Chapter 32 #2
And there was Jack. Her handsome man was walking towards her now, his hand outstretched to hers. Over his shoulder, she could see Nina, her face beaming with happiness as she waved. And there was Gerry and the kids. And Val and her other pals, Sarah and Alice. And Stuart and Connor. And…
‘You made it,’ Jack said, and oh, his easy grin still made her stomach flip.
‘I did.’ Right, time to get this show on the road.
Although, it was starting to make her a bit uncomfortable that everyone in the room now seemed to be looking her way.
The centre of attention was a place she always did her best to avoid.
Nina had assured her that getting here at this time would make her the first to arrive.
That suited Bernadette perfectly, because then she could blend into the background and be the person that just made sure everything ran like clockwork and everyone was having a good time.
Clearly, there had been a miscommunication, because this was about as far from blending into the background as she could be.
‘Bernadette, ma love, I wanted to speak to you…’ Jack began, and Bernadette’s face flushed. Why was everyone still staring at her?
‘Jack, it’ll need to wait to after the ceremony,’ she said, hoping that she didn’t sound too dismissive but deeply aware that apparently everyone was waiting to get started.
Nina was walking towards them now. ‘Mum, there isn’t going to be a ceremony.’
The first thought that went through Bernadette’s mind was Oh for the love of God, what now? Followed by… Had they had a fight? Changed their minds? Had the celebrant not showed up? Was there a burst pipe?
And now that she was scanning the room for potential ceremony-ending disasters, there were more questions.
Was that Caleb? And Stevie and Keli? And over there – some of the women from the support group she ran.
And… Bloody hell, Jack’s family – his sons, Tadgh and Shay and their partners – were there too.
Nina hadn’t even mentioned that she’d invited them and Jack had kept quiet on them coming here from Ireland too.
Jack was speaking again. ‘I know that you hate to be the centre of attention, ma love, so Nina came up with the vow renewal as a wee ruse, to put you off the scent.’
Oh no. Bernadette hated surprises. And now it felt like everyone was in on something she knew nothing about.
What scent? THE BLOODY SCENT OF WHAT?
‘We knew if we suggested this’ – his gaze went to Nina and Stuart, who were nodding in agreement – ‘that you’d refuse, but I wanted all of our family and friends to be here, to share this. You deserve to be the centre of attention, Bernadette O’Brien. Today and every day.’
Bernadette had no idea if she was still standing, still there, or still in her bed and this was just another crazy dream, but if she wasn’t mistaken, Jack Donovan, the love of her life, was now opening a tiny box and inside was a perfect emerald solitaire, perched on a gleaming gold band.
‘I’m too old and these trousers are too damn tight to be doing the whole down on one knee thing…
’ Jack was saying now, with that unmistakable, lovable twinkle in his eye.
‘But, Bernadette, I adore you. And I’ve come to truly believe that you are the most important thing in my life.
That’s why I’ve decided to make some changes.
I’ve decided to sell my business so we can be together and spend the rest of our years enjoying our lives together.
If you’ll have me, that is. So Bernadette, ma love, I’ll be forever grateful if you would do me the honour of becoming my wife. ’
As Bernadette held her breath, she stared at him, this wonderful man, and she knew that all the other stuff, the past, the worries about the future, the decision about where they’d live and where she’d work…
None of that mattered. And her turmoil over whether or not to take the next step had just been taken out of her hands.
It’s just the people we love that matter.
She heard herself saying that to Amber last night, and she knew that now it was time to take her own advice. They’d work it out.
‘Yes, Jack Donovan. I certainly will.’
As the room erupted into cheers and applause, Jack’s face broke into the widest grin, as he flushed with relief.
‘Oh thank the heavens for that, because if you’d said no, this next bit would be awkward.
You see, we knew you’d never plan a big wedding, so the second part of the surprise is that there’s a celebrant waiting at the end of that aisle… ’
Bernadette’s gaze followed his gesture, and yes, there was definitely a kindly faced woman in a suit standing there, next to Milo and Casey, who were being uncharacteristically still.
‘And we’ll need to do all the official paperwork later, but, Bernadette, in front of everyone we love, will you marry me right here and now?’
Yes, she hated surprises, but this…
Bernadette sent the question up to the other woman who’d been happy to always be in the background, to organise, to cope, to plan, to sort everything out for everyone else.
If there was an afterlife, a heaven, a higher plane, then she knew that Marge Drummond was up there now, her steely eye taking in the scene, checking that everything was just the way it should be.
‘I’d love to, Jack Donovan.’
As more cheers rang out, her friend, Stevie, stepped forward and music began to play that Bernadette recognised immediately.
It was one of her and Jack’s special songs.
Gladys Knight. ‘Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me’.
Stevie’s beautiful, melodic voice, stood in for Gladys, and she began to sing.
At that, Stuart held out his arm. ‘Mum?’
Not to be outdone, Nina, on the other side, stepped forward too. ‘We’d both like to walk you down the aisle.’
As she took her first step towards a new future that she couldn’t wait to embrace, Bernadette said a silent thanks to the woman who had left this earth just a few hours before.
Thank you for reminding me to live for today.
And Bernadette knew with every beat of her overflowing heart that Marge would approve.