A thousand thoughts whizzed through my brain like sparks running up a dynamite fuse as I continued walking, only a small part of my brain able to appreciate the comfort of Daddy’s arm in mine, the smiles of my family and Nita, the voice of Elvis in the background.
No wonder Bridget was so keen for this to happen.
And Dad – he must have known.
They all knew.
Moses did marriage prep with him!
Oh – and the engagement ring – not an amazing sign that we’re meant to be together!
He knew.
He KNEW.
Was I the only person in this family who didn’t know?
But he knew – and he chose to marry me anyway.
A man CHOSE to marry me.
He’s been to Sunday lunch with my family – he’s been to CHRISTMAS DAY with my family, and still hasn’t been put off.
He’s not at all bad-looking, either.
Phew.
Maybe this isn’t going to be a complete disaster, after all.
* * *
To be honest, the rest of the ceremony was something of a blur. Which, according to my sisters, is perfectly normal even if you have met the person you’re marrying more than a handful of times before.
However, the unusually tense moment when Sofia asked people to speak now or forever hold their peace did stick in my mind. Especially when Oscar called out, ‘Can I hold a piece? Is it cake time now?’
As did my uncontrollable giggles when reciting my vows. Sofia had avoided the usual lines, coming up with alternatives that would mean I wouldn’t be going back on them before we’d reached the toasts. It’s probably a bad thing to not remember the vows you made to your husband, but I made a note to ask her for a copy at some point.
Cooper didn’t laugh, but he seemed relieved and amused that I did, as if he’d been expecting me to scream and run off once I saw who it was. Knowing what I knew about his background, that seemed fair enough. His background also offered a solid explanation for why he had no family here. I remembered that he’d been on his own since his aunt emigrated, and even if his dad was still somehow miraculously alive he’d be the last person Cooper would want at his wedding (followed closely by Professor Cole, who was lurking in the corner for some reason, glaring at us as if we were misbehaving laboratory specimens).
Another sticky moment was when Sofia pronounced us husband and wife (HUSBAND! AND WIFE!).She raised her eyebrows at Cooper and said, ‘So, this is the part where I’d normally announce that you can now kiss your bride. Given the circumstances, I think we’ll check if she’s okay with it first. Emma? How do you feel about a first kiss?’
I didn’t admit that I’d sort of stopped feeling anything about three vows ago. Instead, I managed a shrug, and enough of a smile that Cooper smiled back, leant in and gently pecked my lips.
I met his eyes once more, and amongst the deep, dark blue I saw kindness there.
Cooper took my hand as we walked down the aisle accompanied by The Monkees’ ‘I’m a Believer’, and it felt safe there. Whatever happened in the long run, right then I felt a distinct twinge of cautious optimism that maybe I could live with Patrick Charles Cooper. I was certainly open to the possibility of falling in love with him.
In the meantime, I really needed some of Nita’s vegan vol-au-vents and a large glass of something fizzy.
* * *
Cooper
To Cooper’s astonishment, things seemed to be going okay. The Donovan family were everything he’d remembered, and more – in numbers, and in love, laughter, liveliness and a whole lot of other good things that he’d heard that families were meant to be.
After the ceremony, Moses, who unlike Sam seemed exactly the same as he had been four years ago, had driven them over to his church, then ushered the newly-weds into his office to sign the register. Most of the other family members had come along for the ride, with Orla and Annie acting as witnesses while the rest hung about in the main hall. Bridget also came in to ensure authentication for the project, Professor Cole having made a swift retreat straight after the ceremony.
Cooper declined Moses’ invitation to add his father’s name and occupation to the marriage certificate. ‘Is it legitimate if I don’t?’
