Page 28 of Faithless Vows

The first notes of the “Bridal Chorus” rise from the organ as the doors open. Maggie and Danny start down the aisle, and I take a step after them, but Da doesn’t move with me. I look back at him. “Da?”

“My Alannah girl,” he says. “I need you to know something before I walk you in there.” He swallows hard before he goes on. “You know my friendship with Cormac is important to me. But I never would’ve agreed to this, not for him, not for anyone, if I didn’t believe you’d be happy with Ronin.”

My vision blurs with tears as I smile up at him. “I know, Da. You don’t have to worry. I’m happy.” My voice catches, so I say it again because I need him to believe me. “I’m so happy.”

Da studies my face for a long moment, making sure I’m not just saying it for his sake. When he sees that I mean it, some of the worry leaves him. “All right, love,” he says, his voice thick as he tucks my hand more securely into the crook of his arm. “Let’s get you to your lad, then.”

The aisle stretches long ahead of us, with more white lilies lining either side. I hear the rustle of guests turning in the pews as we pass. I want to look around, to take in the church, the guests, every piece of the day I’ve spent so long imagining, but then my eyes find Ronin at the altar and I can’t bring myself to look away. He’s so handsome in his dark suit, a white orchid pinned to his lapel. As we get closer, his gaze sweeps over me before meeting mine, and there’s so much love in his eyes that the last few steps seem to melt away. When we reach him, Da places my hand in Ronin’s, then kisses my cheek. “I love you, Alannah girl,” he whispers before taking his seat beside Mam.

Father Sullivan waits until everyone is seated before he begins. Ronin keeps my hand in his, his thumb brushing over my knuckles while I try to keep up. The wait for this day felt endless, and I thought it would pass just as slowly once it was finally here. Instead, the ceremony races by, one part running into the next, and before I know it, Father Sullivan asks us to face each other for the vows.

I look up at Ronin as Father Sullivan gives him the words, sunlight spilling through the stained glass and casting colour across our joined hands. He holds my gaze when he begins. “I, Ronin Byrne, take thee, Alannah O’Connell, to be my wedded wife. To have and to hold from this day forward.”His eyes grow glassy as he continues. “To love, cherish, and to worship, till death us do part.”

His voice catches on the last words, and I feel a few tears run down my cheeks. These are the vows everyone says. I know that. But as I listen to Ronin say them to me, they don’t feel old or borrowed. They feel like they’ve only ever belonged to us.

Then it’s my turn. I take a deep breath, but my voice shakes. “I, Alannah O’Connell, take thee, Ronin Byrne, to be my wedded husband.” The wordhusbandcomes out with a small sob. Ronin gives my hand a gentle squeeze, reminding me he’s right there with me. I clear my throat and keep going. “To have and to hold, from this day forward… to love, cherish, and to obey, till death us do part.”

Father Sullivan places the rings in our hands. Ronin’s fingers tremble as he slides the gold band onto my finger. It feels lighter than my Claddagh, which I moved to my right hand for today. “With this ring I thee wed,” he says.

I take Ronin’s hand. “With this ring I thee wed,” I say softly as I slip the ring I chose for him onto his finger. The Celtic knotwork winds around the band, each line crossing into the next with no beginning or end. I had pictured it on his hand so many times, but now that it’s finally there, all I can think about is what the knot means: his life woven into mine, and mine into his, for the rest of our lives.

I’m still staring at the ring when Father Sullivan’s voice fills the church. “You may kiss the bride.” Ronin’s hand comes to my waist, pulling me to him. I look up, surprised, and he kisses me.

It’s a soft press of his mouth to mine, over almost as soon as it begins, but it leaves me breathless. When he draws back, he’s smiling down at me, and I almost forget we’re standing in front of a church full of people until Father Sullivan announces, “Mr. and Mrs. Ronin Byrne.”Applause breaks out around us.

The organ starts up again, this time playing the “Wedding March,” and the guests rise as Ronin threads his fingers through mine and leads me back down the aisle. I’m smiling so hard my cheeks ache, and when I taste salt on my lips, I realize I’m still crying. As we pass the front pew, I see Mam and Eileen wiping at their eyes, but it’s Ronin I keep looking at.My husband, I think with every step we take.Ronin is my husband.

***

The lobby of the Hotel Bradford is crowded with our guests when we step inside. They mill around us, talking and laughing. Some head through the open ballroom doors while waiters in black jackets move between them with trays of champagne. Ronin’s arm is firm around my waist. He’s barely let go of me since I reached him at the altar, and I don’t want him to now. I spot Danny making his way toward us through the crowd. He stops beside Ronin. “Need a word,” he says quietly.

Ronin bends close, his lips brushing my ear so I can hear him over the voices around us. “Danny and I need to talk for a minute. We’re going to head to the bar, but I won’t be long.”

He isn’t asking. I know that, but I still want to tell him no, to tell him that it’s our wedding day and I want him beside me for every part of it. Instead, I smile and nod the way I know he expects me to. “Take your time. If you’re not back when they’re ready to announce us, I’ll come find you.”

“Thanks, doll,” he murmurs, brushing a quick kiss against the corner of my mouth before walking away with Danny.

I watch them disappear down the hall leading to the bar before a shoulder nudges mine. I look over to find Maggie beside me with a soda in each hand. She tips her chin after them. “Work?”

Careful of anyone who might be watching, I keep the smile on my face as I take the soda she offers me. “Mm-hmm.”

Maggie gives me a knowing look, but she doesn’t press. She only takes a sip of her drink and stays beside me as I wait for Ronin. I hear the band begin to play in the ballroom and notice more guests drifting through the open doors. Maggie’stelling me all about the nursing classes she’ll start in the fall when someone clears his throat behind me. She falls quiet, and I turn to find the bandleader standing there. “Mrs. Byrne, we’re ready for you and your husband.”

“Oh.” I look around the lobby and realize it’s nearly empty now. Ronin still isn’t back. “He had to step out with his best man,” I say. “They’re just at the bar. I’ll go get him.”

He nods. “Of course. We’ll give you a few minutes.”

“I’ll see you inside,” I tell Maggie, then head for the bar. As I walk, my mind goes to the honeymoon we leave for tomorrow. Ronin still won’t tell me where he’s taking me. Every time I ask, he only gives me a sly smile and says it’s somewhere I once told him I wanted to go. But I can’t remember telling him about anywhere like that, and it’s been driving me mad trying to work it out. I’m going over it again, searching my memory for any clue Ronin might have let slip, when a woman steps into my path so suddenly that I walk straight into her.

“Hey,” she snaps, her voice sharp with a thick Boston bite. “Watch where you’re going.”

“I’m sorry,” I say automatically, taking a quick step back.

She says nothing. Her dark eyes move over me, cool and assessing, and I stand there a second too long, trapped under the weight of her stare. Then I remember I still need to get to Ronin and move to the side to pass her. “Excuse me.”

But before I can, she steps in front of me, cutting me off. “Where are you going?” she asks.

The question catches me off guard. “I need to find my husband.”