Orla
The sound of the band spilt through the hall as the reception doors swung open, and in poured the people we loved most. Laughter, chatter, the pop of corks, the hiss of Guinness being poured—it was all a blur of joy and noise and everything I’d ever dreamed this day would feel like.
I had to pause, just for a second, and let my eyes sweep the room before Tyler and I made our way to the top table. My family, his family, our friends, they were everywhere. Hugging, raising glasses, filling the castle with life.
“Now, these Irish weddings have been hyped up so much, I hope they live up to all I’m expecting,” Tyler said, his grin teasing as he leaned close.
“Oh, believe me, you’re in for a treat,” I laughed, just as Tom strode across the room carrying a tray of pints. My aunties and cousins practically swooned at the sight of him in his military uniform, and Gwen looked smug as sin at the attention, like she’d known all along she’d bagged the prize.
The fiddles picked up tempo, and even the chandeliers seemed to quake with it.
Everywhere I looked there were little pockets of happiness.
Kate, radiant with her bump, laughing at something Jordan whispered in her ear, Danny, relaxed for once, pint in hand, shaking his head at one of my cousins’ terrible jokes; Malachy corralling his boys at the buffet before they demolished the entire table.
And then there was Gwen, catching my eye across the room, raising her glass with a wink like we’d pulled off the heist of the century, marrying these men, building these lives.
It was chaos and love and noise, and for the first time all day, I let myself breathe.
I turned toward Tyler. He was already watching me, already grinning like he knew exactly what was running through my mind. The cocky bastard probably did.
We took our seats, followed closely by my dad.
The chair beside Tyler sat empty. Across the room, I caught sight of Caroline standing with Travis, studying the table plan.
A flicker of surprise crossed her face when she realised where she’d been seated.
Her smile trembled as our eyes met, and before I could think twice, I got up and pulled the chair out for her.
Caroline smoothed her dress and exhaled, eyes darting between us.
“Okay, so, first off, I’m so sorry. My flight out of LAX got cancelled, and then my phone died.
Piece of junk, I should’ve replaced it years ago.
But I wasn’t about to miss today.” She gave a weak little laugh, gesturing at her outfit.
“Got changed in an airport bathroom, hopped on the next flight I could, and landed maybe an hour before the ceremony.”
Tyler just stared at her, jaw tight, like he couldn’t decide whether to believe her.
She pressed her palms flat against her knees.
“I’ve been sober since Christmas. Really sober.
I’ve got a sponsor, I go to meetings, I do the work.
And I’m not saying I’ve got it all figured out, but I want you to know I’m trying.
I want to be part of your life again. Both of you.
” Her eyes flicked to me, soft and hopeful.
“And any kids you might have one day. If you’ll let me. ”
I felt Tyler stiffen beside me, still not breathing a word.
Caroline chewed her lip, then added, “And… I’ve met someone. His name’s Michael. He’s a widower, a good man. Patient. He makes me better. Or maybe he just gave me a reason to finally get better. Either way, I want you to know I’m not going anywhere this time.”
The air around the table went thick, heavy with everything unsaid. Tyler still hadn’t spoken, his throat bobbing as he stared at her like she was both a stranger and someone he’d been waiting years to see again.
Finally, he dragged a hand down his face, and his voice came out raw. “I want to believe you, Mom. Christ, I really do.”
Her eyes shone, but she didn’t flinch. “I know,” she said softly. “And I know I can’t ask you to just hand that over. Trust isn’t something I deserve right away. I have to earn it. And I will. However long it takes.”
Tyler stared at her, his face still tense, then gave the faintest nod. Not forgiveness, not yet, but maybe the first crack in the wall he’d built.
I slid my hand over his beneath the table, squeezing once. He didn’t look at me, but his fingers threaded through mine anyway telling me he was okay.
“Caroline,” I said gently, leaning forward. “What matters is that you’re here. And if you’re serious, about staying healthy, about being in our lives, then you’ll always have a place at our table. But it has to be real.”
Her eyes welled, her voice barely above a whisper. “It is. More real than anything I’ve ever wanted.”
Tyler’s shoulders dropped the tiniest bit, like he’d finally let out a breath he’d been holding for years.
Then the sound of a glass being tapped cut through the chatter, and my stomach gave a little flip as all eyes shifted toward the top table. Tyler pushed back his chair and stood, tall, broad and as dashing as ever, glass in hand.
He let out a long breath, nerves flickering before that trademark grin slid into place.
“First off,” he said, voice carrying over the crowd, “thanks for coming to watch me actually win something for once.”
The room erupted with laughter, Jordan’s voice booming over the rest “Don’t get used to it, mate!”
Tyler shot him a mock glare that only made everyone laugh harder. Then he cleared his throat, the grin fading as his gaze found mine and everything stilled.
“I know what a lot of people thought of me. Hell, I know what I thought of myself for a long time. Reckless. Arrogant. The guy who’d never get it together. And for a while, I almost believed that’s all I was ever going to be.”
The room quietened, his voice stayed confident.
“Then she walked into my life.”
Heat burnt at the back of my eyes as the silence deepened, the whole room hanging on his every word.
“She made me want to be better. She made me want to prove myself, to her, to all of you, to me. We were reckless in Vegas, sure. Dumb, maybe. But it was the smartest dumb thing I’ve ever done, because it gave me her.”
He tipped his glass toward me, eyes locked on mine. “Now, she didn’t make it easy on me. She made me work my ass off. She’s clever enough to see through all my bullshit, but dumb enough to marry me twice.”
Laughter rippled through the crowd.
“She’s the most stunning woman I’ve ever laid eyes on. Smart, fierce, far too good for me.” His grin turned boyish, wicked. “And yeah, a little older. What can I say? I’ve always had a thing for older women.”
“I’ll drink to that!” Jordan heckled from across the table, making the whole room howl. Kate shoved him with a glare sharp enough to kill but he just grinned wider, smug as hell.
Tyler shook his head, laughing with everyone before his expression softened again. His gaze lifted to my father.
“And sir,” he said, voice steady but thick, “I need you to know, I love your daughter more than anything in this world. And I’ll spend the rest of my life proving it. To her. To all of you.”
He turned back to the room, lifting his glass high, grin spreading again.
“So, please raise your glasses. To my wife.”
The cheer that followed shook the rafters, the clink of glasses echoing like a chorus as everyone shouted it back—“To Orla!”
My cheeks flushed hot, tears pricking all over again as Tyler sat beside me, sliding his hand over my thigh under the table, placing a tender kiss to my lips. His grin was pure mischief when he leaned in, his voice low enough for only me.
“God, I love calling you that.”