoulders. Suggestive eyes twinkle at my obvious approval.
‘Careful. I might just take you up on that.’ He wiggles his eyebrows and places a firm hand on the base of my spine, guiding me out of the front door into an awaiting limo. The driver opens the door, and I slide into the back first, holding my dress at my ankles. The cool leather seats are spacious and comfortable for the short journey ahead. Both the ceremony and reception are taking place at The Shelbourne Hotel on St Stephen’s Green.
The sun illuminates everything it touches, but in true Irish style, it isn’t overbearingly warm. Excitement churns in my tummy as the chauffeur pops a bottle of Moët and fills two crystal flutes before closing the door.
‘Cheers.’ Callum raises his glass to mine, before smacking his forehead playfully and attempting to pry the glass from my fingers. Confusion stirs within.
‘Oh, sorry. I forgot you don’t drink…’ he jokes, reminding me of the white lie I told him that very first night in the Carton Hotel when he arrived at my room with the exact same tipple.
‘Very funny. Someone must have driven me to it in the last few months.’ I take the glass firmly back into my own hand and tap it against his with a wry smile.
‘Funny you should mention it, but you have driven me to do an awful lot of things that I’d never done before…’ Callum’s tone is suddenly serious. He gulps a large mouthful of champagne.
‘I like to think we’ve evolved together.’ I lean in for one of his mind-blowing kisses, with no further concern for my lipstick, but he retreats, pausing an inch in front of my face.
Before I can fully comprehend what’s happening, he’s on two knees in front of me on the thick red carpet of the limo, presenting the most beautiful diamond ring I have ever laid eyes on. Three perfect glittering stones glare brilliantly at me from a tiny velvet box.
‘Abby Queenan, my life meant absolutely nothing until the day you walked into it. Will you do me the enormous honour of becoming my wife?’
There is only one answer I can give him. It screams at me wildly from the deepest part of my heart.
‘Yes.’ His lips crash onto mine in the biggest win of both of our lives.
